Page 56 of Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

I expect the old man to introduce himself to us, or to speak more with Diana. Instead, he opens his mouth and starts speaking in the same, guttural language as the Aurelians.

I blink. With all the chaos of the day,thismanages to be the most surprising thing yet. Even more shocking? Forn talks right back to him!

I’ve never seenanyoneas excited as the nobleman. He’s practically jumping up and down with glee at being able to speak to these Aurelians in their strange tongue.

What is going on?

The three Aurelians and the old man speak rapidly, while the rest of us look on in wonder. I glance over at Diana, and she just shrugs.

“He’s been researching Aurelians for the last forty years,” the noblewoman says, her voice barely a whisper. I look over at the nearest opened book and recognize the anatomy of an Aurelian drawn out on the pages.

Whoever this nobleman is, he’sobsessedwith this alien species.

The nobleman stops mid-sentence, then looks over at the orphans and I. Blinking, as if he’s only just noticed us, the white-haired old man murmurs: “How rude of me! Allow me to present myself.”

He straightens up:

“I am Lord Tenderfoot. Please, please – be welcome in my home.”

I glance over at the servant who’d answered the door – still slumped and unconscious on the chair Hadone had gently laid her on.

“Oh, she’ll be all right,” Lord Tenderfoot reassures me. “Tera is always fainting at the slightest thing. Just give her time and she’ll be up and about again.

As if on cue, Tera stirs, blinking, and opens her eyes. She looks up at the Aurelians like she can’t believe what she’s seeing right in front of her.

“Forn tells me you traveled from the burnt city,” Tenderfoot speaks to me. “Barl, I presume he meant. My God, the tragedy. Did these Aurelians help you out of there?”

There’s a dark edge of grief to his voice, and I realize that the Lord Tenderfoot has been crying. It’s as though the tragedy of Barl has touched him personally. The old man pretends to scratch his cheek and brushes a tear from his eye.

I nod. “They did. In fact, they’re the only reason we’re all still alive.”

Lord Tenderfoot smiles. “You’ll find I don’t share the same sentiments as the rest of the Capital towards Aurelians. Besides, these arenotyour regular Aurelians.”

“I’ve done intensive research on this subject matter. Legends tell of tribal Aurelians, living far away on a primitive jungle planet. They travel through portals to take their fated mates back to their planet and continue their species.”

I was planning on defending the Aurelians against whatever prejudice the nobleman might have. Instead, all eyes turn to me and I blush as everyone realizes the same thing.

The Aurelians must have travelled here forme.

Then embarrassment turns to anger.

Wait one Gods-damned minute! If these three think they can just snatch me up and take me for… reproduction… Well, they’ve got another thing coming!

“What’s a mate?” Tod asks innocently. I glare at Lord Tenderfoot before he can answer.

Diana Pooler looks at the tattooed Aurelians with wonder. I get a surge of jealousy. I’ll never be as elegant as her. I’ll always be a simple mechanic from a chop shop in Barl – never a noblewoman like her, even if I’m dressed and beautified like one right now.

What if she’s their mate, not me? What if these three gorgeous aliens came forher?

I gulp dryly, irritated by the knot of jealousy tightening in my belly.

Why should I even care? I barely know these three. It’s been just days since I met them…

Oblivious to my conflicted thoughts, Diana demands:

“If they’re so primitive, they’d have no means of interstellar travel. How are they even here?”

The old nobleman clears his throat. “You’d be wise not to underestimate those different than you, Miss Pooler. Did the elders teach you nothing?”

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