Wouldn’t that be nice.
Unfortunately, it doesn’t look like there will be any huge alien warriors coming to my rescue.
That’s okay. My dad taught me to rescue myself.
I swallow around a lump in my throat. When you lose someone you love, you never truly get over it. You’ll think you’re doing just fine until you’re blindsided by the inescapable fact that you’ll never laugh with that person again. Never fight with them. Never tell them you love them. Never describe your alien abduction.
I snort. Dad would have a lot to say about this, that’s for sure. My father was a quiet man until someone gave him something to rant about. He taught me to fight, showed me how to live, and believed in preparation above almost anything else.
If my dad were here now, he’d tell me to wait for my chance. There’s always an opportunity somewhere—I just need to be ready to take it.
Eventually, the Voildi begin to relax, and we move out of the depths of the forest and into another village. This one is in slightly better condition than the last, and we stop at a two-story gray building that backs onto the forest.
Killis nods at Hook, who opens the door and gestures for me to go upstairs. I move slowly up the stairs, looking for any opportunity to escape, but there’s nothing. The stairs lead to a small hallway with two doors.
“Open the door on the right,” Hook says, and I comply. The room is large, with a single window open to the forest outside, although I notice nothing but the cage in the corner.
I don’t fucking think so.
Hook leans down to unlatch the cage door. I don’t hesitate, slamming my fist down on the back of his neck. He curses, landing on his knees, and I jump on his back, wrapping my arm around his neck.
Here’s hoping that the Voildi have at least a few things in common with humans. No matter the species, surely everyone’s brains need oxygen…right?
I pull up on Hook’s neck, squeezing tight, and he lashes out, dragging his hook down my thigh.
Son of a bitch.
His good hand comes up to claw at the arm I’ve wrapped around my neck, while his hook swings for me again. I manage to block it with my knee, heart pounding as he slumps closer to the ground, the hook falling from his hand.
My mouth goes dry as fear makes me dizzy. If they heard that downstairs, they’ll be coming up here within seconds.
“Hurry up, damn you,” I hiss.
Hook’s face is bright yellow now, and we both hit the ground as he face-plants. I keep my arm tightly wrapped around his neck for a few more seconds just in case he’s faking, and then I pick up the hook, getting to my feet.
If I had time, I’d lock the bastard in the cage. See how he likes it.
Instead, I close the door enough that it hides Hook’s body and position myself behind it, clutching the sharp metal hook tightly in my hand.
Not even thirty seconds later, someone pushes open the door, and I jump out from behind it.
Killis whirls, but I’m already there, slashing at him with the sharp hook. He raises his hands, but it’s too late, and his scream is chilling as the pointed metal rips into his forehead before dragging down his face.
“My eye!” Killis roars, cupping his face.
I don’t hang around. I’m already moving, heading for the window. I scan the ground below me for a single second before I jump, praying I won’t break an ankle or dislocate a knee when I land.
It hurts, my left ankle immediately letting me know that it’s not happy. My thigh howls at me, but I launch straight into a limping run, my chest tight as Killis screams at his men to follow me.
I tuck down my chin, find my stride, and keep running.
Chapter Three
Vrex
War is coming.
Fortunes will be won and lost. People will die, and history will be forever changed on this planet after the events of the next few days.
I can’t say exactly why I came to Tecar’s tribe. Perhaps, in the back of my mind, I sensed an opportunity to negotiate for yet another favor.
Or perhaps I simply became tired of conversing with no one but my mishua and occasionally the various people I pay to spy for me.
There’s a sense of excitement in the air as I make my way through the tribe, my mishua demanding a large space around her as she moves. Nari snorts at a warrior who is slow to move out of the way, and the warrior grins at me. I nod back, finally spotting Rakiz in the distance.
Rakiz lifts his brow as I dismount.
“Who sent a messenger to you?” he asks, neither of us fond of pleasantries.
“I chose to come.”
He nods, and a strange female moves closer. This must be one of the humans I have heard so much about. My assignments require me to keep up to date with what is happening on this planet, and I have heard plenty about the huge ship that crashed near the Seinex Forest and the strange, small females who were taken by the Voildi.
“Sup,” the female says. The implant in my ear translates this to mean eating, and I frown, confused, but say nothing. My silence does not appear to disconcert the female, who is dressed in warrior’s pants.
“Thanks for coming,” she says, glancing at Rakiz. He reaches out to pull her to him, and I raise my eyebrow. Even Rakiz has mated. And with an alien female no less.
“Can I interrupt for a moment?” the female asks.
Rakiz gazes into his mate’s eyes. “Of course,” he says, and the female
