Perhaps he’s never seen a human before, she thought, dazed.
The alien crouched down next to her, the action quick and smooth, and she curled into a ball, trying to shield her nakedness, her vulnerability.But she never turned her eyes away.She didn’t want him to see her fear, especially when she spotted the two aliens he’d just killed with his bare hands.The one that had attempted to rape her lay in a lifeless slump on the floor, his neck bent at an odd angle.
Just then, the room filled with aliens that looked just like the one next to her, huge, hulking beasts with golden bands around their biceps and long, dark hair that ran down their backs.The women cowered away as the aliens attempted to open the cages, finally just ripping the hinges straight off, the barred gates clattering to the floor.
“Female,” the scarred alien rasped.Beks’ eyes flickered to him in surprise.His English was accented, but clear.“You do not need to fear me.”
When he reached out towards her, Beks scrambled back, her exposed breasts bobbing.She huddled with her back against her cage and wrapped her arms around her knees, trying to shield her nudity from this strange alien.
His expression didn’t change.There was a calm patience about him, so unlike the brutal and violent episode she’d just been witness to.Once again, her eyes dropped to the lizard alien.This scarred alien could kill her with even more ease.
He followed her gaze, just as one of his men called out in his language.
“Tev,” the scarred one called back, his eyes returning to hers and holding.“Brixav ra.”
Beks watched in alarm as the aliens that had just filed into the room began taking the women out, one-by-one.Some followed in a daze, some had to be slung over their huge shoulders, trying to fight.Beks was surprised that there were only six women that had been crammed in the small room with her.She thought there would be many more.
“We must leave, female,” the scarred alien said and her attention returned to him.“Now.”
“How do you know English?” she asked, numbly, trying to get her brain working.
“Language implant.We all have one,” was his simple reply.He looked towards the door once more, realizing they were the last occupants in the room.“Female…”
Beks didn’t know what the hell was going on and the best she could manage, given her shock, was, “I just want to go home.”
The alien’s jaw set and he reached for her again.Beks cried out in surprise when he easily nabbed her and swung her in his arms until she was cradled against his chest like a baby.She was torn between wanting to claw at him to escape or holding onto his neck so she wouldn’t fall.
His body was warm and hard.Strong.His strength was undeniable.She felt it in the muscled cords of his arms as they flexed around her and the vibration from his long strides hitting the steel, cold floor.Whether it was exhaustion or a strange pull she felt to his quiet, consuming strength, Beks finally gave up and relaxed into his arms.If he could hold her this tenderly, at least she would be treated better than her captors had treated her, she figured.Not a whole lot could be worse than a cage.Not to Beks, at least.
“You will be safe with me.I will protect you,” the scarred alien rasped down to her.“I promise you this.”
TWO
Lihvan’s Instinct roared to life, beating against his chest as he cradled the female in his arms.He did his best to ignore it.Now was not the time or the place for his Instinct to finally recognize his fated mate…and to demand that he make her his.Fully.
The Krevorags knew that they were there.The alarm had been raised, but Lihvan wondered whether the cowardly species would decide to attack Luxirian warriors or not.Lihvan’s race was infamous for their skills in combat and battle.The Krevorags knew they would face heavy losses if they engaged.
Still, Lihvan wanted blood.When he saw the manner in which the human females were being kept, caged like animals, huddled and scared, something in him had snapped.
He swallowed, tightening his arms around the small female in his arms, with her golden hair and brown eyes.The Krevorag that had held her down the moment he came into the room…that dishonorable alien had been about to do something unspeakable.The ultimate sin in the eyes of a Luxirian was taking a female by force.Lihvan wished he had made the Krevorag suffer while he met his death.
It made him wonder what other unspeakable things had been done to their captive females.He knew then that they had taken the right course of action, after they had deliberated welcoming war with the Krevorags and their allies.The leader of his race, Vaxa’an, had tasked Lihvan with infiltrating the Pit, the Krevorags’ fighting ring where the prize was a pleasure mate, human or otherwise.Vaxa’an had won his own female, his fated mate, from the Pit, but she’d made him see how wrong the institution truly was.
Lihvan agreed.And he was sent there, to rescue what remained of the females and to offer them safety and protection until the Luxirians could send them back to Earth, back to their homes.
Looking down at the female that had roused his Instinct, he realized that it was now much more complicated.His body tightened with the strongest need for her.He felt the strangest compulsion to mark her as his own, to mate her body and fill her with his seed so that no other male would come near her.Madness.He’d always prided himself on his control, on his ability to look past emotion and towards logic.
He felt a growl build in his chest.The need for her almost brought him to his knees, a clawing sensation that robbed his breath and made him tremble.
Vikan appeared next to him, the gruff Luxirian warrior that many stayed away from.His friend looked at the human female cradled in his arms and then said, “We must hurry.The Krevorags are beginning to assemble for an attack.”
Lihvan grunted.He was almost mildly impressed.He thought that the Krevorags would look the other way when Luxirians were involved.
With a curt nod, he quickened his pace.None of the warriors would be opposed to a fight.Many were itching for one after the three span journey it took to reach the Pit, but now they had vulnerable females to protect.
“We depart immediately,” Lihvan said, his eyes catching on their vessel.“Are the females already on board?”
“Yes,” Vikan replied.“We have already disabled the Krevorags’ vessels so they will not be able to pursue us.Perhaps it will deter them from capturing more females for a few spans.”
