Page 41 of Made For The Alien Warrior

“Sim-pony…” Korben frowned.

“Let her stay.”

Shocked, Symphony glanced up and saw Tiegan striding toward her. His tail was stiff behind him and his purple eyes darkened until they looked like they held purple flames.

She licked her lips, her throat dry.

Tiegan stood in front of her, his gaze searching hers as if he was looking for the key to life’s greatest mysteries.

Korben cleared his throat. “Very well. You may stay.” Turning to Adhi, the terros said, “Now, you may begin your account.”

“W-what do you want me to explain?” Adhi squeaked.

Korben leveled her a somber look. “Everything.”

Sixteen

Tiegan

He foldedhis arms over his chest, sticking close to Sim-pony while Adhi found a seat around the table. Tiegan was not sensing any more anger from Sim-pony, so why was she still avoiding his gaze?

“Sim-pony,” he whispered, leaning close to her ear, “I—”

“I’ll sit beside you, Adhi,” Sim-pony said, strutting away from him without looking back.

A wrinkle formed between Tiegan’s brows. She had purposefully dismissed him.Is she still upset?

A hollow ache in his stomach, he took the only available seat, which was all the way at the other end of the table.

Sim-pony rubbed her comrade’s back. Adhi sat with her shoulders hunched. Her gaze lingered on the crude surface of the table. He wondered why she was so scared. Especially when so many of the females assured her that he and the others had no ill intentions.

“Go ahead,” Korben said patiently.

“I,” Adhi fidgeted, “I was in the ocean. I had just harvested mollusks and seaweed from the bottom. I intended to take it to the market to be valued and sold.”

“You’re a professional diver?” Sim-pony sounded impressed.

“What is that?” Zar asked, glancing at Lans.

Lans shrugged.

“It means I go deep-diving for valuable sea creatures. It is a very dangerous job,” Adhi explained. “I have to hold my breath for a long time, and I have to watch my diet carefully, so I do not run out of energy at the bottom. It is a custom that has been upheld by all the women in my family.”

Pin leaned forward. “Were you kidnapped when you reached the surface?”

“Kidnapped?” Adhi’s eyebrows flew up.

“By the Uldimar Raiders,” Lans filled in. “Or by some unknown enemy.” His eyes narrowed as if he could see the fiends before him now.

“I wasn’t kidnapped.”

Tiegan stiffened.

The rest of the warriors went still too.

“Was there…” Sim-pony hesitated, “a light?”

“How did you know?” She waved her arms, temporarily forgetting her fear of them. “I was carrying my haul and suddenly, my line caught on something. I could not tug it free no matter how much I fought. I was running out of air.”