Page 90 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

“I did not ask, but you have just confirmed it to be true.” Ziag smirked. “The human who was used to create this projection is in your care, is she not?”

Panic built in Korben’s chest. “Neh.”

“Very good, Korben,” Ziag said, his voice a sinister whisper. “I will find this female, and I will take her into my custody.”

Anger built in his chest, flogging his heras and picking up every thread of alarm in his body. “You will not touch her.”

“Not only will I touch her, Korben.” Ziag knelt beside him. “I will destroy her.” He grabbed Korben’s cheek in a painful grip. “I will break her.” Ziag turned his head and Korben’s neck almost snapped from the force. “The human female you tried so hard to protect will rue the day that she met you.”

Korben spit on Ziag’s face.

The Heronas quirked his lip and wiped away the spittle with a cloth. “Take them away.”

Hover cars appeared over the wall of a large fortress. He, Tiegan and Lans were stowed into them. Korben’s mind spun frantically as he watched the top of the hover car, lying immobile on a cot.

Now, the zapten’s broken communications was a blessing. Ziag would never find Sah-ah and she would never get the alert to come here. Korben would find a way out of this and get back to Sah-ah on his own. Somehow.

The Heronas took them into their city and threw them into the dungeons. The staircase leading to the prison was a maze of hallways. Flames flickered against the dark walls and a musty scent reached his nose.

The Heronas opened a prison door and thrust him in, locking the cage behind them. He heard a muffled groan and saw a figure moving in the prison next door. Korben wrapped his fingers around the bars, pressing closer to make out who it was. The bound alien had blue skin and long, matted hair. His broad shoulders rose and fell in shallow gasps. Large gaping wounds spread over his torso and back, but that wasn’t what made his eyes widen.

Clavas.

Korben hit the bars, wiggling his hands that were still locked in the bio-cuffs. “Clavas! Brother!”

Clavas stirred and sat up. “Korben?”

His brother stepped into the light and Korben saw the extent of his injuries. Clavas’ eyes were nearly swollen shut and his blue scalp was exposed at the back of his head from where the Heronas had shaved a circle to snap their brain-probing device into his skull.

“Denizi, Korben. What are you doing here?”

“We came to get you out,” Korben said as if it were obvious.

“Only to get locked up instead?”

“The Heronas played dirty.” Lans spat to the side.

“You should have known they would.”

“That doesn’t sound like much of a thank you, brother.”

“You shouldn’t have come.” Clavas frowned. “It is my fault the Heronas kidnapped the Healer. If something happens to you because of me…”

“We’re going to get out of this,” Lans said. “We have a plan.”

“Well it doesn’t look like your plan is working now, does it, Lans?” Clavas yelled.

“Enough,” Korben growled. “Lans is right, Clavas. We’re getting out of here.”

“How?”

“I… I’m not sure yet.”

Tiegan murmured from his cell. “Korben, did you manage to alert the human before our zaptens were taken out?”

“You kidnapped a human?” Clavas glared through his one good eye. “Are you out of your mind?”

“My mate is safely at the hideout.”