Page 22 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

Clavas nodded and sauntered away.

Lans’s scowl was deeper than usual when he looked at her.

She sighed. “What is it, Lans? I’m tired and hungry and I smell like a mechanical dinosaur.”

“Again.”

She blinked rapidly. “Again what?”

He jutted his chin at the zapten. “Run the simulation again.”

“Why?” Annoyance pulsed in her voice. “No one else has to.”

“I told you.” He frowned harder. “You were lagging behind.”

“Since when?”

“The others have more experience in the zaptens.”

“Si-Moon has zero experience in those machines.” She flung her arms wide. “And Zar’s not on her back about it.”

“I am not Zar.”

She rolled her eyes. “You’re being ridiculous.”

“I’m being cautious.”

“Lans, I’m exhausted.” She strode toward him. “I need rest.”

“You need practice. Do you think the Heronas will take pity on you because you rested well?”

She growled. “You’re doing this on purpose, aren’t you? You’re trying to piss me off because you’re angry.”

“Angry?” Lans scoffed. “Why would I be angry?”

“You’re always angry.”

“And you’re always stubborn.”

Emma stopped when they were only inches apart. They were close. So close she could see the way his eyes were darkening as he looked at her.

Alarm bells clanged in her ears.

She shouldn’t be this close to Lans.

She shouldn’t let her anger sweep her away.

But Emma couldn’t help it. This alien got under her skin.

“You’re not responsible for me, Lans. Whether I live or die is not your concern.”

“Itismy concern.” He lowered his head so his face was almost on top of hers. “I was so concerned about you that it changed the frequency of my zapten.”

Her heart thudded wildly in her chest. She studied the thickness of his long hair, the broadness of his forehead and that brutishly sexy scar along his eyebrow nub. He looked like danger and temptation combined and she should definitely back away.

But she didn’t.

Lans tucked a lock of her hair behind her ear. “Tie that up. It will get in your way in battle.”