Gabe's Destiny (Alien Mates Book Three) (6 page)

Her eyes closed and blackness swallowed her whole.

Taya opened her eyes to see the walls surrounding her were blue with hints of silver around. She was back in her room at the bed and breakfast. Turning her head, she found Gabe sitting at her bedside in a chair.

“Hi.” Her throat was dry and scratchy like she hadn’t had anything to drink in a while.

“Hi yourself.” He stood up and went to the dresser where a bottle of water sat surrounded by ice. Unfortunately, he picked up the bottle not in the ice.

“I have some nice warm water for you. If you can keep it down, we will progress to a bottle of cold water.”

“Okay,” she croaked. It sounded good to her.

He poured it into a cup and used a super hero straw that went around in loops.

“Seems the only straws we have are for the youngsters.”

She gave him a small smile before she tried to sip on the cup and straw he brought over. After a few attempts, she finally got the water to come up and slide down her parched throat. Taking a bigger sip, she choked and he pulled the cup back.

“Take it slow; you’ve been out cold for a while.”

“How long?”

“Two days.” He brought the cup back and she slowly sipped at the water.

She had been out for two days? How could she have slept that long?

“What happened?”

“We got out of Zuhun’s attic and into the SUV before you collapsed. Rylan carried you in and laid you on the bed. I followed barely able to walk. I slept beside you and woke up yesterday, but you were still out so I took over caring for you.”

“Thank you. Did we defeat Zuhun?”

“For the moment. He’s down but not out.”

She sat up in the bed trying to put her thoughts and questions in order of importance.

“If we kill Zuhun will I be free?”

“No, he’s one of many. The best way to be free is to learn to defend yourself against them. I want to kill him too, if just for the chance to take a deep breath before I have to go back to fighting.”

She leaned over and placed her hand on his. “Will you teach me?”

“As much as I can.”

“What’s wrong? You don’t look happy that we survived. I’m listening to you now. I know I was wrong to just walk off and I definitely realize how it put me in danger. Believe me, I’m willing to listen.”

“It’s not that, Taya. When I am around you, it’s difficult.”

“What do you mean?”

“When you’re different like you and I sometimes the rules change.”

“That’s why Sudir’s and other monsters come after us.”

“Yeah, but it’s more than that. I feel an attraction to you, but it’s not an ordinary can I take you to dinner attraction.”

“You don’t want to drain me of energy like I’m the last cow on Earth.” She backed up a little on the bed.

He laughed, a full body laugh that made the tension trying to stiffen her shoulders slide away.

“Nope, not a bit interested in that. Of course, the male in me came up with something different he’d like to get his lips on.”

She blushed, really how old was she? It took a swift shake of her head to get the images his words conjured up out of her head.

“If you don’t want to eat me, in a horrible way, what do you want to do?”

He settled deeper in the chair before making eye contact.

“Let me tell you a little about myself. I’m a shifter. I think that’s the easiest way to put it. It means there are two sides to me. Right now you see the Arbrin side but within me, just as dominant, is the Matra side. Because we both know the public would be scared and hunt us down if he were seen outside, he stays hidden until we are alone.”

“If you’re a shifter, why can’t I see the animal overlaying you?”

“My Matra is not an animal. I believe you see that with the other shifters because they are originally from this planet. I am not.”

“Your other side, does it wish to hurt me?”

“We both want to protect you.”

“Yet somehow the protection will be something that won’t make me happy.”

“That’s about the size of it.”

“As we grow older, the Arbrin/Matra begin to search for our soul-bond. Together we become one. It makes us stronger; after a certain amount of time we need that for our sanity. I should have more time but being a twin and dealing with what Rylan has gone through has triggered a need in me for my soul-bond.”

“What’s a soul-bond? It sounds kind of painful.”

“A soul-bond is what happens between two people who become one. Like Rylan and Aviana.”

“Marriage?”

“It’s more than that. So much deeper and its forever but for now let’s call it marriage.”

Her mouth hung open as she stared at him. Was he asking her to marry him? She was flattered, of course she was flattered but did it look like she was born yesterday. What exactly did he want out of a sham marriage?

“You want to marry me?” She couldn’t keep the note of surprise from creeping into her voice.

“Yes.”

She laid down in the bed pulling the covers over her head before she sat up again realizing he must be teasing. It had to be a joke. She fell backwards and started laughing. Nice big laughs that might have encouraged him to join in. When she realized she was laughing alone, she stopped and sat up.

“You’re serious?”

“Very.”

Her stomach picked that minute to growl saving her from possibly disgracing herself.

“I’m hungry.”

“Let’s go down to the kitchen, I’ll make you something.”

He cooks? She stood up and silently followed him out the door and down the steps. Looking around, she wondered if everyone here was as crazy as he was. It really didn’t matter because they had saved her life. No one had to come and get her, but they did and she was grateful. So she would listen to what Gabe had to say before she politely turned him down.

It didn’t matter that he was pleasing to look at, although if you were going to get married, the man should appeal to you. She wasn’t getting married though. He did have a really good sense of humor and could make her feel better in stressful situations. That would be a good quality in a marriage. Not that she was getting hitched.

She shut her brain down, because this could go on forever. She wasn’t getting married and that was final.

He pulled a chair out for her at the kitchen table.

“Do you want breakfast or lunch?”

“What’s for lunch?”

“Sandwiches and chips, hamburger and fries. I see left over lasagna and a few other things I can whip up if I haven’t mentioned anything you’re interested in.”

“A nice sandwich and some chips sound good.”

He reached into the fridge and pulled out lettuce, tomato, mayo as well as meat and cheese.

Her stomach growled again. She walked over to him and stole a couple of chips before he swatted at her hand making her laugh. Snaking her hand out to catch a few more, she returned to her seat with a smile on her lips. He really was a man, err male, who she wouldn’t mind dating.

Stop it, she chastised herself. There would be no dating, no marrying and definitely no kissing, even though she was sure she dreamed about kissing him.

He brought her plate over with a flourish. Then he retrieved drinks and his own plate. She sat in silence as she ate. The sandwich was great, a thick roast beef. She couldn’t remember the last time she had one because of all the salads she was eating, none of which helped her bottom line.

“Thank you,” she said before picking up a chip and popping it into her mouth.

“Your welcome, I would cook for you any day.”

She looked at him and realized he was telling the truth.

“I believe you.” With that revelation came an unsettled feeling in the pit of her stomach.

She could feel herself stretching in his direction. There was a desire to be close to him, to feel his hands on her as he caressed her skin. The desire to touch him was even stronger. Without realizing it, she reached out and placed her hand on his.

Her head drifted down as her fingertips caressed the back of his hand, learning the smoothness of it. He turned his hand over and she caressed his palm before allowing her fingers to trace his. There were callouses on his hand as though at one point he had done manual labor. His fingers were lithe and strong. The longer she touched him, the more little fires ignited in her belly.

He brought his other hand up to trace the back of her fingers making her breath catch in her throat.

“We haven’t known each other long enough to be attracted to each other.”

“I thought humans believed in love at first sight.”

“Not this human. I believe in being cautious and when I think I have all my ducks in a row, start from the beginning and do it all again. Remember I was a hospital administrator. Going too fast means missing things.”

“Going to slow means the same thing.”

“Where’s the middle ground?”

“Taya, maybe you and I don’t get one. We either go fast or we don’t go at all.”

“Gabe,” his name tasted good on her lips. “Maybe we need to look harder.”

He smiled and stood to clear off the table. There wasn’t much to do but she helped him clean up before they walked back into the living room. She made herself comfortable on the couch and watched as he sat beside her.

“Tell me more of this soul-bonding.” She wanted to hit her head on something. What made her say that?

He gave her a small smile. “Marriage is something you can get out of if you have made a mistake. Soul-bonding isn’t. Being soul-bonded to the wrong person would be like a death sentence. Because of that, we would have to go through a trial. The trial would test us both and if we didn’t pass we wouldn’t be soul-bonded. The down side of that is you can only do it once. If you don’t pass there are no do overs.”

It sounded like some mythical being, that knew more than you, telling you if you were compatible. She didn’t know if she liked that or not. At least it kept you from making a horrible mistake, but what if you were truly meant to be together and it got it wrong? Maybe you were just having a bad day.

“I’m divided on whether I think these test are good or not.”

“It doesn’t really matter, they are there just like a marriage license, either you do it or you don’t.”

That made sense. Lots of people choose to live together without ever taking the next step and many were happy.

“So you’re saying people can live together without soul-bonding?”

He shook his head. “This is more than a physical relationship. When a couple soul-bonds, they are able to enter each other’s minds. Like we did earlier but more. It’s a connection that goes so deep it cannot be cut. To tamper with it could mean their lives. It’s forever, Taya. There’s no coming back from it.”

“What would I get out of soul-bonding with you?” She sounded like a spoiled child or something worse and she knew it. For some reason she needed to know everything, even the parts that sounded bad.

“I could tell you that you would gain greater access to your power, that together we would become a powerful couple. I could tell you that you’d be faster. Find out that you would recognize evil easier and defend yourself against it quicker. I could tell you all that and it would be true. Yet, in the end what you get out of soul-bonding with me, is me.”

He looked her in the eyes, reached out and touched her cheek, caressing it. Then he stood and strode out the room leaving her staring after him.

Taya stood on the porch looking out over the front yard. It was wide and beautiful; it sparked a feeling of homesickness within reminding her of the view off her parent’s porch.

With a sigh, she sat. Her life was becoming more complicated with every breath she took. Gabe had essentially asked her to marry him. Say that three times fast and her head may just explode. He saved her life but did that mean she owed him eternal fidelity. Wouldn’t a simple thank you and a gift card to some music store suffice?

That was an easy no. Look Gabe, it’s me not you. Yes, you saved my life, but I think marriage is a little too much of a payment for it. Although my life is worth more than that. Gah, she was rambling in her thoughts. No, she wouldn’t marry Gabe as a thank you for saving her.

Everything after that got harder. He wasn’t asking her for a pity marriage or even a pity roll in the hay. When he looked at her he saw her. Taya, past, present, and future. It was there in the weight of his stare. He saw something in her she couldn’t begin to describe. That kind of transparency was enough to make her shudder and run.

If only it was simply that, but her body reached for him. She couldn’t keep her hands to herself. She needed to touch him, like the connection was the only thing that would keep her going. It was insane; people didn’t connect at such intimate levels. She needed a shrink.

“Yes ma’am.” She could picture lying on her shrink’s couch answering her questions.

“You heard his voice in your head telling you what to do?”

“Uh huh.”

“You say he’s an alien and you were accosted by another alien? One that’s an enemy of the one you’re attracted to?”

It was official; she had lost her ever loving mind, but she wouldn’t be turning herself in. Strait jackets weren’t her style. Not knowing what else to do she picked up the burner phone she swapped out every few weeks and made a call.

“Hello?” Tears came to her eyes at the sound of that voice.

“Mom.”

“Taya,” the woman on the other end screamed before her voice choked up with tears. “Bob, get in here now! Where are you, baby? Please come home or we’ll come to you. Taya’s on the phone.” There was a shuffle in the background and then her father’s voice was on the phone.

“Where are you, Princess? I’ll come get you. We’re so worried about you. The police found your car at the bus station. They said there was no foul play and if you wanted to run away you’re old enough. They stopped looking for you but we never did. Where are you?”

“I’m fine, dad, honestly. That person who was stalking me followed me or someone just like him found me. Either way, I left to make sure you and mom were okay. I can’t come back until I figure this out. I just needed to hear your voices.” She broke down in a sob.