Page 43 of Xefe (Nozaroc Alien Warrior #1)
Present Day
T he beast is… magnífico.
I pressed my face against the invisible force field to study one of the most terrifyingly beautiful creatures I’d ever seen. Since I’d been abducted and dumped on an alien planet almost five years before, that was saying a lot.
Massive, with deep purple scales and a startling mango plume, it prowled and swiped at the handlers maneuvering it into submission.
It had eight legs, two sets in the back and front—each muscled limb tipped in razor-sharp claws.
Impossible to gauge its size from a distance, I peered down at it from the alien equivalent of box seats.
I imagined it stood as tall as a dragon without its wings.
Its fearsome teeth shredded almost a dozen of the bird-like alien handlers, and I silently cheered as it slashed through the group. Because we both knew that whatever they planned to do with the alien-dragon wouldn’t be good.
A backdrop to the bloodshed, I glimpsed the raw alien landscape.
It still took my breath away. The U-shaped arena appeared minuscule against the ebony mountains that stood higher than the cloud line.
A chain of them, jagged peaks striped in gold, dominated the barren land.
Beyond their dark beauty loomed the most incredible sight I’d ever seen or imagined.
A massive blue sun shone through golden, swirling skies.
The startling contrast to Earth’s atmosphere was a constant reminder that I was lifetimes away from home.
The alien beast roared, and my eyes refocused on the arena.
I drank him in, willing him to fight. To win!
No te rindes , I silently chanted. As if straight out of a horror movie, the monster tore off an alien’s head, tossed it in the air, and chomped it down like a snack. Don’t give up , I repeated.
Mid bite, it spun its massive head around, snapping shut its shark-like maw as it searched the crowd, golden eyes landing directly on me.
As if… it heard me.
I fell into the monster’s gaze. A dull ringing tickled my ears. The irritation increased, and faint pressure crested like waves against my temples. Not exactly painful, but the sensation transmitted feelings , a deep sadness and anger that was so fierce and specific, it eclipsed my own.
As if the beast could—
“Teeth- teeth ? Your pet has teeth? In its mouth? I must see them- them .” A bird-like Aavvee, the dominant species of the planet, sidled up and studied me instead of the alien-dragon below. “How- how does it mate? Reproduce? ” he called behind him.
I scrambled away from the inquisitive alien. The connection to the tortured beast below disconnected abruptly, and its loss staggered me. For a few precious moments, I’d forgotten where I was, forgotten the constant danger surrounding me.
“Show- show me, Pet. Now.” The alien chirped and puffed out his chest.
I wasn’t surprised by his demand; it happened every day on this hijo de la puta planet.
I didn’t bother addressing him. Instead, I hunched low and scurried toward the vile of a substance I call Oro , a golden liquid that made this planet so unique.
It was a drug to the Aavvee, but it was also a necessity to survive the harsh climate of this world.
It allowed me to breathe the air, understand my captors, and communicate. If I ever decided to speak.
Not that they’d given me anything more than the barest amount to stay alive. Even now, I knew I had a few days, tops, before I collapsed from the inhospitable planet.
Don’t think about tomorrow. All you’ve got is today.