Page 2 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

I standat the edge of the village, my heart pounding as I scan the faces of the returning search party. One by one, they pass by. Isabella, Vrenner, Enosir, Warrix, Yarik, Sorrin, and then finally, Mara.

A smile tugs at Mara’s lips as she reaches for Sorrin’s much larger hand, threading her fingers through his with an ease that startles me. He responds without hesitation, leaning down to press a kiss to the top of her head.

Her shoulders are relaxed and the tension she’s carried since we crashed onto Laedirissae seems to have melted away. When she looks up at him like he’s suddenly the most important thing in the world, I feel a strange twist in my gut.

Huh. Imagine that.

Beside me, a sharp scoff breaks the moment.

“That’s just great,” Crystal mutters, crossing her arms over her chest. “Another one.”

I glance at her and find her watching Mara and Sorrin with a flat expression, her blue eyes clouded with some emotion I can’tquite figure out. Envy? Whatever it is, it’s gone with a blink of her eyes.

Her platinum blonde bob, once so sleek and polished, has lost its precision. Stray strands stick out no matter how often she smooths them down. Dark roots creep through, a glaring reminder of just how much time has passed since the gray aliens, the Zyfeliks, ripped us from our lives before dumping us here on this planet.

Maddie, one of the other women we crash-landed with and Mara’s sister, comes to a stop beside her. There’s a wistful smile stretched across her face. “I think it’s romantic, like soulmates. I hope I get an amoris mate one day.”

Beside me, Crystal snorts. “You would.”

Maddie turns to stare at her, the smile still on her face. “What? I’ve seen you eyeing the warriors like they’re candy and you want a snack.”

Crystal doesn’t bother to deny it. “Just enjoying the view.” Then, she huffs out a breath. “Who’s next? You?” She flicks a glance at me before exhaling sharply and stalking off.

I stare after her, my stomach tightening. Me? No. Never.

Maddie’s gaze lingers on me. “Don’t let her get to you,” she says softly. “I think she’s just scared.”

I give a half-shrug, unsure what to say to that.

But Maddie’s already turned back to the crowd. Her eyes light up, and she waves enthusiastically. “Mara! You’re back!” she calls out before turning to me with a grin. “I gotta go hear everything.”

And just like that, she darts off, leaving me behind.

Around me, the Laediriians in the tribe call out to each other and exchange amused smiles. They don’t just believe in the spirit mate bond here, they revere it. Practically worship it.

And no wonder.

After a devastating plague on their home world wiped out all the Laediriian females, the amoris bond vanished along with them. For generations, they believed it was lost forever. Their species only survived because of the artificial wombs they used to reproduce. Then, we crashed on this planet after the Zyfeliks dumped us like trash on the highway, and suddenly, the bond returned.

First with Haley and Draggar, the First Warrior of the Anuriix tribe and the chief’s son. And, now, I guess, with Mara and Sorrin.

Honestly, I’m shocked. If anyone could’ve resisted the pull of the amoris bond, I would’ve bet on Mara. She’s always been guarded and cautious, like she’s expecting the worst and bracing for the hit.

But now? She looks different. There’s a softness to her that wasn’t there before, like she’s finally put down some invisible burden she’s been carrying forever. She looks happy.

My gaze drifts past the couple, and it’s then that I notice they’re not alone. More figures trail behind them—eight in total. Four of them ride astride eponirs, the strange unicorn-lizard creatures the Laediriians use as mounts.

Apparently, the search party was successful in their hunt for the other humans who crashed on the planet at the same time we did.

My heart pounds in my chest, each beat sharp with hope and dread.Please let her be one of them.

As they draw closer, I scan their faces, my breath catching in my throat. I search desperately, clinging to the fragile hope that after all this time, after everything, I’ll finally see her.

But she’s not there.

A cold emptiness settles in my stomach. My vision blurs as I turn away, trying to swallow the lump in my throat, but the sting of unshed tears burns behind my eyes.

My cousin, Lily, is still missing.

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