Ajos: The Restitution - A Sci-fi Alien Romance, Book 1, стр. 8

The alien’s hairless eyebrows moved a little as he set her on her feet, and his gaze was wary as he eyed her.

Not a second passed before a bout of dizziness passed through her.

Maybe she’d overestimated herself.

She must have swayed because the alien’s huge hands were quick to steady her.

A little nonplussed by the alien’s contact, Kerena took a deep breath.

“Th-Thank you.” She blinked rapidly as she stared into the alien’s chest.

Shouldn’t she be terrified right now? Panicked?

Was it strange that what she was feeling wasn’t fear, but confusion?

“You said I was…abducted?” She needed answers. That would determine how she should feel about this.

Athena nodded. “Unfortunately.”

“But you said there’s no way to go home?”

Athena nodded again.

The woman paused as if waiting for her to ask more questions. As a matter of fact, both Athena and the alien beside her seemed guarded.

They were looking at her as if waiting for something to happen.

Kerena frowned and wrapped her arms around herself.

She suddenly felt cold, and she wasn’t sure if it was because of the atmosphere or if it was the fact that she had woken up in this distressing situation.

“I mean…” She focused on the woman, trying her best not to let her eyes drift to the tall alien standing beside her. Maybe if she didn’t look at him, she could pretend an extra-terrestrial wasn’t standing RIGHT…FRICKIN’…BESIDE HER.

Clearing her throat, Kerena continued, “I live in California. That’s like, right beside Nevada… Surely, after this government experiment or whatever this is, I’ll be allowed to return to my normal life…right?”

Something within Athena’s countenance fell…something that made a sickly feeling develop in Kerena’s stomach.

“We’re not on Earth anymore.” Athena’s voice was calm and measured, as if she’d had to say those same words several times.

“We’re…what?” Kerena held herself tighter.

It wasn’t like her to ignore the data in front of her, so she guessed she had to face it.

As Athena remained silent, giving her space to process what she’d said, Kerena’s gaze moved from the woman to the alien standing beside them, then to the rest of the room.

The several aliens…the distressed females…

“You’re serious…” Kerena whispered and Athena’s pause then nod almost made her belly bottom out.

Kerena stood in disbelief as she fought to comprehend and accept this reality.

“I must say,” Athena said, “you’re taking this news well.”

In another situation, she would have said, “Sike!” But there was no time for her to say anything before her legs gave out from beneath her.

If not for the alien’s quick movements, she would have fallen to the floor.

“Bring her over here.”

Athena’s voice blended into a new series of cries that echoed in the room. Someone else was freaking out.

“Neg, wek freix erix fre quwekix qu uufrewek ix nee wek freix,” the mint-colored alien spoke, his voice a deep vibration as he lifted her effortlessly.

He took her in his arms, cradling her like something precious, as he rested her on what she assumed was a gurney.

She wasn’t sure if it was one because the thing was floating mid-air, it seemed, on its own.

As he put her down, his hand settled on her midsection and Kerena realized only then that she was trembling.

Shock.

This only happened when she became too overwhelmed.

She was having an episode.

One breath in and another one out.

The alien moved something toward her that looked like two small bicycle handlebars connected to a V-shaped transparent piece and Kerena pulled away from the device.

“It’s an oxygen mask,” the blonde said, but Kerena only shook her head.

She didn’t need an oxygen mask. She just needed to calm down.

One breath in and another one out.

She repeated this to herself as she took huge breaths in through her nose and exhaled through her mouth.

“Esfre er wek negde?”

“It’s a breathing exercise,” Athena replied. “It helps to calm us down.”

“Negix elfre ixji neg?” the alien asked, and Kerena’s gaze darted to him.

There was a skeptical look on his face, but concern in his eyes.

“Yes,” Athena answered. “It works. Trust me. Just give her a few seconds.”

It dawned on her then that the woman could understand the alien.

“Wait,” she spoke between breaths. “You can understand him? How?”

Athena tapped the back of her ear and turned slightly so Kerena could see. There was an almost imperceptibly raised area there, about half a millimeter across.

“Translator implant,” Athena said. “You and the others will each get one.”

Kerena’s gaze moved to the other people in the room. Several of the human women were huddled in groups on the floor.

“Many of us were taken,” Athena spoke up. “You are not alone.”

“I don’t understand how this happened…”

Athena smiled again. “We’ll explain everything to you. It’s a wild story, though. Might take some time.”

Another tremor went through her and the three-fingered hand of the alien pressed against her gently, as if to steady her.

Kerena froze, her gaze locked unto the contact as she processed the feelings within her.

Don’t freak out. Don’t freak out.

“Neg neg ix fredenigr. Er fre neg ekde oh erix.”

Kerena blinked, not understanding.

“He said you shouldn’t be afraid. He’s not leaving your side,” Athena translated.

As Kerena looked up at the alien, she was slightly taken aback by the intensity of his gaze.

His words were comforting…

So why was it that, deep down, she was still terrified?

Ajos stared at the female.

Keh-reh-nah was her name.

Contrary to what he’d thought, his proximity didn’t seem to be freaking her out as much as he’d thought it would.

She hadn’t screamed.

She hadn’t tried to run away.

And…

She’d touched him.

Of her own accord, she’d laid her hand against his skin.

The faint brush of her fingers against his cheek was still there like the touch of a phantom and now that she was no longer in his arms, he felt a strange loss that was as irrational as the fact that he was still standing by her side.

He was frowning at this particular thought when V’Alen glanced his way.

His cybernetic ally was speaking to Xul, who jerked his head when Ajos caught his gaze.

They wanted to speak to him.

That prompted another confusing feeling,