Mate Abduction (Alien Abduction #9) - Eve Langlais Page 0,5

Pantariste’s, and even Ishtara’s, less-than-enthusiastic responses, she hoped to soon be able to provide her sisters with coordinates for a planet where they would thrive.

Her optimism didn’t last.

Two

His hope faded.

Thyos stood at the base of the clan tree, the symbol of their strength. Its branches spread wide, the bark white. The last of its leaves clung valiantly. A pang struck as he stared up the dying monument that refused to flourish despite all his efforts. It had been several seasons since it produced seeds. Not since his father died. As if the tree of life mourned his passing.

Or so Thyos liked to believe. According to his mother, the falling leaves and the lack of seeds were all his fault because he’d not yet mated.

In order for a clan tree to thrive, its leader needed to be wedded and at least attempting to breed the next generation. Practicing with his hand didn’t count.

It should be noted Thyos was more than willing to bind himself to someone. He just couldn’t seem to find himself a mate. Not for lack of trying.

As he pursued the available options, which weren’t as many as previous generations, a sickness having taken many females of mating age, he found himself discouraged. Could it be he’d failed to recognize the bond that indicated he’d found his sykyrah? His fated one.

Everyone had a perfect match. Most could take their time to find it. Thyos didn’t have that luxury if he wanted to remain clan leader.

He placed his hand on the bark, the flesh moist and pulsing. He closed his eyes and hoped for a sign. A gentle breeze to give him direction. Even the projection of a word or the name of the one he sought.

Surely his mate existed somewhere on this planet. Or had she died before they found the cure to the illness that took only the females? Was he to be the last leader of his clan? Destined to die childless and alone among the ruins of a once great legacy?

Never.

He pushed away from the tree and glared at it. “I’m doing my best.”

And failing. Meaning he failed all who relied on him. A leader without his sykyrah translated into a clan with no future. No one understood why the bond was needed, only that without it the paired couples within that tribe couldn’t procreate. All because the tree refused to seed.

“Would you at least give me a direction? A name would be nice,” he drawled sarcastically.

“You do realize the tree can’t speak.” The amused statement had him transferring his scowl to Karymma, the clan’s shaman and the voice for the goddess Karma.

Karymma stopped before him, her long gray robes almost touching the ground, the sleeves hiding her hands, the cowl casting her features in shadow.

“I don’t know what else it expects me to do.” He waved a hand at the life tree. “I’ve searched this entire planet looking for my mate. She doesn’t exist.” Or she’d perished before he found her. If that were the case, then they were doomed. Best he begin the process of parceling off his tribespeople before the tree withered and died.

“Fear not, Thyos the Brave, she exists.” The voice of the shaman changed, and suddenly he no longer spoke with Karymma. The goddess visited through her mortal conduit. That didn’t make his irritation any less.

“Where?” he growled. “I’ve paid a visit to every clan on the planet. More than once.” Had the scars to prove it, given a few of them weren’t on pleasant terms with his tribe.

“Your chosen is not of any clan,” the goddess stated.

That was rather specific. His brows lifted. “If she’s not with any of the clans, then where? Why is she hiding?” And did this mean his goddess thought to pair him with a coward? Because only a weakling would attempt to circumvent fate.

“She isn’t hiding. She is simply not here.” Karymma pointed to the sky. “Your bride is up there.”

He glanced upward and couldn’t help but frown as he saw the vast wingspan of the flesh-rending tarodact, the four limbs beating as it soared on a hot wind. “I’m not mating with a bird.”

“Don’t be foolish. I mean your mate isn’t on this planet.”

The rebuke brought an even deeper frown. “Then which planet?” Because, in this solar system alone, another eight were inhabited, and only two of them had peace treaties with his at the moment.

“Do you really expect me to just give you the answer?”

As he glanced at Karymma, he blinked. For a