Rhal Part 2 (Scifi Alien Serial Romance) (The Ujal) Read Online Free

stroked her arms in an effort to banish the bizarre sensations. Except she wasn’t stroking skin, she was caressing scales. She lifted her hand and extended her arm, giving her a clearer look at herself. Coral scales glistened on her arms, the tiny flecks appearing and then disappearing as quickly. They slithered down her body like a snake, twining around her wrist, going to her fingertips, and then retracing the path up her arm.
    “I… Niax was on my porch and then he touched my hand and…” She shook her head. Her memory shattered into floating shards then. She snatched one, only to lose another. “I don’t know after that.”
    Rhal rested his forearms on the edge of her bed, fingers twitching as if he wanted to hold her hand. Did he? No, he didn’t want anything to do with her. Right?
    She shook her head, trying to jar free other memories. For some reason, she felt as if he’d held her at some point and that through the panic she’d been comforted by him.
    “Niax brought you here because it looked like you were transitioning, but he indicated you told him you did not mate with an Ujal male. Is this true?”
    Cara shook her head. “How can I when I am still stuck on yo—” She snapped her mouth shut and swallowed the words. “No. I haven’t mated anyone. Ujal or otherwise.”
    “You went to IGM and the Population Ministry…”
    “Yeah,” she released a dry chuckle. “I have degenerative genetic material—whatever that means. They rejected my application.” Cara let her eyes drift closed, her lids heavy as exhaustion settled over her. “I’m unmatchable. So even if you wanted to mate, I couldn’t. Nice, huh?”
    A new emotion ghosted over his face and then he cradled her hand between his, palms gently cupping her as he traced her fingers. She tensed, waiting for the burn that accompanied Niax’s touch. Instead of pain, she got relief. The itchiness, the tightness, of her skin eased and every ounce of tension that’d attacked her for the last ten days suddenly drained away. She was relaxed, and she let loose a soft sigh with the release. He continued stroking her, remaining silent as he petted her scaled skin.
    “Rhal?” His gaze shot to her face when she spoke. “What’s going on?”
    He pressed his lips together, and his eyes sparkled gold then red. Emotions rode him hard, proven by more of his scales—his true color—coming out. “The doctors here have a guess, but we’re waiting for Faim to arrive.”
    Faim—the royal doctor. “The doctors here are very skilled. What do they say?”
    “I want Faim to tend you. I sent for him an hour ago, yet…” He growled and released her. In one fluid move, he was off the chair and stomping to the doorway. “Niax!” he bellowed and the male bolted toward them. He slid to a stop before Rhal. “Where is Faim? I ordered—”
    Niax winced. “I checked with Tave. The guard you dispensed never reached him. He said Faim is on his way and will be here within fifteen minutes.”
    “He didn’t—”
    “It wasn’t a problem with Tave. He issued the summons the moment he knew you required assistance.”
    Oh, this was not good. Rhal tensed, his shoulders broadening as he breathed deeply, but the tension did not lessen when he exhaled. He was a ticking bomb, an explosion waiting to happen. “Rhal?” He’d been at her bedside, concerned for her welfare, and she’d capitalize on that to keep him from fighting with Niax. He swung his attention to her, and she held out her hand. He was here, he cared, he would come to her. “I need you.”
    He was at her side in a moment, his touch gentle as he caressed her once more. “I am here. I shall not leave.”
    Niax’s thanks were obvious on his features, and she nodded her welcome. “I know Faim is on the way, but what do they think is wrong? Why am I…” Becoming Ujal?
    He inhaled slowly and released it just as carefully. “When we… The last time we… When I…” His scales fluttered across his