Page 6 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Sara’s throat closed up with emotions.

No. She wouldn’t think about her sister.

“How long have you been here for?” Sara asked.

“I don’t know. Time doesn’t really work the same in this place.” Emma squeezed her eyes shut. “All I know is, we won’t be here for much longer.”

“How do you know that?”

Emma jutted her chin at another lion guard that swaggered toward them. His metal mane glowed with every step and he held his sword loosely as he stared directly at her.

In a trembling voice, Emma warned, “The auction is about to begin.”

Three

Korben

Korben brought Enthara,his powerful beast, to a stop in front of the squatty dome. The building sat in the darkest shadows of the planet, lit only by a simple neon light.

In all his sun cycles, he had never stepped foot in abeluda. He’d heard the whispers of course. Traders had spoken of exotic creatures from faraway lands. Creatures with curves and soft places. Creatures with lips that dripped seduction and slick heat. Creatures primed for mating.

They were sold to the highest bidder, given to masters who were rarely benevolent. The horrors these females were forced to endure would make an elder rip his scales. Seen as less than by their masters, they often suffered until death.

Simply walking toward the beluda made Korben’s skin crawl. The building stood against everything his species believed in. Females—allfemales—were to be respected no matter their species. To confine a woman to the purpose of breeding was immensely foolish.

In his tribas, females were protected and honored.

At least…

They had been.

Before the Red Death.

An image of his mother lying in her deathbed crashed into him. His heras ached so desperately he wanted to turn around, but he couldn’t. Neh. He refused to. His species’ survival rested on his shoulders, so Korben would bend his principles. Only for tonight.

His skin curdled in disgust as he strode into the building. The air stank of excrement and spirits. Two Rularis blinked in his direction. Guards on either side of the door. Bulky armor. Shifty eyes.

His arms remained loosely by his sides, but he could take them both out in an instant. The weapons concealed in his pants had their purpose as well. At places like this, anything could happen.

Korben strode past the guards. He saw the respect in their eyes and knew it was not unwarranted. Plutonians were known far and wide as experts in combat. They were faster and stronger than their enemies because of a secret that no one knew.

A secret that was now in the hands of his enemies.

He stretched his fingers out and sucked in a deep breath. Tonight, he had not come for battle. Neither had the others in the dome. Neh, they were here for something else.

His stomach churned again, but he kept walking toward the main room. The benches in front of the stage nearly cracked under the weight of all the patrons in attendance. Many had gathered from far and wide to gaze upon the delicacies the Uldimar Raiders had captured.

Excitement teased the air. Whispers shot back and forth, trading gossip and secrets. Eyes darted behind the curtain as if eager for a peek. Something rare would grace the stage tonight.

Korben’s skin itched, part with dread and part with anticipation as he thought of the female he needed to take away tonight. They were calledhumans. He had never seen one in the flesh, but he had it on good authority the creatures were present tonight. He had to get his hands on one. If he failed, Clavas would die and it would be on his head.

A roar from the crowd dragged his attention to the Bluroin female on the stage. She had long, blue sheer-colored hair that fell down to her hunched back. Her lips took up most of her face and her one, giant eye was shaded by a thick, hide-like eyelid.

Unruly whistles blew in her direction. The crowd taunted her with dirty language and hurled filthy threats regarding the damage they would do to her private places. His fingers tightened into fists as the Bluroin creature visibly trembled. She was scared. Terrified.

Do not blow your cover, Korben.

His temper flared anyway. To look away from injustice was not in hisvenas. Korben forced himself to keep still. Murdering every member of the crowd would be counter-productive to his mission. While he was fighting an army of enraged patrons, the human females would be swept away.

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