Page 73 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

“Do you think I won’t?” he said through gritted teeth.

Sara’s eyes widened and she flung around, pinning Korben with a heated stare. One he returned in full.

If she could wring his thick neck just once…

Rune entered the room and grimaced. “I put Kenzi to sleep.” He leaned over Ga Eun and mumbled, “Though how she managed to take a nap in this frigid temperature, I do not know.” Rune turned to Korben. “You need to get going. Time is of the essence and the Healer—”

“I will take care of the Healer.”

Rune nodded. “Call me if you need help.”

“You would come out of hiding for me?”

“For the Healer.” He dipped his chin. “Now that I have a brood, I do not want to think of a world where she cannot get healing if she ever needs it.”

“Here. Take this.” Ga Eun handed her the satchel that she had filled with clothes, underwear, food and blankets. “Share it with the other women.”

“I’m not going anywhere with him.”

Korben growled. “Yes, you are.”

She snarled at him. “So you’re going to tie me up now? Finally letting your true, kidnapper intentions shine?”

“Sah-ah!”

“Don’t freakingtalkto me!”

Ga Eun swallowed nervously. “Korben, can you give us a moment please?” She wrapped her slender fingers around Sara’s wrist and pulled her into the room hidden by curtains.

As soon as they entered the space, Sara’s eyes landed on the bed. A sharp pang sliced through her stomach, filling her with equal parts heat and fury. Her mating ritual with Korben had taken place here. That night, she’d unveiled all of herself to him. They’d become one in the shadows and spent the early morning hours wrapped around each other.

If only she’d known then that she was setting herself up for failure. She’d stupidly believed he was the good guy. Now her heart was crushed with the truth. Korben was like every man she’d known back on earth.

A liar.

A jerk.

He’d taken her heart only to stab it.

And now she was left reeling from the pain with no net to catch her as she fell. She should have never taken her clothes off that night. She shouldn’t have pushed for him to touch her. To touch him in return.

She should have never…

Ga Eun spoke and her voice drew Sara’s attention away from the bed. “Sara, I know that you’re feeling upset right now and I’m not going to take up for Korben, but Iwillremind you that—”

“What? He’s my mate so I should put up with the fact that he planned tosell me off?”

“No.” Ga Eun shook her head. “That’s not what I was going to say at all. “

“Oh.”

“I know that you’re mates, but remember, there’s no magic involved. We need to make the choice to love our partner everyday. It’s not a feeling.” She smiled slightly. “And whether or not you and Korben work it out will be a choice you both have to make.Bothof you.”

“So what’s your point?” Sara asked impatiently.

“Emma.”

Sara’s back went stiff at her friend’s name.