Kyris: A Sci-fi Alien Abduction Romance (Captured by Aliens Book 4) A.G. Wilde (readict txt) 📖

It was coarse and got everywhere. He was sure he’d have to spend days back on base just trying to rid the particles from his wings.

“Why?” He hadn’t meant for the question to come out so...derisive...and as soon as the word left his mouth he regretted it.

Song seemed to shrink even further into herself.

“I...” She trailed off and once again he got the impression that she was embarrassed by something.

He was being insensitive. Maybe she needed the sand for some human reason? Xul had mentioned that his human, Athena, had been especially strange in the beginning.

“It...it’s stupid. I needed it for a stupid reason.”

“Stupid? Let me decide.”

She glanced over at him and paused as if contemplating whether to tell him what her intentions were. “It’s cold so I was going to bring enough in to bury myself to...” She trailed off again.

Ah…

“I—I was cold and...I...”

Something wrung in his chest again and it made him swallow hard.

He didn’t like seeing her like this.

“That was a smart idea.” It was a smart idea. It was probably what he would have done in her situation. “I probably wouldn’t have thought to do it.”

He didn’t know why he said that but the look in her eyes when he did, the relief and slight pride, made the lie worth it.

“Stupid idea, you mean.” Her chuckle was soft as she patted the sand-filled bag.

“No. Smart.”

It was smart, and brave. If he was a small female, with thin skin and easily breakable bones, he doubted he’d have ventured outside the cave. He’d have probably stayed in the cold and froze to death. He wouldn’t have thought to risk going outside in the darkness to save himself.

She hung her head again, but didn’t reply.

Curious.

He had a lot to learn about her.

“I’m glad you’re back,” she murmured, casting him a sideways glance. “Though I don’t know if I deserve your protection. I’m not contributing anything or doing anything to deserve it.”

What did she do to deserve it?

She dared to exist.

But somehow that answer seemed inappropriate.

So, he settled for one that sounded more…agreeable.

“Just doing my duty.”

It wasn’t just duty, though, was it?

He’d keep that to himself for now.

10

As a slight breeze troubled his wings, he noticed her shiver.

Right, she was cold.

“Let us head back to the shelter.” He made to outstretch his hand toward her but thought against it.

Reaching instead for the bag of sand, he gripped it and waited for her to rise.

She was so small. The top of her head didn’t even reach his shoulders.

“Do you wish for me to carry you back to the cave?”

The laugh that left her lips was a nervous one.

“No, no.” She raised a hand and shook it slightly in a gesture he didn’t recognize. “I’m fine.”

Smoothing her palms against her trousers, she flashed him a smile.

The walk back to the cave was a silent one. He could tell she was deep in her thoughts.

Was she still thinking of home? Was she thinking of him?

He would give several of his feathers to know.

Setting the bag of sand down as Song hovered at the entrance, he fished in the items she’d deposited against the cave wall for the fire sticks.

Cracking them in his palms, the sticks lit up to create a soft glow.

“Wow,” he heard her breathe. “What are those?”

She was beside him now, staring at the fire sticks still in his hands.

“Fire sticks. Vaen technology.” He stretched one out to her, which she took without hesitation.

The glow from the sticks was increasing now to the point where the light they provided lit up her face.

The look of innocent awe that was there lifted his spirits.

“I can feel the warmth.” Her brows furrowed as she turned the stick over in her hands. “But it isn’t burning my fingers. How is that possible?”

He didn’t know what she meant by that. The fire sticks were common Vaen technology. He’d never really thought much about how they worked.

“They give light and heat. But no, they do not burn.” That was the best answer he could give and a smile slowly grew across his face as he watched the curiosity grow on hers.

It was nice seeing a different emotion cross her features.

As he stacked the fire sticks into a pile in the center of the cave, he watched her through the corner of his eyes and she sat in front of them, still turning the one she held in her hand.

“This technology is...amazing,” she breathed. “I mean, I’m studying video production so I’m no tech guru but as far as I know, we don’t have anything like this.”

He listened to her speak, savoring every word formed by her soft, lilting voice.

“Nothing like this on your planet?” He moved to stretch the zehmip skins he’d gathered near the fire sticks. He’d gathered enough to create a soft bed and he hoped she found it comfortable. It was the closest thing to bedding in the wild on Muk.

Back at the base, she could have been treated to his large bedding area. He’d have bought soft pillows and coverings made from Vaen silk. But for now, this would have to do.

The thought of her lying in his bed almost made him rumble with anticipation and his wings quivered in response.

“Yes. On my planet. Earth.” She frowned at the stick, smoothing her fingers over the length of it. “Well, we have glow sticks, but those don’t provide warmth. How did you turn it on?”

She glanced up at him then and the breath caught in his throat.

She was even more beautiful now with her eyes filled with wonder. Her face was highlighted by the fire sticks’ glow and her dark eyes seemed to twinkle in the light.

Dark hair…dark eyes…

It took him a moment to reply but when he finally did, his voice sounded strange, even to his ears. “By force.”

Deviant.

This wasn’t right.

Turning, he grabbed the pieces of zehmip stalk he’d brought back and set to creating a barrier at the cave mouth. It would be enough to keep any critters on the