A Son for the Alien Warrior (Treasured By The Alien #2)(10)

“Damn, I’ve never seen anyone like you before.”

The words came from her alien’s companion and she reluctantly dragged her gaze away from him to look at the second male. He was as tall as her alien but completely different. His body was covered with light shaggy fur that thinned out over his face and hands, but he bore a distinct resemblance to some kind of bear. He had stepped forward eagerly as he spoke, and she shrank back as he extended a huge clawed hand towards her. Before she could object, her alien grabbed the bear’s arm and snatched it back with a growl.

“Maldost, what the hell do you think you’re doing?”

Maldost’s ears went down and he whined, looking so abashed that her fear disappeared. He reminded her suddenly of a very large puppy.

“It’s all right,” she said. “I’m sure he didn’t mean any harm.”

His ears perked up, but her alien interrupted before he could speak.

“Perhaps not, but he does not understand how to behave around females.”

“And you do?” The words popped out before she thought about what she was saying or how provocative they would sound. It didn’t help that her voice had gone low and husky.

“I know to treat them with great care,” he said solemnly, but there was a heat in his gaze that caused an answering stir in her own body as she had a sudden image of exactly what type of care she wanted from him.

What in the world was wrong with her? She forced herself to look at Kwaret instead. This was his plan, after all.



They had landed in the port only a few hours ago. Kwaret had still not received an answer to his signal and was grimly considering calling the Patrol. He left her in the lab while he went to check and see if the route off the ship was clear. He came hurrying back a few minutes later.

“A trader just landed, and I saw the captain get off the ship. He is a Cire.”

“What does that mean?” she asked as she watched him rummage through one of the drawers.

“I am working with members of their race—they are the ones who are waiting for my signal. Perhaps he can get a message to them. Here, put this on.”

He handed her a long dark cloak with a hood and she frowned at him even as she obeyed and pulled it over her clothing.

“Why am I putting this on?”

“Because I’m going to take you off the ship with me. This is the perfect time. Everyone not on guard duty has already disbursed.”

“What? Why?” Hurt and betrayal filled her voice. Was he going to abandon her here?

“I hope that if the Cire can make contact with the ship with which I am working, they can take you to Trevelor. They have all the records we were able to recover from Commander Khaen.”

Part of her was excited that she might be one step closer to finding Judith and Charlie, but she dreaded the thought of leaving Kwaret. She had grown to trust him over the past week, and she was not at all sure about leaving his protection.

“Are you sure you can trust him?”

“The Cire have a strong reputation for honor and responsibility.” Sadness washed across his face. “Their race lost all their females to the Red Death.”

“How horrible. Does that mean they are dying out?”

“Perhaps not. They have found that they are compatible with a few other races.”

He gave her a speculative look, but before she could ask any additional questions, he told her to conceal herself in her hood. As soon as she was covered, he hurried her out the door and off the ship, moving at a pace that kept her at a jog.

When he stopped her alien in the food market, she had almost protested. The male and his companion made an intimidating display and she wasn’t at all sure that she trusted them. But then that curious tail tugged at her cloak in an oddly endearing gesture and she found her fear disappearing into amusement.

Now she realized that the tail was back, this time sliding around her wrist.

“Why are you doing this?” she asked, trying to sound indignant even though it felt strangely comforting. The surface of his tail was not smooth but covered in small nubs that teased her skin. Was he like that all over, she wondered, and darted a glance between his legs before she could stop herself. Oh my. He was apparently very pleased to meet her.

Her cheeks flushed pink and she hastily snatched her gaze away, but her nipples had tightened, and she could feel an ache low in her stomach. Flustered, she looked over to find Kwaret eyeing her with a strange expression on his face.

“As I mentioned before, we need your assistance,” Kwaret said, turning back to her big alien.

“I am Captain Cestov Tok’Laren, at your service.” He bowed deeply, his previous objections seemingly forgotten. “You said that you needed me to contact a ship?”

“Yes. My name is Kwaret and this is my… friend, Mariah.”

He sounded so uncertain about using the term and she gave him a warm smile. Cestov made a noise that sounded suspiciously like a low growl, but Kwaret ignored it and continued.

“As I said, I have been working with a Cire ship, the Defiance. We are trying to prevent the Vedeckians from raiding the planet where Mariah is from to obtain females and infants. As a result of the most recent raid, there are three other females and two infants on our ship now.”

Cestov snarled, showing a rather impressive set of teeth. What would those feel like nibbling on her neck, she wondered, feeling the color creep back into her cheeks.