Page 2 of Married to the Alien Mountain Man

“It’s probably better that he’s distracted with Nali for the visit, anyway,” Garrek said to Magnolia as he turned away from the direction Killian had gone and gazed through the grassy valley. “I don’t want him doing anything to hurt Oaken’s chances.”

A surge of affection for my cousin rose within me. I had always loved Garrek like a brother. We had lived together as children in his father’s house in the Empire of Zabria. I had been smaller than him, younger, more sickly. He had seemed to me to be everything I wanted to be. And when I could not protect myself from the blows of my uncle, he had been there to save me, even if it meant patricide, and therefore dooming himself to an exile here with me.

My hero since childhood, and now here he was, so worried about my chance at future happiness with a human bride.

I supposed it made a certain amount of sense he’d be concerned, considering he sort of, accidentally, stole my intended bride away. Magnolia’s cheeks dimpled, the charming gap between her front teeth revealed as she smiled up at Garrek’s stoic face. The face she loved.

Magnolia had once been meant for me. My broken foot had prevented me from meeting her upon her arrival in this world, so Garrek had agreed to bring her here. But by the time I came upon them, they’d already lost their hearts to one another. I could feel no disappointment when I saw how desperately Garrek loved her. He, who had always protected me, deserved this happiness. And as I never got the chance to love Magnolia like a wife, I did not feel the loss of her as any sort of pain. I could not grieve that which had never really been mine.

But I still very much hoped, more than I’d ever hoped for anything, that I might get a bride of my own one day.

I could wait as long as it took.

As long as she wanted me.

Warden Tenn was visible on his slicer now, the vehicle propelling itself through the air and over the rippling grass. I could not see much of Tasha yet, but I did spy two small light-coloured hands at Warden Tenn’s front as she held onto him from behind. Once they were about twenty paces from us, Warden Tenn directed the slicer down to land and the engine ceased.

“Greetings, Warden!” I called, striding over and ignoring the stiff ache in my ankle as I did so. I did my best not to limp. I did not want Tasha to think I was not yet healed enough to take care of a human wife out here.

“Oaken, Garrek,” the warden grunted in greeting as he dismounted. “Hello, Magnolia.”

Magnolia smiled and waved, then grasped Garrek’s hand as they also approached.

I still could not see Tasha. Warden Tenn was now completely blocking her from sight as he turned his back to us. He bent slightly, appearing to fasten his hands and tail around Tasha’s waist, then lifted her down onto her feet. I stood up straighter, clearing my throat and preparing to greet her properly.

Only, even once the warden stepped out of the way, I still could not see her face for the helmet with its opaque protective visor. She remedied that quickly, reaching up to take it off with a practised ease that told me she had grown used to wearing and removing the thing.

“Hello, Tasha!” I said as soon as the helmet was off. Tasha’s white and brown eyes went to my face. She gave me a smile that was very professional and polished, and – at least, I hoped I was not imagining it – warm.

“Hello. Oaken, correct?” She propped the helmet against her right hip and smoothed pale yellow strands of hair away from her face.

“Yes!” I practically coughed up the word. I had the strangest sensation that my heart was now beating inside my throat instead of beneath my ribs. My nerves felt scrubbed-raw, as if someone had taken the stiff bristles of a shuldu’s brush to them.

I was the first unmarried male whose property Tasha had visited in our province. Of Warden Tenn’s men, she’d so far only visited the ranches of Silar and Fallon. She’d met those two males alongside their happy human wives. I did not yet have my own happy human wife to trot out before her to prove my worthiness.

I hoped that I alone would be enough.

“Hi, Tasha!” Magnolia said, breaking from Garrek’s grip to wrap her arms around Tasha in an embrace that she called apug.

“You look well!” Tasha said, her eyes keenly searching Magnolia’s face.

“I am,” Magnolia replied breathily. “Thanks to this big lug.”

She returned to Garrek’s side and patted him on the strip of dark blue chest that showed between the sides of the white vest she’d made him.

“And that big lug,” she added kindly, tipping her head towards me. “They’ve both taken excellent care of me.”

“That is very good to hear,” Tasha said, her appraising gaze returning to me once more.

“Both Garrek and Oaken have my full confidence in their abilities to take care of someone, human or otherwise,” Warden Tenn said. “I would not have allowed either of them to participate in the bride program if I hadn’t. Nor would I have assigned Garrek a convict-ward.”

“Is that why I got Killian?” Garrek grumbled. “Maybe I should have given you less reason to have faith in me, then…”

“Oh, hush, you,” Magnolia said, poking Garrek in the brawny blue shoulder.

I cracked a grin, knowing Garrek was not serious. He may have liked to groan and complain about Killian’s antics, but I knew he loved that boy like a son. Loved him the way his own father, my uncle, had never loved either of us.

“Speaking of your convict-ward, where is he?” Tasha asked, squinting and raising her hand to shield her eyes from the bright morning sun.

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