Page 60 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

But the tribas was always close to his heras.

Rune had much explaining to do.

Ga Eun moved them to the sitting area and pointed to a chair. She clucked her tongue and Sah-ah glided into the seat, folding her hands into her lap and waiting for further instruction.

Korben grunted and grabbed Sah-ah’s hand. Hauling her out of the chair, he snarled at Rune. “Me first.”

“All you need is a language update.” Rune nodded at Sah-ah. “Your mate is the one who needs the drill.”

“Me. First.” Korben stared Rune down.

Ga Eun moved to her mate’s side and whispered some words to him.

Rune’s eyes flashed, but his blades fell back into his arms and he inhaled a deep, shuddering breath as he said, “I know how this looks.”

“Itlookslike you discovered we can mate with humans and kept it to yourself.”

“What was I supposed to do?” Rune yelled. “If the truth had been revealed, Plutonians who’d shunned the way would have stopped at nothing to impregnate Ga Eun—whether she agreed or not.”

Korben’s heart softened. Just imagining Sah-ah in that situation made his blood boil.

“We could have stopped that,” Korben snapped.

“We come from two different tribas, Korben. My leader wasn’t as principled as you. How do you think a Plutonian like my brother continued to live with us when he didn’t follow our rules?”

“Still, you should have—”

“What Idid,” Rune snapped, “was protect my family. Just as you are protecting yours.” He stared at Korben’s fingers that were wrapped around Sah-ah’s wrist. “I couldn’t risk the lives of Ga-Eun or my brood. I couldn’t sacrifice my heras for the tribas. For all Plutonians.” He shook his head. “Maybe that makes me selfish, but I would make the same choice again.”

Korben glared at the ground. Rune’s words wrapped around him and squeezed his head in a vice-grip. He could understand that overwhelming devotion. He felt the same for Sah-ah. Had sensed it long before she allowed him to taste her sweet places. He would brave anyone and anything that stood in her way. He would clear the path for her, so she stepped on nothing but gold. He would let the world burn if it meant saving her.

“What you feel for your mate,” Rune said softly, “is exactly what I feel for mine. It was not an easy choice, but it was one I made for the good of these two.” He nodded to Ga Eun and the brood.

“Did you know of her ability to bear offspring before you left the tribas?”

Ga Eun approached him. “Neh.”

Korben turned to her, blinking rapidly. He’d forgotten that she could understand the Plutonian tongue.

“She’s right. We didn't know. Kenzi was birthed two sun rotations ago. We were already living in hiding for several sun cycles before we discovered Ga Eun was with child.”

Korben looked at Sah-ah. She stood with her shoulders tense, quietly observing everything. Though she could not understand their words, she sensed the gravity of the stand-off. But did she understand what this new discovery meant for his people? For him?

No wonder Rune had suspected humans could be used by the Heronas to access the sacred waters. He had evidence that all the rules could be broken because Rune’s human mate had given birth to his offspring.

Sah-ah could bear his child. He could be a father.

Korben’s mind flashed with memories of entering Sah-ah’s tight little body. His gaze drifted to her stomach that was hidden beneath the crumpled tunic. The passion they’d indulged in meant so much more now. More than her pleasure. More than his release. More than their heat that soaked the bed.

He had made a vow to stay by her side forever. He had pumped her full of his seed. He had stretched her to his length. All of that, without expecting anything but Sah-ah.

But now…

A growing sense of excitement and awe seeped through his chest. Korben had not known what was possible, but the sweeping truth was too marvelous for him to accept.

Even now, his beautiful, brave and kind mate could be carrying his brood.

Twenty-Five

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