Page 120 of Saved By the Alien Hybrid

Thea stepped into the light of the hall, revealing her towering, well-muscled frame, somewhat at odds with the girlish beauty of her face. She nodded, casting her glance around at all of them.

“They’re hybrids,” she whispered.

“They are. Rebels,” Cordelia said. “We have to keep moving. I can send you back to the hangar with one of the males. They’re gathering up the kids from the crèche to ferry them down to the surface.”

A figure staggered out of the fog-filled room behind her, and every blaster muzzle rose. “The young? Did she say they’re here for the young?” His voice was hoarse, but melodic and refined.

Xeth stepped closer to the bedraggled-looking auretian, pressing his blaster to the male’s temple, hatred sparking in his eyes. Thea lunged for him, slapping the muzzle away.

“Get the fuck off him,” she hissed, the words little more than a whisper despite the venom behind them. “I’ll shove that thing up your ass if you do that again.”

Xeth looked equal parts appalled and confused.

“I recognize you,” Rentir exclaimed as something sparked in his memory at that white hair and distinctive wing-like marking over his face. Opalescent, violet eyes looked balefully at him from over Thea’s shoulder. “You worked in the crèche. What was it… Eren, Emian…”

“Eldrian,” he corrected wryly.

“That’s right. Eldrian. A favorite of the younglings.”

He was the subject of scorn during Rentir’s tenure on theGidalan. Too soft-hearted and gentle-handed with his batches, they’d said.

“What’s he doing in there with you?” Cordelia asked, eying the male.

Thea tucked her pipe under her arm, her hands fluttering in front of her in a series of indecipherable signs. Cordelia nodded along, clearly comprehending their meaning.

“He’s a traitor,” she translated. “He tried to take pity on Thea, and he got caught. They threw him in here to punish him.”

Rentir looked to the male for confirmation.

Eldrian sighed miserably. “That is the gist of it, yes.”

“But the bond,” Thalen murmured. “Why would they risk…?”

“They were going to starve me of her,” Eldrian answered. “I don’t think they were particularly concerned about what a maleof my caliber would do in the throes of a mating bond.” He gestured pointedly to his long, silken robes and lithe frame.

“And did you?” Xeth demanded. “Bond to her?”

Eldrian’s face flushed a dusky shade, but he hiked his chin, refusing to answer. Thea held up a finger to Xeth—that sign, Rentirdidunderstand. Nyx and Eunha employed it often. Xeth’s darkened expression suggested he understood, as well.

Cordelia ignored the exchange. “Have you seen any of the others on board? We’re still missing Juno and Celeste.”

Frowning, Thea shook her head.

“She’s the only prisoner,” Eldrian said. “The hybrids who serve us meals are former students of mine—horrible gossips. I’m sure we’d know if there was another.”

Cordelia looked crestfallen, but she nodded. “Xeth, if you can avoid convincing her to murder you, I’d like you to take her back to the hangar.”

Thea signed something rapid-fire that ended with her holding an invisible gun and a pointed expression.

“Not yet. Fendar has to add your biometrics to the system. What about you, pretty boy?” Cordelia turned her attention to Eldrian. “You got clearance to hold a weapon?”

Pretty boy?Rentir scowled.

Eldrian’s eyes widened, and he barked an incredulous laugh. “Decidedly not, madam.”

Thea grabbed Melam’s dagger from Cordelia’s belt, making Rentir stiffen in alarm, but she only twirled the blade appreciatively in her free hand. She looked up at Cordelia with her dark gaze.

“Sure, it’s all yours.” Cordelia shrugged.