Page 57 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

A cold shiver of dread runs through me despite the heat from the sun beating down. I should feel relief. She survived the anuroi that took her, and she made it out of the nest alive. But the footprints trailing into the jungle tell another story. She’s not free. Not yet. And she’s still in danger.

My fingers tighten around the little scrap of purple fabric clutched in my hand. It’s torn and stained, but I recognize it. It’s from the t-shirt she was wearing. I press it against my chest as if it can somehow bridge the distance between us.

I swallow hard, my mouth suddenly dry. I want to say something to cut through the heavy silence and break the tension. But no words come out.

Instead, I watch Vrok as he studies the tracks, his eyes tracing over their path. His jaw is clenched so tightly I almost expect to hear his fangs grinding together. For a moment, I wonder if he’s angry. But then he looks up, and when his gaze meets mine, I see something else there.

Not anger. Not frustration.

But uncertainty.

It’s a flicker—there and gone in a heartbeat—but it’s enough to make my breath hitch. Vrok is never uncertain. He’s a warrior, a hunter, and a protector. But right now, he looks like a man standing on the edge of something he doesn’t quite know how to face.

He exhales sharply, his nostrils flaring wide. His gaze flickers back to the footprints before he turns to me.

“I failed you.” His voice is strained and quiet.

The words hit me harder than I expect. I shake my head, stepping closer. “No, Vrok. You didn’t.”

“I did. You trusted me to find her, and I was too late.” His hand reaches up and he runs a finger along the scrap of fabric still clutched in my hand. “She was taken from the nest, probably not long after she was left there. And I didn’t get us here soon enough. She’s been in their hands for days.”

His voice falters, low with guilt. “If we’d been faster. If I’d been better, we might have reached her in time.”

Guilt is written in every line of his face, and it’s a different kind of weight pressing down on me now. Not just fear for Lily, but for the burden he’s placing on himself.

I reach out and rest my fingers lightly against his thick wrist. “She’s still alive. That means there’s still hope.”

Vrok looks down at where my hand touches him. Then, slowly, he turns his hand over, and threads his fingers through mine. His grip is firm and warm.

His voice is rough when he finally speaks. “I will find her, Emily.” His thumb brushes over my knuckles in a slow, deliberate stroke, sending a tingle through me that settles in my lower belly. “For you. I swear it.”

My throat tightens. I nod, gripping his hand back.

I believe him. Because I know when Vrok makes a promise, there’s nothing that will stop him from keeping it.

He releases my hand, his fingers trailing away slowly as if he’s reluctant to let go. Then, his focus sharpens, and his warrior instincts take over. He steps forward and crouches to study the tracks, brushing some leaves away.

“They’re older than I’d hoped,” he murmurs, tracing a finger over the disturbed dirt. “They took her at least four days ago.”

He pauses and his eyes narrow on a deep impression in the soil. “There were two Tussoll warriors, and…” His jaw flexes as he glances up at me. “One Pugj.”

A chill runs down my spine at his words. “Are you sure?”

He points to a deeper, wider set of impressions that bear the distinct mark of long claws. “I’m certain.”

My stomach twists with apprehension. The Tussoll were bad enough, but the Pugj? If they took Lily, she’s in more danger than I thought. We have to find her.

“Where do you think they’re taking her?”

“Most likely toward the Tussoll village. They didn’t try to hide their trail, so they should be easy to follow if their destination is different.”

“They’ve got a head start,” I say, trying to keep the tremble out of my voice. “But we can still catch up to them, right?”

Vrok rises and scans the edge of the jungle. “If they were headed to there, then they’ve probably already arrived.”

“Then that’s where we’ll go,” I say immediately.

His silver gaze snaps to me. “Emily?—”

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