Page 70 of Tempted By the Alien Warrior

Vrok scoffs at it. “They really think this will stop us?”

With a single, fluid motion, his sword flashes through the dark, slicing down in a swift arc. A sharp crack splits the air as the lock shatters.

He tosses the broken lock aside with a shake of his head. “The Tussoll have always been poor metalworkers. Not like Maalin.”

He pushes the gate open just enough for us to slip through, and we move in silence, disappearing into the shadows of the village.

We emerge at the back of the village, not too far from the eponir pens. A row of small stone huts lines either side of the path ahead. I half expect to see a group of teal-skinned warriors charge around the corner with their swords drawn, but this part of the village is dark and eerily still. The Tussoll are all still gathered at their party.

Vrok scans the area, his body tight with tension. He cocks his head toward the nearest hut. “Let’s check there first.”

We move quietly through the shadows, pressing ourselves against the hut’s wall. Vrok lifts a hand, motioning for me to let him go first. Then, he eases the door and slips inside, his sword at the ready.

I follow a second later, my heart thundering in my chest, only to nearly run into him as he stops just inside the doorway.

The hut is empty.

My heart sinks as my eyes adjust to the dim interior. The floor is bare, the fire pit is cold and unused, and dust covers everything. There’s no sign of Lily.

Then I hear it. It sounds like a faint, muffled whimper.

I spin around. “Did you hear that?”

It’s coming from the hut next door.

Vrok is already heading for the next hut where he presses his ear to the door. He’s silent for so long as he listens that I begin to wonder if I imagined the noise, but then finally, he meets my gaze and gives a sharp nod.

He eases the door open and slips inside like a shadow. I follow, and immediately freeze, my heart clenching at the sight before me.

Lily is tied to a thick post in the center of the hut with her hands and feet tightly bound to the rough wood. She’s crouched on the dirt with her head slumped against the post. Her black hair hangs in a tangled curtain over her face, hiding it from me.

“Lily!” I rush to her. My hands are shaking as I yank out one of the knives. It feels huge in my grip as I begin sawing through the ropes as fast as I can. “It’s okay. We’re going to get you out of here.”

She stirs at the sound of my voice, lifting her head. Her eyes are red and swollen, and dirt streaks her face. Her gaze darts over my shoulder to Vrok, still standing guard at the door with his sword in his hand.

Her eyes go wide with fear, and she twists against the ropes, panic tightening her movements. “Emily! He’s one of them,” she hisses.

“No, he’s not. He’s with me,” I say quickly, sawing faster at the ropes. “He helped me find you.”

But my words don’t seem to reach her. Her eyes are locked on Vrok, her body trembling as fear holds her frozen.

For a second, I let the knife fall and gently take her face in my hands. “Lily, look at me.He’s not like them. He’s on our side, I swear it. I trust him.”

Her startled gaze finally flicks to mine, and for a second, I’m not sure she believes me. Then her shoulders slump as the fight drains out of her.

I’m nearly through with the ropes when Vrok suddenly stiffens. His ears swivel and he leans toward the door, listening intently. My heart almost stops when his gaze locks with mine, his eyes sharp with urgency.

He whispers, “Hurry.”

I grit my teeth and slice through the last rope. It snaps, and Lily collapses into my arms, limp and shaking. She’s weak and clearly exhausted, but she’s alive. I pull her upright and loop an arm around her waist, steadying her.

Vrok moves to Lily’s other side, offering his arm for support, but she jerks back, eyeing him warily.

“I’ve got her,” I say quietly.

His gaze lingers on us a beat longer before he nods. “Stay close. We’re leaving the same way we came in.”

We slip out of the hut and move quickly through the shadows. Lily leans heavily on me, her arm slung around my shoulders. Every step feels too loud, like it echoes around us, but no one comes.

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