Page 3 of Resisting the Alien Commander

“But I could have that here,” I argue, my tears falling faster than she can wipe them away. “I don’t need to leave Earth for another planet to find a husband or have kids. There’s millions of men here to choose from.”

She smiles sadly. “They’re all from the bottom tier.”

“We’refrom the bottom tier.” Never once has my mother indicated she’s ashamed of where we live.

“That is why you need to go.” She squeezes my hands. “This is your chance to get away from this place. To no longer be a bottomer. You won’t have to work hours and hours at the sanitation facility surrounded by garbage and refuse. You’ll get to have a life that doesn’t include eating protein bars. These Bohnari people have technology, wealth, and all the things you can’t get by staying here.”

“I don’t care about any of that. I care about you.” The only person I have left in this world. How can she not understand that?

“Who will you have when I’m gone?” she asks. “Olivia’s name was called, too, and we both know she’s leaving on that ship in two days. Quinn, you need to be on there with her when the time comes. Ineedyou to be on there. Please, do this for me. Go to Bohna. Marry one of their people. Have children. Most of all, be happy.”

“You can’t guarantee I’ll be happy there. Maybe their men are cruel. Vicious. I could be far worse off on that planet than I am here and I’ll never be able to come back.”

“What if they’re not? What if their men are kind? Loving? You could be missing out on an amazing life. They have communication capabilities,” she points out. “You may not be able to visit, but that doesn’t necessarily mean you’ll never talk to me again. Besides, you’ll have Olivia there. The two of you will be there for each other.”

I open my mouth to protest once again, but she lays a finger over my lips.

“Go to bed and sleep on it. Think about what I said and decide in the morning. But, please, Quinn, say you’ll go.”

Unable to do anything more than nod, I slip off the couch and make my way to the room we share. I slowly undress and change into my nightshirt. After I brush my teeth, I braid my hair and crawl into bed. Alone. For far too long, I stare up at the ceiling waiting for my mom to come in, but by the time my eyes drift shut, she’s still not beside me.

Chapter2

Horek

The sound of voices travels down the hall of the barracks.Thisis my domain. My kingdom. The one and only place I wish to rule. At my approach, the three young guards in the galley go silent.

“Why aren’t you out on patrol?” I come to a stop directly in their personal space. All three flinch.

“Sorry, Commander. We were just leaving,” the nearest to me says and they scatter.

“More like distracted,” I mutter to the empty room.

Ever since Alik negotiated an agreement with the President of a land on Earth called America, all anyone talks about are the arriving brides. The guards are losing focus, and with tensions mounting between the rebel forces outside of Preska, that is the last thing we need.

I make one more round outside the barracks before heading toward the palace for a debriefing with Alik. I walk the streets keeping my focus on my surroundings. Nothing appears to be amiss, but there’s been a heaviness in the air lately that tells me something is coming soon. Something that isn’t just the arrival of the humans. Guards and citizens alike stride through Preska. My heart aches at the few females, all of them elders. Like the Queen and my mother.

“Greetings, Commander,” one of the tavern owners says as I pass.

I nod in return. A moment later, I reach the lift at the base of the mountain and take it up to the landing outside the palace entrance The guards at the door straighten at my arrival.I make my way toward the Prince’s wing. As commander of his armed forces, it’s my responsibility to make sure all the residents of Preska, as well as the palace, are safe.New security measures are being put in place with the imminent arrival of the twenty human females.

I stride down the wide corridor lined with windows and can’t help but glance out over our city. From this high up I can see across the entire length of it and beyond into the rainforest.The lush teal leaves of the trees never fail to take my breath away. Their beauty is unsurpassed anywhere. But that beauty hides danger. Between the rebels who call it home and the creatures who wander the land, there are few places within that are safe.

Several hallways and stairs later, I enter the throne room.Despite being born to the King and Queen of Bohna, my cousin doesn’t stand on formality. This is his least favorite place to be in the entire palace,but it’s where his father conducted all his business so it’s where Alik conducts his. Including receivingmy dear aunt, who frequently reminds him of his duties. Duties like finding a mate and helping repopulate our people with his progeny.

Poor bastard.

“Theguards are distracted.” I do without any unnecessary pleasantries.

My cousin turns from the window and keeps his hands clasped behind his back. At his feet is his Phinnek pup, Beck.

“Clearly you are too lenient with them that they would dare take a single moment’s musings from their duty.” He raises one imperious brow.

“Their duty is to keep the city safe. Especially with the arrival of the humans.” I glare. “The rebels have been far too quiet lately. The silence doesn’t bode well.Under normal circumstances, my guards do well enough. But you and I both know these are anything but ordinary circumstances.”

“Well enough is high praise coming from you,” Alik says with a sly grin that slowly falls. “You are right though. These circumstances are anything but ordinary. Any day now, the females are scheduled to arrive from Earth. They will need time to acclimate. Extra patrols will need to be set up around the dwelling where they’ll live until they find their mates.”

“I’ve already arranged for that to be taken care of, Sire.”

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