Page 77 of Evan and the Alpha

“He has to see that human healer,” Yafir cuts in. “They could simply leave while he’s there, on the ship, could they not?”

I blink, then look at Ge-Ro. The beta looks back at me, eyes wide and startled. I turn back to Yafir. “Then he won’t go see Min tomorrow.” That seems simple.

Yafir nods. “But will you be here? Guarding him?”

I pause. Ge-Ro shifts. “You can stay tomorrow,” he says. “But you will not be able to stay every day.”

“I can go with him to the ship then,” I say. I glance at them. “Or perhaps one of you.” I swallow something that feels like fear. I haven’t felt that in a while.

They won’t leave with one of us aboard, will they? They might be willing to kidnap Evan, but he’s one of their own. Would they really take off with a kroakka aboard?

That could be tantamount to war. I know things have been tense between us, but would the humans really start a war? That would be foolish. Cowardly, even.

Ge-Ro and Yafir exchange nervous glances. “We could,” Ge-Ro agrees slowly.

“It’s no guarantee,” Yafir murmurs. “If they’re willing to take Evan away, even knowing the two of you are bonded …”

Fear leaps back up my throat, quickly followed by nervous hope. “Of course,” I laugh, glancing at my brothers in turn. “They don’t know about the bond. They can’t. So I can simply explain it …”

We had just bondedwhen I kicked his family out. I don’t think I’d even told Evan what happened next. Of course they don’t know about the bond. If one of us is taken away from the other—by death or other means—then the remaining mate will suffer and die. Just like my omom suffered and finally passed after my phapha’s death.

They wouldn’t dare think to take Evan from me if they knew it meant condemning us to death, right?

I glance to my brothers again, searching their faces for reassurance. Neither of them looks very confident in my assertion either. I cling to it, desperately; it’s the only thing I have. The humans may be cruel and controlling, but they wouldn’t knowingly condemn Evan and I alike to a slow death through separation.

“I’ll just explain it,” I repeat, forcing confidence into my voice. “I’ll explain that we are bonded, and to separate us would kill us both.”

“That might mean they’ll just leave with you aboard,” Ge-Ro points out.

I sigh. “Then one of you have to go and ensure they return Evan to me.” I can’t set foot on their ship, giving them the chance to have both of us trapped there. If I’m not there and they take off with Evan, knowing it will kill us, then they are cruel beyond measure.

Yafir and Ge-Ro exchange another nervous glance. “All right,” Ge-Ro says slowly. He doesn’t believe it will work. I don’t blame him; I don’t believe it will work either.

But it’s the only way. Simply telling the humans Evan can’t go to his appointments will not be well received. They will accuse me of denying him care. They did once already, and they seemed willing to fight us about it.

I can try to guard Evan more, but Ge-Ro is right that I can’t be by his side constantly. I will need to leave him at some point, to tend to matters of territory and more.

And if Evan and I are together constantly, what then? They could just kidnap us both.

That might not be so bad, I reason, so long as we’re together. Still, I want to stay here, with my brothers, in the territory of my parents, the territory I have worked hard to win and maintain. And I want my mate to stay with me and raise our children here. And Evan wants to stay with me.

I wonder why what Evan wants matters so little to the humans. They are such a strange species.

No, I could live with it if we were together, but I will do everything in my power to ensure we stay here. Evan wants that, and his wishes should be respected.

I nod to Ge-Ro. “You will go with him tomorrow. You will explain to the humans what will happen if he and I are separated. You will ensure he is returned.”

Ge-Ro nods slowly, but there’s still doubt in his eyes, mirroring what I feel in my heart.

It’s as though both of us already know the wretched truth: this isn’t going to be enough to keep the humans on the planet. This isn’t going to work.

***

I stay at the table long after my brothers have gone to their respective houses. Yafir makes some excuse about Rex and I wave at him to go. Ge-Ro offers to walk him home. It makes me smile a little, to see Ge-Ro already treating our younger brother with such respect. Yafir will be a wonderful omega. Ge-Ro will be a good alpha someday, should he choose it.

They leave me at the table alone, in the dark. I’ve long finished the one cup of grog I allowed myself, and the candle flickered out and I can’t be bothered to relight it. I know I should go to bed, but I can’t bring myself to rise. My body is like lead.

Soft footsteps bring me back from whatever reverie I’d entered. Evan appears in the room, barely highlighted by the soft light of the half-moon that’s risen into the eastern sky, barely hanging above the horizon. Its light catches on the curves of Evan’s body—he told me he’s almost halfway through gestation now. He seems to grow rounder every day—his whole body is softer. He seems less like a sun spirit and more like Tsisimubek, the great nature deity from whom all life springs.