Page 5 of Warrior (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #2)

Daisy

Sweet fancy Moses, this guy is huge. Maybe I should have left him chained up? I didn’t have the sense he wanted to hurt me. He knew Emmy, which was a huge endorsement, but he looked so brawny and wild and… gorgeous.

He might be the most handsome man I’d ever seen.

Being this close, I realized his tan skin wasn’t skin at all, but a soft pelt cascading down his thickly muscled arms, with what looked like chevron tattoos beginning on his shoulder and cascading onto this chest. The shaggy hair framing his face held strands of pale blonde and light brown interspersed with tawny.

And those eyes!

A cobalt sclera that seemed to burn into mine framed his deep golden irises. He didn’t look happy. The only thing that would have made those eyes more beautiful would be if he wasn’t looking at me like I’d gone crazy.

“My mission.” He paused, licking his full lips. “Emmy and my Chieftain sent me to rescue you.” His deep, husky voice spoke slowly, like he feared I was too dumb to grasp the concept and wanted to impress upon me the importance of his mission.

“I get that.” I wasn’t trying to be difficult. “And you’ll never know how much I appreciate it, but it doesn’t change the fact that I won’t leave without the children.” He didn’t seem swayed, so I added, for good measure… “I know, Emmy. She wouldn’t want me to leave the children, either.”

Daicon blew a harsh breath, dragging a claw-tipped hand through his hair as he paced back and forth, his imposing figure sucking up all available space and oxygen.

My room was small, and his bulk only made it smaller.

Ewok didn't want to bring him here. He suggested taking him to the grave tunnel. I couldn't do that. Even though I knocked him out to keep him from attacking Ewok, I couldn’t shake the feeling that this man wasn’t bad.

Aggravating, maybe… frustrating to be sure, but not bad.

“It is impossible to take them.” Daicon’s golden eyes centered on my face, and I felt my cheeks flush with frustration.

"It is impossible to take them,” he repeated voice echoing off the damp stone walls. “I only have one other enviro suit. Plus, my skiff is small. It will only hold the two of us, and maybe one more.”

I bit my lip, trying to think of anything to help. “Can't you call Emmy or someone and tell them we need a bigger spaceship?” It was a constructive suggestion, I thought. The way Daicon frowned told me otherwise.

“My comm unit does not work this far underground, and the moon’s acidic atmosphere inhibits long-range communications. Once we are out of Gilese orbit, I can comm the Bardaga and have them send others for the children.”

“I’m not leaving without them.” I reiterated, crossing my arms over my chest, and glaring for effect.

Daicon gave a growly huff and strode closer, leaving only a few inches between us. Heat rolled off him, welcome in the damp chill. His scent permeated my senses, reminding me of pine and snow.

“Damn female! Do not be nonsensical. The mission… your safety is paramount.”

If he wasn’t being such a jerk right now, I might find him appealing.

Despite his soft pelt and otherworldly eyes and size, he wasn’t much different from how I’d pictured Jamie Fraser to look and act.

Tall, muscular, the epitome of strength and maleness.

If the rest of his kind looked like him, I bet Emmy was having the time of her life on that spaceship.

But I couldn't get distracted. There were children who needed rescuing, and I had no intention of leaving this moon without them.

"I'm not leaving this planet—moon without the children," I declared firmly, my voice carrying obvious notes of determination. I raised a finger in a deictic point that would make my fourth-grade teacher proud. "Either we all go, or none go."

He leaned closer, his warm breath fanning my cheeks with a sweet scent of vanilla and ginger.

“Do not be besotted because they are younglings. Ewok is a Kerzak. I imagine the others in this mine are mercenary species as well. Beings who would walk across your bloody and broken body to get off this moon.”

I raised my chin. “This isn’t about what they would do. This is about what I’m doing. And I am not leaving a single child behind.”

Daicon’s pale gold eyes burned angrily, jaw clenching.

His broad shoulders shook like a fire raged in his chest, and he was fighting to keep it contained.

He spun away from me, muttering in a low growl that made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.

Some small logical part of my brain, unhindered by emotion, suggested wariness.

I pushed the idea away. My heart, my spirit—the two things I counted on recognized without a doubt that Daicon wouldn’t hurt me.

I was safe with him. An emotion I took for granted back on earth and never thought to feel again.

I’d been in some rough scrapes during my mission trips, but I’d never felt more afraid than the moment the pale, scarred, horned alien led me from the spaceship and into the mine.

Wait a minute.

“When they brought me in, I remember seeing other ships, larger ships.” There were two I recalled, one that was smaller than the ship I arrived on and another twice its size.

I opened my mouth to continue, but the words hung.

It’s a sin, to be sure, one of the big ten commandments, but these were special circumstances.

I believed God would understand. “Couldn’t we steal a ship big enough to carry everybody? ”

Daicon turned to face me, aggravation replaced by amusement that pulled the corners of his mouth upward.

“You want me to steal a ship from an underground dock surrounded by guards while hampered by a silly human female and children?” he asked incredulously, though it didn't sound like a reprimand as much as a playful challenge.

“Well, if you’re not up to the task.” I shot back.

Daicon heaved a heavy sigh and rolled his golden eyes in exasperation. “You vex me, female,” he said, not angry but resigned.

“If that means you realize I’m sticking to my guns… good.”

His expression shifted from resignation to surprise at my words. “You have a gun?”

A giggle escaped me at his misunderstanding. “It’s just a figure of speech.”

Daicon gave a deep guttural sound, a mix of relief, growl, and amusement, shaking his head.

His lips, which had given only the faintest hint of a smile up to now, curved fully upward in a stunning gesture that was almost too beautiful.

I sensed something in his expression that I couldn’t quite put into words, but it made me feel like he respected my determination—maybe even liked it.

I heard the hope in my voice as I asked hesitantly, “Do you think there’s any chance we can pull this off? Could we steal one of their ships?” I realized the absurdity of the situation as I, a minister's wife, planned thievery with a handsome, exotic alien warrior.

Daicon let out a derisive snort as his chest swelled with pride. “I can pilot anything with thrusters, but getting to the ship without being killed is the real problem.”

“You're a war chief, right?” I asked. “Isn't strategy your thing?”

An eyebrow cocked darkly as he regarded me. “You don't even know how to get to the docks from here, do you?”

“No,” I replied sheepishly as my lips twisted into a wry smile.

“It would be easier if I just knocked you out and carried you to my skiff,” Daicon huffed, although there was a hint of amusement in his voice.

A faint angry growl echoed from the hallway, causing Daicon to tense. I just rolled my eyes.

“Ewok.”

A minute later, the metal door creaked as the pudgy ball of fur shuffled in, head hung sheepishly.

“Why aren’t you in bed?” I asked.

His head snapped up, eyes widening in surprise before quickly darting toward Daicon with deep suspicion. “I didn’t want to leave you alone with him.”

Daicon snorted, apparently thinking the concept absurd, but Ewok remained steadfast in his dislike.

I couldn’t scold him for wanting to protect me, even with signs of exhaustion on his face.

Dark circles rimmed his eyes, and deep lines etched the pink flesh around his mouth, the only part of his body that lacked fur.

It wouldn’t do any good shooing him off to bed again. Ewok would find a way to remain nearby.

Wait a minute!

“Ewok knows these tunnels better than anyone,” I verbalized my thoughts. I knelt, putting my face level with child. His dark button eyes held a mix of affection and distrust as they flitted between me and Daicon.

“Do you know a way to get to the docking area without being seen by the guards?” I asked.

Ewoks eyes flickered to Daicon, his dislike apparent.

“It’s okay. He's here to help us.” I turned to glance at Daicon. His face held another unreadable expression that made butterflies flitter through my veins. I turned back to Ewok, watching as concession slipped over his features.

“There is a shaft that leads to the docks, but the passage is sealed.”

“Can you show me?” Daicon stepped closer, his body language relaxed.

Ewok’s furrowed brow communicated uncertainty as he looked from Daicon to me once again. I gave him an encouraging nod. Ewok considered a moment longer before his chin dipped, and he spun around with a motion for us to follow.

Daicon followed close behind me as Ewok led us from my room, past the kitchen and dormitory, and down the staircase to the common area below. The lights were low. This was nighttime in the mine, and the small lamp absconded by Ewok from a pile of tools cast a weak, dim light.

We descended a small tunnel, stone walls damp and cold to the touch, the floor inclining.

The darkness was oppressive, but neither Daicon nor Ewok seemed perturbed.

I knew Ewok possessed excellent night vision and could only guess Daicon did as well.

A guess proven correct when my toe subbed against a stone, sending me flailing.

Before I hit dirt, an iron bar snaked around my waist, jerking me back into a warm, muscular chest.

“Are you alright?” Daicon’s warm breath caressed my neck. I felt an electric spark that sent shivers dancing down my spine. His nearness was intoxicating, and my heart raced as I felt myself melt against him.

Abruptly, he stepped away, and my body silently moaned in protest.

“Here, let me help you.” He placed a firm hand over mine, and the golden eyes glowed softly in the darkness.

“O—okay,” I stammered, hoping he would believe my flushed cheeks were from nearly face-planting.

Sweet fancy, Moses! What was wrong with me?

Why did my body do a happy dance every time Daicon drew near?

I was a widow for heaven's sake, and he was a stranger—a sexy, dangerous stranger. It wasn’t like I hadn’t been around dangerous men before.

I nearly got kidnapped during our last mission trip to Honduras!

This wasn't a response to danger though—it felt different, almost welcome.

Something about him seemed untamed, unpredictable, and wild.

And it drew me toward something different, deeper, and more primal—like my body was slowly awakening from a deep sleep.

This stinking youthful body of mine needed to control itself!

We moved further into the inky depths, so close that our shoulders brushed against one another as we walked.

Ewok led with a lamp held aloft, guiding us deeper into the unknown.

The warrior's grip shifted from my hand to my waist when the tunnel grew narrow, and we moved single file.

Electricity jolted along my nerve endings from his touch.

Seriously, what was going on with me?

The tunnel widened and Ewok stopped, swinging around with his lamp, lighting up an enormous wall of rock that blocked our path. Daicon stepped to the pile of rock and dirt, and I watched as his hands moved lightly over the stone, feeling for any weaknesses.

“How far is the dock from here?” Daicon asked.

“About thirty mechitaires,” Ewok answered confidently.

Daicon glanced at him, obviously catching the confusion on my face. “That’s around four hundred feet in earth measurement.”

The number sounded familiar, my mind shoving forth the image of a football field. Discouragement flooded through me. “Is there no other way to the dock?

“No.” Ewok shook his head in an abbreviated jerk.

“The obstruction does not seem too thick,” Daicon said, as his hand slid around rocks and into crevices. “No more than six feet thick. It’s doable if I can get my hands on some tools.”

“You mean to dig?” Ewok blurted.

“Do you know any other way to get through? Daicon challenged, his grin deepening.

“What about the guards?” I mentioned the most pertinent threat. “If they catch you….” My voice trailed off, too disturbed by the thought of Daicon hurt or captured to continue.

The issue did not perturb the big warrior. “They imprisoned me in Gilese mines for twenty years. If anyone knows how to dig and keep out of the way of the guards, it's me.”

“You were a prisoner.” The growl at the end of his question rumbled like distant thunder. Ewok stepped forward aggressively, placing himself between me and Daicon.

“Prisoner of war, little Kerzak.” Daicon's golden eyes twinkled with amusement as he issued a wry grin. “Don’t worry. You and your precious Daisy are safe with me.”

I wasn’t too sure about that. I wasn’t too sure about that at all!