Page 70 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Or maybe it was more than that.

Guilt squeezed his heras as he realized that Sah-ah had a good reason not to trust him. And now, she had the evidence to feed her suspicions. They were connected and she could sense his dark thoughts.

The mate connection.

Rune had warned him that the technology used to connect his thoughts to Enthara’s was what he’d inserted into Sah-ah’s neural connector. Like an amplified drum, the technology would channel their bond into a powerful conduit, transferring his emotions into her and vice versa.

Trying to organize his scattered thoughts, Korben strode deeper into the woods beyond the spaceship and pressed a button on his interface. Immediately, Lans’s image appeared in front of him.

His comrade dipped his head and slapped his birthmark in the formal Plutonian greeting.

Korben returned the gesture. “Is everything well?”

“If you are asking if I still have the human, I do.” Lans glanced to the side where Korben assumed Eema was standing. “She is a bigger headache than I had first assumed.”

“Is she still trying to kill you?”

“It is not just that.” Lans paused. “I get the feeling that she is always cursing at me.”

“I would not doubt it.”

“Are you insulting me, Korben?”

“Not at all, Lans.”

“I am losing my mind.”

“Human females tend to do that,” Korben said dryly.

“Eema is an infuriating little human, but she is so fragile. I want to protect her.” Lans scowled. “But this is a problem given our situation. You may choose her to send to the Heronas. We may have to send more than one. There are rumors that the sick are piling up in front of the sacred lake. They will perish without the Healer. Mass panic is starting to spread. And if others find out that it was Clavas who led the Heronas to the Healer…”

Korben scowled. “They will shun him.”

“We can… find another way.” Lans spoke quietly. “It did not sit well with any of us to pilfer female humans. Even if they are not our species, they are still worthy of protection and care. We were created to cover them not…”

“Denizi, Lans. Don’t you think I know that?”

“Pin has found another human.”

Korben straightened. “He has?”

“Yes. But his zapten was stolen, and he has gone far to find it. He may not get back in time.”

“And what of Zar?”

Lans stroked his chin. “I have not heard from Zar. But you know him. He has too much anger in his heart to let the Heronas get away with this. He will stop at nothing until his mission is complete.”

“Clavas and the Healer are our priority. No matter what, we must get them back.”

“So we go with the plan? Use the humans?”

“I—”

He heard something creak. Korben spun and found Sah-ah standing behind him. Horror twisted her gaze and made her mouth tremble.

“Sah-ah…”

With a furious cry, his mate thrust her arms out at her sides. Enthara snapped to her body, forming an exoskeleton around her slim frame. Sah-ah’s iron-covered fist launched forward and slammed him in the chest.