Page 12 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Left again

Korben growled low under his throat. Taking three mighty steps, he jumped in front of her. She screeched to a halt, her eyes widening as she stared up at him like a beast about to eat her whole.

“Stop.” He held out his hands to show his good faith. “I will not hurt you.”

Her brown eyes darted back and forth. She hadn’t heard him. Or didn’t understand him. Or didn’t believe. Either way, she looked on the verge of flight again.

He captured her wrists and lifted them above her head to keep her still. As he touched her, the female’s breath became shallow and she licked her lips in a slow, nervous gesture.

Korben followed the trail her little, pink tongue made. The heat in his venas traveled to every corner of his body. The human was such a strange creature and the more he observed her, the more confusing feelings hit his body.

She was taller than he’d first realized, her head almost hitting the middle of his chest. He brought her wrist closer, noticing the way her venas pushed up right against her skin.

So fragile.

Almost on its own, his thumb swirled a circle over her skin.

So soft. So breakable.

Did she know how susceptible she was to all enemies? To him?

Protect all females.

It was the mantra he’d lived by for all his sun cycles. But this time, holding on to his principles would spell the death of his last remaining family and would mean the death of all Plutonians.

The female’s eyes crinkled. Wetness leaked from the corners. He’d seen her do this in the beluda when her friend had been taken away. Curiosity leaped inside him. What did it mean?

His jaw ticked as the wetness fell faster. Korben gently scraped his finger over her cheek. Her expression tightened, but she didn’t scream. Korben put his finger in his mouth and tasted the wetness. Salty.

The female tried to yank her wrist out of his grip. “Hum.”

He shook his head.

“Eh wan hum.”

He sensed her sadness. Was she talking about something or someone she’d lost?

His heras softened again.

It’s Clavas or her.

It’s the species or her.

He knew that.

He did.

But he hated the Plutonian he was becoming.

Just then, his interface lit up. He tapped the screen and read the message.

Lans Wants To Make Contact.

Before answering, Korben checked on the female. She seemed calmer after having released her eye liquid. Either that or she was planning another escape. He wouldn’t put it past her.

Holding her close so she couldn’t squirm, Korben tapped the interface. Lan’s face materialized in front of him. Two thick plaits dropped straight in front of his sharp eyes. A long scar ran across his eyebrow nub and matched the severity of his scowl. The female gasped in surprise when she saw him.

Lans stared at his human captive. “Korben, do you really think this will work?”