Page 43 of Einar

“That’sjust it!Yourgods must be playing some sort of cosmic joke on you.Ican’t possibly be your mate.I’mstill married!Forwhatever it’s worth.”

Hisbig body tightens at my last statement.

“Married?Thatis the human version of binding beings together spiritually as well as legally, yes?”

Atmy hesitant nod, he continues.

“Ido not know all that you suffered, but it stands to reason that whomever you weremarriedto did not care for you as he should have.Irealize you have been through much, but you should know that theEarthis no more…Fromwhat we have surmised, there was a world ending super storm that caused the entire planet to implode.Youaremarriedno longer and are free from that male.”

Hisdisgusted, snarled words shock me so deeplyIcan’t move.

“Whatdo you meanEarthis gone?Howcan it be gone?!Wewere just abducted a few weeks ago and everything was fine when we left.”

Ican’t sayI’msad to hearRobertis dead … but the entire planet is gone?!Myhysterical words cause sympathy to fill his eyes as he regards me with steady determination.

“Ihave no reason to lie to you, littleStarshine.YourEarthis no more, but regardless whether you believe me or not, these are the facts andIwill not hide them from you.NorwillIinsult your intelligence by belittling you or withholding information that you must have in order to make informed decisions.Youare currently on theZenith, the ship that my brothers andIlive on, in theVoid.Itis far, far, from where yourEarthwas.Thereis no way you were abducted a short time ago.Thedelayed response of your cells when you first arrived tells me that you were in some sort of suspended animation or cryosleep for a very long time.”

Forcingmyself to process the information,Ireplay his words in my mind.Ifwhat he’s saying is true, there’s no home to go back to.AllIhave isRuby.Peeringover at him from beneath my lashes,Iask the question that’s been lingering on the tip of my tongue.

“Whatare you going to do to me?”

Einarwinces and rubs at his chest as if he’s in pain.

“Iam not going todoanything to you.Thecollar around my throat and across my body marks me as yours, to do with as you so choose.Youare under no obligation to return my affections or seal the bond with me.Tome, you are a blessing and the culmination of every dreamInever dared to speak aloud.”

Hisheartfelt words make me frown in confusion.That… isn’t whatIwas expecting him to say.Theother aliens are acting super possessive and hovering over their women, but this one isn’t?It’sa questionIneed to know the answer to.

“Why?Theguy that came and gotKallenwas acting all possessive and controlling, and evenRubyhinted that her gargoyle dude refused to leave her alone.So, what gives with you?”

Hehesitates before replying while maintaining eye contact with me.

“Youhave suffered.Greatly.Iam a medic and far more observant than most.Ido not know exactly what horrors you have been subjected to, but the damageIhealed on your body… some of it happened long ago.Thefact that the majority of your bodily trauma was centered around your sexual organs is telling.Iwas not able to erase all of the scars, butIdid manage to fade most of them as well as cure you of the affliction attacking your lungs.”

Shamefills me and my eyes leave his to stare at my lap.

“Ido not tell you these things to cause you discomfort, but to be as honest asIknow how to be.Thereare a few thingsIdid to save your life that you were not in the right state of mind to give me the consent to do.Forthat,Ido apologize and you have my word that you will not be forced to do anything you are not comfortable with, nor in full consent of.”

Thenit dawns on me that he’s the one who took the piercings out and healed the holes up.

“You’rethe one who took them off and out of me… aren’t you?”

Heunderstands whatImean instantly.I’mnot sure how, but his voice gentles even more at my tortured whisper.

“Yes, littleStarshine.Iremoved those vile things from your body.”

Whenmy eyes dart to the pitch-black marks on his body, his perceptive gaze catches it.

“Ifyou chose to fulfill the mate bond,Iam unsure if you would have a mark or not.Myspecies has never mated with a human before but considering what was done to you,Ican understand how you would be extremely hesitant to have another permanent mark of possession stamped across your body.”

Ashudder of revulsion crawls through me at the thought of having something else on me like that.Robertinsisted thatIhave permanent make-up done, so my lips, eyes and brows are all tattooed to perfection.Ididn’t want any of that, preferring a more natural look, butIwasn’t given a choice in the matter.This… mark, would be even more noticeable than my cosmetic tattoos.

Notthat it matters.Inever want to have sex again.Justthe thought of it fills me with revulsion after the years of sexual abuseI’vesuffered.

Einarlifts one of his hand and rubs at the same spot on his chest and the words slip out beforeIrealize whatI’vesaid.

“Whydo you keep doing that?Rubbingyour chest in the middle like it hurts?”

Arueful smile pulls at his mouth, revealing the length of his tusk as well as sharp incisors and canines.

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