Page 71 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Korben went flying and his back slammed the trunk of a tree. He thudded to the ground, the panic in his chest filling him so thickly that he felt no pain. Leaves fluttered around him, scattering the air and riding the currents of anger that fumed from his female.

“Sah-ah,” Korben groaned, “listen to me.”

“I trusted you!” With Enthara’s strength, Sah-ah pinned him to the tree, closing her metal fingers around his throat. Her voice broke on a sob as she lifted her right hand. “I gave you all of me!”

Korben prepared himself for the beating. He would not fight his mate nor his zapten. Sah-ah wielded her metal fist but stopped just short of punching him. With an angry hiss, she threw her hands wide to deactivate the zapten.

Sah-ah stepped out of the exoskeleton and ran through the forest, her curls streaking behind her.

Enthara returned to her true form and shot him an apologetic look.

“It is okay, Enthara,” he said, giving the zapten a quick pat on the side. “Sah-ah!” He took off after his mate, chewing up the distance between them. “Sah-ah, wait.” He grabbed her wrist. “Stop.”

She spun to him, her eyes blazing. “You are such a freaking liar.”

“Sah-ah.” Pain crushed his chest. “Sah-ah, listen—”

“Cut the B.S., Korben. I’m done listening to your lies.”

He had no idea what B.S. stood for, but the fury in her gaze warned it was nothing good.

“Was I your prisoner all this time? Did you rescue me from that beluda so you could hand me off to your enemies? Is that really what happened?”

The door of the spaceship flew open. Ga Eun scrambled out, looking frightened by their shouting. “Is everything okay?”

Neither of them answered.

Sah-ah pinned her eyes on him. He could barely stand to see the hurt and pain swimming in those deep brown irises. Hurt and pain thathewas responsible for.

“I had a reason—”

“Did you?” She screeched.

His chest rose and fell on a sigh.

“Did you only rescue me so you could use me—?”

“Yes,” he blurted. “That is how it started.”

Sah-ah’s eyes widened, and betrayal paraded across her features. His fingers burned to touch her. To assure her. To vow to her that he would never give her up to anyone. That she was his. That he’d meant every word he’d spoken to her. Meant every touch. But she was far too furious to believe him.

“And Emma?” She folded her arms over her chest, “Were you planning on giving her up to the Heronas too?Knowingall the vile things they would do to us?Knowingthat you were basically signing us off to a fate worse than the one we were going to face there in that brothel?”

His mind spun, crashing with explanations.

One thought pounded through his mind.

I cannot lose her.

“Iheardyou, Korben. You didn’t stop at just me and Emma. You sent your tribas outhuntingus. Humans. Girls like me. You sent your warriors out to kidnap them so you could use us.” Angry tears spilled from her cheeks.

“Sah-ah.”

“I’m an idiot.” She laughed bitterly. “I’m such a freaking, cluelessidiot.I fell for you. I let you into my heart. I let you screw me. And I convinced myself that you were different.”

“Sara, calm down.” Ga Eun tried to step in. “If you’d just listen—”

“Were you in on this too?” Sah-ah snapped.