Page 18 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

Maybe Iamlosing my mind. Stress can do that, right? After everything we’ve been through, that must be it—I’m havinga nervous breakdown. And it just happens to involve obsessing over a muscle-bound alien warrior.

Fuck me and my life.

Isabella shifts beside me, drawing my attention again. She leans back, stretching her legs out as she looks up at the sky, now a deep swathe of purple.

“Don’t worry too much, okay? Sorrin will be back. You’ll see.” She bumps her shoulder against mine, a light gesture of reassurance.

I let out a long breath, nodding despite myself. Somehow, her words ease the tight knot in my chest.Maybe Isabella’s right.Maybe there’s nothing wrong with caring about people. But caring...caring gets messy.

After my mom died, I learned fast and hard that no one’s going to protect me. Not really. The only one I can depend on to keep me safe is me.

I built a wall around myself—a fortress, really. I didn’t have any choice. Raising my sister and dealing with the fallout from our mom’s death would have chewed me up and spit me out if I hadn’t. It kept out everything that could hurt me. But maybe it also kept out the good parts, too.

I’m still mulling that over when Sorrin finally returns, his hulking form emerging from the shadows, and with a sigh, I realize I can finally breathe easy.

I study him closer and notice he’s carrying the carcass of some strange creature that looks like a cross between a rabbit and a possum but with green scales. Without wasting time, he starts to butcher the kill, his movements efficient and practiced.

The smell of roasting meat soon fills the air making my mouth water. I’ve learned not to turn up my nose at the proteinsources on Laedirissae. I’m just grateful to have real food instead of the tasteless gray porridge the Zyfeliks gave us.

It doesn’t take long for the meat to cook, and soon we’re passing around chunks of it on large beng leaves that serve as plates. The flesh is tender and juicy, with a mild sweet flavor that makes me hum in delight. I quickly devour everything on my leafy plate and sit back with a sigh when I’m through. The hum of conversation around me is soothing, lulling me into relaxation.

For the first time in a long while, I feel content. I’m safe, comfortable, and my stomach is full from a meal I didn’t have to cook.

I tip my head back and gaze up at the dark sky above me. Night has fully settled in, and the sky glimmers with millions of twinkling stars. It’s so similar to Earth that I could almost fool myself into believing that I’m back home.

But as soon as I turn my gaze to the twin moons that illusion quickly fades.

“I’ll never get used to two moons,” I murmur, the words slipping out unbidden.

The Laediriians call them the Sister Moons, with the larger one being the Big Sister and the smaller one the Little Sister. Together, they cast a blue, ethereal glow over the land. Along with the bioluminescent plants shimmering faintly in the distance, the entire planet feels like it’s wrapped in a waking dream at night.

“Does your Earth have more than two moons?” Enosir asks from across the fire, his voice bright with curiosity as he tilts his head in question. He reminds me of a young puppy. Always in a rush. Always eager to learn more.

“No. It just has one,” I answer.

Beside me, Isabella leans back on her hands, her eyes reflecting the moonlight. “I’ve been wondering… why do you call them the Sister Moons? Why not the Brother Moons or something else?”

I expect Vrenner or Warrix to chime in with the answer, being the tribe’s resident tech expert and medic and both being more scholarly. But to my surprise, it’s Sorrin who speaks up, his smooth, deep voice carrying across the fire. His skin, bathed in the warm, flickering glow of the flames, makes his words feel like a soft caress in the night.

“Many generations ago, when our ancient ancestors worshipped goddesses, two of those deities were Maia, the goddess of knowledge, and Diierr, the warrior goddess. They were sisters bound together by their blood and their loyalty.” His words flow around the otherwise quiet campfire, weaving a story that transfixes me.

“But along came Luul, the trickster god of death, and he was no match for their beauty and grace. He decided Maia would be his mate, but she turned him away.” His mouth tilts up in a grin. “With good reason—he was the god of death, after all.”

“Undeterred, he turned his attention to her younger sister, determined to claim Diierr as his mate. But she rejected him, too, enraging him. In revenge, Luul cursed the sisters and turned them into moons.” His grin is gone, now, replaced by a solemn expression. “Forever within sight of each other but separated by the vast distances of space.”

“It is said the rivers were formed by their tears and the mountains by their attempts to hurl rocks, carved with messages, to each other. It’s said the remaining goddesses blessed our people with the amoris bonds, ensuring there wouldnever be any doubt about who our mates are. That our spirits would always recognize each other. So, that even someone like the god of death could find a mate to make them whole.”

A hush falls over the group as his words linger. I glance up at the twin moons, their silvery light spilling across the land, and feel an ache in my chest. Sorrin’s gaze catches mine across the fire, and for a moment, his gray eyes seem to flicker with golden flames. I blink, and it’s gone.

“That’s… really sad,” I whisper, my voice thick with emotion as I think about the sisters parted for eternity.

My thoughts drift to my sister back at the village. This is the longest we’ve been apart in years, and an unease gnaws at me. Sure, she has the others, but I’ve always been her protector, her guide. Now, I’m out here, and she’s not.

Then, Sorrin’s deep voice reaches me again, pulling me from my thoughts, and I wonder if, in addition to their other super senses, these guys can read minds.

“Your sister is safe. The warriors in our village will ensure nothing harms her.” His tone is soft yet filled with a strong certainty that instantly reassures me.

I nod in response, but when I glance back at him, I catch another flash of something in his eyes that looks like golden fire. I blink, and it’s gone, leaving me to wonder if I imagined it.

---