Page 69 of Captured By The Alien Barbarian
My heart seizes when I see a blond-haired human thrusting his lightning stick into Balroth’s chest. My brother takes a moment to look down at the offending wound. He bares his teeth in a chilling challenge that would have even me pausing.
“It’ll take a lot more than that to take me down, James!” Balroth grins wildly.
As Balroth's foot collides with the male's stomach, the impact is hard and the sound of his rib bones cracking is audible even from where I stand. James, the human, gurgles in pain and stumbles away from the attack.
Balroth may act casual about the lightning weapon blow, but I know that more strikes will follow. We are not invincible. I grind my teeth. It’s all my fault.
“You fools! We are going to die here today. Worse, I’m going to die here, surrounded by madmen.”
Zoran looks over at me. “It’s not so bad!”
Suddenly, a figure in a dark cloak catches my attention. The mysterious figure wears a hood, hiding his face, but I know they must belong to another tribe.
He darts between the humans standing back from the battle. As he moves from one to the other, I watch the humans collapse to the ground, their weapons falling from limp hands.
The humans finally take notice of the intruder in their midst. As a warning shout rises, their collective focus shifts. It's the one mistake they make, and it's the one that will cost them the battle. They have given us the opening we need. My warriors rush forward, experience teaching them to take every possible opening.
Fighting without hesitation, we discard any previous attempts at minimizing injuries. These dishonorable humans deserve no mercy. My axe deflects a lightning stick and then buries itself in the gut of an adversary, whose shocked eyes widen before he crumples to the ground, lifeless.
Across the battlefield, our mysterious ally's hood falls away, and I am finally able to meet his gaze. His skin is covered in glowing lines, casting an eerie and pale glow upon all those standing around him. I have no idea who this mysterious male is. It doesn't matter that he comes from another tribe. Right now, he is not my enemy. No, he saved my life—and that makes him a friend.
"Finally!" the male says, throwing back his head and laughing. "We witness the prowess of these human warriors. I've been eagerly anticipating this day. But now, it’s time for me to claim my mate."
The male has the audacity to wink at me before vanishing into the fray. I stand dumbfounded as he pushes his way toward the fleeing humans. I'm clueless about what his true intentions are here today, and I'm not sure if I want to find out. However, now that the battle is turning in our favor, my sole priority is finding Ariana.
I scan the humans surrounding me, my eyes seeking her out. It doesn't take long to locate her. Ariana is one of the few women remaining in the vicinity. Instead of trying to escape, she is struggling against Walter. I hurry toward her, my heart racing. The time has come to claim my beloved.
* * *
My eyes focuson Ariana just in time to witness Walter's hand swinging towards her. Even from this distance, I hear the resounding smack of flesh against flesh.
At the sound of my roar, Walter's eyes snap up to meet mine. When he realizes I am pursuing him across the battlefield, his face turns a shade of white that shouldn’t even be possible.
He erratically grabs the struggling Ariana and forces her body against his own, pressing a projectile weapon to her temple. In response, she immediately stops moving. I'm well aware of the devastation their weapons can inflict on me, and I know Ariana is much more fragile in comparison. This weapon could be the death of her.
"I thought you were dead," she says, her knees struggling to hold her weight. Walter, however, keeps her upright with his vice-like grip.
"In this life and the next, I will come for you, my mate. I will always claim what's mine," I say to her.
My gaze shifts from her vulnerable eyes to the icy stare of Walter. I bare my teeth, lifting myself to my full height and radiating an aura of menace. "Release her, and your death will be swift."
Walter responds with a laugh—high-pitched, unhinged, and altogether unpleasant.
"If you kill me, you’re all as good as dead,” he says with chilling conviction.
"You'll never be safe again. You'll spend every day running, hiding. My death will bring a world of pain for you, Ariana, and everyone in Eve’s Rest. You think I'm bad? The people I work for are untouchable and infinitely worse."
Dread creeps down my spine, but I shove the feeling aside—none of his threats matter if Ariana doesn't survive.
All the while, Walter's voice intensifies, and I can hear my brethren approaching now that they've subdued the other human warriors. They keep their distance, so as not to provoke Walter and risk Ariana's life, but also stay ready to intervene if needed.
My eyes catch a glimpse of movement behind Walter, a tall figure gliding closer, silent and stealthy. Desperate to keep our advantage hidden, I fix my gaze on Walter's face once more.
"Let my mate go," I say, my fingers tightening around my axe handle, leather digging into my skin. My hands tremble, betraying a vulnerability not seen in cycles—all for her. I drop to one knee, allowing Walter to revel in his apparent power. "Please, I beg you. Let her go."
In an instant, the world springs to life. Melvall lunges forward, seizing Walter's weapon-wielding arm and forcefully redirecting the pistol away from Ariana. I waste no time. With a mighty bellow, I hurl my axe at the treacherous man, praying that it finds its mark.
Ariana lifts her head just as Walter's body collapses beside her, my axe still lodged deep in his chest. With a stifled gasp, she scrambles away from the lifeless body and the spreading pool of blood.
