Page 49 of Cursed Alien

“Mr. Fletcher,” Malrik said, turning back to her father. “I know this is… unexpected. But I give you my word as a Vultor warrior that I will protect your daughter with my life.”

“Noble words,” her father said dryly. “But forgive me if I find them hard to trust, coming from the one who held me prisoner.”

“Papa—” she began, but Malrik raised a hand.

“He’s right to doubt,” Malrik said. “I’ve given him no reason to trust me. Only my actions can prove my intentions.” He looked directly at her father. “I love your daughter. She has brought light back into my existence. I would die before allowing harm to come to her.”

Her father held Malrik’s gaze for a long moment, then looked back at her. “And you’re sure about this? About him?”

She nodded. “More sure than I’ve ever been about anything.”

Her father closed his eyes briefly, then gave a resigned nod. “Then I suppose I’ll have to accept it.” He fixed Malrik with a stern look. “But if you ever hurt her?—”

“If I ever hurt her,” Malrik said solemnly, “I would welcome your vengeance.”

A dry chuckle from the doorway drew their attention. Agatha stood there, watching the exchange with evident amusement.

“Well, that’s all very dramatic,” she said. “Now perhaps you’d like to hear what I know about Vultor curses?”

“You know about the curse?”

Agatha snorted. “Child, I’ve lived alongside the Vultor for fifty years. I’ve forgotten more about them than most humans will ever know.” She moved into the room, shooing Bella toward a chair. “Sit. Both of you. This may take a while.”

She obeyed, but Malrik remained standing, his tall frame making the small bedroom feel even more cramped.

“The curse of the unmated,” Agatha began, “is as old as the Vultor themselves. As a Vultor male grows older, his beast grows stronger. Unless he finds a mate, it can consume him entirely. For some males that can take many years. For some it never happens. For others, especially those who are not open to the possibility of a mate, it can occur more rapidly.”

“That’s what happened to me,” Malrik said quietly. “I was… arrogant. I rejected many potential mates, believing none were worthy.”

“And then you were alone,” Agatha continued, “trapped in your beast form, unable to find your way back to yourself. Until Bella.”

“Until Bella,” he agreed, his eyes finding hers across the room. “But the beast is still strong. Still fighting for control.”

“A Vultor is not meant to live alone,” Agatha said tartly. “Being part of a pack will help your efforts to control your beast.”

“I was cast out of the pack.”

“As I recall, you never considered yourself part of it to begin with.”

She saw him wince, even as he nodded.

“I did not believe I needed a pack either.”

“And so Seren enforced the old ways,” Agatha said. “Cast you out until you learned humility.”

“We’re supposed to meet with him today,” she said. “He’s coming here.”

Agatha nodded approvingly. “Good. You must face him, acknowledge what you’ve learned.”

“And if he doesn’t accept it?” Malrik asked, his voice low.

“He will,” Agatha said confidently. “Seren is stern but fair. And I think you’ll find him much more… relaxed than usual,” she added, her eyes twinkling.

Malrik still looked uneasy and she went to join him at the door, smiling up at him. “And I’ll be there with you.”

“Bella, no,” her father protested. “It could be dangerous.”

“It won’t be,” she insisted. “Not if what Agatha says is true. And besides,” she added, looking up at Malrik, “we’re in this together now.”

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