Page 55 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

I go rigid and instinctively reach for the hilt of my sword. Beside me, Emily freezes. Her breath catches in her throat as her hand lands on my free arm.

“Was that a?—?”

“Yes.” My jaw clenches as I scan the sky until I spot the shadow of a winged beast in the distance. It’s an anuroi. We’re close.

A fresh sense of urgency floods my veins. We quicken our pace, our boots crunching softly over the rocky ground as every step takes us closer to the anurois’ nesting grounds. And hopefully, to Lily.

The terrain becomes less forgiving as we near the tall cliffs the beasts’ call home. Roots claw out of the soil like grasping fingers and white jagged rock formations jut out like broken teeth. Patches of tall, stiff grass ripple in the wind, their edges whispering against one another like they’re warning us away.

The air feels different here. It’s still heavy with humidity, but it’s strangely quiet. There are no calls of liseks or buzzing sounds of insectoids. And no more screeches from the anurois.

It’s too quiet.

Up ahead, the cliffs rise stark white against the pale blue sky, their jagged edges worn by wind and rain. They tower over the lanscape like the bones of some ancient creature, bleached and brittle, and streaked in places with rust-colored veins of mineral as if the rock itself has bled. Cracks mar the surface and narrow ledges break up the vertical expanse, some of them lined with nests made of vines, bones, and the leathery scraps of old anuroi wings. The wind shifts carrying with it the sour tang of rotting meat and old, dried blood.

Beyond the cliffs, a dense wall of tree looms where the jungle begins again.

Emily slows beside me, her steps growing hesitant. She stares at the cliffs, her eyes wide. “This is it?” she asks, her voice barely more than a whisper.

I nod. “The nesting grounds.”

She swallows, her throat working as she takes in the scene. “It looks dead.”

I scan the sky out of habit, expecting to see the dark shapes of anurois gliding overhead. But there’s nothing. No leathery wings, no diving forms, no shrill calls echoing from the cliffs. My brow furrows.

There are always at least two anurois left behind, circling just above the cliff like sentinels, guarding the nests. But today, there aren’t any. In the very far distance, I can just make out the dark shadow of an anuroi slowly gliding through the clouds.

A chill prickles across the back of my neck, cutting through the humidity like ice. Something scared them off. I don’t like this, and I like that Emily is here even less.

I glance at her. The expression on her face is tight, her jaw clenched, and her shoulders held in a rigid line as if bracing for a blow. She feels it, too.

The realization settles in my gut like a stone. We aren’t the first ones here.

“Stay close.” My voice comes out low and tense.

Emily nods, her gaze snapping to mine before flicking back to the cliffs and scanning the ledges.

I wish I could send her back. Just until I know what we’re walking into. But she wouldn’t go, and part of me doesn’t want her to.

We move forward, slow and deliberate, moving from rock to rock, then into tall clumps of brittle grass as we draw closer to the looming cliffs ahead.

I feel my body instinctively adjust, my skin flickering to blend in with the terrain. We stop near the base of the cliffs. They rise above us, imposing and jagged, the silhouette cutting into the sky. High above, the nests are little more than dark hollows.

I turn to Emily. “I need you to stay here.”

My eyes scan the area until I find a crevice between a cluster of boulders, partially hidden by a thick clump of tall grass. Thestones are close together, but there’s just enough room for one small human.

Pointing to the crevice, I say. “You can hide there until I return.”

“Vrok…” She hesitates. Her lips part like she wants to say more, but then she surprises me.

She grabs my arm and pulls me down just enough for her lips to crash against mine. Our kiss is fast, fierce, and desperate. Like a silent plea, a promise, and a warning all at once.

By the goddesses, she is like a fire burning out of control, but one that is all too swiftly gone.

Emily pulls back and her shoulders rise as she takes in a deep breath. “Come back to me. Please.”

I brush my thumb over her lower lip, letting it linger for a heartbeat longer than I should in a silent vow. Then I guide her toward the rocks, helping her slip into the narrow space. My hands hover as I make sure she’s fully hidden from any anurois that might return.

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