Enticed by the Satyr (Kindred Tales)

Storn shrugged.

“Back to my own universe, most likely. I must tell my people—the rest of the Monstrum Kindred—that if they come to this universe, they will have to find some other planet from which to call brides.”

“What? But…” Mia started coughing and Storn was quick to help her sip some water from the cup beside her hospital bed. “Thank you,” she whispered hoarsely. “But why do they have to find another planet?”

Storn shook his head.

“The humans will never accept us as viable mates for their females now. They see me as a savage beast and to be honest, I am one of the Monstrum who looks the most human. They will never accept my fellow Monstrum, who look even more animalistic, after seeing me act so savagely.”

“It was Hank who was acting savage!” Mia cried. “He was strangling me with a piano wire, for God’s sake!” As she said the words out loud, the feeling of that awful wire twisted around her neck came back so strongly that for a moment, she felt like she couldn’t breathe. Clutching at her throat, she gasped for air.

It’s all right, she told herself. The part with Hank is over! Right now it’s Storn you have to concentrate on—Storn who needs you!

“Are you well, lovely one?” Storn was looking at her with anxiety in his chocolate brown eyes. Mia wished all the people down on Earth who were watching the video of him trampling Hank into the ground could see him now. He looked so sweet and kind and worried about her—there was nothing but love in his handsome, horned face.

But they don’t see that, she thought bitterly. They only see what they want to see and what they want to see is a monster—not a person.

“I’m okay,” she told Storn, though she really wasn’t. “But I’m worried about you—I don’t think it’s right for the High Council to send you away like this.”

“No, it’s right I should go.” Storn shook his head, his curving horns glinting in the overhead glows. “I have caused enough trouble and ruined my people’s prospects for a good place to call brides into the bargain. Who knows whether the Monstrum will find another planet with enough females to keep our race going in time?”

“But I don’t want to lose you!” Mia could hear her voice breaking hoarsely and her eyes were suddenly stinging with tears. “We were going to spend the rest of our lives together, Storn! Please—please don’t go. Or if you go, please take me with you!”

“You know I cannot do that.” He took her hands in his, staring earnestly into her eyes. “My ‘verse is under attack by the Darklings! I cannot take you back into that chaos with me. It wouldn’t be safe or right.”

“But you can’t just leave me! You said you loved me!” Mia protested as the tears spilled over and ran down her cheeks. “Please, Storn!”

“Try to understand, lovely one…” Storn leaned closer, a look of agony in his deep brown eyes. “It is because I love you that I must leave you. I cannot take you into danger—it would be wrong!”

Looking into his eyes, Mia saw there was no changing his mind. There was no way he was taking her with him—no possibility of the two of them bonding now. After tonight, she was never going to see the big Satyr Kindred again.

All her life she’d read in books about people feeling like “their heart was breaking” and up until now, she’d thought it was an exaggeration—hyperbole to get the author’s point across. But at this minute, she felt a pain in her chest so strong and cruel that she understood the phrase at last. The idea of never seeing Storn again was like someone was stabbing her in the heart with a dull blade. Sobs tore from her wounded throat and she buried her face in her hands, her shoulders heaving as she struggled to breathe.

“Oh lovely one—don’t! Please don’t weep over me!” Storn gathered her gently into his arms, leaning over her bed to do so, and holding her close to his chest as he rubbed her back. “Please,” he begged in a low, hoarse voice. “Please, please don’t cry!”

“Is everything all right in here?” a concerned voice said.

It sounded like Dr. Liv, who had taken care of her after Hank had broken her face, Mia thought dismally. Hank, that bastard, who ruined everything! She didn’t know if he was alive or dead but even if Storn had trampled him to death, it was too good for him. Even though she never had to see him again, he was still messing up her life—ruining what little chance she had at happiness—making her miserable forever. Wouldn’t he just love that if he knew it?

“No,” Mia gasped hoarsely, pulling out of Storn’s embrace and looking over his broad shoulder at the doctor. “No, it’s not all right! Storn’s getting kicked off the Mother Ship tomorrow morning just for saving me from my bastard of an ex-husband and he won’t take me with him!”