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On the viewscreen, Ashtoret was taking cover with a pair of human females just inside the tree line. A handful of humans were firing toward his friend from the other side of the field. He growled as he leapt out of his seat. It was reprehensible they risked the lives of females. He grabbed a weapon and lowered the ramp of the cruiser. Aculus swiped a hand over his communicator, engaging the translator. As he was about to give a warning to the attacking human males, a projectile ricocheted off the nearby hull followed by another.

So that’s how you want it.His gaze narrowed on the fools. Did they not realize they were up against superior firepower?They obviously don’t care, they’re firing on females.

His patience exhausted, he targeted and dropped the offenders in rapid succession.

“What are you waiting for?” he hollered to Ashtoret. The sounds coming from the humans’ rotary aircraft were getting closer.

A smile split his face when Ashtoret ran toward the cruiser with a female saddled on both hips. It made for quite a sight.

“You’ve got impeccable timing, Aculus.” Ashtoret sprinted into the cruiser.

Aculus’ smile widened as he considered the two females and the dual meaning of the comment.

“I do, indeed. It looks like you have one female too many, Ashtoret,” he chuckled, while sealing the door and engaging the auto-pilot, course set for his frigate on the dark side of the moon.

The flame-haired female clinging to Ashtoret stared wide-eyed as he reached for her.

“I don’t think so,” Ashtoret snapped at him and angled the anxious female away.

Ah, this must be Abby, the female aiding Ash.Aculus’ smile shifted to a sly grin. His friend had obviously grown attached to her.

“Very well, I’ll assist the other ivory beauty.” He lifted the trembling, flaxen-haired female from Ashtoret’s grasp.

“Abby!” the female screeched as he cradled her in his arms.

“Hey! What are you doing with my sister? Ash?” Abby demanded, her voice shrill.

He blinked as his ears popped.

“Slow down, Aculus. Abby’s sister just learned about us. She’s scared and injured. Relax, Peanut. Everything is all right now. I promise,” Ashtoret explained.

Aculus wanted to kick himself for being so brash.

“Ah. I see. This must be very disturbing for you. I am very sorry,” he spoke in a more subdued voice to the female cowering in his arms, but that didn’t seem to help. “There is no need to tremble. I would never dare harm such a fine-boned creature. Show me where you’re hurt.”

As gently as possible he lifted her delicate chin. His breath stuttered in his chest as he took in the ethereal creature. Her flowing hair looked like water, reminding him of the celestial being the ancients worshiped. Her pale, round, delicate features made the green eyes staring back at him all the more stunning. If it weren’t for the cut marring the bridge of her nose, he’d question if she was real at all.

“Your tiny nose is bleeding. Come, I will fix you up.” It hurt him to see it.

“Abby?” the ivory beauty frantically called for her sister, halting his stride toward the cockpit.

“It’s okay. Aculus is Ash’s friend,” Abby attempted to console her.

He was about to confirm that was true, when the beauty in his arms squirmed to look back at her sister and he nearly lost his grip.

“Who is Ash?” the ivory beauty stridently demanded, reaffirming she was indeed a flesh and blood female.

The universe over, one thing remained the same among females, and that was the sound of panicked indignation. If he wasn’t so stunned by what she said, he would’ve laughed at the observation.

Who is Ash?He glanced down at her in surprise.Ashtoret wasn’t joking when he said she just learned about us.He thought surely the comment had been figurative, not literal, as in this instant.In that case, she’s coping very well.

“We be the cavalry, ma’am,” he stated.

Her eyes widened and for a moment he was mesmerized by the light bouncing off the flecks of gold in their emerald depths.

“Providence and my dad say that!” she declared.

The fear in her expression morphed into surprised disbelief. Her perplexed face was amusing and terribly cute. Then she frowned as her nose started bleeding again.