Alien Lover (Zerconian Warriors Book 2) (4 page)

“It will not,” Dex replied. “But if it did, I know you and Thor would look after her.”

Her stomach twisted. How dangerous would this mission be? The thought of losing Dex made her feel physically ill.

“Certainly. But Dex, as your second-in-command and as your best friend, I don’t think it wise for you to risk yourself.”

“I cannot ask my warriors to do something I am not willing to do myself.”

Koran sighed. “I understand. What about Zoey?”

“What about her?”

“What will you tell her? Zoey has a tendency to try and interfere in warrior business.” There was a note of disapproval in Koran’s voice that had her clenching her jaw in irritation.

She was tempted to storm inside and give Koran a good slap around his head. Or his ribs, since he was so goddamn tall.

“Zoey believes she is indestructible. She believes she can do anything.”

“You need to correct that.”

“It is not that simple. Zoey is not like our females. Zerconian females are used to the restrictions placed on their movements; they see it as beneficial for their protection. Zoey sees it as stifling. That is why I allowed her to attend the market on Musin.”

“She had guards.”

“I am not about to put my mate at risk. But I do need to allow her some freedom. I cannot confine her in a cage.”

“No one expects that. Our females are not our prisoners. They are cherished and protected. As they should be.”

“Yes, but Zoey is different from our females and allowances must be made.”

“This is not what I expected from you.” The disapproval in Koran’s voice deepened. “So you will let her run wild?”

“Of course not. There will still be rules in place for her protection and I expect those to be obeyed. But I find that her happiness is important.”

She smiled. So the barbarian could learn.

“Compromise is important. I have to balance my need to protect her against Zoey’s need to be independent. Sometimes I merely need to give her the illusion of freedom. Like today, she thought she had just the two guards when I had another three watching over her from a distance.”

Sneaky barbarian.

“Zoey cares deeply,” Dex added.” That is why she acts without thought for her own safety. Because she attempts to look after those around her.”

“Earther males have a lot to answer for. Allowing their women to think that they must take care of them.”

“I agree. It is a fault in her upbringing.” Okay, those warm, fuzzy feelings were fading. “And yet, it is a good trait for a female to have, is it not? To want to protect those they care about?”

“Not to the extent that they risk themselves to protect them. A female should look to a warrior to protect her. Especially an Earther female. They are so fragile. It is the way it has always been on Zerconia.”

“I dare you to tell Zoey she is weak. She believes she can take on the world. Her bravery and courage are admirable. If only she knew when to hold back and listen to me.”

Why couldn’t he open up like this to her?

“Zoey’s tutor has been sending me reports,” Dex said. “Her progress is slow.”

“Zoey does not lack intelligence,” Koran defended her. Okay, so maybe she wouldn’t slip a laxative into his food. She’d been prepared to face the embarrassment of asking Thor for a laxative–or whatever it was they used to get rid of sticks stuck up stuffy male asses–just to let a little revenge on Koran. “Good sense, but not intelligence.”

“I know,” Dex agreed. “But there are customs and duties she must learn as the Crown Princess and I worry that I ask too much of her.”

Zoey stepped away, not wanting to hear any more of Dex’s doubts about her. She quickly moved past Jaxan, praying she wouldn’t bang into anything and give her presence away.

“Milady? Didn’t you want to speak to the Crown Prince?” Jaxan asked as they stepped out into the corridor.

Not right now. She didn’t want to give him more reason to doubt her. “Jaxan?”

“Yes, milady?”

“We were never there, understand?”

“But, milady—”

She swung around to glare at him. “We were never there. Promise me. Promise me you won’t say anything.”

Looking as though he’d swallowed broken glass, Jaxan nodded. “I promise.”

“Good. Let’s go get Boris and find him somewhere to sleep tonight. I’m tired.”

Although she wasn’t certain that sleep would come easily tonight.

She’d just have to pull on her big girl panties—figuratively speaking since she didn’t wear panties anymore— and deal with that old bat of a tutor and her pointless lessons.

She could do this. She had to.

“Did you hear something?” Koran asked.

“What? No.” But then, Dex wasn’t at his best right now.

He was used to operating on little sleep and food, under stressful situations. But right now he was distracted and unfocused.

Perhaps it was because the mating bond was only half-formed. It added an uncertainty to his relationship with Zoey.

He needed to concentrate on recovering his warriors, but in the back of his mind was Zoey. All the time. Worry over her. Wondering if she was well. If she needed him.

If the bond had been firmly in place, he could have used it to reassure himself. He would have been able to sense her emotions. But he was operating blind. He forced himself to put his thoughts about his mate aside.

“We need to discuss our rescue plan.”

Zoey walked into medical, head down, shoulders hunched.

“Zoey, look out!”

Her shin hit something hard and she went flying forward, landing heavily on the floor.

“Zoey! Are you all right?”

Thor rushed over and picked her up by the waist, setting her on a bed. “Where does it hurt?”

“Ow, where do you think?” she snapped, holding her bruised shin with both hands. She glared down at the wide metal box she’d tripped over. “Why is that in the middle of the floor?”

“It’s not,” Thor replied patiently, moving her hands away from her leg. “You were not paying attention to where you walked.”

“Whatever. Let me down. I’m fine.” She sniffled, trying to hold back her tears.

“I must scan your leg.”

“It’s just bruised. I promise. Let me down.” She scooted forward, but he held her by the shoulders, staring down into her face.

“Zoey—”

“I just tripped. No biggie. Let me show you.” She pushed him aside, knowing he only moved because he wished to and jumped down. So maybe she had to hide her wince of pain as she landed. Didn’t mean that she wasn’t fine.

“See?” She walked up and down the room, this time watching where she was going. “I could dance all night long.”

“Right.” Thor stared at her skeptically.

“Oh Lord, you do know what dancing is, don’t you?”

Thor smiled. “We dance, Zoey.”

“Thank God for that.”

Thor frowned. “Are you feeling well, Zoey?”

“I’m fine. Actually, I do have something to ask you.” She moved closer. “Could you help me learn my mating vows in Zerconian?”

Thor raised his eyebrows. “Is your tutor not teaching you that?”

Zoey waved her hand. “She thinks I need to learn other things first. Please, Thor? I know I could learn it quicker from you.”

Thor sighed. “Very well. But I do not have a great deal of spare time. So you must promise to work hard.”

“I will. I’ll work harder than any warrior on this ship. Thank you. Oh, and don’t tell Dex. I want this to be a surprise.”

All she had to do was try harder. Show him that she could do this.

“All right, little one.”

“Is everything okay with Boris? Where is he?”

“I do not know.”

“You don’t know?” she asked with alarm. “What do you mean? Where did he go?”

“My apologies. He is located in one of the examination rooms. I meant that I do not know how he is. He will not allow us to examine him.”

“He spoke?” she asked excitedly.

“No, but he didn’t have to in order to make his wishes very clear.”

“Which room is he in?”

“Zoey, I do not think it wise for you to get close to him. Zoey!” He strode after her as she moved over to one of the examination rooms. “He is behaving very aggressive.”

“What has he done? He wasn’t acting aggressive before.” She swung open another door. Empty.

“Zoey. Stop!” Thor grabbed her arm as she opened another door. She froze at the sight that greeted her. In one corner of the room stood Boris. He appeared calm, but there was a distinct air of menace about him. As though he were prepared to rain havoc down on those around him at any given moment.

Across from him stood Macon, his body tense, his gaze focused on Boris. He shifted his weight, a low growl emanating from him and echoing around the room. His usually tidy hair had fallen out of its tight plait.

“What the hell is going on?” Zoey asked.

“Jaxan, remove her,” Macon ordered. “Thor, where is the sedative?”

Zoey quickly stepped into the room, avoiding Jaxan’s grasp. “A sedative? Why? What happened?”

As far as she could tell, Boris was a bit scary but calm. Macon was the one acting crazy.

Giz moved over to her side.

“He tried to attack me,” Macon explained.

“Attack you? Why?”

Thor slipped forward in front of her.

“Macon attempted to hold him while I withdrew blood,” Thor explained. “He reacted violently.”

“What did you expect him to do?” she asked.
Idiots.
“He’s in a strange place with people he doesn’t know. He can’t even talk to us. I’m sure he didn’t mean to hurt you.”

“He did not hurt me,” Macon replied, his voice affronted.

Lord save her from fragile male egos. These warriors seemed to be worse than most.

“Fine. Whatever. He was probably just reacting out of fear.” Although he really didn’t look afraid. He looked deadly. Even with his injured arm, she had no doubt that he could easily take Macon on.

“Get out of my way, Thor,” she demanded.

“No,” Thor replied. “I will sedate him before reporting this to Dex.”

Who would lose his mind.

“Don’t do that,” she said quickly.

“He is dangerous, Zoey,” Thor warned.

“The two of you cornered him. He obviously felt threatened and that’s why he acted out. If you tell Dex, he’ll lock him up.”

“That might be best,” Thor told her, his voice not without sympathy.

“Just let me try to reason with him.”

“No,” Macon replied.

Honestly, he needed to lighten up. “Just because he messed up your hair is no reason to get all riled up.”

“I am not … I do not …” Macon continued to splutter, but she ignored him, stepping up beside Thor.

Thor held out his arm, stopping her from going any further.

Immediately, Boris growled, his gaze moving from Macon to where Thor touched her.

Jaxan grabbed her arm and Boris’ growl grew deeper, more menacing.

“Let me go,” she ordered.

“You’re not getting any closer, Zoey,” Thor told her.

“I won’t move. Just stop touching me. It’s making him mad.”

As soon as they stopped touching her, Boris eased up and his gaze returned to Macon. He obviously saw him as the biggest threat in the room.

Thor said something in Zerconian and Jaxan left. She ignored all of them, focusing on Boris.

“Boris, you’re not helping things. How about you come sit on the bed. Then everyone can chill out and relax.”

Boris didn’t even glance her way. She took another step forward.

“Zoey,” Thor growled, grasping hold of her arm.

Boris turned to him, baring his teeth in warning.

“Let me go, Thor. He’s not going to hurt me.”

“You don’t know that,” Thor insisted.

“I do. He’s had plenty of chances to harm me and he hasn’t once made a threatening move. You saw him before. He was like a big teddy bear.”

“I don’t know what a teddy bear is. But I agree that he appeared harmless before.”

“If Dex believed he was dangerous then he wouldn’t have allowed him close to me.”

“Dex hasn’t seen him react this way.”

“I am now.” Zoey turned as Dex and Koran walked into the room. God, she hoped he didn’t overreact and lock Boris up.

“Report,” Dex barked at Macon, who explained everything that had occurred in a precise, crisp voice.

“So you attempted to hold him down while Thor approached him with a needle?” Dex asked incredulously. “The two of you believed that to be the best approach?”

Thor had the grace to look a bit sheepish, but Macon didn’t react. He kept his gaze centered on Boris.

“It may have been a lack of judgment,” Thor admitted.

“I would say it definitely was. I do not blame him for fighting back. All of you leave. Now.”

“Sir,” Macon protested.

“Out,” Dex demanded.

Zoey stayed where she was as did Thor and Koran.

Dex watched Boris, who stared back at him calmly. “Thor, get out as well.”

“Dex—”

“He seems healthy enough to me. We don’t need you here.” The coldness in Dex’s voice made her wince. He wasn’t happy with Thor.

“I shall be outside the room if you need me. But that arm and those scars could need my attention.”

“The scars look like they are healed. You will need his co-operation before you attempt to examine him again.”

Thor strode out.

“Don’t be mad at them, Dex. This is my fault,” she told him.

“How is this your fault, my own?” Dex asked. Although his stance never changed, his voice grew softer as he spoke to her.

“I shouldn’t have left him alone. He’s in a strange place. He’s probably scared.”

“He doesn’t appear to be scared,” Koran spoke up. She glanced over her shoulder to find him leaning against the wall, looking deceptively relaxed.

He was right. Boris didn’t look scared in the slightest. But she still felt guilty for abandoning him.

“He was fine before. He felt threatened. That’s why he reacted the way he did. He’s not dangerous, Dex.”

“Oh, I believe he is probably very dangerous.”

“He only has one working arm.”

Koran moved forward. “A skilled warrior can do a lot of damage with just one arm.” As he grew closer to her, Boris shifted his attention to him, watching him carefully.

“Koran, touch her.”

“What?” Koran asked Dex incredulously.

“Place your hand on her shoulder.”

As soon as he touched her, Boris made a low noise of warning.

“It appears he is protective of Zoey. Back away now.”

Koran moved away and Dex placed his arm around her shoulders, tugging her close. Boris stiffened but remained silent.

“Good. He knows who you belong to.”

She should object to the word
belong
except she liked the possessiveness in his tone.

Because if she belonged to him then he sure as hell belonged to her. And she wasn’t planning on letting him go. No matter what happened with their stupid bond.

“He hasn’t spoken?” Dex asked.

“No, but I think he understands me.”

Dex nodded. “We need to find out where he comes from. But currently there are more pressing matters to attend to.”

“I know. He’s my problem. I’ll take care of him.”

“No, he’s our problem,” Dex told her. Slowly, keeping her close to his side, he moved forward, towards Boris. The other male stiffened, holding himself at attention, but he kept calm.

A few feet away, Dex stopped and held out his hand, palm up.

“No one will hurt you here. We want to help.”

Boris looked from her to Dex. Zoey held out her hand in a similar gesture. “It’s true, Boris. We just want to help you.”

“Boris?” Dex asked.

“I had to call him something.”

Boris continued to watch them, his purple eyes guarded, no hint of emotion on his face. But then he slowly placed his hand on Dex’s—palm to palm. Then he moved his hand over to hers.

Dex glanced down at her. “We need to assign Boris some sleeping quarters. Close to us I believe would be best.”