Page 65 of The Thren's Fated

“There will be physical withdrawals and emotional turmoil.”

“And when does that wear off?”

Screl eyed her with a sheepish look, his tongues flicking out of his mouth like a nervous tic.

“Never…”

The word hit her like a shuttlejet, the realization seeping into her bones with absolute certainty. There was no falsehood in his voice, in the frightened look on his face.

Lena took a step back, already sensing the pull of Screl’s presence, the need to be in his arms despite all that he was revealing to her.

“Please do not be upset. I will make things right. I will take care of you.”

“How?! You’re telling me you permanently altered me. Without my permission! You only like me because you think we’re fated to be together.”

It felt like the room was closing in, her vision narrowing so all she could see was Screl slinking toward her. She retreated further, her chest tightening as if a metal cage was constricting it, her breaths coming in shallow gasps.

“I don’t think we’re fated, I know it,” he said. “And I thought you knew it too. I thought this was what you wanted. You asked for my seed, for the joining. You wanted to be claimed.”

The audacity inflamed her, even as panic overwhelmed her. He was really trying to blame her for something he had done.

“I didn’t know what I was asking. You tricked me.”

“It was the bond telling you what you needed. What is done cannot be undone, amoreth. We are meant to be together, made for each other.”

Enough.

“Take me back to the station,” Lena commanded through gritted teeth.

Whatever this was, it was over. He wasn’t going to force her into some weird alien bond. She wasn’t going to be held hostage by someone who only cared about her because fate had told him to.

“I do not wish to do that. If you would just contact Henios and tell them you joined with me willingly, I am certain they would let you stay on my ship.”

Screl continued to approach her, stepping forward until her back pressed against the smooth wall, so reminiscent of all the times he’d cornered her, made her feel as small as a mouse. He put his hands on either side of her, though did not touch her.

Her heartbeat thumped in her ears, a frenzied drum that drowned out any other sounds. Tears glimmered in her eyes, desperation welling in more ways than one.

“Please take me back.”

“I cannot,” he repeated, though his voice wavered. “You are mine, Lena.”

“I am not yours, Commander Screl,” she hissed. “And I never will be.”

She pushed away any care for this monster, not wanting to let an urge overtake her like it had before. She could fight whatever he had infected her with, fight whatever need she felt to be with him.

Screl rumbled a low growl, shooting a hand to her neck and pressing her against the wall. She could still breathe, but only just.

“You’ll have to kill me. I won’t go back to your ship.”

The hand at her throat garbled her words, and she swore his gaze softened as he let up some pressure.

For a moment, she thought he’d release her, but then his tentacles shot forward, enveloping her neck and face. She cried out, a wave of exhaustion already spreading through her, eyes heavy with fatigue as darkness crept at the edge of her vision. Lena grabbed two tentacles and yanked them as hard as she could, but it was useless.

Sleep overwhelmed her as she fell into Screl’s waiting arms.

INTERLUDE

What is done cannot be undone, but I can still make things right. The look on her face as I told her the truth, well, it was not how I wished it to go. But if returning to Henios will please her, then it is what I will do. We will have to separate, which will be painful, but it is what must happen. I can fix this, and when I do, maybe she’ll be willing to give me another chance.