Possessive Alien Mate(Savage Martians #2) - Sue Mercury Page 0,45

across the floor to the dresser that still contained the tattered clothing she’d brought from Earth. She changed into a pair of pants and a t-shirt, then slipped into her boots. She set about packing up her belongings, careful not to include anything that she’d purchased on Mars with Rem’s galactic credits. She didn’t want any reminders following her to… wherever she found herself when this all ended.

The sound of Chexxa’s screams echoed in Rem’s mind, bringing him an unmistakable sense of satisfaction. His confrontation with the young male now over, Rem stalked through the darkened streets of Ressiktron as he headed home. But the closer he got to his house, the heavier his footsteps felt.

What had he done?

He paused as he replayed his argument with Tyra, as well as the confession he’d torn from Chexxa’s throat.

“She didn’t know I was following her! She never saw me!”

Fluxx. Tyra hadn’t truly done anything to entice the young male into following her. Now that he’d had some time to calm down, he realized Tyra’s brief smile and wave to Chexxa and his brother didn’t signal an attempt at unfaithfulness on her part. Gods, how could he have accused Tyra of being tempted by Chexxa? She hadn’t known he was following her, yet he had reasoned she was being unfaithful just because she’d failed to tell him about Chexxa.

He thought of the images that had shown her looking over her shoulder. Given that Chexxa had been staring at her in the bakery, it was no wonder she’d been glancing behind her during the remainder of the shopping trip. She’d probably felt as though she were being watched. Marttiaxoxalians often possessed such intuition. He supposed humans were capable of it as well.

Guilt settled upon him when he recalled the rest of his argument with Tyra. He should not have told her about the order from King Vaath. At least not in the manner he’d done so, shouting it at her and then leaving the room before he could tell her the rest of the truth—that he desired her beyond all reason, that now that he had her, he could not imagine a life devoid of her sweet presence.

He couldn’t deny the truth any longer.

He loved her.

Even though he hadn’t wished to take a mate, the first moment he’d looked upon her, he had felt an inexplicable need to take the sweet human as his. To hold her and protect her and take care of her.

But he had failed her. He’d allowed Bethamma’s ghost into their lives and treated Tyra unfairly. He cursed himself and quickened his pace, determined to right his wrongs. But would Tyra forgive him?

He cursed again and broke into a run.

Alarm filled Rem when he found Tyra sitting quietly in their bedroom, dressed in tattered clothing, her suitcase at her feet. She didn’t look up when he entered the room, but continued staring out the large window that faced the forest.

“Tyra.”

She still didn’t lift her eyes to his.

He knelt before her, gently grasped her chin, and directed her gaze to his. Her eyes were red-rimmed, as if she’d been sobbing, and he hated himself for causing her such pain. He would spend the rest of his life making amends to her, if only she would give him another chance.

“Did you kill them?” she asked. “Or one of them? I-I am unsure if you went after Chexxa or Frinik, or both of them, since I greeted them both in the bakery, though you seemed to only be talking about one male when you left.”

Rem peered into her fearful gaze. “I went after Chexxa. There are surveillance cameras all over the city, and I saw security footage of Chexxa following you.”

She drew back slightly, appearing shocked. “I-I felt as though someone was watching me, but whenever I turned around, I didn’t see anyone. He really followed me?”

“Yes. It would appear he was becoming infatuated with you. In fact, he admitted it when I confronted him.”

“I see. And now he’s dead, isn’t he?” Her lower lip quivered. “I cannot stay with you, Rem, when you are so intensely jealous.” She reached for her suitcase, but he pushed it out of her reach and cupped her face.

“He’s not dead. I did not kill him.”

Her eyes widened. “What? I thought you—”

“I wanted to kill him, and I went to his home fully intending to challenge him to a fight to the death.”

“What stopped you?” Some of the color was returning to her face, and a glimmer