Page 48 of My Alien Pirate

Zharrox's tentacle gently squeezed my shoulder. "You can tell us all about your adventure later," he said softly. "Right now, you need rest and medical attention."

I nodded gratefully and suddenly found myself scooped up in Zharrox's strong arms--a strong sense of deja vu overcoming me remembering the first minutes Zharrox and I had met in the crashed laboratory of the Phoenix. I snuggled into his warmth, listening to the double thump-bump of his hearts under my ear, and before we made it to the med bay, I was sound asleep.

32

The Mate of a Xailith

Isat in the dimness of my quarters, watching Nova sleep. After Daz had checked her over and declared her healthy but exhausted, I couldn't bear to let her out of my sight. So I'd brought her here, to my private space, and settled her into my sleeping pod.

The sight of her small form curled in my bed stirred something primal in me. Her dark filaments—hair, she called it—spread across my pillow like a fan of darkness around her pale face. Even in sleep, she was the most beautiful thing I'd ever seen.

My tentacles twitched with the need to touch her, to wrap around her and keep her safe. The bond between us hummed, stronger now that we were so close. I could feel her peaceful dreams, sense her contentment.

Nova stirred, her eyes fluttering open. For a moment, she seemed confused, then her gaze found mine and her lips curved into a soft smile. "Zharrox," she murmured, her voice still heavy with sleep.

"My little zixxit," I whispered, unable to resist reaching out to brush a strand of hair from her face. "How are you feeling?"

She leaned into my touch, sending sparks of pleasure through my entire body. "Better. Safe." Her small hand came up to cover mine where it rested against her cheek. "You found me."

"I will always find you," I promised, my voice rough with emotion. "You are mine to protect now."

Nova's eyes widened at my words, a lovely flush spreading across her cheeks. She sat up slowly, her face now level with mine. "Yours?" she breathed.

I let my tentacles wrap gently around her waist, drawing her closer. "Mine," I confirmed. "If... if you want to be."

Her hands came up to frame my face, her touch sending waves of warmth through our bond. "I think I've been yours since the moment we met," she admitted. "I just didn't understand why I felt so drawn to you."

Unable to resist any longer, I leaned forward and pressed my mouth to hers. The kiss was gentle at first, exploratory, but quickly deepened as Nova responded with enthusiasm. Her soft lips moved against mine, her hands sliding up to wrap around my neck as she pressed closer.

When we finally parted, both breathing heavily, I rested my forehead against hers. "There's something I need to tell you," I said. "Something important."

She nodded, her fingers idly stroking my neck ridges in a way that made it hard to concentrate. "Tell me."

"Among my people, there is something called a mating bond," I began. "It's rare—sacred. When two souls are perfectly matched, they form an unbreakable connection. They can sense each other's emotions, share thoughts, even feel each other's pain or pleasure."

Nova's eyes widened in understanding. "Is that what's happening between us? This... pull I feel toward you?"

"Yes," I confirmed. "But there's more. There's an ancient prophecy among my people, passed down through generations. It speaks of a bond that would transcend species—a union between different worlds that would change everything."

I took a deep breath, my ridges pulsing with emotion. "The prophecy speaks of a being from beyond the stars, with eyes like the depths of space and hair like the darkness between worlds. It speaks of a love that would bridge dimensions and bring about great change."

Nova's breath caught. "Me? You think the prophecy is about me?"

"I know it is," I said firmly. "From the moment I first saw you, something inside me recognized you. And when I went to the Temple of the Ancestors, they confirmed it. You are my destined mate, Nova. The one I've been waiting for all these centuries."

Nova sat back slightly, her eyes searching mine. "Centuries? How old are you?"

I chuckled, stroking her cheek with a tentacle. "My species lives much longer than humans. I am over five hundred of your Earth years old, as close as I can figure."

Her eyes widened comically. "Five hundred? I'm only twenty-eight!" She bit her lip, a gesture I'd come to recognize as a sign of worry. "Does... does the age difference matter?"

"No, little zixxit," I assured her, pulling her closer. "The bond wouldn't have formed if we weren't perfectly matched in every way that matters. And my people live very long lives. We will have many centuries together."

Her face lit up at that, but then fell slightly. "But I'm human. We don't live that long..."

"The bond changes that," I explained, my hearts swelling with joy at her obvious desire for a long future together. "Once fully formed, it will extend your life to match mine. We truly will have forever together, if that's what you want."

Nova's hands tightened on my shoulders, but uncertainty flickered in her blue eyes. "I... this is all so overwhelming. A few months ago, I didn't even know aliens existed, and now..." She took a shaky breath. "The way I feel about you terrifies me sometimes. It doesn't make logical sense. We're completely different species, from different worlds, different cultures. I shouldn't feel this connection, this pull towards you, but I do."