Page 72 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

“If you make any foolish moves, we will destroy the dwelling and all of your comrades.” Dizid tilted his head. “I believe we also saw some females as well.”

“Hurt them and I will—"

“Uh-uh, Plutonian.” Dizid rolled his shoulders. “I believe there is one female in particular that you have attached yourself to. We saw you arrive together. You could not take your eyes off her.” Dizid waved his fingers in the air. “What did my scout say? Ah, yes. Like you were under a spell. Perhaps it is magic. I have heard that a human female’s heat is… particularlyinvigorating—"

“Shut your mouth before I slit your throat,” Zar warned.

His blade demanded blood.

Dizid’s blood.

“Like I said, I come in peace. I would like to make a deal.”

“And why would I make a deal with you?”

“Did you not just hear me?” Dizid pointed at the trees. “We have bombs aimed at your dwelling. Your female will die. Your comrades will die. Is that not reason enough?”

Zar’s lips curled up in a stony smirk. Whipping his wrist, he flung his dagger through the branches.

Perfect aim.

He heard a choked grunt and the thump of a body hitting the forest floor.

Glancing back at Dizid, he tilted his head. “It seems the wielder of your bomb is no longer available.”

“I wouldn’t be so arrogant. There are plenty more where he came from.”

Zar studied Dizid. “You are bluffing.”

“Is that a chance you are willing to take?” Dizid tapped his mask with flat fingers. “Hm?”

Zar imagined Si-Moon sleeping on the mat. When he left her, her fingers were cupped beneath her cheek, her breaths strong and steady and her eyelashes fluttering.

Signs of their mating lingered in the bruises on her dark thighs and neck. He tried so hard to ease into her heat, but Si-Moon was so tight and fragile that even in his restraint, he overwhelmed her.

She seemed to like the pain, if her moans of pleasure were any indication, and that only made him lose control.

His mate was strong and fierce and innocent. Nothing could harm her. If he was wrong and Diziddidhave more bombs…

“There.” Dizid grinned. “Now that you understand, we can negotiate.”

“I do not make deals with Heronas.”

“Then don’t think of it as a deal,” Dizid clasped his hands behind his back. “Just say that I am threatening you.”

Zar growled. “How did you find this place?”

“Oh, it was easy. After your comrades made their escape, we had drones follow them. You Plutonians really shouldn’t have gotten caught up with the human females. Your brain now lives in your pants and your decisions are all so foolish. It’s quite sad.”

“What. Do. You. Want?” Zar’s nostrils flared. He could taste the fury pulsing through his veins.

Think about Si-Moon. If you kill him, she is in danger.

Zar forced himself to hold his peace when every fiber of his being strained to eliminate the Heronas until he was nothing but strips of bone and skin.

“Like I said. I would like to make a deal.”

“And you thoughtIwould be the one to make such a deal with you? Our terros—”