Page 37 of Made For The Alien Warrior

Tiegan turned, headed outside and resumed his search for Sim-pony. His eyes darted around the field surrounding the caverns. The sun was just beginning to rise. It tainted the sky with a bright glow, chasing away the darkness of the landscape.

He heard laughter and relief coursed through his venas when he noticed Sim-pony standing next to his zapten. The large mechanical creature stood several feet taller than the humans. It stuck close to Sim-pony, following her as she moved around the field.

Sim-pony saw him coming and flashed him a beaming smile. He nearly stumbled, blinded by the light of her face.

With a surprising amount of energy, she ran toward him. “Tiegan, Kia told me that they canwearthese zaptens. Like an exoskeleton. Is that true?”

“It is true.”

She almost vibrated out of her skin.

“You seem much refreshed.”

She bounced on the tips of her toes. “I feel like I got a good night’s sleep even though I didn’t sleep a wink. My body isn’t aching that much either. I don’t know what happened.” She shook her head so her twists flapped in the wind. “Maybe I’m just running on adrenaline right now.”

“Adrenaline will not fuel you forever.”

“Which is why,” she gave him a sly look, “I want to try wearing an exoskeleton once. While I’m still feeling energized.”

“Sim-pony.”

“Please.” She pushed out her bottom lip.

Tiegan’s heras melted into liquid at her feet.

“Merging with a zapten requires a mate connection,” Leel said tightly, approaching from the mouth of the caverns.

He turned around, noting Leel’s narrowed eyes and flaring nostrils. She folded her arms over her chest. “The zaptens only respond to their master’s chosen one. They need to tap into the same neural frequency. You can’t just climb in one and ride around.”

“Oh.” Sim-pony’s smile dimmed and she glanced down. “Forget it then.”

“Sim-pony,” he said, reaching out to her.

She stepped away from his touch, pulling her hands over her chest. “I think Adhi is calling me.”

Tiegan pressed his lips together. He had extremely sensitive hearing. He would have known if Adhi had called Sim-pony’s name.

She had not.

He watched her walk off with a frown. The wind tugged at her twists and made her tunic flap around her knees.

Perhaps he should beg Rune to bring one of Ga Eun’s garments when he arrived. Sim-pony had been running around in that thin, earthen tunic for far too long. Was she cold? Should he offer her a covering?

“You can’t take your eyes off her for a second, can you?”

Tiegan glanced down. He realized that, while he had been watching Sim-pony, Leel had been staring at him. Her lips trembled and her eyebrows pulled tight in a troubled expression.

“Have you really chosen her?” Leel asked, her voice quiet.

At that moment, he recalled Pin’s scolding about how he’d handled Leel’s interest. Tiegan turned fully to her. “The answer to that question will not change the reality. I am not interested in mating with you.”

She winced. “Did you have to be so blunt, Tiegan?”

“If I were blunt before, you would not have wasted your time and efforts on me.”

“It’s my heart and I can love how I want to.”

He shook his head. “I believe you will find someone better, Leel. There are plenty of males back at the camp who would be honored to have you.”