Page 17 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

“Yeah?”

“He’s much more nimble. Not so big and clunky. And not so many spikes.”

“Yes, I was worried about being impaled while in the exoskeleton.”

Clavas smirked. “Well?”

She chewed on her bottom lip. There was no connection with Clavas. No electricity between them. She doubted there would be sparks if they ever kissed.

He was the much safer option.

The muchbetteroption.

She needed distance from Lans right now.

Emma opened her mouth to tell him ‘yes’, but she couldn’t get the word out.

Clavas saw her struggle and smiled. “It is alright, Eema. I understand that you have a loyalty to Lans.”

“What?” She sputtered. “Loyalty? No way?”

“You are thinking of his feelings, are you not?”

“I don’t care if he gets offended. In fact, I’d prefer that.”

“And yet you cannot accept my offer.”

She hung her head.

Clavas leaned back. “It is very strange thinking that humans can now carry our young. We have been without females for so long that most of us have forgotten what our own mudas look like.”

“I’m so sorry.”

He shook his head. “It makes me wonder though. How much of this shift in my heras is genuine and how much is a desire to continue my own kind.”

“What are you talking about?” Her eyebrows quirked.

“Nothing.” His eyes flashed with sadness. “It is no use anyway. Lans would kill me.”

“He’ll have to get through me first.”

Clavas’s lips inched up. “Will he?”

“Yes. Broken people have to stick together.”

“Lans is broken as well.” Clavas studied her intently. “Have you ever asked him how he got his scar?”

“No. And I don’t care either.”

Clavas jerked his eyes to the sky. “We are all broken, Eema. Humans and aliens. That is one thing we have in common.”

Silence fell amongst them after that.

Even though she tried not to think too hard about it, Emma found herself wondering what could possibly break an intimidating alien like Lans.

Seven

Lans

---