Page 87 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

“We believed he fell. That it was a misstep,” Daggir says slowly. His voice carries the weight of a father still grieving his son.

Danir was the chief’s youngest son. He was found dead two seasons ago, during the frozen season, at the base of the mountain. It was assumed he had accidentally fallen, but he didn’t.

“That’s what you were meant to believe.” I pause and take a deep breath. “Haavor met with Jaran and the Pugj on the mountain. Danir stumbled upon the meeting. I don’t know who killed him, but Haavor made it clear when he told me about it. Someone pushed Danir off the mountainside.”

A tense silence settles over the chamber. Draggar is frozen, barely breathing. Daggir's expression doesn’t change, but I can feel the storm brewing inside him.

“I don’t say this to cause pain,” I continue in a quieter voice. “Only to tell you the truth. This alliance between the Tussoll and the Pugj isn’t just political. It’s soaked in blood. Haavor and the Pugj leader, Maso, have no shame. No honor, and there’s no limit to what they’ll do.”

For a long moment, no one speaks. Then, Daggir rises to his feet. His gaze sweeps around the chamber.

“We must prepare for the worst. We must ensure we’re ready.”

Around the room, warriors, humans, and elders nod their heads in agreement. But no one speaks. Not yet. Because we all feel it.

The time for peace is slipping away, and war is coming.

EPILOGUE

Emily

The morning airis crisp and clear, laced with the scent of damp soil and the vibrant flowers that bloom near the stream. A flock of psittas flies overhead, and somewhere in the distance, I hear the sharp clang of metal striking metal.

The world feels still and peaceful. I know it won’t last. Things will get hectic soon, but that only makes moments like this more precious.

Vrok sits beside me on a stone bench outside our new hut, the one we chose together after he decided not to stay in the place he once shared with his father. His shoulder brushes mine with every slow breath he takes. He’s still healing, but his wound has already closed up, and he’s getting stronger each day.

“You’re awfully quiet. Magnis got your tongue?” I tease, nudging his knee with mine.

“I was just thinking.” His mouth curves into an easy smile.

His smiles still take my breath away each and every time. They’re a gift, one that I cherish all the more because I know how rare they are.

I wait, giving him time to put his thoughts into words.

“If war comes,” he continues after a quiet moment, “I will fight for my tribe, just like always. But I won’t be fighting just for duty. For the first time, I’ll fight for a future. For you.”

My breath catches at his words. It’s like he’s finally found something solid to hold on to after drifting so long in the shadows.

I want to hold on to it too. But the truth is, the talk of war still scares me. I’ve already lost too much, and the thought of losing Vrok…No, stop it.

Fear and worry will probably always be a refrain in the back of my head. But I’m not going to let it run the show.

I’ve survived my father, alien abductions, a crash landing, betrayal, and hell, even my own grief. I’ve crawled my way through more dark times than I can count, and I’m still here. Still breathing, still fighting, still surviving. And still loving.

And if war comes, I’ll do it again. I’ll stand tall and fight back, and I’ll trust Vrok to come back to me. And in the meantime, I’ll enjoy every moment we have together.

I reach for his hand and squeeze. “Then we’ll fight for that future together.”

He doesn’t speak, just threads his fingers through mine like he’s tying himself to me.

We sit like that a little while longer, looking out over the village. The walls are being reinforced. One of the new women is a history buff or something, and she’s been using castles back on Earth as inspiration to help strengthen our defenses. There’s even talk of building a trebuchet. In the arena, warriors move through their drills with sharp focus. Even the elders are hard at work, offering their hands and their wisdom where it's needed.

Everyone knows what’s coming. And yet, laughter and smiles still fill the village. Somehow, happiness clings stubbornly to this place.

I let out a soft sigh. “I never thought I’d find happiness here,” I admit. “Not on this planet. Not after everything.”

“You brought it with you,” Vrok says simply. “Or maybe you made it.”

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