Page 46 of Charmed By the Alien Warrior

The urge to brush his hair away is overwhelming, and before I can second-guess myself, I do. My fingers linger for a moment longer than necessary, caught by the surprising softness of his hair. It’s silkier than I imagined with shining aqua highlights that could only be achieved in a salon back on Earth.

Sorrin clears his throat, the sound thick and raw. “It wasn’t just a dream.” His voice isn’t much louder than a whisper, as if he can’t bear to say the words aloud. “It was a memory.”

The confession settles between us like a heavy weight.Shit. Those are the worst kinds of nightmares. The nightmares you can’t leave behind when you wake up. The ones you lived.

“Do you want to talk about it?” My gaze drops to his clenched jaw. The tension there is almost painful to witness, like he’s fighting some internal battle.

His mouth opens as if he’s going to speak, but nothing comes out. The silence stretches between us until it feels as if the tension is as taut as a rubber band.

I try again, my voice soft but insistent, “I’ll tell you about mine if you tell me about yours.”

That coaxes a small, fleeting grin from him—one that’s a shadow of his usual playful smile—but it vanishes as quickly as it appears. Sorrin releases a heavy sigh before he begins to speak, his voice thick with emotion.

“When I was a young hunter, I was out in the jungle searching for dicros,” he begins, his gaze unfocused as if he’s watching the memory play out in front of him.

“I was eager, too eager, to prove myself and that made me careless. That’s when two males from the Xeniiv tribe ambushed me. Sevvern was always jealous and fiendish, even as a kitling, but as he grew, so did his bad behavior. And Terrik was always beside him.”

I shift slightly, leaning in closer, my heart tightening at the pain in his voice.

“They lured me to a cave by imitating the call of a zaak.” At my confused look, he explains, “They’re solitary creatures on Laedirissae and rarely seen on our territory, but they’re prized for their tender meat. I thought if I brought one down, I could impress the elders and my friends with my hunting skills. I wanted to be the best hunter.” He chuckles, but the sound is bitter. “Of course, that didn’t happen.”

Sorrin pauses, his gaze dropping again to where my hand still rests in his. He gives mine a little squeeze.

“The male shoved me into a deep pit in the cave. I couldn’t get out.” His voice grows hoarser, and I swear I canalmost feel the helplessness and fear he must have felt burning in my chest. “I was stuck down there. Alone. No light, no sound except my own breathing and the echo of Sevvern’s laughter as he took the dicro I’d killed for the tribe.”

A shiver crawls up my spine at the thought of being trapped like that, alone in the dark. “What happened?” I ask, my voice barely above a whisper.

“I spent a whole day in that pit until Draggar found me. He pulled me out.” Sorrin glances around the small, enclosed control room, and a shadow crosses his face. “But ever since that day, enclosed spaces…” He trails off, swallowing hard as he looks up at me.

His expression is vulnerable in a way I’ve never seen from him before. “I don’t handle them well. Sometimes, the walls feel like they’re closing in.”

I understand more than I’d like to admit. The kind of fear that makes your chest tighten, that keeps you up at night, that follows you into your dreams. The kind that never quite leaves you.

Suddenly, a thought occurs to me. “You said their names were Sevvern and Terrik, right?” He nods his head at my question. “They were with the chief in the Tussoll village when I was taken there.”

Sorrin looks off into the distance. “Sevvern was recently made the leader of his tribe, and Draggar warned that he may have allied himself with the Tussoll and the Pugj. It would make sense. He was cruel even as a youngling, and Terrik blindly followed his lead.”

“I can’t imagine how terrifying that must’ve been,” I say softly, my heart aching for the young, terrified boy he was andthe man in front of me, still dealing with the awful memories of that experience. My hand tightens around his, offering whatever comfort I can.

He meets my gaze, his stone-gray eyes softening. “I don’t talk about it. Ever. Not even with Draggar. But you… Mara.” His voice falters, and he shifts closer, our knees touching. “I wanted to tell you.”

I blink, caught off guard by the raw honesty in his voice. Sorrin—this goofy, playful warrior—carrying so much pain beneath the surface. And yet, he’s willing to open up to me. To trust me.

The warmth of his hand is steady against mine, and for once, I don’t want to push someone away. I don’t want to hide behind my walls.

Instead, I want to pull him closer.

Chapter 17

Mara

“Thank you for telling me,” I whisper, my thumb tracing a small circle on the back of his hand. “You don’t have to carry that alone. Not anymore.”

His eyes search mine, and for a moment, it feels like the rest of the world fades away. It’s just the two of us, here, in this cold, sterile control room—two broken souls who, for some reason, seem to fit together.

He drops his gaze, his jaw tightening as his voice comes, low and raw. “I didn’t want you to think I couldn’t protect you.” The weight of his shame tugs at something deep inside me, making my chest ache.

I give his hand a squeeze, willing him to look at me. When he does, the breath stutters in my chest at the fear in his eyes. Not fear of the ship or our situation—but fear of my judgement. I’m astonished. This big, strong warrior who has fearlesslyjumped into battle and protected me every step of the way is afraid of what I think of him.

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