Page 81 of Alien Domination
"The verdict has been delivered on the resistance fighters. The jury has found them…" He waited until the crowd was silent. CJ rolled her eyes at the dramatics. "The jury has found them guilty."
A hush spread over the crowd before a single voice shouted, "how will they be punished?"
The general ignored the question, and the murmurs from the crowd that followed. He turned and walked back inside the building.
The journalist with the microphone appeared on camera again. His face was now pale. "The resistance fighters have been declared guilty." He looked down at a crumpled piece of paper in his hand and swallowed before staring back into the camera. “They are to be sent off-planet to the Taurean prison planet of Garveli V, the same prison planet where the Taurean Purists were sentenced earlier this year.”
"I suppose that's that then," she said, turning away as the man on the view screen began interviewing a member of the crowd, who was waving a placard angrily. She lifted the remote and switched the view screen off. “It’s over.” She closed her eyes and huffed out a sigh.
"Are you OK?" Domik asked, his dark eyes concerned.
She looked up at him. "Yes, with you by my side, I can do anything."
Domik took her hands in his and smoothed his thumbs over her fingers. “I want to spend my life with you. To go where you go. To share in your joys and your sorrows.” He slid off the couch to drop to one knee.
She gaped at him.
He gave a shaky smile. “I want you to be my mate in the Taurean fashion, and I want to be your husband in the human tradition.”
“You’re asking me to marry you?” she asked.
“Yes, I’m asking you to marry me.”
She smiled at him before answering. “No.”
Domik’s expression was stricken as he stared at her, his mouth falling open. “Oh, I misunderstood—”
“No, you didn’t. Let me explain.” She took his hands and dipped her head to meet his eyes. “There’s nothing for me on Earth. I have never wanted to get married. But to join with you in the Taurean tradition? Yes. That I would very much like.”
He blinked. “You will be my mate?”
“Yes, I will be your mate.” She leaned forward and kissed him.
Domik surged to his feet, gripping CJ by the waist and hoisting her over his shoulder so quickly she let out a surprised shriek.
“Domik!”
He clamped a hand over her legs and strode from the room, CJ giggling. He pushed open their bedroom door and strode toward the bed before lowering her to her feet.
“I love you, Clodagh,” he said, his voice deep with emotion.
“I love you too, big guy,” she said, lifting onto her toes to meet his lips.
He crushed her to him, and she reveled in the strength in his arms.
She was safe.
She was loved.
She was home.
The End
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