Page 4 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

Emma wasn’t making that mistake again. Not on earth or any other planet.

Korben frowned hard. “My heras, why do you need to use the war room. We can speak in private.”

Emma barely restrained the eye roll. Every time Korben, Zar, or Pin asked to speak to their mates ‘in private’, there was usually very little talking involved. These walls were thin and she had many opportunities to imagine what a human-alien coupling sounded like.

Her eyes drifted to Lans’s brawny arms again. She tore her gaze away. “Guys, can you keep it in your pants for one minute? We have something important to share.”

“Something important?” Lans stared at her as if she’d single-handedly caused the demise of his entire species.

Ugh.

He was infuriatingly annoying sometimes.

What did he have against her? Why did he always glare at her like that?

She scowled in return. “Yeah. Something important. Are you just going to repeat everything I say, Lans?”

“Emma,” Lilliana warned beneath her breath. The only other ‘single’ female in their little clan, Lilliana was just as alien-crazy as the rest. She had her eyes set on Tiegan and seemed intent on making the alien warrior her own.

Scoffing, Emma flounced ahead and fell into a chair.

Chozo waddled toward her, his long, green limbs reaching out and patting her hair. Of all the alien creatures she’d encountered on this crazy planet, Chozo was by far the cutest. His three, flat fingers tangled in her locks and he chuckled as he pulled them away.

“Relax, Emma,” he said.

She blew out a breath. “I am.”

“Did you know,” he tilted his head, “whenever you see Lans, your face gets red?”

She pressed a hand to her cheek. “It’s because I’m angry.”

“You may be able to fool the others.” Chozo grinned, flashing his flat teeth. “But not me.”

Emma ducked her head, feeling exposed. “Can you go over there? I’m trying to prepare for my speech.”

“What speech?” Chozo leaned forward. “Why were all the males summoned to the meeting room?”

“You should know. You’re the one who gave us the idea.”

Chozo’s eyes widened. “Emma…”

A loud chair creaking brought her attention away from the baby alien. Lans folded his giant body into the seat across from her. His purple eyes bore into hers like two lasers and a muscle in his jaw spasmed from how hard he was clenching it.

All the Plutonians were big, brooding, and blue, but there was something especially dangerous about Lans. Maybe it was that scar that crossed his eyebrow nub. Maybe it was the perpetual frown that very rarely left his face and always got darker when he was around her. Maybe it was the two plaits in front of his forehead that should have softened his look but didn’t.

Whatever it was, Emma could give as good as she got.

She mirrored his pose and folded her arms over her chest. Did the alien think he could intimidate her like that?

Please.

She might be half his size with arms the width of noodles, but she’d survived on this planet on her own far longer than any of the girls in this room.

Sara rose and planted her brown hands flat on the table. She was a beautiful woman, only a few years older than Emma, and she had all the hope in the world.

Emma still remembered the first time she’d met Sara. It was at the auction house, surrounded by guards and an orange force-field. Despite their circumstances, Sara would not shut up about how they were definitely going to escape. She’d believed it so fiercely that even Emma had started to become convinced.

Chozo whispered in her ear. “Tell me you’re not about to do anything foolish.”