Page 68 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

My gut twists. From here, it looks quiet, almost peaceful, but I know better.

Somewhere beyond those walls, Lily is being held captive, surrounded by enemies who wouldn’t think twice about using her for their own gain. And Emily, still silent beside me, is wound so tight I can feel it like a pulse beneath my skin. Her pain echoes through my chest like it’s my own.

I don’t know how we’re going to get Lily out, but anyone who tries to stop us will regret it. I made a promise to Emily, and I intend to keep it.

20

Emily

The toweringwooden walls of the Tussoll village loom ahead, half-hidden by the surrounding trees. My heart pounds in my chest, each thud a brutal reminder of what’s at stake.

I force myself to breathe slowly and steady, but the fear gnaws at me, sharp and relentless. Lily is in there somewhere, scared and alone, and the thought of failing her makes my stomach twist with a knot of anxiety.

Vrok and I crouch low behind a cluster of boulders. I glance at him, and for a split second, I forget to breathe.

His skin begins to shift, the bright teal darkening and morphing into mottled shades that mirror the foliage around us. I’ve seen him camouflage before, but in the fading light, it’s nearly flawless. If I hadn’t been looking right at him, I might not have noticed him at all.

It’s unsettling, how easily he vanishes into the jungle. One second he’s there, and the next he’s part of the landscape. He moves with that deadly, quiet grace with every muscle primed and every sense on alert. He’s a warrior, though and through.But I’ve seen what’s beneath the ridges and fierce exterior, and I know his heart. I know the male beside me is risking everything for me, and for Lily, without hesitation.

He doesn’t acknowledge the change. His eyes stay locked on the village, sharp and unblinking as he studies every inch, every shadow, looking for a way inside. I want to thank him for fighting for us and for risking so much, but the words catch in my throat.

Somehow, I know he wouldn’t want to hear them. He doesn’t think he’s doing anything special, and that’s just who he is.

I pull my gaze away and force myself to focus on the village. The Tussoll’s defenses are simple but effective. Thick wooden logs sharpened to deadly points make up the perimeter fence. From our hiding spot, I can make out a single entrance, guarded by two warriors. They shift their weight from foot to foot, gripping their weapons tightly.

And they’re not alone.

Vrok leans in, his breath brushing against my ear. “There.”

I follow his gaze to a cluster of tall bushes near the wall. A shadow shifts ever so slightly. Then a few yards away, another shadow moves. They’re hidden guards. Vrok silently points out two more, all stationed along the perimeter of the village.

With a tilt of his head, he signals we should move back. We retreat a hundred feet or so and hunker down behind a thick patch of undergrowth.

“They’re on high alert,” he murmurs, jaw tight. “Getting inside the village walls won’t be easy.”

I swallow hard. “She could be anywhere in there. How are we even supposed to find her?”

He doesn’t answer right away. His eyes stay on the village, his mind already racing through possibilities. Then, without looking at me, he murmurs, “When Mara was taken by the Pugj, where did they keep her?”

I follow his gaze toward the back of the village as I recall the story Mara and Sorrin shared by the fire the night they returned. During the mission to find the other women who crashed here at the same time as us, the group was ambushed by the Pugj in the Bitter Forest. One of them took Mara and brought her to the Tussoll village.

“It was a small hut near a gate at the back of the village. Mara said they kept her there because it was easy to guard and away from the center of the village.” A spark of hope stirs inside me. “They might be keeping Lily in the same place.”

Vrok nods, his jaw tight. “Then that’s where I’ll go.”

I lift a brow. “Wherewe’llgo.”

His lips press into a flat line. “No.”

“Excuse me?”

“You are not going with me.” His voice is quiet but firm, the kind that leaves little room for argument. “It’s too dangerous. I won’t put you at risk.”

I stare at him, stunned. I came all this way, fought tooth and nail to get here, and now he wants to leave me behind? The thought makes my skin prickle with frustration.

Crossing my arms, I glare at him. “I didn’t come this far just to hide in the bushes while you sneak in alone.”

His nostrils flare. He leans in close, so close I can feel the heat of his breath on my face. “You don’t understand what you’re asking. The Tussoll know I’m an Anuriix. If they catch me, they will kill me without hesitation. No questions asked. And then, you’ll be at their mercy,” he growls.

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