Page 73 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

“Why do you think we chose you, Plutonian?”

Zar glared. “Because you have a death wish.”

“Because you and I have the same goal.”

Zar almost laughed aloud. Dizid must be high on spirits. Or maybe he inhaled the root of a hallucinating plant. Surely this Heronas must not be in his right mind if he assumed that Zar and he wouldeverbe on the same side.

“Your father was killed in a Heronas raid—”

“Neh.” Zar fisted his hands. “Not killed. He was tortured and then murdered.”

Dizid continued as if he had not heard. “And, since then, you have taken on a crusade against us. In our cities, there are frightening tales of the Plutonian with the tattoos that curl like so.” Dizid lifted his fingers and traced the shape of one of his tattoos in the air. “A warrior with such a strong vengeance that Heronas all over the region would whisper about him.”

“Do you have a point?”

“My point is,” Dizid stepped boldly toward him, “we are dying.” He jutted his chin down. “But you need us to survive.”

“You crazy Heronas…”

“Without our kind to hunt down, you will have no purpose. Without our kind to hate, you will have no energy. You need the Heronas so you can keep on killing us. You need the Heronas to bring meaning to your sad, pathetic life.” Dizid paused. “And to survive, we need the Heronas brood you have in your camp.”

Zar froze. “Chozo?”

“He belongs to us. We want him back.”

“Want or need?”

“Does it matter?” Dizid’s annoyance sizzled through his voice. “That is the deal. Bring Chozo and your mate lives. You can go back and pump her full of your seed, knowing she will be safe from harm. You can live the rest of your days happily hunting down the species you helped to save.”

“I reject your offer.” Zar snatched Dizid by the throat.

“Don’t… be so sure,” Dizid choked.

Zar squeezed his neck harder, but the thought of a bomb tearing through the cabin stopped him. He roared and, one by one, released his fingers until Dizid was completely free. The Heronas massaged his neck, his mask fogging up as he coughed and caught his breath.

Si-Moon was both his greatest strength and his greatest weakness. This was the second Heronas he had encountered and spared because of her.

Denizi.

Dizid dropped his ray gun on the ground between them. “The Healer is dying. He loses strength every day.”

Zar clenched his teeth. The Healer got his power from the sacred damas. Without it, his strength would wane. But he would never share this with the Heronas.

“The other Plutonians in our capture have little to offer us in the way of an immediate cure. But the expeh in your camp survived the Red Death. He managed to get away unscathed. The Healer’s blood runs through his venas. We may find the key to our survival within his cells.”

“You mean to cut him open and torture him?”

“He is nothing but an expeh.” Dizid arched an eyebrow. “And he is a Heronas. Does it matter whether he dies by our hands or yours?”

“And if I say I refuse?”

“You won’t,” Dizid spoke confidently.

Zar unleashed his spine dagger again. “I will enjoy killing you.”

“I am sure you will.” Dizid offered his hand. “But you must save me first.”

Zar slapped Dizid’s hand away and turned.