Page 99 of The Alien Warrior's Vow

Tap.

“Incoming,” Simone murmured.

The door thudded.

Emma flinched.

Sara winced.

Bang.

Someone was slamming on it.

“Why is this locked?” A unfamiliar voice growled.

Emma squeezed her eyes shut and felt the fear overwhelm her.

You’re not good enough.

You’re a failure.

You’re a waste of space.

Her mother’s words bounced around in her head.

You’re strong.

Lans’s words.

You’re precious.

Lans’s heart.

I will never let you go.

Lans’s vow.

Her eyes burst open just as the door ripped from the hinges. Sara’s exoskeleton formed around her face and she sprinted toward the surprised Plutonian warrior. Emma was right by her side, arms pumping and body thrusting into the air.

She landed on the Plutonian warrior first, her fist slamming into his face. Despite the fact that it wasn’therhand crushing into his flesh, she felt the ricochet from the collision and heard the sickening crack of a jaw breaking.

Adrenaline surged through her veins.

Her blood ran hot.

In her head, she kept repeating Lans’s words. Her words.

You’re strong.

You’re strong.

You’re strong.

She’d always pretended to be. Always pushed others away and closed herself off in an effort to show the world that she was unbothered. Because maybe, if she gave the appearance of strength, it would come true.

But Sara had shown her that strength didn’t always mean fighting your battles alone. Sometimes, the most courageous thing to do was to fight alongside someone who loved and cared for you.

Ten Plutonian warriors turned the bend and saw the girls. The warriors shouted, their eyes widening when they recognized the zaptens.

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