Prime Deliverance (Katieran Prime Series (Book Five)) by KD Jones

family, but she missed him. He was sort of her rock during the stressful time.
     
    *****
     
    It wasn’t too much longer after Syd returned to Kiljor that they were ready to head home to Katiera. KadEN came to see them off. Though he spoke to her, his eyes never strayed far from Lindsey. She suspected something was going on between the two of them, but they were both trying hard to ignore it.
    AriELa knew all about denying her feelings. She was constantly fighting her attraction to TarAK. She wished she didn’t know what his kisses were like or how good it felt to be touched by him. It made her even more aware of him physically. She was so confused over her feelings for him and her duty to her people. It was times like this that she wished her mother were there for her to talk to.
    AriELa watched Kiljor fade away the further into space the shuttle took them. It was a lovely planet, but it didn’t feel like home to her. KadEN asked her to come back and spend more time there. She promised to think about it but right now, she was looking forward to spending time with her family. If things progressed with KadEN, she would be moving to Kiljor permanently. This might be the last time all of her family was together on Katiera.
    During the trip back to Katiera, AriELa remained mostly in her sleeping quarters. She ate her meals with her cousin or by herself. She was grateful the day they finally reached her beloved Katiera.
     
    *****
     
    AriELa’s Aunt SandELa was happy to have them all home safe and sound. When SydEL told her about his and Kat’s mating, her aunt’s face lit up. Every conversation revolved around planning the ceremony.
    AriELa helped her aunt plan Kat and SydEL’s official mating ceremony. It was small for a Prime mating, but it was perfect for Kat and Syd. It was held on a large balcony at night with just the Prime family and their friends. TarAK was there as well, but he kept his distance for the most part.
    She noticed that Lindsey was taking a walk along the shore. She thought this would be a good time to find out what was going on with Lindsey and KadEN.
    “May I join you?” AriELa asked, coming up to her from behind.
    Lindsey nodded but didn’t say anything.
    “I feel like you’ve been avoiding me,” AriELa told her.
    “I didn’t mean to. It’s just that…I didn’t know how to tell you. I was afraid it would hurt our friendship.”
    AriELa already knew what she was going to say before she said it. She wasn’t bothered by it in the least. Shouldn’t she be? “Tell me what?” When Lindsey looked at her with eyes full of guilt and misery, she took pity on her. Sometimes a person couldn’t help whom they had feelings for. Sometimes it just…happened.
    “You have feelings for KadEN?” Lindsey just nodded. “I suspected as much. Does he have feelings for you as well?”
    “I don’t know. He kissed me when we were on Kiljor but then, he said he was going to mate you anyway.”
    “The alliance between our nations is important. He is under a lot of pressure to make sure it happens.”
    “I get that. I was just thrown off guard. Nothing happened other than that one kiss.”
    “Sometimes one kiss is all it takes.” AriELa looked off in the distance. She could still feel TarAK’s lips on her, his hands caressing her body. She felt so empty inside without him.
    “I am supposed to be going back to Kiljor soon. I haven’t officially accepted the offer of mating, and the Kiljorns would like me to spend more time there. I would like for you to come back with me.”
    “Even after I told you that KadEN and I kissed?”
    AriELa nodded, “The two of you need to resolve whatever this is going on between you. If I do accept the mating offer, you will probably want to come back to Katiera. It may be too uncomfortable for you to witness our official mating and I would have to insist on it. Though I do not love KadEN, I have kind feelings for him. We will be committing ourselves to one another and