Page 5 of Resisting the Alien Commander

I can do this. Ihaveto do this. There’s no turning back now. Especially since it’s our turn. The ramp is wide enough for all four of us to descend side by side. The metal thuds against the soles of my shoes and our shadows grow long from the sun at our backs. The view we had of the city from above doesn’t do it justice.

Everything is so much bigger, and the nausea in my stomach churns. I feel like I’m back in the bottom tier looking up at all the places where I’d never be allowed and didn’t belong. Olivia squeezes my hand.

“This isn’t Earth,” she reminds me.

As if I could forget.

At last, we reach the bottom of the ramp where the rest of the women congregate. A contingent of sculpted copper aliens with teal hair and horns of various lengths—clearly soldiers or guards of some kind—stand at attention.Each one is just as gorgeous as the next. But two men, in particular, draw my gaze.

It’s the one who stands slightly to the side and behind the other I keep focusing on.There’s an intensity to him that’s magnetic. I can’t turn away. All I can do is take in his raw masculinity.I’m so distracted by him, I almost miss what the guy in the front is saying.

“Welcome to Bohna and our capital city of Preska,” the man says. “My name is Alik. I’m the leader of the Bohnari people. We are glad to have you here.”

It’s pretty obvious now that he is the one in charge. He holds himself like someone who expects people to bow to him.

“I’m sure after the long flight you all would like to get settled in your new home,” Alik continues. “Commander Horek will lead you to your dwelling and the guards will bring your belongings. Rest for the evening and tomorrow night there will be a celebration in honor of your arrival. You are welcome to explore the city as you wish, but please do not go beyond the border walls. If there is anything you require during your stay to feel more comfortable, please don’t hesitate to ask one of the guards. They will ensure you get whatever it is you need.”

Alik turns to the man at his side and speaks to him in a tone too low for me to hear. Then he walks away without another glance at any of us. The powerful man who remains—Horek—scans the area. I get the impression nothing escapes his gaze.

“Followme.” He rasps out in a deep bass that ripples through me and makes the hair on the back of myneck stand up. He tacks on a belated, “Please.”

Something tells me he doesn’t say that word often, if ever.

“Here we go.” I nudge Olivia’s hip with my hand.

We follow Horek through the copper-hued streets with the guards flanking us. Other Bohnari as well as a few other types of aliens varying in shape and size—as well as number of appendages—out on the streets stare as we pass by.They make me feel like a sideshow at the circus or some exotic animal at a zoo who’s being paraded in front of them for their entertainment.Well, the feeling’s mutual.Another thing I note is the disparate number of women compared to men. Of course, the whole reason we’re on Bohna is because their race is dying out, so it makes sense.

“Does anyone else feel like we’re lambs being led to slaughter?” Devon asks, her head swiveling side to side and her gaze scanning our surroundings.

“I didn’t before you said something, so thanks for that,” Lindsey snarks.

“Sorry.” Devon winces. “I just can’t stand all the gawking. It’s freaking me out a little.”

I have to agree with her. Back on Earth, we did everything we could to avoid scrutiny. Those of us on the bottom tier did anyway. While she and Lindsey continue their light bickering, I study the back of Horek. He moves with a fluid grace I wouldn’t expect from someone his size. He’s massive with a tight black sleeveless shirt that complements his burnished copper skin and teal hair that brushes the tops of his shoulders. Small horns are just visible through the strands.

“You’re staring,” Olivia whispers close to my ear.

I jerk and whip my head in her direction. She tips her chin up, gesturing toward the object of my perusal. My cheeks grow hot. “I’m not staring. I’m…”

“Staring.”

I huff. “Fine, maybe I was. But only because I’ve never seen a soldier with long hair before.”

Olivia chuckles. “Is that the lie you’re telling yourself?”

Yes.“It’s just a lot to take in.”

Olivia breathes out. “Yeah.”

My gaze shifts back to Horek. His hand rests on the blaster at his hip and there’s a tension in him that wasn’t present a moment ago.

Finally, we come to a large dormitory. One that’s architecture is industrial in design at its foundation, but mixed with oblong shapes and tons of windows. It gleams with a newness I’ve never experienced. Everything in the bottom tier is dingy and marked with age. Concrete is lined with spiderwebbed cracks that make it appear as if the structure could fall any second. This building looks like it could withstand any type of natural disaster, whether it be an earthquake or hurricane.

The biggest surprise is all the natural landscaping. I can’t remember the last time I saw more than a single random tree. The streets here are lined with them and they surround the dormitory along with flowering bushes and shrubs.

Horek enters the building and two guards hold the doors open so we don’t have to. I slowly turn and walk, tipping my head back to take in the open air atrium. There’s no ceiling until the roof. Sunlight shines in through the wall of windows illuminating all the cozy couches and chairs that are scattered throughout. A fireplace is built into one of the walls. Various potted trees stand tall within the main area as well.

“Is that a palace?” Someone asks in slightly louder than a whisper.

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