Page 57 of Alien God

As soon as I heard it out loud – Asha Wylfrael – the words were freshly translated, and I realized with consternation that I’d been calling my captor Lord Wylfrael this entire time.

“Has he told you why I wished to see you?” Maerwynne asked.

“Yes,” I replied flatly.

Not sure what else to say, and not wanting to speak further anyway, I remained silent after that, feeling tiny and strange and like I was on some sort of display between these two strange alien giants. I crossed my arms once again, hunching slightly backwards, only to find that Asha Wylfrael – no, just Wylfrael – was immediately behind me. When my back bumped him, I straightened up again reflexively, as if burned by the contact.

Maerwynne watched me with unblinking eyes.

“I would have some time alone with her, just as I have had a chance to speak alone with Aiko.” He said it to Wylfrael, though he was still looking at me.

I felt a flare of indignation at the fact that he was asking my captor's permission to speak with me alone instead of mine. Wylfrael's answer was so instantaneous that I didn't even have a chance to feel afraid of being alone with this new, unknown alien.

“No.”

Finally, Maerwynne’s probing gaze left my face, flashing above my head to Wylfrael.

“No?” he repeated. There was no mistaking the threatening growl that had entered his voice. But Wylfrael did not back down.

“No. You asked to see her and now you have seen her. I sense no change in you, so clearly you do not starburn for her. You should be satisfied.”

“You and I both know it can take time to starburn, to feel the bond settle into place,” Maerwynne replied. “Perhaps I will stay here a few days, just to be sure.”

“If you believe that is a wise use of your time with your star map going dark. I cannot help but notice my prisoner has not brought it back,” Wylfrael said cryptically.

Even though I could understand their words now, I was rapidly losing the thread of the conversation. I’d considered myself intelligent back home, and I’d worked hard to earn my Ph.D. in astrophysics. But now, here, I felt the true depth of my human ignorance. There was so much I simply didn’t understand about the situation, about these beings. Unknown history and biology and culture swirling around me, as opaque and impenetrable as the blizzard outside.

Wylfrael’s comment seemed to have struck an uneasy chord in our visitor. His wings shifted tensely and his jaw tightened. He and Wylfrael remained silent for a long moment, tension growing in their locked gazes above my head. Maerwynne looked away first, his eyes finding my face once more.

“What is your name, human?” the visitor asked.

I hesitated.

From how close he stood behind me, I felt a new tension enter Wylfrael’s body. I wasn’t sure what it meant, but I assumed it was some sort of anticipatory anger that I wouldn’t answer Maerwynne’s question. That I wasn’t showing enough respect or performing as he wanted.

I decided that it wasn’t worth staying silent. All that would earn me was more of Wylfrael’s ire.

“My name is Torrance.”

Wylfrael went very, very still at my back before suddenly bursting into movement. I yelped in surprise as his huge hand closed over my shoulder, moving me briskly behind him. His wings snapped open, a dizzying, star-speckled span of bone and black blocking my view of Maerwynne.

“Is there anything else you require before you leave, Maerwynne?” Wylfrael asked. The words seemed cordial enough, but the frosty message beneath them was obvious. Something akin to, you’ve overstayed your welcome, now get the fuck out of my house.

“No,” Maerwynne said, clearly taking the hint. I thought he’d walk out the door after that, but he added one more thing from the other side of the wall of Wylfrael’s wings.

“I will warn you now, Wylfrael, that I may come back again and ask to see her one more time, just to be sure. I expect that if and when I do, she will still be healthy and alive.”

Thanks, I thought sarcastically. I didn’t much appreciate being kept alive solely in case this guy decided he wanted to come back and marry me after all. But then again, at least it was something. Somebody else out there who knew I was here, who would notice if I died. It was a threat hanging over Wylfrael’s head that hadn’t been there before, a potential consequence if I was badly injured or killed or starved. Though, considering how intent Wylfrael was on making sure I ate, that last one didn’t seem very likely...

“And I will warn you, Maerwynne, that unless you starburn for her and lay claim to her as your mate, you have no power over her.”

Wylfrael’s voice got louder, harsher, booming in the space like thunder crashing through snow.

“Her life is not your concern. It is mine.”

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