Alien Warrior (Zerconian Warriors Book 1) (4 page)

“They will not take you.”

“What will you do if they try?” She didn’t like the determination on his face.

“Then they will learn who the superior power is.”

“You’d hurt them?” She had friends in that compound, people she actually cared about.

“If they try to take you, I will destroy them.”

“But I have friends who live there. You can’t just kill everyone. Earth will declare war.”

He shrugged.

Zoey gaped up at him. Who did that? Who threatened to start a war over one person? Over her? “You’re a monster.”

“No.” He stopped and looked at her. “But you don’t realize how serious I am about you. When I say you are mine, I mean it. I realize that you don’t understand what finding my mate means to me, but it is everything. I have despaired of ever finding you. I have seen warriors go insane when they went too long without finding their mate. Without you, it means a slow decline into madness for me and that is dangerous for our entire race. Because I am the Crown Prince and I am the last in my line. There is no one to rule after me. My death would create chaos you can’t even imagine.”

He was serious. He truly believed he would go insane without her.

“Wow, you really know how to lay on the guilt, don’t you?” she tried to joke.

“Do you think that I wished for this? That it wouldn’t have been easier if you had been a Zerconian? I always believed that my mate would be an asset, someone who would instinctively know what I needed.”

She couldn’t help but feel hurt at his words.

“Instead of understanding what an honor it is to be my mate, you fight me at every turn. You insult me, disobey me, and try to harm yourself.”

“I wasn’t trying to harm myself,” she muttered, but he ignored her.

“You are weak, foolish, and uneducated.”

“Dex, ease down,” Thor warned, but Dex waved him quiet.

“No. I would not wish for you to be my mate. But you are, and I must do my best to take care of you because I can do nothing else. Now, make your decision. Are you going to fight me and risk starting a war your people cannot win or are you going to come with me of your own free will?”

“You ask for too much.” She tried to keep her face blank, but she heard the wobble in her voice. Was it her fault that she was from a different culture? She didn’t ask for any of this to happen.

But then neither had he. She swallowed. She’d thought him arrogant and unbending, but wasn’t she the same? They both believed that their way was the right one.

“Perhaps. But if you believe nothing else, believe this, mate. I will never let you go.”

Dex gently pushed her behind his back and two of his armed guards sandwiched her in as they walked out of the battleship.

“Hey, I can’t see anything,” she complained.

“Quiet,” Dex commanded.

Zoey flipped him the bird. A useless gesture since he didn’t bother to glance back. Not that he’d probably understand anyway. Insulting someone who didn’t understand really took the fun out of the gesture.

“Put your weapons down,” she heard Commander Montclare order.

“When you do the same,” Dex replied.

The commander must have agreed because the warriors surrounding her dropped their weapons to their sides.

“Where is Ms. Mira?” she heard Pressad ask.

What was the dickhead doing here? She was shocked he’d stepped out of the safety of the dome. He wasn’t one to risk himself when someone else could do the job.

Zoey jumped, trying to see over Dex’s shoulder.

“Damn it, why’d you have to be built like a brick wall?” she muttered. Her gaze landed on his parted legs. Ah-ha, if she couldn’t go up or around, she’d go under.

Crouching, she ignored the incredulous looks from the guards around her and crawled between Dex’s legs.

“Aw, Pressad, you came to see if I was all right. I’m touched.”

Pressad glared at her. Then he ran his gaze over her. “Interesting outfit,” he said coldly. “Didn’t take you long, did it?”

“Long to do what?” she asked, puzzled. Sure, her outfit was a bit more revealing that she would have liked, but it covered her. At least she hoped it did. She checked that she was decent. Yep, all good.

“To get
friendly
with the aliens.”

“You bastard!” She took a step towards the shrink, balling her hand into a fist. She might be a bit out of shape, but she could still take down that weasel.

“Get behind me, mate,” Dex growled, grabbing her arm.

She froze as her fellow Earthers raised their weapons. Behind her, Dex’s men did the same. Suddenly, she was smack in the middle of a stand-off. Like an old western movie. She analyzed the situation. If the Zerconians decided to attack, it would be a total slaughter. Her people were outmanned and outclassed.

She needed to diffuse things fast.

“Whoa, what’s going on?” she asked, raising her hands. Tension filled the air, making her stomach clench. This is exactly what she’d been trying to avoid. There was no way she wanted any bloodshed on her behalf.

“Let her go,” Whiz ordered in a low voice, staring at where Dex had his hand on her arm.

“It’s okay, Whiz,” she reassured him. “He’s not hurting me. You can lower your weapons.”

“Only once they hand you over,” he replied steadily.

Behind her, Dex’s men all stood at the ready.

“You raised your weapons in front of my mate.”

A tendril of alarm swirled through her as she heard the cold fury in Dex’s voice.

Shit. Shit, shit, shit.

“Everyone just calm down.” Since when did she become a mediator? “Dex, they’re not aiming their weapons at me.”

She patted his hand.

“Whiz, guys, I appreciate you coming to my defense, but he’s not hurting me. Dex, tell them you don’t want me harmed.”

“I would kill anyone who harmed you, including myself. I would rip them limb from limb, I would tear out their intestines and shove them down their throat and then I would toast the Gods as their bodies bled out on the ground.”

“Okay, a little more graphic than was necessary, but you guys get the drift. The barbarian here isn’t out to hurt me. So everyone slowly put your weapons down. Dex, it might help if you let go of my arm.”

“Only once you are safely behind me.”

“Lord, bless me with some patience,” she muttered to herself. “Why don’t I stand beside you? It’s kind of hard to talk when I’m facing a brick wall.”

“What?” There was confusion in his voice.

“Your back, Dex. I can’t talk to your back.”

“Fine.” He glared at Whiz. “But if you raise your weapon in her presence again, I will destroy you.”

“Everyone lower your weapons,” Commander Montclare said with a hint of impatience. “Look, I think we all got off on the wrong foot. We were concerned when Ms. Mira didn’t return. But now we can all see that she’s fine. Perhaps we could go somewhere quiet and talk about my proposition. Ms. Mira can then return to her duties.”

He sent her an impatient look. What? Like this was her fault?

“She is going nowhere without me,” Dex stated.

His possessiveness would have pissed her off if his statement hadn’t wiped the smugness right off her commander’s face.

“Fine, she can come too.”

“You’re in charge?” Dex asked.

The commander puffed up. “I am. Commander Jared Montclare at your service. I’m in command of this outpost.”

“Truly?” Dex sneered, looking him up and down.

The commander didn’t seem to notice the look of disdain Dex gave him.

“So you’re the one who sent an unarmed female out on her own into an unknown situation.”

The commander went pale and glanced over at Pressad. “Ms. Mira was the most well-equipped to handle negotiations.”

“Truly?” Dex asked, stepping forward, his voice dropping further. “Why? Because she’s small and delicate? Because she’s female? Or because she was expendable to you?”

“Now, see here—”

“Quiet.” Dex pointed his finger at the commander. “You haven’t once asked after her welfare. You sent her out here with no back-up and no way to defend herself. We could have killed her on sight and there would have been nothing you could have done about it. What do you say to that?”

“Well, well,” Commander Montclare blustered, walking back into one of his own men. “It was his idea!” He pointed at Pressad who looked furious.

“You’re a coward. I don’t negotiate with cowards,” Dex stated, turning his back on him.

It was a huge insult. Even her commander could see that.

“But your superiors—” the commander continued to bluster.

Dex turned. “I am the Crown Prince of Zerconia,” he boomed. Around them, everything went silent. “And that is my mate you put in danger. The only reason you are all still breathing is because I don’t wish to upset her. But do not push me.”

“Zoey,” Whiz spoke up bravely. “What is he talking about?”

Zoey sighed. This was it. She could tell them that she didn’t want to go with Dex, that he was holding her against his will, but what could they do? They were outnumbered and out-skilled. It would be a blood bath.

That was if they even did bother to help her. She was pretty sure that Pressad and the commander wouldn’t lose any sleep if she disappeared. But Whiz was her friend, even if he was a bit spineless at times, and she wanted him to remain in one piece.

“It’s like the big guy said. I’m his mate. We’re going to fly off into the sunset and live happily ever after.”

“You’re kidding, right? You can’t just go off with this guy. Unless there is some crazy time portal inside their ship, you only met him a couple of hours ago.”

Zoe shrugged. “Hey, when you know, you know. Love at first sight, right?”

Did that sound convincing? Maybe not, from the way Whiz gaped at her incredulously.

“Zoey—”

A loud screech from above interrupted Whiz, and Zoey yelled out as she looked up and saw three of those crazy lizard creatures swooping down. Fire streamed from one of the lizard’s nostrils, only just missing her as Dex grabbed her and spun her away.

He turned her toward the ship. “Inside. Now.”

She didn’t need to be told twice. She raced toward the entrance to the ship, pausing on the ramp as she heard a terror-filled scream. Glancing over, she saw one of the creatures swooping over Pressad as he cowered out in the open.

The stupid idiot didn’t even have a weapon. He was toast unless someone helped him. She looked around. Everyone else was engaged. It was up to her.

Fuck it.

Zoey sprinted inside the ship and looked for something to fight with. Two men raced towards her, stopping to grab some weapons out of a large chest. They ignored her as they ran down the ramp to help fight off the lizard creatures. Zoey raced over and picked up a blaster.

She was actually a decent shot, but this wasn’t a weapon she was used to. And it weighed a frickin’ ton. Cradling it in her arms, she ran back down the ramp.

Hell, Pressad was probably toast by now anyway. But she saw the giant lizard was toying with him, blocking him off each time he tried to escape.

“Hasta la vista, baby,” she yelled, raising the blaster. The creature turned to her, its bright red eyes glowing. There was a demonic look in its gaze and she shivered as it swooped toward her.

“Oh fuck, oh shit.” She raised the blaster, balanced it against her shoulder and fired. The force of the blast caught her by surprise. She flew back, the blaster flying from her arms as she landed heavily on the ground.

Wheezing, she lay there, fighting for breath. Pain radiated throughout her body. A shadow fell over her and she glanced up, certain she was about to become a giant bonfire.

She squeezed her eyes shut. “Oh crap, make it quick.”

“Zoey? Are you okay?” She opened her eyes to find Pressad standing over her.

“Is it dead?”

“Yeah, you killed it. Come on, we need to get out of here.”

“Mate!” she heard Dex yell. She turned her head, trying to find him. Was he all right? Did he need her? Alarmed, she tried to sit.

“Zoey, take my hand.”

Reaching up, she grabbed Pressad’s hand. He pulled her up. But instead of letting her go, she found herself turned and held back against him; the same blaster she’d used to defend him was pressed against the side of her head.

“What are you doing?” she screeched.

“Mate!” Suddenly, Dex stood in front of her, his chest heaving, blood dripping down one arm. His face was thunderous as he scowled at Pressad, who stood trembling behind her.

“Pressad, what the fuck are you doing? Let go of me.”

Dex watched Pressad with an intensity that actually frightened her. When she stared into his now red gaze, her stomach dropped. She knew that Pressad’s time on this planet was limited.

“You can’t have her!” Pressad screamed. Zoey glanced around. Four giant lizards lay on the ground.

Everyone who wasn’t injured was either standing guard or staring at Pressad in amazement.

“Pressad, I don’t know what crazy pills you’ve been taking, but you need to let me go. Now.”

Dex’s silence worried her. There was no fear on his face, no concern.

Just a cold, hard determination.

“No! You’re mine. Mine!” Pressad screamed.

“What the fuck are you talking about?” she snapped. “You hate me.”

“No, I don’t. I want you. I’ve always wanted you. But you never took me seriously. You
mocked
me. So I had to show you that I wasn’t someone to mess with.”

Well, okay, so maybe she shouldn’t have made fun of him. She’d known he was crazy, but she hadn’t realized he was batshit, half a step from the loony bin crazy.

“You convinced the commander to send me out here.”

“To teach you a lesson! To show you that I have power! You were supposed to beg me to change the commander’s mind and I would have demanded payment from you. Instead, you walk out here like a stupid twit and get yourself kidnapped by this brainless meathead!”

“That brainless meathead is about to tear you limb from limb unless you let me go. By the way, holding a blaster against my head doesn’t exactly endear me to you!”

“If I can’t have you then nobody will.”

“Fuck, he’s lost his mind,” Whiz said, watching Pressad him worriedly.

“That’s not all he’s about to lose,” Koran replied darkly.

One of the dragons let out a small roar. Zoey jumped as one of Dex’s men turned and shot it. Seizing his chance while Pressad was distracted, Dex charged.

Before she could even scream, Zoey found herself airborne. She was caught against someone’s chest. Gasping for breath, she glanced up into Thor’s grim face.

Pressad let out a loud cry and she looked over to find Dex holding Pressad by the throat, dangling him in the air.

“Dex, no! Put him down.” She pushed against his hold frantically.

Pressad’s legs swung back and forth as he clawed at the hand around his throat. His face grew purple from lack of air.

“Dex! Let him go!”

“He threatened you! He put his hands on you!” Dex’s voice was all the more frightening for the sheer lack of emotion.

“Let me down, Thor,” she demanded. “He’ll kill him.”

“So?” Thor replied coldly. “He deserves it.”

“Maybe, but I’ll never forgive Dex if he kills him. Is that what you want?”

Thor didn’t move and she groaned with frustration.