Page 64 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

“What happened to Zar’s family?” Simone asked Lilliana.

She bit down on her plump bottom lip. “It’s kind of tragic.”

“It has something to do with my species, doesn’t it?” Chozo said quietly.

Lilliana forced a smile.

Conflict tore through Simone’s heart. On the one hand, she understood why Zar would react with rage whenever he encountered a Heronas, but on the other, she wanted him to be free.

Fury and revenge required lots of emotional energy. It was exhausting and she wished she could help him overcome it.

She’d been through crap too. Her life hadn’t been a bed of roses. But she didn’t exist in that place. She didn’t let her anger direct her and control her. And she didn’t want to see Zar being controlled by that fury either.

Chozo hung his head. “I am sorry.”

“Don’t be.” She squeezed his hand. “Trust me. He’ll see you for who you are someday.”

“I hope so.”

“Zar must really love you, Simone,” Lilliana said, blinking rapidly.

“What do you mean?” Simone scooped fruit into her palm and knocked it back. The seeds were sweet and kind of tasted like strawberry even though they looked like a black grape.

“He kept Chozo alive because of you.” She grinned. “And from what Kia and Sara told me,” Lilliana pointed to the other two ladies, “Korben and Pin agonized over mating with them.” She laughed. “They were both so conflicted.”

“Conflicted? Why? Are aliens not allowed to mate with humans?”

“No, it wasn’t that. They were supposed to hand us over to their enemies in exchange for Clavas and the Healer.”

“Lilliana…” Emma warned under her breath.

“What? It’s true. And it seems like Zar didn’t care about any of that. He mated you before he even knew Clavas was safe. He chose you over his own tribas.”

“Lilliana!” Emma smacked her.

“What? What did I say?”

Simone’s head spun. “Zar was supposed to hand me over to the Heronas?” When the two girls went quiet, she pleaded, “Tell me. I deserve the truth.”

As the room filled with silence, Simone began to tremble.

Had Zar really mated with her because he cared about her or was there another reason?

Just then, Zar and the other Plutonians strode into the room. Simone’s fingers curled into fists. Her nostrils flared and her eyes locked on his.

Zar must have sensed her anger because he mumbled something to Sara’s mate, all while keeping his gaze on her.

“What did he say?” Simone hissed.

“He asked Korben for the translator implant,” Chozo interpreted, his eyes swelling with fright. “He says you both need to talk.”

Twenty-Four

Zar

Si-Moon borethe pain of the translator implant all while glaring at him. Lans, who administered the procedure, gave them both wary glances as he lifted his hands and stepped away.

“I have never seen a female take the pain without screaming,” Lans whispered to Tiegan.