Page 56 of Claimed by the Alien Warrior Triad

Stryker muses. “All men of the Scorp-Blooded tribe have the holy right to commune. Ripperwillsee reason.”

Brigg shakes his head. “No. He won’t. The tribe has shrunk, and he guards the Orb-God jealously these days.”

I know why they were banished.

Because of me.

I got it out of Brigg. Apparently, they’d been bringing sacrifices to the Orb-God, yet never gained a replacement mate in return. Their leader, Ripper, realized that these three men were not praying for a new mate, but praying for me to return. I realize instantly what we have to do.

“I’ll go with you.”

Stryker grabs my arm, looking me deep in the eyes with those vibrant, green orbs of his. They flash with anger and possessiveness. “I willnotlet Ripper within a hundred feet of you. He is dangerous, and he has hatred for us. He calls you the Cursed Mate.”

Stryker’s hand clenches too tightly on my arm, sending a shockwave of pain through my arm. His veins pulse as the venom courses through him. I breath in gently, not wanting to show him that he’s hurting me – because I know the moment he loses his beastly rage he’ll feel deep shame that he caused me discomfort.

I might defer in the bedroom, but I need to stand firm here. “No. This is theonlyway. Your chief needs to see that youaren’tforsaking your tribe. That you want children. Bring me with you, or he’ll never let you in.”

“She’s right,” Haleon says slowly, mulling over my words.

“I’ll think on it,” considers Stryker, his grip on my arm loosening. I’m so used to being the one in charge at the law firm and the boardroom that it’s tough adjusting to the new dynamics. Stryker is their leader, and I’m not going to try to bully him into seeing my point of view. He looks down at the marks on my arm, and instantly a deep sorrow fills his face. He gently kisses my bruises. “A thousand apologies, my love.”

I smile, and I know that his roughness should terrify me, but it doesn’t. I know Stryker only acted like that because of a threat to me. It’s only when I’m in danger that he flies into his rage, and that he’d never do anything to hurtme.

But imagining what he would do to anything or anybodythat threatened me is the true horror. I’ve ached for thirty years to feel Stryker’s inflamed passion again; and I’d take no subdued version of his might. Iachefor his power – his drive. Stryker’s violent nature scares me, but it also draws me closer to him.

“And if Clan Leader Ripper turns on us?” Brigg gives me a nervous look. He fears that I might be taken from them.

Haleon shakes his head. “He would not risk losing more Aurelians – evenus.”

“I’ll bring my gun,” I say with certainty.

“Explain to me, again, how this weapon works?” Haleon reaching for the metal weapon I brought with me from Earth. I grab it away from him before he can take it. I don’t want him accidentally shooting it, especially not in this cramped cave. Even with the safety catch on, it’s too dangerous.

Always assume the safety is off, even when you know it’s not. That’s one of the rules of firearms.

“Have you seen bows and arrows?” I ask, trying to find a way to explain the weapon.

Stryker rubs a small scar on his shoulder. “Yes. A coward’s weapon.”

I raise my eyebrow. “Not all of us have strong arms, you know. I’m just as deadly as you are with this thing. This gun shoots with the force of a hundred arrows – but it can only shoot eight more times.”

Brigg snorts. “And then it’s just a useless hunk of metal?”

I nod. “Yes. But until then, I could kill an Aurelian from a stone’s throw away.”

The three of them look at me with new understanding. I look like a small, weak woman to most Aurelians – but those who underestimate me will see my teeth. I didn’t get to the position of Secretary of Defense back on Earth easily. I had to manipulate and negotiate, growing my influence slowly. I’ve faced down five-star generals and men of power and influence who’d make even this so-called “Ripper” shake in his boots.

“Tomorrow, we go,” says Stryker, without a hint of doubt in his voice.

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20

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Aubrey

We trek to the underground home of the Scorp-Blood tribe. A guard challenges us at the entrance.

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