Page 13 of The Alien Warrior's Heart

One of the fallen guards had kicked his glowing laser sword near her feet. There really wasn’t that much involved in setting explosions. Three components were necessary—a means of ignition, oxygen and a fuel source.

Since she was breathing without the help of a tank, Simone assume that some form of oxygen existed on this planet. The laser-sword-thingies had to use fuel to create the bullets made of light. And ignition…

Well, she’d taken a leap of faith with that one.

It had worked.

Miraculously.

But they weren’t out of danger yet.

The blue alien grunted at her and pointed to a huge hulking metal dinosaur waiting in the darkness. What on earth was that? The terrifying contraption stood several feet taller than her already imposing blue alien. Its gaping mouth opened and snapped at the sight of them. Was it… alive? She nearly fainted when the blue alien threw her on top of it like a frisbee.

“What the hell is this?” She trembled, staring at the intricate metal hulk that formed the dinosaur’s neck.

The alien ignored her question. Urgently, he wrapped her fingers around the glowing sword and nodded. He expected her to use this thing?

Simone gulped.

Point and shoot.

She could do that, right?

Even if the thought of it made a lump form in her throat, this was a fight for her life. One of many. She could pull the trigger. Maybe if she’d been this brave on earth, she wouldn’t have…

The dinosaur lifted off, jarring her from her thoughts. She never would have guessed this giant, animal-shaped metal would be used for transportation, but this close she saw the handlebars and glimmering silver chrome and realized it was madeexactlyfor that purpose.

If she wasn’t currently sweating and frightened out of her mind, Simone would take the time to appreciate everything about this moment.

Since they were still trapped inside the evil alien dungeon and she had no idea how they’d get out, she’d reserve the fangirling for later.

Hopefully, there was a later.

The blue alien touched her side and warmth flooded her body, sending tingles down to her stomach. He reached around her, his fingers clamping on the handlebars. The position felt like a hug and Simone’s fingers almost slipped on the sword.

She wasn’t a small woman by any standards, but the blue alien warrior dwarfed her. His hair fell against her cheek as he leaned over and guided the metal dinosaur into the air. His blue lips were set in a firm line and his jaw clenched.

Anger.

It spilled from him. Seeped from him.

Crackled in the air.

He was made of it.

That rage.

For a moment, she wondered what had happened to make him that way. She wondered what hurt he was burying beneath the fury.

The alien grunted as a bullet flew past his head and nearly caught her in the shoulder. He shifted his body slightly, causing the metal dinosaur to tilt. Adjusting himself on the machine, he covered her so his body was protecting hers.

Simone’s heart bucked against her ribs.

Why was he doing this? Why was he going out of his way to protect her? It didn’t make any sense.

The alien gave her a hard look and nodded to the laser sword as if to saynow’s the time.

She sucked in a deep breath and tried to lift the sword again, only managing to get it up about an inch off her lap. Undeterred, Simone tried harder to balance it in her hands.

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