Page 69 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

“Which isexactlywhy I’m going with you,” I shoot back. “I’m not some damsel in distress.” My voice cracks, but I push through it. “I can’t go through that helpless feeling of waiting, not when Lily’s still in danger. I won’t lose her, and I won’t lose you, either.”

His whole body tenses. The air between us feels like it could shatter. “I will not risk you,” he bites out.

My chest tightens, and I meet his glare with one of my own. “And I won’t risk you. I’m not going to sit out here wondering if you’re lying dead while Lily’s locked up in some damn hut. That’s not gonna happen.” I square my shoulders. “Besides, I’m already at risk just being on Tussoll territory. Hiding in a bush isn’t going to change that.”

Silence stretches between us. His jaw is clenched so tight I can almost hear his fangs grinding together. His eyes burn with fear. He doesn’t want me to come because he’s scared of losing me. Just like I’m scared of losing him.

He cares. A lot more than he’s ready to admit.

The realization settles in my chest, warming something that’s been frozen since this whole nightmare began. Maybe longer.

He looks away, back toward the village. Then, through clenched teeth, he murmurs, “What if my father is in there?”

The question hangs in the air between us. I can hear the dread and guilt in his voice.

“If he is, then we’ll deal with it,” I say softly. “Together.”

He doesn't answer right away, but something seems to shift in his expression and it looks almost like acceptance.

Finally, he releases a heavy breath and turns back to me. “You follow my lead, and you do exactly what I say.”

Relief crashes over me. I nod, trying to look solemn. “I wouldn’t dream of doing anything else.”

His unamused look tells me he knows that’s a lie, but there’s no more time to argue.

When night finally falls and the Sister Moons are high in the sky above us, we make our move. Darkness envelops the Tussoll village, and the shadows stretch long and deep across the landscape. The heat and humidity of the day still lingers, clinging to our skin.

We slowly creep closer until we reach a thick clump of bushes near the perimeter. The village walls loom in front of us, their jagged outline stark against the night sky. The sounds drifting from the village are loud and jarring. Drums pounding, voices raised in excitement, and bursts of wild, drunken laughter cut through the night. If I didn’t know better, I’d think we’d stumbled onto a keg party back on Earth.

The air is thick with the scent of roasting meat and woodsmoke. Beneath it all, the sharp, sour tang of kifir, the Laediriian’s version of alcohol, burns my nostrils.

Are they seriously throwing a fucking party because they caught Lily? Somewhere in that village, my cousin is tied up or locked away in some dark hut, scared out of her ever-loving mind, while these assholes laugh and drink like it’s New Year’s Eve.

My fists are clenched so tightly my nails dig into my palms, but I welcome the sting. It keeps me grounded.

Beside me, Vrok’s silver eyes narrow as the raucous noise of the Tussoll tribe carries through the night. He hasn’t said a word since we reached this spot, but he doesn’t have to. I can feel the storm building inside him.

He glances at me. “They’re distracted. This is our best chance.”

I nod and try to look confident, even though I’m shaking on the inside. Doubt gnaws at me. Maybe I’m in over my head. Maybe I should’ve stayed behind and… No.

That’s fear talking. The same fear that’s haunted me for as long as I can remember. I’m done letting it call the shots, and I’m not going to let it take me away from Vrok’s side.

I draw in a deep, steadying breath and square my shoulders. My fingers brush against the hilt of one of the knives strapped to my waist. When we were discussing our plan for tonight, Vrokhad quickly removed the holster from his own waist and tied it around mine, his mouth in a grim line.

“You might need this,” he’d said as his fingers lingered on my skin.

I hadn’t argued. I’ll do whatever it takes to protect him and Lily.

We wait until the drums grow louder and the chanting hits a fevered pitch. I can almost picture them around the fire pit in the village’s center, their faces alive with cruel glee as they celebrate the capture of a human, and it makes my blood boil.

Well, they may have taken her, but they’re not going to keep her.

With a nod, Vrok slips toward the rear of the village, his footsteps silent as he moves. I follow close behind him, keeping low. My heart hammers loud in my chest, almost loud enough to drown out the distant thump of drums and cheers.

As we follow the wall and move farther from the main entrance, the noise of the celebration begins to fade behind us. Tucked behind a storage hut, barely visible in the darkness, is a narrow gate. The same one Mara escaped through.

We press close to the rough wood, concealing ourselves in the shadow of the wall. The gate has been reinforced since her escape, and a thick metal lock now hangs from the latch.

---