Page 21 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

“It would be better to speak to you under better circumstances, Na’vak,” Pin said.

Zar grunted. “If you have called to verify our attendance at the Heronas fortress, you can write us in.”

“Good. We will try to fly in from the top and see if we can find a hole in their force field,” Na’vak explained.

“Is that not dangerous?” Clavas asked.

“It is.” Na’vak dipped his chin. “But our warriors are prepared to die for the cause. Better we lose a few Plutonians now than keep the Healer in the Heronas’s hands and lose everybody.”

Korben lifted his chin. “Na’vak, we’d like to try something else first.”

“You have another plan, Korben?”

Lans nodded. “We have an elite team go in and disrupt the power source.”

“We have tried this. Our analysis shows thatnoPlutonian can penetrate the walls from the sides. Even in our zaptens, the energy will kill us.”

Lans glanced up and locked eyes with Eema. “We have a secret weapon.”

“A secret? Is it technology? Have you gotten in contact with the technician Rune?”

“Neh. We have something better than technology,” Zar said.

“Something stronger,” Pin added.

“Fiercer,” Korben said.

“More beautiful,” Clavas whispered.

Lans’s eyes narrowed on his comrade.

Korben sighed. “Gather at dawn. We will have the energy field down by then.”

“If you fail…”

“We willnotfail.” Lans growled. The thought was inconceivable to him.

Eema was walking into the fortress and she would emerge alive.

There was no other option.

Eight

Emma

Lans grabbedher hand as the others filed out of the training grounds. “Wait.”

“What?” She shook her hand free and folded it over her chest to hide how much her pulse jumped from that innocent brush.

Since their accidental kiss three days ago, Emma made an effort to keep her body from brushing against Lans. The alien was far too dangerous. It didn’t take much to send that electrical charge skittering through her body. If she couldn’t control it, then she needed to avoid it.

Silence fell between them as Lans waited for privacy.

Clavas was the last to leave.

He lingered for a while, glancing at her as if asking if she needed him to stay.

I’ve got it. She lifted a hand.

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