Page 65 of Resisting the Alien Rider

My mouth dropped open.

“Empire! I’ve forgotten your water!” He picked up the cup again, sloshing a bit of it on the bedspread in his haste to get it to me. He used his tail to swipe the water off the bedspread before it fully absorbed, muttering curses as he did so. If I hadn’t been so exhausted and overwhelmed I would have smiled at how charming it was.

He guided the cup to my mouth, and I drank gratefully, wincing as the water coated my dry throat.

“There, now,” he said, putting the cup back down. “Humans must stay hydrated. I read that in my book.”

“Book?” I croaked.

“Well, the digital copy. The warden could not get a hard copy to me as he gave the others. But he sent thefile to my data tab, as mine is the only one whose screen still works.”

“Right…”

“Anyway. Garrek told me everything.”

Everything. What even was everything? How much had actually happened?

How much had been a fever dream?

I had no recollection of getting here. No recollection of an ardu bite, if that was even what had happened to me. All I knew now was that I was lying in the bed of the man I was supposed to marry.

And he was now… breaking up with me?

“I figured I’d save you the trouble of having to say it yourself,” Oaken went on. “So I am ending our engagement. I do not expect you to fulfill your obligation and marry me.”

“I’m… I’m so sorry.”

I was. I’d only just met him, and Oaken was already giving off major good boy vibes. I thought I remembered Garrek telling me that. That Oaken was a good man. I didn’t want to hurt him.

But if he was hurt, he didn’t let on one bit. He just smiled kindly at me.

“You don’t need to apologize. I’m happy that you and Garrek have found each other. I’ve always wanted happiness for him. Ever since he saved me.”

“Saved you?” It was becoming easier to talk now. My mouth felt better after the water, and my brain was slowly but surely coming back online.

“Yes. Saved me. Did he not tell you the story?”

“He said… you were convicted… for his crime. That’s all.”

His gaze shadowed.

“My uncle was a terrible excuse for a male. Violent. Garrek got between us once, and as a result, my uncle died. I tried to take the fall during the trial. But as neither of us would blame the other, we were both convicted.” Oaken’s mouth thinned. “He never told you he was protecting me?”

“No. He didn’t.”

Oaken huffed out a little laugh.

“Typical.”

We both said the word at the exact same time. Oaken’s face lit up with a grin that, even in my slightly pulverized state, I couldn’t help but return.

I had so many questions bubbling to the surface of my brain. Like how did we find you? And how did we get here? And how long was I out for?

I settled on, “How’s your foot?”

Oaken’s expression brightened further, as if he were just pleased as punch that someone had thought to ask after him.

“It will mend! Garrek helped me make a splint!” He hauled his right leg up to show me, smiling widely. Then, his expression softened into something bashful. “I hope that once it is healed, I may try again for another bride.”

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