Page 38 of Zar

“Then I will see to it that you have your data,” he stated. “And if I don’t have the answers you seek then I’ll get them. I want you happy, Callie.”

She pulled back far enough to look into his eyes. Garra, he was always struck by the beauty of her sapphire gaze. “First, explain this thing with the fluids. How does that work exactly?”

Zar swayed on his feet. He had lost too much blood. “Perhaps we should eat first.”

Callie quickly stepped out of his arms, then nudged at his shoulders. “Sit, I’ll make us something.”

He frowned but let her help him onto the couch. “I can summon Dyre,” he offered, as he rested his head against the back of the couch.

“I’m sure I can manage without Mr. Cranky,” Callie muttered. He felt a light caress along his ribcage and he opened his eyes to find Callie bent over him. Her brows were scrunched together as she stared at his wound.

“I promise it will heal. There is no need to worry.”

Callie straightened and placed her small fists on her hips. “It does look much better. Fluids along with something to eat, then sleep. That’s what you need.”

His lips kicked up at the corners. “I like this side of you, little dove.”

“Huh?”

“You are taking care of me,” he explained. “It feels good. Natural.”

“Yeah, well, I can’t have you passing out before you answer my questions, can I?”

He chuckled. “That certainly won’t do.”

“Exactly. Now relax while I make us some lunch.” She scooted the coffee table closer and helped him prop his feet up, before she headed for the kitchen. Zar knew they had much to discuss, but one way or the other he would assuage her concerns. He refused to lose her. Too long he waited and now that she was here, Zar would find a way to bring her fully into his world and keep her there.

Callie entered the other room, then waited until she was sure she was out of Zar’s line of sight, before she covered her mouth with her palm and let the freak-out commence. six-hundred and twenty-eight? Holy Christ, she’d made love to a centuries old alien! It spoke volumes that she wasn’t calling bullshit right now. Zar wasn’t lying to her. Callie knew Zar would find the act of lying an earth-born pursuit. In other words, beneath him. Which left her with what exactly? Callie ran down a list of what she knew so far. Winged aliens existed and they lived on Earth in hiding. They can live for centuries and are extremely difficult to kill. The recent battle with Naxon was proof of that. They believe in the concept of a higher power, or creator. Don’t forget the whole ofelia thing, or soulmate rather. Also, their technology surpassed anything Callie had ever seen. After all, they were able to hide an entire mountain behind an invisible barrier. Oh, and their government is a monarchy with Zar as their king. Zar claims she’s his ofelia. Does that mean she would become his queen if she stayed? Callie’s breathing increased as an image of her wearing a freaking crown slammed into her head. Jesus!

Callie counted to ten—something she seemed to do a lot these days—and got up to look through Zar’s giant, stainless steel refrigerator and his many cupboards. She found a boneless roast already cooked, as well as a bag of egg noodles and beef broth in a cupboard. Beef and noodles, the perfect comfort food. She set about her task. A little over an hour later, Callie had two steaming hot bowls filled with beef and noodles, slices of warm, buttered French bread and two glasses of ice water. She carried it all out to the living room and found Zar asleep on the couch. He hadn’t moved from the position she’d put him in. Ancient alien king or not, his body had still been put through the ringer. She placed her tray on the coffee table and Zar woke instantly. He inhaled and smiled.

“You cooked for me,” he murmured, as he sat up and put his feet on the floor.

Callie tried to ignore the little thrill that ran along her spine. “It was the least I could do since you literally saved my life,” she replied as she sat next to him and reached for one of the bowls. She handed it to him.

He frowned. “It never should’ve happened. I’ll need to deal with Naxon. He puts you at risk and I cannot allow that.”

Her stomach bottomed out at the threat in Zar’s deep voice. “Deal with him how?”

He spooned up a generous portion of the beef and noodles. “Execution,” he replied, then shoved the food into his mouth and chewed.

Yet another reminder that she was so not in Kansas. “Just like that? No trial, no judge, no jury of his peers?”

Zar ate another bite, then picked up a slice of bread and dipped into in the broth. “Naxon entered my home and threatened my ofelia. Injured Flare. He has always been a plague to my people, but I thought I could reach him. I thought I could reason with him. Today made me realize that will never happen.”

Something Zar said about Naxon stirred a memory. “He called me your ofelia,” she said, recalling the conversation with the rogue Zenarian.

Zar’s entire body went still and he placed the partially eaten slice of bread back on the tray. “What did you say?”

“Zar, Naxon knew. I never told him and neither did Flare. How would he know that I’m your ofelia? Did you tell him?”

Zar eyes narrowed. “That’s not possible, Callie.”

He didn’t believe her and that hurt. “Ask Flare, he was here as well. Naxon knew that you had taken an earth-born as your ofelia. It’s why he came. To see for himself, he said.”

Zar stood and went to the front door. He whistled. That ear-piercing screech that he’d let loose before. Within minutes, Flare was standing in the doorway. “My king?”

“When Naxon was here did he make a reference about Callie being my ofelia?”

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