Page 8 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

“You said that females were just as good in battle as the males before the Red Death,” Leel said, her tone gentle. “You all told us that they were warriors too and that they were respected.”

“Plutonian females had years of training,” Korben pointed out. “Not mere sun rotations.”

Tiegan nodded, rubbing blue fingers against his chin. It was a sign that he was thinking deeply.

“We have a few days.” Sah-ah shrugged dismissively. As if all she had to learn was how to flip a switch. As if they weren’t volunteering to walk into an extremely dangerous battlefield.

Korben caught his eye. “Lans?”

“You want my opinion?”

“I fear my thoughts are compromised on this matter.” He raked a hand through his locks. “So are Pin’s and Zar’s.”

“My vote is no,” Zar said pointedly.

“Zar!” Si-Moon shrieked.

He shook his head. “Maybe if the war was not coming so soon.”

Zar’s mate glared at him. His comrade would likely hear an earful when he and Si-Moon were alone.

Taking a cue from Zar’s mistake, Pin kept quiet. But his expression whispered that he thought the same.

Tiegan sat quietly with his arms crossed. “My vote is yes.”

Korben stiffened, but he did not argue.

“It’s a terrible idea.” Lan’s gaze moved to Eema who sat with her chin high and her eyes firm. If not for the slight tremble of her fingers, he would never have guessed that she was, indeed, uncertain. “But it has the makings of a good plan.”

Korben let out a shuddering breath. “My heras, are you sure about this?”

“Yes.” Sah-ah smiled bravely.

“Very well.” Korben sighed. “We start training immediately. The three of us will look after our mates. Tiegan, you can tutor Leel and Lans,” Korben paused, “you have Eema.”

He bore his eyes into the female. “I will not go easy on you.”

She offered an arrogant, tight-lipped smile. “Bring it, Blue. Do your worst.”

He frowned grimly. There was no possibility of that. His heras was too soft toward this female and he would, inevitably, hold back.

The Heronas would share no such sentiments.

If Eema perished, it would be on his head.

And Lans could not have another death on his conscience.

Four

Emma

Lilliana squealedin her ears as she got dressed for training. “I can’t believe they actually agreed to that.”

“To be honest, I can’t either.” Emma pulled up her space spandex. The shiny material grafted to her waist like a second skin. It had been a gift from Sara’s mysterious friend, Ga Eun, another human that had, apparently, gotten the alien love bug.

“I’m just glad I’m staying home,” Lilliana said. “And watching Chozo.”

Emma rolled her eyes. “We know you’ll be bawling the entire time.”

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