Page 41 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

Those things couldn’t be faked.

She knew.

Because she’d been there.

She’d lived with that fear.

She’d been just as helpless.

Sometimes, it took one to know one and, immediately, Simone felt like she and this kid had a lot in common. If she could help someone who was lost and alone, no matter if they resembled the evil aliens who’d kidnapped her and tortured Zar, she would do so.

Besides, this little guy was coming in handy. Simone had been surprised to learn that he understood her. She had been about to ask his name when Zar came bursting out of nowhere like a freaking axe murderer, wielding his dagger and trying to slit the throat of a child.

Simone turned to the baby. “What’s your name?”

“Chozo.” He blinked unsteadily and leaned in to whisper. “Is he going to kill me?”

Zar grunted angrily. His eyes darted between the two of them, clearly disliking their shared conversation.

“No, he’s not. I won’t let him.”

Chozo winced. “He looks like he’s going to do it.”

“No, honey. Don’t worry.”

Zar growled when she soothed Chozo’s head.

Simone lifted her hands into the air and glared at him. “You need to relax.”

Zar’s eyes narrowed.

Simone glanced at Chozo. “Can you tell him to calm down?”

The baby alien rattled off the instruction.

The moment Zar heard it, his eyes narrowed and his nostrils flared. The request, coming from Chozo, had the opposite effect. If anything, the flames in Zar’s expression shot higher and his scowl deepened to an even fiercer depth.

What was this brutish alien so angry about? It wasn’t like Chozo could do a warrior like Zar any harm.

She studied Chozo again. If not for his long, giraffe-length neck, he wouldn’t even reach her knee. His body was thin and undeveloped. She didn’t know much about alien years and birthdays, but she could tell he was young. And whip-smart.

“Tell us what happened to you,” Simone said, putting her hand on Chozo’s shoulder.

He lowered his head. “I don’t know.”

Zar grunted at her, an eyebrow nub arched.What did he say?

She jutted her chin out at Chozo. “Tell him.”

He did.

Zar scoffed disbelievingly. Their eyes met over Chozo’s head and though he didn’t say a word, she read his cynical expression immediately.You expect me to believe this crap?

Yes.Simone nodded.

His upper lip curled menacingly.

Chozo whimpered again and turned to her, chasing comfort in her embrace. Si-Moon held him closely and shot Zar a threatening look.Scare him one more time and see what I’ll do.