Page 13 of Alien Storm

A command was grunted, and suddenly, the warriors in front of us parted. Fiona and Nasrin grabbed my arms again, as if worried they’d once again have to haul me away from an overly eager Gahn.

Gahn Errok had been forced to his knees, with Gahn Fallo and Gahn Buroudei both holding him in place.

They probably didn’t need to hold him, now. He was still as stone, still as death as he stared at me.

“Tell them,” he growled, his sight stars searching my face desperately. “Tell them you are mine. Tell them what you feel.”

I couldn’t tell if he was commanding or begging.

“I...”

At the sound of my voice, his sight stars exploded, his nostrils flaring. He jerked, leaning forward, as if he were dying of thirst and I was a pool of clear water, just out of reach.

“I’m sorry,” I said, shaking my head. “They’re telling the truth. I don’t... I don’t feel it.”

I was dealing with a whole lot of very big feelings at that moment. It would take me all night to untangle them. But I was absolutely certain of one thing – there was no mate bond. No intense rush of all-consuming love. Gahn Errok was a stranger to me.

“You...” Gahn Errok murmured, his expression faltering, turning confused. Then, he hardened his features. “You do not speak the truth. Why? Do you fear the reaction of these men?” He jerked his head as if to indicate the other Gahns and warriors. “You need not,” he continued, lifting his chin and somehow looking down his nose imperiously despite the fact that he was on his knees. “You need not fear anything. I have come to claim you and take you back to the mountains. I will take you away from all this filth and these unworthy fools.”

“Excuse me?” The words were loud and harsh, and I almost didn’t realize I’d been the one who’d said them. But I had said them, and it was as if the words had punched through some kind of stopper inside me. More words flowed, hot and fast and furious. “No fucking way. You do not get to come here and insult my friends and the home we’ve built here.” Sure, the place was dusty and sandy and hot. But filthy? No. Everyone worked hard to keep the place efficient, clean, and safe. And the Sea Sand people had been good to us. Not just the men who had or who wanted mates. The women and the children, too. They’d welcomed us, healed us, fed us. Given us a place. Protection.

They’d become the family that all of us human girls had lost back home.

“They’re not unworthy,” I said, defiant anger bubbling up in my chest. “You are.”

With that, I wiggled out of my friends’ grips, turned, and walked away. Humans and aliens alike parted silently for me as I stormed through the crowd towards the human tent.

I didn’t feel shaky, now. Didn’t feel anxious or concerned or confused.

I was mad as hell

And it was all because of him.

CHAPTER SIX

Errok

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