Page 49 of Alien’s Retrieved Mate

"You're staring."

I redirected my gaze. The light along my skin betrayed me, pulsing in her direction.

Late afternoon. Signal opportunity: the plateau's open sky and high ground gave my damaged comm its first clean line to the relay since the ridge. I found elevation while Taylor and Zhara rested, and managed a brief connection with Renn.

"Status update," I transmitted.

"About time. You sound different."

"Current location: plateau region, approximately twenty vekt northeast of Vel'kari Station. Traveling with the human and a Talori civilian who has intelligence on Saurok operations."

"The Andari inquiry is closed. Your telemetry and tracking data are on record as material contribution to the second team's extraction, and no one is asking questions about abandonment anymore. Now get to the outpost and get transport."

"Understood."

"Kel." A pause. "Did you tell her?"

I did not answer immediately.

"Kel'vran Sorath. I can hear it in your voice. Something changed. You told her and then something changed."

"The bond has... progressed."

Silence. Then: "Define progressed."

I said nothing.

"You consummated the bond." It was not a question. "With an uncontacted species individual. Without formal resonance declaration. Without Council witness. Without⁠—"

"Renn."

"Do you have any idea what the Authority is going to⁠—"

"Renn."

He stopped.

"She is my bondmate. We chose the consummation together, with full knowledge and consent. I will not discuss it as a disciplinary matter."

Another pause. When Renn spoke again, his voice was different. Softer. "You really did it. The unbreakable Kel'vran Sorath. Felled by an alien woman from a backwater jungle planet."

"She is not muddy. She bathed."

"That's what you're correcting?" Something that might have been a laugh. "Fine. Get to the outpost. I'll arrange transport. But Kel — the Authority knows about her. An uncontacted species individual in Valorian custody is a political event. There will be protocols."

"What protocols?"

"Standard uncontacted species review. Medical intake, cultural-impact inquiry, and if the Council deems it appropriate..." He trailed off.

"Cognitive restoration."

"It's on the table. The Council takes uncontacted species protections seriously."

My hand had tightened around the comms unit until the damaged casing creaked. I loosened it, finger by finger.

"She is my bonded mate."

"An undeclared bond. Without formal witnesses or Council recognition, the bond has no legal standing. You know this, Kel."