Page 72 of The Alien Warrior's Mate

Ga Eun came to a complete stop.

“Were you?” Sah-ah screamed.

In the distance, he heard Kenzi begin to cry. Rune’s soft voice filtered from the dwelling as he tried to calm his frightened brood. Enthara emerged from the trees, moving slowly and unsteadily. The zapten’s gaze darted between him and his mate, heavy with conflict.

Sah-ah shook her head and angrily stalked toward the gate.

Ga Eun’s bottom lip trembled. “Where are you going?”

“Away from all of you. I’d rather get eaten by those wasps. At least they don’t pretend to give a damn about me.”

Korben realized his mate was truly intending to leave. He quickened his pace and grabbed her, pulling her flush against him. Her tiny body slid over his and he could feel the waves of hot anger slamming into his consciousness like a red wave.

“Let me go!” Sah-ah hiked her elbows back and struggled. “Let me go.” Tears streamed down her face and dropped on his arm. “Don’t touch me, you bastard.”

Korben’s heras split in two. He had caused his mate to suffer. He’d betrayed her trust.

Would he ever be able to win her love again?

Twenty-Nine

Sara

“I’m not going anywherewith him,” Sara snapped, glaring at Korben from across the room. He watched her intently with those purple eyes that held so many secrets she wanted to scream.

If there was any time to have used her head, it would have been here, in this blasted alien planet filled with creatures out to get her. Instead, she’d run away with her heart and let herself be vulnerable with the first alien who showed her some kindness.

Idiot!

Janet had taught her to never trust anyone, but she’d taken the lesson her sister had died to teach her and stuffed it six feet under. Because of her gullibility, Korben burrowed under her skin and swept through her like a hurricane. Now, she was left with nothing but utter devastation and pain.

Ga Eun continued packing the bag of food. “I’m sorry I didn’t tell you about the other humans in the Korben’s care.” She placed a packet of the gidt and tumari into a satchel. “I only found out because Rune had to stay up late making so many new connectors for translation.”

“It’s fine. It’s not like you weretrying to sell me off to evil aliens.” Sara raised her voice so Korben could hear.

He arched an eyebrow nub, his lips pressed down into a severe frown.

Like she gave a damn.

Sara turned away, unable to stand the sight of him. Reaching out, she clasped Ga Eun’s hand. “And I’m sorry for snapping at you earlier.”

“It’s fine.” Ga Eun stopped packing for a second. Her silky black hair fell into her eyes. She tossed it back with a shake of her head and lowered her voice. “Sara, Korben would never hurt you. You’re his mate. I’m sure he has a good reason—”

“I don’t need a reason,” Sara hissed. “I put my trust in him, and I never do that. With anybody. I stupidly believed that he actually cared aboutme. Only to find out that I was just a hot commodity.” She peered at Ga Eun and challenged. “Would you skip off into the sunset after hearing that the one person you trusted betrayed you like that?”

“He didn’t—”

“But he planned to.”

Korben strode toward her. “Sah-ah—”

“I told you I don’t want to speak to you.” She held up a hand, refusing to look in his direction. “You do not exist to me. You arenothingto me.”

She felt the weight of his guilt zip through her mind. Sara grabbed at her hair to keep the scream of frustration from pouring out. Why did she keepsensingKorben’s emotions? Why was he so present in her mind? She hated him.Hatedhim. So why was their connection still getting stronger? Couldn’t she reverse this mate thing?

“I won’t speak to you.” Korben’s voice was low and firm. “But there is no way in Torren that I will leave my mate behind.”

Sara scoffed. “Ga Eun, can you please tell Korben that he’s going to have to drag me kicking and screaming on that flying robot dinosaur?”

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