A tear tracked down her cheek. He swiped it away. It killed him to see it there. She wrapped her hand around his. “You could have saved yourself. Gone back to your true home.”
“I would have, but that was before I met you. Marie, even if we only have moments left, they will be the best moments of my life. There’s no place I’d rather be. I give you my life. My heart. Everything I am. I am nothing without you.”
Tears welled and dropped. He kept his eyes trained on her. She would be the last thing he would see.
“Alastor, I give you my life. My heart. Everything I am. I am nothing without you. I love you, more than life itself.”
Heat washed over him, intense and bright. Gentle. Loving. It was though he felt the weight of her words. Any barrier left around his soul simply fell away, leaving only the raw, pure state.
He brushed his lips against hers, inhaling her breath, sinking into the soul she offered in return. A love washed through him so great, it almost brought him to his knees. Light infused the darkness behind his closed eyelids. He didn’t stop kissing Marie to wonder what was happening. If this was the end, he would kiss her until there was nothing left of him.
Light burned a pure white. A massive roar sounded around them. The air surrounding them shook with the force of the noise. He braced his body around hers, waiting for the agony of being torn apart by whatever it was bearing down around them, but instead, warmth and light, and a feeling of love so profound, it buckled his knees.
It washed through the pores of his skin, the fibres of muscle, all of his bones, and deeper into his soul. His awareness stretched to the far ends of the universe, where nothing lived except potential.
He sensed everything about Marie. Her goodness, her capacity to love, to care, to fight for those less able. Her faults. Her talents, beliefs, challenges, fantasies.
And he was awed by her love for him. It was unparalleled. It ignited with his essence, colliding and exploding with the power of a nuclear star. His soul released, expanded to its limits, and then contracted.
It contracted, binding, merging into something that was beyond beauty. Beyond words. Beyond anything he could have thought possible. He was Marie and she was him and for an indefinable moment, he was one person with her, until finally the tension snapped, his body shrunk in on itself and awareness jerked back into the present.
There was no more wind. No more darkness. No more chill. There was just… nothing.
He peeked open his eyes, muscles tensing as he expected the worst to be bearing down on him. Instead, booted feet filled his vision. Not what he expected. The figure knelt and a familiar face came into focus in front of him. “Black Feather? Lady Lyria?”
Lines of fatigue framed his eyes. His hair was a mess, his feathers missing, and clothing torn, yet ancient power and wisdom still rolled from the native Earthman. Lady Lyria appeared next to him, her hair windblown and trailing down her back. She looked as weary as Black Feather.
Next to him, Marie stirred. He helped her to sit. As soon as she saw Black Feather, she threw herself into his embrace. “I thought it had taken you. I thought… thought…” Her broken sobs were all that needed to be said.
Alastor itched to hold her and ease her through her grief, and only just held himself back. Black Feather was like Marie’s father, and should be respected.
“It did take us,” Black Feather said.
“I feared we would not be strong enough,” Lady Lyria said.
“But how are you here? Are we safe? Did we die?” Marie asked, looking between Black Feather and Lady Lyria.
Black Feather chuckled, his large hands on her shoulders. “You should know what you did.”
“How on Earth did I do anything?”
Lady Lyria settled her gaze on Alastor and smiled. “Not just you. Both of you. Together. Tell me, do you feel any different?”
Marie’s troubled gaze passed over Alastor before she closed her eyes. After mere moments, they sprang open. “I can feel you! You’re… inside me. Oh my God, I know what you’re feeling, almost as though…” She swallowed. “Almost as though your emotions are mine.”
Marie placed her palm on Alastor’s cheeks. Her eyes bounced between his, filling with tears. They were not tears of sadness. They were tears of joy. Could it possibly be true? “I feel you. Inside me.”
He identified the warmth she sent him. It was love. Her love for him. The supernova of being pulled apart had put both of them back together again.
Two souls, fused together
“How is that even possible?” Marie asked. She didn’t seem to be able to take her gaze from him, and his was completely locked with hers.
“You are two halves of the same soul. It should be impossible…” Black Feather stopped speaking.
“And yet it is done,” Lady Lyria said.
“However it happened, you have destroyed the entity and freed us,” Black Feather said.
For the first time Alastor looked around. Really looked. They were in complete… nothingness. Just light. It was neither hot, nor cold, nor uncomfortable, nor hard to see. Just a mere space of existence.
“Where are we?” he asked.
“In the same space as we were before, but it is now clean,” Lady Lyria said.
“Both of you have ended the darkness. It simply can’t exist the light of two fused souls. Nothing will withstand the power of love. You two have proven just how strong love can be,” Black Feather said.
Marie’s gaze slid to Black Feather. “I thought there was no more surprising you.”
“When there are no more surprises, then there is no more existence. You two have changed the very fibre of the universes,” Lady Lyria said.
“Universes?” Alastor asked.
Black Feather nodded. “This one, and the next. Although exactly what that will mean, I do not know.”
“How is it even possible?” Marie said.
“There are things at play that I am not aware of, Marie. All I know is that someone like you deserves the very best,” Black Feather said.
She smiled with the strength of sunshine on a winter’s day. “I did get the very best.”
“You’re… okay?” Alastor asked. If their souls were linked, she would be tethered to him for the entirety of their lives. Maybe even beyond.
He was a man with many faults. He’d made huge mistakes. Would probably make many more. How could he condemn Marie to a man like that? She deserved so much more than what he could give her.
Her gaze locked with his, and he felt the force of her determination. “If overthinking is a fault, then yes, you’re full of faults. But I am too. You’re linked to me as much as I’m linked to you. How do you feel about that?”
The answer was easy and fell from his lips instantly. “I would have it no other way.”
“Then, you know that one of my faults is that I’m demanding, and I’m going to make my first one. Kiss me now, kiss me quickly, and never think of anything like that again.” She sent it with a pulse of love and something much more visceral that made his pulse spike.
He didn’t hesitate. He caught her lips in a lingering kiss. How could he not? There was no way he would deny what she desired. Not when it was so easy to give. Not when he desired the same.
Black Feather cleared his throat and Alastor reluctantly withdrew. He wanted this moment to last forever, but it was not the right time or place. Even though Lady Lyria was beaming at him, she deserved the utmost respect.
Soon, when this was over, he would make sure to show Marie just how visceral he could be. He sent her an image of them joined in a more physical way. Heat that wasn’t his own returned to him.
He noted, with much pleasure, the heated pink that coloured her cheek. Her slim fingers tightened on his bicep and her breath hitched. He just might like this new development. Hopefully he’d be able to remedy her need very quickly.
But there was still much to be done. The human females were still in danger from the Reptiles. “Can you guide us b
ack to our bodies?”
Black Feather pierced him with a black gaze. “I will. But be prepared. There is much chaos in the temple.”
“Then we have to get there as quickly as possible and help them.” He felt Marie’s concern like his own.
“We cannot follow you back,” Lady Lyria said.
“We need to make sure that the barrier between universes is protected,” Black Feather said.
Marie hugged Black Feather. His powerful arms wound around her shoulders, protective and loving as a father should be.
“When I see you again… it won’t be like this, will it?” Tears shone in her eyes.
Black Feather shook his head. He clasped her shoulders in a gentle grip. “When I re-erect the barriers, it will change to be as it once was. You will see me, but in your mind as you usually do. It will not be like this.”
She was sad, but she also understood the workings of the universe, and knew that one day she’d be able to hug him like she did now. “I’ll just have to make this last, then.” She crushed Black Feather in a fierce hug. The ancient warrior held her just as hard.
“There will be a day when we will be able to touch again.”
Her smile twisted. “But not for many years.”
Black Feather ghosted her smile. “No. Not for many years. In the meantime, you have someone who will touch you any time you need.”
Serious black eyes settled on Alastor. The look a father would give to the man his daughter wished to take as life partner. Fierce and also hopeful. Black Feather would be watching to make sure that Alastor looked after his daughter.
There need not be any assurances. Alastor would do whatever he could to ensure Marie’s happiness. It would not only be his duty, but his absolute pleasure making this happen. “I will endeavour to make Marie feel loved for as long as I live.”
Black Feather nodded his understanding. With a lingering squeeze of her hands on his, Marie stepped back next to Alastor. He wrapped his arm protectively around her shoulders.
Taking a steeling breath, he said, “Please return us.”
“Be prepared. There is a battle ahead of you,” Lady Lyria said.
Whiteness obscured his vision. He slammed into something solid and was knocked backwards. Small stones cut into his back. His limbs were heavy and cumbersome, but he managed to raise on to an elbow. A moment passed before he realised he was back in his body, in the little alcove where he’d hidden them both.
A petrified scream cut through the cacophony of noise coming from the chamber. Footfalls thundered past. Lighter, smaller feet and the heavier, cumbersome footsteps of Reptiles.
Flashes of bright colour erupted and sounds clashed and bounced all around. Loud. Clashing. Terrifying. Disorienting. The sounds of battle.
Marie. Where was Marie?
Chapter Thirty
She hurtled backwards, slammed to the ground, the breath knocked out of her. Lungs seized as her chest went numb, then the heated flashes of pain ricocheted through her body. Marie forced open eyes that wanted to stay clenched shut. Black dots danced across her vision, which she tried to blink away. It wasn’t working. Her chest constricted as panic set in.
Hands gentled on her shoulder, a palm tapped her face, not hard enough to hurt, just to cut through the confusion. “Marie. Listen to me. Let your chest relax. You’ll be able to breathe if you relax.”
A face hovered over her. Alastor! She clutched his forearms, desperately trying to work air into her lungs.
“Relax, Marie. You’re panicking. You have to relax.”
She was getting lightheaded, panic overriding the meaning of his words. An emotion washed through her, causing her muscles to relax and her chest to loosen. Alastor was helping to ease her panic attack. The band around her chest eased.
Coughing, she came up onto one elbow, tears streaming from her eyes. She never thought she’d be grateful for oxygen, but at the moment she sent out words of thanks. Sweet, sweet, oxygen. Nothing had felt better. Well, apart from Alastor’s hands on her. Hands that helped her sit upright.
“Alastor!” Her voice was scratchy. A wave of love surged through her. She needed Alastor as much as she needed air, and she knew he felt the same way about her. “We made it back.”
His mouth firmed, eyes darting past her. Why wasn’t he happy? They’d made it back. Actually made it back, despite everything. “What is it? What’s wrong?”
Concern filtered through her. His concern. “We’re in the middle of a battle. The human females have awoken. They’re fighting the Reptiles. I have to help them, Marie.”
The sounds of battle in the chamber were horrifying. She crawled on shaking limbs from their alcove to peer into the chamber.
A brunette crouched, then flung her foot out in a perfect roundhouse kick right into the side of a Reptile’s skull as it attacked her. The Reptile spun on its toes and slammed to the ground. The woman kicked her boot into the Reptile’s soft underbelly and rolled it off the walkway to disappear off the ledge, then the woman ran to help tear the front of a cell away, freeing someone else inside.
Marie struggled onto her knees, ignoring her protesting muscles. “I’ve got to help.”
“Stay here. It’s safer in here, Marie.”
“I’m not going to stay here and watch from the safety of this little place. There are people there that need help,” Marie said.
The look on his face gave her pause. “I can’t… I can’t lose you, Marie. Not again.”
She softened, understanding his reaction. She placed her palm on his cheek. “You’re not going to lose me. I love you, Alastor. I’m going to do everything in my power to stay in this life with you, just as you’re going to be as careful as you can and do the same. But, I can’t stand by and let this happen. Not without trying something. I’ve come too far… we’ve come too far.”
He cupped her face in his palms and kissed her. It wasn’t a gentle kiss. It was firm. It took. It demanded. It told her that he would make sure they both survived for a future. Together. He pulled away just as forcefully. Panting hard, she put her hands over his. If this was a promise of what was to come, she’d damn well make sure they’d both survive. “Good. I’m glad we agree.”
He stood, offering her his hands and also brought her to her feet, crushing her against his hard body. She settled there, revelling in the hard, solid length of him. He brushed a strand of hair from her face. ‘Gods, Marie, when this is all over, I’m going to…” His words went silent.
A smile touched her lips and she angled upward on her toes. “And I’m going to let you. Now that we have something to look forward to, let’s go and do what we came all this way to do.”
Alastor grabbed her hand firmly in his, tugging her behind him as they cautiously stepped into the chamber. It was chaos. Villagers were attacking Reptiles. Freed women helped others to escape the cells.
A sobbing sounded close by. Alastor grabbed the top corner and tore the front membrane free from a closed cell. Marie helped him rip it open, ignoring the cold, slimy surface. The woman inside screamed, scrambling backwards. Her eyes were wide as they locked on Alastor. Her knees gave out and she crumbled to the ground, terror on her face.
The woman panted uncontrollably, her body trembling as she whimpered. “Shhhh. It’s okay. We’re here to help you. Can you look at me? Can you tell me your name?” Marie crouched in front of her.
There was a grunt behind her. Marie spun around to see Alastor fighting a Reptile. It swung its poison-tipped tail at Alastor’s stomach. A noise halfway between a scream and a sound of alarm escaped her lips. Alastor angled his body sideways, the tail missing him by mere millimetres.
Alastor used that momentum and punched the Reptile on the middle of its back. It stumbled over its heavy boots and let out a screech as it fell over the edge of the walkway. Alastor turned, a pistol in his hand.
Not only had he managed to get rid of the Reptile, but he’d also stolen its weapon. It had only taken mere seconds. He crouched next to
Marie, concern radiating from him over the comatose woman.
“She’s frozen with fear,” Marie said.
Alastor carefully reached towards the woman. She started moaning, but allowed him to draw her gently upward to be cradled in his arms.
“Let’s get her out of here and into the corridor.”
Three Reptiles dashed toward them. A hissing and clacking made her spin around in time to see three more coming from the other direction, sandwiching them in. Saliva dripped from their jaws, their black eyes gleaming. All brandished weapons.
He edged the comatose woman to the ground, eyes trained on the Reptiles as they approached. Marie moved next to Alastor, wishing she had a weapon of her own. She crouched next to the woman as Alastor stepped in front of them.
“Get ready to run, Marie.”
Her breath rushed out. “Alastor, no. I’m not going to leave you.”
“Marie…” His voice was filled with tension.
“If your life ends now, then mine will as well. I’ll follow you to the next life. I nearly did it before and I’ll do it again,” she hissed.
A quick, emotion-fuelled glance was the only indication that the words she’d just said hit him hard. His pupils were so large they bled all colour. Her life was irrevocably changed now because of him. And his because of her. Their souls were intertwined.
“Okay, you frekking bastards, I’ll take you all down before you end me,” Alastor said.
Every muscle in her body tensed as the Reptiles charged. One of them swung its poisoned barb. Material ripped and a part of Alastor’s shirt floated to the ground in front of Marie.
A bright flash blinded her, then the agonised screams and hisses of the Reptiles followed. Bodies thudded around her. More lights flashed, blinding her. Yelling. Masculine voices. Orders. Total confusion. Hands grabbed her arms. She fought them off, swinging like a wild animal.
“Marie. It’s me.” Warm breath against her cheek.
Alastor: Sci-Fi Alien Romance (A Hexonian Alien Romance Book 3) Page 17
