Page 42 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

I hear her rummaging through the satchel while I tap away. My eyes scan the monitor, looking for any kind of override or manual release, but it quickly becomes clear I’m out of my depth. I’m a warrior, not a tech. The security protocol is airtight, and nothing I try works.

For the first time in a long while, I feel like the inexperienced young male I used to be when… No, I amnotthat male. Not anymore. I’ve worked hard and trained even harder to become the warrior I am today. I will not allow this small setback make me feel inferior.

With a heavy sigh, I push away from the console and rub the back of my neck. “We’re stuck in here until the system resets at dawn.” I mutter, frustration thick in my voice.

I glance over at Mara, who’s now watching me with a faint frown, her bright green gaze running over my face as though she can read the tension there.

She offers a small smile as she pulls a full waterskin from the satchel, followed by a pouch of dried meat. “Well, maybe it won’t be so bad. At least we have food and water.”

Mara rifles through the rest of the contents, then pauses, her brows drawing together in confusion. Then, she pulls out a jumble of small metalloid objects that jingle as they clang together. A small black charm dangles from her fingers. Suddenly, a beaming smile spreads across her face. My breath catches in my throat as I stare at her. Goddesses, she’s beautiful.

I clear my throat, pushing down the lump that has suddenly grown there. “What is it?” I’ve never seen anything like the tinkling metalloid objects and the charm. It must be something alien—something the humans brought with them to our planet.

The smile is still on her face as she explains, “They’re Isabella’s. She said the keychain is her good luck charm.” Mara chuckles as her fingers rub over the charm. “I guess she left it because she thought I need it more right now.”

I move until I’m close enough to take a seat beside Mara on the padded bench. “Does it represent some sort of creature from your planet?”

She laughs. “Yeah, a black cat. There’s an old superstition on Earth that black cats are unlucky, so not exactly the first choice for a good luck charm.”

I nod at her words. “We have superstitions like that. They don’t really make any sense to me, now, but I believed them as a kitling.” At her curious look, I continue, “If you break a trainingsword you will be cursed with misfortune until the next full moons or if the shadow of an anuroi falls upon you you will be cursed with misfortune… Now, that I think on it, the outcome of nearly all of our superstitions is being cursed. You’d think there would be at least one that involves good fortune.” Mara laughs at my words, and I feel a lightness in my heart that has been absent since the door closed us in.

“That’s how it is on Earth. So many are about bad luck.” She shakes her head before carefully placing the good luck charm back in the satchel.

Silence falls over us, and I shift on the bench, acutely aware of Mara’s presence beside me. The space between us feels charged and thick with unspoken words.

My gaze drifts back to the console, its cold blue glow casts an eerie light across the room. We’re safe, but being enclosed without a way out makes my heart pound so hard it feels as if I have two hearts in my chest pumping away. The control room felt big and airy, but now, the walls feel as if they’re closing in on me.

“I didn’t expect it to be so quiet,” Mara says softly, breaking the silence. She leans back against the bench, her eyes flickering around the room. “It’s almost peaceful in a way. Like the ship is waiting for something.”

I snort. “Waiting to let us out.” I don’t tell her how much the sound of her soft voice helps me. It grounds me and reminds me that I’m not alone, and I’m not that youngling anymore.

She’s quiet for a long moment, and I find myself watching her—noticing the way her shoulders relax, the curve of her lips, the warmth in her green eyes despite everything she’s been through.

From the very first moment I saw Mara holding a spear at the crashed ship, I was drawn to her, even though I didn’t want to be. Her defiant gaze and the stubborn set of her jaw let me know immediately that she is not a female to be crossed. She has endured so much, but she has survived and grown stronger because of it.

But seeing her like this? With a softness in her gaze and the gentle curve of her lips, I find it nearly impossible to tear my eyes from her.

Without thinking, I shift closer, my knee brushing against hers. The contact is brief, but it sends a spark of electricity shooting up my leg.

I freeze, waiting for Mara to pull away, but she doesn’t. If anything, she seems to edge closer to me.

She turns to me, her eyes roving over my face. “So, what makes you tick?” Mara asks. She studies me as if I’m one of the specimens Warrix analyzes in his clinic.

“Tick?” Most of the humans’ words are easily translated by the chip lodged in my head, but I do not understand why she would ask me about an Earth insectoid. Perhaps, she fears such creatures. Yarik certainly does.

Before I can open my mouth and assure Mara that I will protect her from any and all creatures, she explains, “Yeah, I can’t figure you out. One minute I think you’re this funny guy—the class clown—and the next, you’re all serious and commanding. Who is Sorrin the big, strong warrior? What made you the person you are?”

I hesitate to answer her. I don’t want this strong, fearless female to know of my weakness. To know of my lonely origins.

But she watches me so expectantly and I feel compelled to tell her something.

“My father died before I was removed from my womb. At the time, orphans were raised by the entire tribe, and I suppose I learned early that it’s easier to be cheerful.”

“I’m so sorry.”

I don’t want to see the pity in her gaze, so I change the subject.

I clear my throat “You should rest,” I say. My voice sounds rough in the quiet room. “It will be hours before the system resets, and you need your strength.”

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