Page 30 of The Alien's Stolen Rebel

The holodisplay showed her marching up the aisle, and even in the grainy image I could see the tension in her stride.

“Are we here for a rescue or what?” One of the other pirates said. Kyria, a skinny Liil female covered in knives. Maybe it had been a mistake to hire everyone I found who had their own weapons and a romantic streak, but I was in no position to be picky.

Annoyingly, that strategy also selected for impatient pirates.Better than cowards,I told myself, holding up a hand. I felt the same tension they did, though much stronger. I wanted to move, toact, to kill my foesand save my mate.But for Rachel’s sake, I couldn’t just charge in. I’d have one shot at this if I was lucky.

The little hologram of Rachel moved suddenly, leaping away from her escort and at the Guildfather. The tinny music stopped, along with the commentary, and a fierce joy filled my heart.

That’s my mate,I thought, bringing my hand down sharply and leaping around the corner, my crew following me. The pair of Guildsmen standing guard went down in a hail of fire, the doors burst open under Arzak’s strength and weight, and I rushed into the opening, my plasma pistol roaring. Another Guildsman stopped in his tracks with a hole the size of my fist punched through his torso. I kept moving, bursting into the main hall.

Inside, everything was chaos. The Guildfather struggled with Rachel, bodyguards trying to restrain her and failing. They could have slain her easily, but while that would save their boss from her, it would only cause more trouble. Frax watched the fight with fury etched in his expression, and anyone with half a brain would try to avoid his attention.

Other guests turned their weapons in every direction, ready to take advantage of the moment. Frax’s guards called for calm, but held their weapons drawn and ready, which did nothing to cool tempers.

I couldn’t have planned a better distraction if I tried. For a moment, my raid went unnoticed. Then Arzak’s blaster roared, exploding a guard’s chest in a shower of super-heated gore.

That was enough to start the infighting. Bodyguards, gangsters, and pirates, they all had scores to settle, and the shooting gave them all the excuse they needed. A sudden hail of plasma, laser beams, and bullets cracked through the air, and everyone dived for cover behind the ornate pillars.

My pirates gleefully and indiscriminately joined the fight, adding to the chaos. Beside the altar, Frax reared up, shouting commands and trying to get control of the situation, but even his booming voice failed to cut through the roar of gunfire. I ignored everything in my rush to reach my mate; there was too much going on,no onecould keep track of it all.

One of the Guild guards saw me coming, spinning and striking at my stomach with her monofilament sword. I dove under her strike, rolling and coming to my feet, slamming my shoulder into her with enough force to knock her flying.

The other tried to stab me in the back, but Rachel chose that moment to smash a chair over the back of his head. The guard dropped like a stone, and the Guildfather they’d tried to protect scurried backward in an undignified hurry. Rachel didn’t give chase, looking at me instead.

“Embrace the least-bad plan, huh?” Her face split into a grin. “You, Captain Kreel, are an idiot.”

“Youridiot,” I told her, grinning back. Time slowed to a crawl as we looked into each other’s eyes, brimming with love for each other. “And you’re one to talk.What was your plan? Beat the Guildfather to death and hope the rest back off?”

“Well, it worked, didn’t it?” She reached for me, then stopped, eyes wide. “Kreel!”

Instinct took over, and I ducked underneath a massive, claw-tipped hand that would have torn my head off if it connected.

Twisting as I stood, I raked my own claws over Frax’s thick hide and turned the blaster on him. But for all his size, Frax was fast. His shoulder struck hard, sending me stumbling back, pistol flying from my hand.

My claws broke his skin, dark blood oozing from the scratches, but I’d only hurt him.

His roar cut through the noise of the fighting. “You cannot have her, Kreel! She is mine.”

A flurry of blows forced me back, fighting defensively. Frax wasn’t just fast, he was agile too, and his ferocity went some way to making up for his lack of skill. He didn’t let up his attack as I struggled to disengage, to recover the initiative.

“She’s not yours, you idiot,” I snarled, turning aside a blow that would have opened my torso from throat to belt. “She’s not property to take by force.”

“I will make her a queen,” Frax roared. “And you will pay for trying to stop me.”

Something hit the back of my legs, sending me into a backward tumble. Frax roared in triumph, rearing over me and raising gleaming-sharp claws.

“Hey, asshole!” Rachel shouted. “Kreel’s already made me a pirate queen.”

With that, she swung her chair into Frax’s face.

It wasn’t a well-struck blow, or a powerful one. But it was a surprise, and that was what mattered. Frax staggered, roared, lashed out with a backhand that lifted Rachel from her feet and flung her to land against the altar.

That broke the rhythm of his attack, giving me the chance to regain my footing. My vision blurred red, my lips drew back in a furious snarl, and I crouched, ready.

All around us, battle raged.

It didn’t rage as hot as the fury coursing through my veins, and I leaped at my enemy, all caution forgotten. “Youhurther!”

Frax reacted a moment too slowly, and my claws raked his face before he twisted aside. Hissing, he lashed out at me, brutal strength sending me tumbling.

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