SAFIR: The Warlord's Bounty: Scifi Alien Abduction Romance (Alien Romance, Alien Invasion Romance) (Astral Guardians Book 1) (4 page)

As I explained this to her, I slowly walked over to the bed where she sat. She did not flinch or shy away from me, so I sat down next to her.

We sat in silence for a long while until I noticed her shivering, so I pulled a blanket around her shoulders and told her that I would return shortly with wood for the fireplace.

I went around to the back of the cabin where a pile of chopped wood sat and I took a few logs. I would have to chop some more wood the next morning. I walked back inside and got the fire going for Arianna. She sat on the couch across from it, curled up and stared dimly into the flames.

“Are you hungry?” I asked her before she shook her head and I went to sit next to her on the couch.

“You haven’t eaten anything in at least twenty-four hours…” I trailed off, not knowing if she wanted to be reminded of her abduction or not.

“You’re right, it has been that amount of time…but I couldn’t bring myself to eat right now. Everything is too strange—” Arianna stopped talking abruptly, as we both heard the loud rustling outside.

I stood up silently and motioned for her to stay calm. Her eyes were wide, but she simply nodded and remained silent. There was no way any of my men could have followed me here, the wind was blowing north and I was in my natural form when I came here with Arianna.

I slipped out of the back door in the kitchen and morphed into the tiger. I slowly walked around the house and encountered a bear. It wasn’t a shifter, but a real animal. It was most likely looking for food.

When it caught sight of me, it quickly ran away into the trees. I sighed and then morphed back to go and tell Arianna that everything would be all right. She’d had enough fright the past couple of days to last her a lifetime.

“It was just a bear,” I said as I re-entered the cabin, locking the other door behind me. Arianna breathed a huge sigh of relief and I had to control the urge to hold her because she was still shivering. I thought that it was probably from shock.

I needed to get her food though, if she couldn’t eat then, she would most likely want food for the morning.

“I will return shortly Arianna, try not to fear. You’re safe here. No one knows this place but us,” I reassured her and she nodded.

I left and locked the door behind me before I shifted and ran towards the closest national park. In the tiger form, it would take me half an hour to get there and back with food.

Once I returned, I found Arianna looking at one of the many books above the mantelpiece. There was no way to have cable here so I invested in books and movies for the small television mounted on the wall across from the bed.

“I hope the rangers have enough gas for another trip into town, because I cleaned out their kitchen.” Arianna turned and saw the big duffel bag I held full of food.

“I happen to think they had just gone food shopping also.” I grinned and started putting away some canned food and frozen dinners. There were snacks and water and juice, also some breakfast items like bacon and eggs. Good thing I had a small portable stove. There was even pancake mix. I hadn’t taken the time to look at everything as I was grabbing it.

“Are you sure you aren’t hungry?” I asked her curiously.

She walked over silently and took an apple and banana. I put the rest of the fruit in the relatively small fridge and finished unloading a few toiletry items in the bathroom like toilet paper, soap, and still packaged toothpaste and toothbrushes.

“You had quite the haul from the ranger cabin…” Arianna finally spoke as she watched me put things away.

“How far did you have to go to find all this?” I told her the name of the Canadian national park across the border and she looked at me in bewilderment. “You were gone for less than an hour, how’d you get there and back so fast?”

“I ran,” I said simply and she snorted.

“Of course you ran…”

Chapter 3

Arianna

I sat down in front of the fire, still freezing, and ate the stolen apple and banana. Safir made us both cups of stolen tea and he sat down with me on the floor.

“I cannot tell you how sorry I am that this all happened Arianna,” he was sincere and I met his eyes briefly before looking back at the flames.

“It wasn’t your fault. Your warriors went behind your back because they wanted to fix you or something…at least that’s what I gathered,” I said. Safir was quiet for a long while.

“It was because you distracted me so much that they felt they had to act…I don’t know what it is I feel when I am around you,” he admitted softly.

I looked over at him and he took a sip of his tea. I think Safir had exactly two mugs in the kitchen and one plate with one set of fork and knives. I don’t think he ate much when he came here. He probably hunted animals in the forest and ate them while he was in the form of the huge tiger.

Flashbacks popped into my head of that terrifying fight. I thought one of them was going to kill Safir and then kill me. Yet Safir seemed to still be riding on adrenaline, as he hadn’t noticed the bad gash in his leg. It was wrapped up with a strip of his sweater so that he could run us into the woods, but it was otherwise forgotten since.

“Are you going to clean that out?” I asked him. Safir looked down to where I was pointing and he cursed.

“It’s just a scratch. It will heal by morning.”
Wow, apparently he had super fast healing abilities too.

“Doesn’t it hurt?” I asked curiously. He shook his head, smiling at me a little.

“Do you want to see? It isn’t nearly as bad as it was a few hours ago,” I nodded and he showed me the wound. It was red, but it was no longer an open bite wound.

“Can I please clean it out for you and dress it? It would make me feel better, I don’t want you getting an infection,” I stood before he could say yes or no and went to find a first aid kit or something. There was actually one in the bathroom and I grabbed it and went out to fix his leg.

Safir was silent as I cleaned it with saline and antiseptic. I put some butterfly stitches on him and then wrapped bandages and gauze around his muscular thigh.

“There…
now
it’ll be better by morning.” Safir smiled at me as if I was some rare gem and I looked down quickly to put everything back and away.

After dressing his wound, I rifled through the trunks of clothing under the bed until I found some sweat pants and a t-shirt for him to change into.

“You should change out of that ripped and burnt sweater and jeans.” Safir stood and whipped the sweater over his head, undressing right in front of me. I pursed my lips and turned around, not wanting to stare at his impeccable defined chest and abs.

“I’m changed, what now?” Safir was teasing me of all things and I couldn’t help but smile.

“Well now I’ve taken care of you and you’ve given me something to do,” I said while taking up his gross clothing and dumping it in the duffel bag that I was sure he had stolen from the poor rangers.

“I have books, and movies here if you want. If we turn off the lights, there will be enough power left before sunrise that we might be able to watch two movies,” Safir suggested. I didn’t mind trying to relax with a movie and another cup of tea.

“This is a really handy cabin. Did you build all of this on your own?” I asked while studying the small TV mounted across from the bed. The cabin was really like a studio apartment; it was just one open space.

“Yes, in my extra time. I needed a hobby and a get away, this served as both.” Safir spoke while pulling me towards the bed. I was still in a certain state of fear and was suppressing my emotions surrounding everything that had happened.

“I have extra t-shirts and…boxers if you would like to change for bed?” Safir sat me down on the soft mattress and pulled out one of the two trunks of clothes. He pulled out a white t-shirt and a pair of boxer briefs.

“Is there…running water here?” Safir nodded and explained how he was able to run a pipe from a nearby stream that flowed downhill.

I’d be able to shower if I wanted. I definitely wanted to, I needed to get the day washed off of me. I stepped into the bathroom and realized that there were no towels. Of all the things this cabin had, he didn’t think to put towels in the bathroom. I was going to be freezing.

There was only cold water so my shower was very short. I washed all the necessary parts and then quickly got out. I changed and all but ran to the bed to burrow under the blankets.

“I figured you would be cold, I have another cup of tea for you,” Safir handed me the warm mug and I could have kissed him for being so considerate.

Safir turned off the lights in the cabin and put in a sci-fi series DVD, it was season one of the original series. I couldn’t help but laugh at the irony.

“You l—like Sci—Fi?” I chattered my question and he nodded while lowering onto the floor next to me. I sat back against the headboard, which was hand crafted from a large slab of wood.

“Yes, in some ways, it reminds me of Voltaire. We used to explore the universe and different galaxies before the war. We stood for advancements in society and science. We were a peaceful race really…sometimes I wonder if Voltaire has returned to its historic ways, if the war even ended…” the look that entered Safir’s eyes as he talked about his home was heartbreaking. We watched a few episodes before I finished my tea and wrapped the blankets tight around me.

“I can hear your teeth chattering Arianna…can I…you would be warmer if I got into bed with you,” Safir stood before I could say yes or no.

He took the mugs and placed them in the kitchen before climbing into bed behind me. With his thick arms wrapped around my waist, he pulled me back against his chest. He was like a space heater. I turned around in his arms and pressed closer against his chest.

“Oh my goodness, you’re so warm Safir…” I murmured while cuddling even closer, his arms tightened around me and I looked up to see his eyes.

He was watching me with suppressed heat. Warmth spread through my chest and I couldn’t help but think that his arms felt really nice around me.

Safir lowered his head and before I knew it, he was kissing me. His lips were incredibly soft and warm; they felt amazing moving against mine. The warmth started to spread from my chest to all parts of my body. Kissing was definitely a sure way to heat up. Safir’s arms tightened around me even further and I was pressed flush against him. I could feel his erection through the sweat pants he wore.

I broke the kiss to catch my breath, we were both breathing hard. “I think…I think I’ve warmed up now,” I said breathlessly.

Safir nodded and he loosened his hold on me a fraction, but otherwise didn’t move. Exhaustion crashed over me then and my eyelids drooped as my head fell against his chest. Soon I was out like a light.

* * *

I woke up in bed, but Safir was not with me. Sunlight was streaming in through the windows of the cabin and I smelled that breakfast had been cooked. I got out of bed and walked over to the kitchenette.

There was bacon and pancakes sitting on a paper plate on the counter. I sat at the breakfast bar and ate the food while I wondered where Safir had gone. After eating, I poured myself some water from the faucet; it was cool and tasted delicious. I wondered what freshwater stream Safir had managed to tap into.

“You are awake,” Safir nearly scared me half to death as he walked in through the front door with a smile on his face. He held a duffel bag that looked vaguely familiar.

“Where’d you get that from?” I asked curiously. Safir brought the bag over to the couch, where I was sitting, and he showed me clothes from my apartment.

“How’d you get this? Did you go into town? I thought your warriors were after you? I thought my apartment blew up?” The questions tumbled from my mouth and Safir let me speak, his expression was patient.

“Your kitchen blew up, not your bedroom. I was able to enlist the help from a couple of my men who are still loyal to me. They did not agree with the way you were treated and see humans with the same respect I do.”

Safir explained how he approached the two warriors he could trust and got them to retrieve some clothing for me. Safir also informed me that they were working on getting me a new identity and making arrangements to have me moved to a safer place. It seemed like I was in some weird alien witness protection program.

“It will take a couple of weeks though for all of this to be done, so until then, you must remain here with me where I can protect you.” Safir made sure I understood what was going to happen, that I wasn’t returning to my life in Keene. I simply nodded and then tried to digest all of it.

Everything was truly destroyed, my best friend probably thought I had died in the explosion and I’d never get to see her or her family again. I’d have to learn a new name, move to a new city and start all over again. I didn’t want to do that…but I had no choice because my life was in danger.

“Why did all of this have to happen Safir?” I asked him. I felt beyond helpless.

Safir turned his attention back to me and studied my face. His expression was full of remorse and I knew he hated his men, or maybe even himself for how they’d ruined my life. In that moment, I didn’t care, I
wanted
to blame someone. I wanted someone to feel crappy for forcing me into the situation I was in.

“I’m sorry Arianna, I’m so sorry all of this happened, if I could take it back—if I could turn back time, I would,” he still didn’t answer my question.

I threw the duffel bag down and stood up abruptly. I felt like screaming at him and beating him up all at once, though I knew I’d probably not leave a mark on him.

“
Why
Safir? Why me?” I asked him again and he stood up to face me, I could see indecision in his strange blue eyes, he was obviously battling something.

“Just tell me, I need to at least know why my entire life was thrown upside down!” I demanded. Safir took a deep breath and his hands gripped my shoulders lightly.

“I…you must understand that this is difficult to explain, especially as you are so wound up…”
Was that his way of asking me to calm down?
Ever since the shock and fear of last night had dissipated, anger was quickly taking their place.

“How could you expect me to calm down Safir! I was abducted, my life was threatened, I was forced to almost have sex with you, and then my apartment exploded! Not to mention I had to come to terms with the fact that the people who caused such turmoil in such a short amount of time are freaking aliens who can turn into mythical creatures! There was a
dragon
in my living room!” I took a deep breath when I finished my yelling and I had to admit that I only felt a little better. I wanted to cry and then yell some more. The entire situation was maddening.

“You are my mate…” Safir’s tone was low with the soft admission and I almost didn’t catch what he said. I looked at him, dumbfounded, so everything those alien shifters were saying…Safir really
did
think I was supposed to be his mate or something? Was he just as deluded as the others?

“I recognized you as my mate the first time I walked into that coffee shop Arianna. The tiger…my instincts they were going haywire because of you,” Safir sounded like he was admitting to a weakness and the look in his eyes was sincere. I quietly listened to what he had to say.

“I could not predict and control when I would shift because my thoughts were consumed by you at first. I got sloppy and shifted too close to town, that was when the rumors started and then that idiotic hiker. I never harmed him in any way; he simply scared himself and took a tumble down the short cliff. Anyway, I put my men in danger and that is why, they acted so stupidly,” Safir’s gaze was intent on mine as he silently pleaded for me to understand.

“Everything about you got to me and I couldn’t stay away from that coffee shop. I had to see you, your scent called to me even when I was deep in the forest…but I would not approach you because I didn’t want any of…this to happen,” Safir closed his eyes and sighed before he opened them again. I saw that he was truly sorry for everything that happened.

“You have to believe me that I will do everything in power to try and make this right for you. So that you will not have to live in fear any longer,” Safir was sincere and I took a deep breath to calm myself.

“I believe you…I said quietly,” I surprised both Safir and myself by pulling him into a hug and then I picked up my bag from the floor and went into the bathroom to brush my teeth and change.

I couldn’t help but remember last night, and the way we kissed. Safir had so much passion and it was because he thought I was his mate? I didn’t understand how any of that worked and I wondered if that meant he loved me.

I shook my head and went through what was packed for me. Thank goodness, there was enough underwear in here to last a couple of weeks and a few thick sweaters I could reuse, as well as plenty of jeans and tights. I wondered if whoever picked out my clothes had fashion sense. It wasn’t just clothes thrown into a bag like a normal guy would do.

I came out of the bathroom and Safir was feeding wood to the fire. He looked up when I stepped into the room and I looked away. I felt oddly shy. I went to stuff the duffel bag under the bed with the rest of Safir’s trunks of clothing.

“I must…go and chop some more fire wood, if you need me I will just be out behind the cabin,” Safir informed me before he quickly strode out through the back door.

Well I guessed all there was to do then was read or watch one of Safir’s DVDs. Though I didn’t know what the protocol was for saving energy for the nighttime hours.

I went outside to ask him and found Safir shirtless, wearing nothing but a snug pair of jeans and boots while he was swinging an axe down on a block of wood. There were three thick tree branches on the ground behind him and an already good pile of firewood to the left of him.

“Um…uh I was wondering how the entire solar power energy thing worked for when night falls…” my eyes were roaming his broad shoulders and defined chest, not to mention his tight abdomen.

Safir rested the axe down against the tree stump he was using to chop the wood on and he pointed to the two solar panels on poles near the front of the cabin.

“For this size of cabin and the amount of devices it uses, we only need one for normal use throughout the day, but the other is for the sole purpose of collecting the energy and storing it in a battery. At night, we use the power from that so feel free to watch as many DVDs as you want while the sun is still up…” Safir picked up the axe again and I guessed I was dismissed.