Page 28 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

Mom?

No. The figure beside her in the dream was too big to be her mom.

And it wasn’thim.

So…

She blinked and the figure’s skin shifted to blue. She blinked again and rows of hard abs formed on his torso. One more blink and his tattoos came into vision.

Simone gasped.Zar?

Why was she dreaming about Zar of all things?

“Go. Shoo!” She told Dream Zar. “I’m angry with you.”

He just chuckled, his tail flicking in amusement.

At that moment, Simone’s eyes burst open. The alien landscape came into focus. Blue trees from the leaves to the roots. Twin planet hovering in the distance as if waiting for its opportunity to come crashing in. Harsh sunlight. Faint stars.

Had she fallen asleep?

She shifted slightly and then froze. The tree she’d been leaning on had just breathed. She’d felt the rise and fall of its chest. Heard the steady pace of its heartbeat.

She’d fallen asleep on Zar. His fingers smoothly brushed down her cornrows. They were so big that they slipped and eased against her scalp, giving the most satisfying rub.

But when had he gotten there? Had she been leaning on him this entire time?

Zar slowly opened his eyes.

Their gazes locked.

Tension spun between them, pulling tight.

I’m angry at him.

For what again?

Simone honestly couldn’t remember.

Right now, staring into Zar’s purple eyes, she couldn’t remember her own name.

He’d braided his hair in a thick plait that fell down his back. Only a few tendrils hung over his face. It should have been a girly hairstyle, but it wasn’t. Not on him. Not on this hulk of a blue warrior.

“Si-Moon.” Zar touched her cheek gently. He spoke to her in a deep voice that was much softer and more measured than the one from earlier.

Was he… apologizing?

There was something in his eyes that told her he was trying to make-up. A patience to his tone. A gentleness to the caress of her jaw and neck. It felt like he was begging her to understand and she wanted to. Oh, how she wanted to.

“I’m sorry too,” she said, cupping his hand and pressing her fingers against his knuckles. The dream of her mother—spurred by Zar’s tender stroking—had unsettled her. She rarely thought of the past and, in fact, tried to separate herself from it as much as possible.

Those memories always attacked at the worst times. Thinking of all she’d lost always made her feel open and vulnerable, like a piece of fruit turned inside out, all the raw, ugly veins exposed. Yet, looking at Zar, Simone didn’t feel that familiar unease.

She felt stripped, yes.

She felt defenseless.

But not in a bad way.

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