Page 69 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

Clavas coughed to hide his twitching lips.

Lans cleared his throat. “Thank you for coming to check on me personally, Healer. It is an honor.”

“It is no trouble. I wanted your mate’s presence here to remain a secret.”

Emma strode toward the aliens. How strange that she felt completely safe surrounded by a species that was much bigger and more dangerous than her. They stood several leagues taller with blue skin and bustling muscles. Tattoos spanned the length of their giant chests and their nimble tails could slam a Heronas guard into a tree.

If any of these guys turned on her, she wouldn’t have a way to defend herself.

On earth, Emma would have been nervous and frantic.

But here, for the first time in her life, she was beginning to trust others.

Everyone in this room had become an ally.

And Lans…

Well, Lans had become her mate.

This is insane.

“Eema.Eema,” Lans called her.

“What?” She blinked rapidly, her eyes fastening on him. “Did you say something?”

The Healer wore a bemused look. “What did you do to her, Lans?”

“She is tired.” He strode over to her and picked her up gently. “Would you like to return to bed while we discuss these matters?”

“No.” She squirmed.

“Are you sure?”

“Put me down, Lans,” she hissed, noticing the way the Healer and Clavas were looking at her. She was not some dainty princess who needed coddling. Life on earth had made her tough. Life on this planet would make her even stronger.

“You asked me not to let your feet touch the ground,” Lans reminded her.

She wiggled. “Lans…”

“Very well.” He set her on her feet.

Emma brushed her hair down and tried to regain some of her earlier somberness. Glancing at the Healer, she lifted her chin. “Why do I feel that you’re here for more than a regular checkup?”

The two aliens exchanged glances.

Lans stepped forward. “What is the matter?”

“The Heronas city…” Clavas glanced away.

“It was annihilated,” the Healer said. “Every Heronas in the vicinity was killed. A few Plutonians were also disintegrated.”

Emma’s heart lurched to her throat.

“What do you mean?” Lans’s eyes widened. “Disintegrated?”

“Here.” Clavas lifted his wrist.

The interface embedded in his skin projected footage of a fierce battle between the Heronas and the Plutonians. A moment later, a dark cloud hovered over the sky and a fierce wind blew, tearing every living organism apart.