Page 18 of Xefe (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #1)

I couldn’t look at Loxo’s stupid face anymore, so I focused on Sunny. I couldn’t lose Querida. She might be a mess, but she was a ruthless fighter. We had to work together to win. “Sunny, what the hell is he talking about?”

“The supreme has not mentioned anything about the Pleasure Zone.” Sunny frowned at Loxo, probably thinking he’d revealed too much information. “You will not procreate. With anyone. Your cells will be removed surgically.”

Surgically? My hands splayed against my lower stomach. “They’re going to take my babies?”

“No, no, nooooo .” Querida melted down.

Nieve wrapped her in her arms. “It’s okay, mija . We’ll figure this out.”

“What is wrong with her? Why is she upset?” Loxo looked crazed. “She is losing fluid!”

“She doesn’t want to be violated, pendejo ! What don’t you understand about that? They have no right to take what’s ours. Our cells, our future children.” Nieve tucked her face in Querida’s neck. “Not without consent.”

Loxo slammed his hands over his temples and pressed. Was this the alien version of… anxiety? “But that is the way it’s always been done. Even warriors have to donate their cells. We are required to release daily. To give and give—”

“Loxo.” Xefe shot both hands down in a chopping motion. “Enough.”

“If that’s what the winners get, what happens to the losers?”

The aliens looked at one another. Finally, Nime answered, “They work. To mine Glrtsstlllloroggg .”

That didn’t sound so bad, although I was allergic to manual labor.

“Which ensures delirium within six months and certain death after that,” Loxo chimed in.

“That’s why you must work together. You must win. You must.” Xefe’s deep growl made me jump. He was obviously having a flare of emotion.

“If you fight and win, you can remain here. You will be well fed. You’ll train and have no other responsibilities but winning. And sharing your cells.” Loxo spread his arms as if to say. See, easy-peasy.

“And pleasing your supreme,” Querida whispered.

“Earther, do not worry…”

“Querida.”

“What?” Loxo blinked.

“My name is Querida. I’m human .” She wiped tears from her cheeks. Her dead-eyed look had returned full force.

Loxo’s hand shook as he reached for Querida. “You… you would share your name with me? Allow me to use it?”

Querida rolled her eyes and slapped his hand away.

“She touched me. Voluntarily.” He looked like he would die from delight. “Thank you, tiny earther. But you must never speak of the supreme. Ever. Do not say his name. You will be killed on the spot if you speak against him. It is treason.”

Worried he might rat us out, I went back into survival mode. I smiled and batted my lashes. “Sorry about that, chulo . We didn’t mean any harm. It’ll never happen again. Right, Querida?”

Loxo’s shoulders slumped in relief. “Good. Good.”

“Stop smiling.” Xefe bunched his shoulders, his face thunderous. He looked at Loxo. “She is manipulating you.”

Loxo looked at me. So innocent. “You are?”

“Never.” I winked and glared at Xefe, daring him to contradict me. He said he’d keep my secrets. I ignored the part where he agreed as long as it didn’t affect his warriors or supreme.

“You see, First. You misunderstood. She isn’t lying. She said so.” Loxo’s laughed and tapped Xefe on the chest.

“ Hello? Can we get back to the important stuff? Like them cutting us open and removing our ovaries.” Nieve glared at the aliens.

“Cells. But only initially. Eventually, when they remove the amount of genetic material they need, you will be sold off to another alien as guards or warriors—perhaps if you are truly favored, you will be returned home,” Loxo said.

“ What? ”

“We can go home?” Nieve asked.

“We do not know that.” Xefe pushed Loxo away from us. “Stop filling their heads with misinformation. Too much would have to happen for that to be a possibility.”

“Why not? That is our reward. The supreme’s warriors. We will return to our home planet after we serve our duty. Only with total honor and dedication will we be reunited with our almax and families.” Loxo’s purple eye swirled as he smiled.

“What’s the point of seeing your family when you’re old and crusty after working here your whole life?” Nieve asked. “Your mate won’t want you.”

“Old? No. We will be returned home in our prime. A few seasons from now, in reward for our devotion and loyalty,” Loxo said.

“That’s right.” I looked over at Nieve and rolled my eyes. “Sunny explained the whole thing to me last night. Sounds totally and completely plausible, right?”

“Earther, my name is not Sunny.”

“Their supreme desperately needs warriors to protect this world from crazy predators and killer tornadoes.” I threw my hands up in the air.

“To protect this world full of Oro, a substance better than sliced bread, that literally holds the knowledge of the universe in each drop. Despite all that, the supreme’s going to let them go home, no questions asked. In their prime.”

Sunny hiked up his chin, the alien version of a nod. “Yes.”

“You’ve seen this happen with other warriors?” Nieve asked.

“We are the first. Honored as children and given the Glrtsstlllloroggg for training.” Loxo leaned forward and smelled Querida’s hair.

Nieve shook her head. “Let me explain something to you about dictators, kings… supremes . Whatever title given to those in charge. They care about no one but themselves. And if you’re needed here to protect the thing that allows him to have ultimate power, there is no way he’ll ever let you go.

” Her softly spoken words landed like truth grenades.

A huevo! I nodded and studied Sunny’s face.

His sunset eyes blinked faster than usual as if processing what she said. Then the bony brows snapped down in an alien frown. Denial time. “You are wrong.”

That was it. Right there. Nieve understood. The way to sew doubt and mistrust between these warriors and their precious snowflake of a supreme.

“I beg you not to speak of him. Ever!” Loxo balled his hands. “It could mean instant death.”

“Hey, Loxo,” I tipped my head to the side and studied him. “When you left your family to come work here, what did they say?”

“My family? It is hard for me to remember…”

“How about your mother?” I asked, genuinely interested to see if things were as bad as I thought.

“Oh yes, I remember her well. Her words echo in my mind daily, ‘Honor your family with your life. Dedicate yourself to the supreme. Till death. Supreme first!’”

“My mother. Say same.” Nime tipped his chin up in agreement.

Holy shit! My mouth dropped open, and I looked at Sunny. Same exact wording. Warrior creed and all. “Are you brothers? Do you have the same mom?”

“No, of course not.” Loxo rubbed the side of his head, his red eye swirling for a fraction of a second. “I don’t—Do we? We have never discussed it.” He looked at Sunny. “First?”

I watched Xefe closely to see if any of this information was registering.

He crossed his arms, his face dead. “No.” A muscle ticked in his jaw.

I think I’d pushed Sunny enough, so I eased up. “Hey, potato, po-tah-to. None of that matters to us, anyway. We have a race to conquer, and you guys have to teach us the best way to win.”