Page 94 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Clavas sighed and pointed down a maze of hallways. “The only room big enough to herd the zaptens is through there.”

“You, Lans and Tiegan retrieve the zaptens and meet us outside.”

“What about you?” Clavas asked.

“Sah-ah and I will kill the power source. The Heronas jammed our zapten’s communication frequencies so they can’t be controlled.”

Clavas dipped his chin once.

“Brother,” Korben called.

Clavas turned back and stared at him.

“We will rescue the Healer. You have my honor.”

With another nod, Clavas turned and raced down the hallway. Lans and Tiegan were right on his heels.

Sara and Korben sprinted the other way with Enthara clomping behind, hitting her head against the tunnel ceiling at every turn. They went deeper into the Heronas fortress and stopped in front of a large room with a bunch of computers.

“Is this it?” Sara asked.

“The Heronas cities are all powered by one source.”

“How are we going to pull all the levers in time?”

“We won’t.” Korben winked and pulled something out of his pocket. The device looked familiar and she gasped when she realized it was the explosive he’d used the night he rescued her from the beluda and freed all the prisoners.

“May I?” Sara extended her palm.

“With pleasure, my heras.”

She activated the device and threw it into the room, ducking when it hit the ceiling. Korben covered her with his body as it popped. One by one, the lights above them blinked out. A backup generator kicked in, but the lights were green and dim.

Korben glanced at Enthara and so did she. The zapten’s eyes had regained color and were now flashing a deep, urgent yellow.

“It worked,” Sara said.

“Yes,” an oily voice came from behind them. “But poor thing. You will not survive long enough to celebrate.”

Her entire body froze. She turned around slowly and saw one of the Heronas standing behind her, a laser gun pointed straight at her head.

Thirty-Six

Korben

His interface relayedthe message that Clavas had successful reclaimed his zapten at the exact moment that he heard Ziag stepping into the room. By then it was too late. The Heronas already had his gun at the ready and his eyes on Sah-ah.

“I knew one of you disgusting Plutonians would be here to disconnect the power source.” His eyes glittered behind the mask. “But I never thought I would come face to face with a human.”

Enthara growled, her eyes flashing red.

Ziag tilted his head. “Tell your mechanical beast to stand down, Korben or I will shoot your mate right between the eyes.”

Korben gritted his teeth. “You will live to regret this moment.”

“Tell. It. To. Stand. Down.”

Korben lifted a hand slowly and gestured to Enthara. The zapten shuffled back, although the frown on her face communicated how much she resented the instruction.