Page 34 of Xefe (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #1)

S unny held true to his word and took us to a warrior station filled with uniforms and weapons. Unfortunately, he wasn’t down with us taking any ray-guns, but I’d been hyper-focused on my prize.

My preciosa uniform.

“Look at how amazing I look?” I spun in a circle, showing off how my curves were curving .

Sunny had assured us one size fit all, and he’d been right.

Despite our height and weight differences, all four of us were covered in shimmering black armor.

“You better thank my magical mouth for all of this.”

Querida rolled her eyes.

Nheenya high-fived me again and said, “Yes, thank your mouth. Please. It is quite filled with magic.”

I bit back a laugh, wondering how scandalized the purple alien would be if she knew exactly what I had been choking down.

Literally. Just a little while earlier. “You’re welcome.

” I slid my hands down the material. It felt like liquid luxury, as soft as silk yet form-fitting and completely impenetrable.

“You won’t hear even one critique from me. Especially after we got a blow-by-blow about what went down .” Nieve snickered and was dramatically winking like she had something in her eye. She lived for all things inappropriate. “But you came through in the end. Good job, nena .”

That was the first time she’d ever used an affectionate term toward me, and I had to admit, it warmed my heart. Maybe I was still experiencing the afterglow of my alien-powered orgasm, and it had addled my brain.

Once we’d gotten back to the training field, Sunny had instructed us on the power of our uniforms and how they would protect us.

For once, we listened diligently, never interrupting, and learned how this piece of technology could save our lives.

The only time Sunny got upset was when we tried to access the communication system that he used with his warriors. He said that was forbidden.

I miss him. He’d been so different after we’d hooked up. So concerned. So kind. No more robot-alien—emotionless and cold. I’d soaked in his attention like a sponge.

I sat back down in the cave, expecting our nightly visit from my pangos.

Baby needed a feeding, and I needed a hug.

Sunny hadn’t explained why I couldn’t return to his cave, but I understood the delicate dance he’d have to perform between us and his supreme.

But because I’d had my Big O for the day and done some shopping, so to speak, I didn’t even protest.

There was a scratching sound above us. Time for a pango visit. I smiled and let out a hoot to my Baby. But instead of chatter, a distinct shoomp sound echoed through the cave.

Portal.

Before I could scramble back, a feathered head popped out of the wall.

The three of us screamed and jumped to our feet, scattering like cockroaches. I grabbed onto Nheenya and said, “Disable the force field. We have to get the hell out of here!”

An insistent hum, the same I’d experienced in the ship, battered my temples. A sharp pain lanced the back of my eye, and I stumbled back.

“Apologies, humans. I had hoped you would be more adept at communicating with mind speak.” An Aavvee scientist, not Freckles, waved at us from high above. “I am Veras. We met when you first arrived in the lab.”

Immediately, the stabbing pain in my temples disappeared like a puff of smoke. I slowly straightened and pried my hands off of Nheenya’s sack dress, absently smoothing it down. Veras. “You’re the one who held my hand. In the lab.” When I’d OD’d on Oro.

“Hell to the yes! You remember. Excellent. Hold on. I can never get the hang of these portals…trying…to… get my shoulders out. There!” Two long-fingered hands bracketed the sides of the opening, so he looked like a floating torso rather than just a head. It was not an improvement.

“What are you doing here?” I eyed the exit, grateful that Nheenya had managed to shut down the force field, which meant we could still make a break for it, if we had to. I was uncertain of this alien. He remained forever linked to Freckles and the horrors I’d endured.

“Fear not, humans. I come in peace.” He held up his hand and spread his middle fingers. Weird. “I need to speak to you, racer.”

“Talk away.”

“In private.”

“This is the part of the movie where we’d all be yelling, ‘Do not go with the serial-killer alien.’ Don’t do it, chica.” Nieve’s eyes were wide.

Truer words had never been spoken. I hated it when she was right. I looked at Querida, and her dark eyes zeroed in on me. She slowly shook her head.

“Thanks for popping in, but since I have no reason to trust you or want to be around you, I think I’ll pass. Shoo. Go away.” I waved him off, feigning nonchalance. Meanwhile, my galloping heart pounded in my ears.

“Oh, no. How sad. Were you damaged beyond repair in the labs? Do you not possess a survival instinct?” He shook his head. “Poor human. You are not all created equally.”

“What?” How rude. “Of course I have a survival instinct. That’s why I don’t want to go with you. To survive . I don’t know what you’ll do to me.” I threw my hands up in frustration.

“I don’t have much time. There are plans and plots that have been in existence far before you were born. If you ever want to leave this place, you need to come with me. Now.”

Leave this place? “Keep talking.”

“I must talk to you . Alone. I will return you, but it must be before this portal closes. Come with me now, and I can save you and your friends.”

“By “save” do you mean go back to Earth? And get off this lice-pit of a planet?” Nieve jumped up.

“Yes, I mean exactly that. Hurry.” He reached out a creepy, double-knuckled hand.

“What the hell are you waiting for? Get your ass up there. Now. ” Nieve yanked on me, and I was too stunned to push her off.

“Unbelievable! Aren’t you the one who said she didn’t care about going home?” I slapped her hands away. “I’m trying not to be ‘too stupid to live.’ Remember?”

“Too late for that. Now go!” She tackled me, but I dug in my heels.

“Help me get her closer to the portal. He can reach down and pull her up,” Nieve shouted at Querida.

Querida shook her head. “It’s not safe.”

Nieve shrieked and pushed harder. The only thing that saved her life was my racing thoughts. Should I? Shouldn’t I? What if he could really save us? What if he killed me on the spot?

What if he knows about Valentina?

Decision made. No matter how dangerous.

“Get off me.” I shook off Nieve. “I’ll do it.”

“ Al que madruga, dios lo ayuda. Get a move on!” Nieve pushed her curls out of her face and froze when she saw my glare.

Even Nheenya looked shocked. “ Okay , I might have gotten a little carried away, but…this is the first chance we’ve had to go home.

I lied before. I hate it here.” Her voice broke for a minute. “Don’t forget about us, Hera.”

I snapped my mouth shut. I’d been about to blast Nieve, but I understood.

We were all desperate. “I won’t.” I reached for the Veras’s hand and allowed him to pull me up.

I felt the familiar suction as the portal took over, but for once, there were none of the haunting voices and screams. I fell through, landing on my belly, and something was moving Veras and me forward in a cramped space.

When I opened my eyes to figure out what was happening, it was pitch black nothingness.

I tapped my palm instinctively, trying to access my vid-flashlight.

“Do not fear. I am here.” Veras’ chipper voice swirled around me.

“A little light would help.”

“ Let me cook. I should be able to figure something out.”

It was an expression my abuela used from her grandmother. This weird Aavvee knew a lot of ancient Earth expressions.

The area around us shimmered and lightened. I realized with a start that we were still in an extended portal. But none I’d experienced so far.

“This is temporary transportation. More like a bridge or a travel tool, rather than the soul of the planet like the other portals. The naturally occurring ones.”

The soul of the planet. Is that who whispered to me before?

“They spoke to you? You are fortunate indeed.”

Did he just… read my mind?

“Yes. Forgive me. I am told that it is very rude of me. But if you could try to stop shouting all of your thoughts, I would appreciate it.” He shook his head. “Apparently, it’s a trait you humans share,” he muttered.

My brain could not compute. Shout my thoughts?

Before I could formulate a response, I noticed a twilight jungle surrounding us beyond the misty walls—flora and fauna the size of me, trees like skyscrapers, and bugs bigger than my head.

“What is this place?” My voice dropped in awe.

Veins of Oro lined every plant and animal.

The golden glow created a feeling of perpetual dusk.

“It is safe.” We stopped abruptly on a platform, and the mist surrounding us evaporated.

We stood in front of a massive force field high above the jungle, nestled in the trees.

As we moved in, we entered what looked like a military facility, made from the same glittering metal of the ship.

It was a drastic contrast to the heat of the jungle.

“I have a million questions for you.” We passed hall after hall, room after room of weapons and machinery. Eventually, we arrived at a hub. “Or maybe only one. Why am I here?”

“I want to help get you home, but I need you to help me with something before that can happen.” Veras swirled his hands, and we stepped on a fast-moving elevator. We moved upward and then forward at astonishing speeds. I tried to get the lay of the land, but it was moving too quickly.

“You need something from me.” There it was. The catch.

“If you kill Tontoh, I swear to you, I will get you back to your home planet.”

I gulped in air. The jumble of memories, of Veras, the ship, along with the reminder of Freckles—it was too much. For a moment, I was convinced all of the air had been sucked out of the room. “Having a hard time…” I stopped for a moment and caught my breath.

“Human, I am sorry. Are you having a ‘freak out?’ That is what it’s called, yes? A freak out?” He patted my back.

“I’m fine. Give me a minute.”

“I would if I could. Several. But we have no time. I must return you, and he must be destroyed.”

“If you want him dead so much, why don’t you do it yourself?” I straightened slowly.

Veras snorted. “I would give anything to take him apart with my own hands. The situation is… complicated.” He sighed.

It always is. “Why should I believe you? Something’s fishy. You need me, a weak human, to take care of Freckles? There are a million other ways to go about this. I have no reason to believe a word you say.”

“It is not an easy thing I ask. To take another life. But it has to happen. He has become obsessed with humans, and I fear he will take more. Do unthinkable experiments.”

I sucked in a breath, immediately thinking of Valentina. Veras looked as furious as I was. “Why would you care whether humans die? You were there with us. In that lab. You let him hurt us.” My voice hitched.

“The abduction took me by surprise. I was not consulted, which makes me think the Aavvee might be on to me. I was there to protect whoever was strong enough to survive. Forgive me for not doing more.”

He said human. Not earther. How did he know the correct vocabulary? And come to think of it, why did he refer to the Aavvee as if they were somehow different than him? “Who are you?”

“A chameleon. A savior. And a really cool guy.” His eyes swirled. I hadn’t realized how similar they were to Sunny’s. “But believe me when I say that I have to stay close to the Aavvee. To the supreme. There is so much happening you can’t imagine.”

Killing Freckles had always been part of the plan, but I had to be careful. I had Valentia to worry about. “I need something from you, too.”

“Something more than passage home?”

“I can’t leave until I make sure someone I…” love with all of my heart , “know isn’t here. I don’t know if she was kidnapped as well.”

“I can find this person. Who is it? A lover?”

Carajo. What to share? I’d been so careful. I hadn’t breathed a word to Sunny. I didn’t even talk about her much with the girls. But Veras might be my only chance. “My sister. I can’t leave without her.”

“You share DNA with her?”

“We share a mother, yes.”

“It won’t be easy, but I should have enough time to track her through the database, although she could be in a number of facilities on the planet. The Aavvee captured many humans.”

The elevator stopped. “I still don’t get it. Why me?”

He nodded. “You are about to find out.” He swept a hand toward an opening in the caves. “Things are not as they seem here.”

I knew it. “In what way?

“Take a look for yourself.