Alien Savior (Zerconian Warriors Book 5) (4 page)

“Do you not remember our conversation about how I’m not delicate and helpless?” Frustration filled her. He was even worse than Steele.

“You need to be protected from me. Leave.”

Arrogant, bossy male.

Turning, she stormed out of the room. As soon as the door closed, she leaned back against it.

What the hell had just happened? He wanted to have sex with her? He had to be insane. Well, she’d already known that. Although, suicidal tendencies, creepy glowing eyes, and sexist attitude aside, the man was super-hot. But just because she thought he was a hunk didn’t mean she would do anything about it. She wasn’t interested in fucking him.

Besides, it was probably a ploy to get her to release him. As soon as she freed him, no doubt he would have murdered her.

Willa moved slowly down the passage.

As she turned the corner, her communicator beeped.

“Willa, get down to the engine room,” Rye ordered. “We’re getting closer to Lilan airspace, and I want to test stealth mode.”

“Wonderful. Maybe I should have taken him up on his offer. Surely being murdered in the middle of an orgasm would be better than being blown into tiny smithereens by a Coizil warship.”

Nerves jangling, Willa waited in the engine room. This was it. They were actually going to sneak past the Coizil warship. The practice run using stealth mode had worked—surprisingly.

She opened communication with the bridge so she could hear what was happening.

“Deacon, stealth mode on,” Rye ordered.

“Yes, Cap,” Deacon answered.

A soft buzz filled the room. They were in stealth mode.

“Set the coordinates, Zuma,” Rye stated in a firm voice. There was no hint of nerves in his voice.

“Coordinates set,” Zuma replied.

“Then let’s go,” Rye ordered. “Slow and steady.”

She held her breath as they moved. If things went awry, this could well be the last few breaths she took. Her hands shook as she took a deep breath, in then out. She paced back and forth, unable to stand still.

The conversation she’d had with Darac earlier raced through her head, a distraction from the tense situation.

Yeah, she was attracted to him. Who wouldn’t be? He had a body that didn’t quit. Long, muscular limbs, a strong chest, tanned skin, and silky, black hair.

But he was also delusional. And suicidal. Maybe he’d lied about being aroused. He could be messing with her. For all she knew, amber eyes meant something else entirely.

Just as well. She knew nothing about being with a man. She’d always been one of the boys. It came from being raised by her brothers. Willa never intended to rely on someone else. That was too risky.

She could take care of herself.

***

She was his mate.

Darac was certain of it. Around her, his control sharpened. He could breathe more easily. He could think.

The fates had to be laughing at him. To bring him his mate when he was nearly lost. What could he offer her now? Someone who was broken. Someone who had lost parts of himself.

He had found a reason to live. But what sort of life did he have ahead of him? Would mating her help him? Perhaps. Or would he just grow worse? Would he endanger her with his very presence?

Darac didn’t know the answers. He needed some help. Perhaps one of the Elders would know what was going on.

Human females were different, he reminded himself. Fragile and delicate. He could not risk hurting her. Physically or emotionally.

He needed to ensure that his mate would be safe with him before he claimed her as his.

***

Willa stood outside Darac’s room, holding a tray of food. She’d had to prepare it herself, so it wasn’t all that palatable. Normally, Mitch was in charge of food. He might be a jerk, but the man could cook. Willa’s efforts were lackluster at best.

They had safely landed on Lilan a few hours ago, and she felt like she could finally breathe again. Mitch had been left in charge of their prisoner. But after Rye, Zuma, and Deacon left to deliver their shipment of weapons, Mitch had disappeared down to medical. For some reason, their doctor actually liked the little jerk.

Unable to stand the thought of Darac hungry, Willa had prepared some sandwiches. Nothing exciting, but beggars couldn’t be choosers. Balancing the tray awkwardly on one arm, she held her hand up to scan her palm. Once her identity was verified, the door swished open, and she stepped inside.

Darac lay still on the floor. She couldn’t see his chest moving. He wasn’t dead, was he? She moved forward. “Darac?”

He turned his head. For a moment, she didn’t think he recognized her. His eyes glowed red; his lips turned up in a snarl.

She froze, working on instinct. He was like the wildebeest on Joyadan. The only time she’d come face-to-face with one, she’d been on a hunting trip with Zuma. She’d been searching for a place to pee when she’d come across one. She wasn’t sure who had been more surprised—her or the wildebeest. But she’d known who was more dangerous.

She’d frozen. Barely breathing as it stared at her menacingly. Expecting herself to be clawed at any moment, she’d been shocked when it had turned and raced off. After that, she hadn’t been able to shoot one of the damn things. Zuma had never offered to take her out again. Not that she blamed him, there was little point taking someone hunting who wouldn’t shoot the prey.

Despite the fact Darac was confined, she felt very much like prey facing a larger, more dangerous predator.

“Darac? It’s me. Willa.”

“Leave.” He closed his eyes. Jaw clenched, face pale and strained, he looked as though he’d aged years when it had been less than twenty-four hours since she’d seen him.

Ten hours and thirty-four minutes to be exact, but who was counting?

Yeah, okay, she was.

It was embarrassing. Like she had a crush on him. Which was utterly ridiculous. He was a prisoner. Nothing more. So why couldn’t she get him out of her damn mind? Rye had even reprimanded her in front of the others for not listening. That dickhead Mitch had really enjoyed that. Willa hated feeling like she was letting Rye down. The sooner they got rid of Darac, the better.

“Stay away from me,” Darac ordered.

That had been her plan. But now that he’d ordered her to stay away, she had to move closer. She was contrary like that. She obeyed Rye because he was the boss and because she owed him everything. But that didn’t mean she’d jump to anyone else’s tune.

She didn’t even know Darac. She owed him nothing. He opened his eyes and gave her a warning grumle as she grew closer. “No hear me?”

“Yes, I heard you. But just because you say jump doesn’t mean I say how high.”

“I did no say jump.”

“I meant I don’t have to obey you.”

“I no want you here.”

He’d been reduced to George of the Jungle sentences. Not a good sign.

“Tough. You don’t get a say.”

He growled. Okay, maybe she shouldn’t have been so blunt. Perhaps it wouldn’t hurt to humor him a bit.

“I brought you some lunch.”

“Not safe. Leave.” There was such demand in his voice that she almost listened.

Forcing herself to stand her ground, she sniffed. “Hard to believe you would ever find a girlfriend with an attitude like that.”

“Girlfriend?”

“Yeah, you know, a woman you’re in a relationship with.” The thought of him with another woman shouldn’t have sent a shard of jealousy through her.

“No other. Just mate.”

Fascinated, she set the tray down on the floor then sat beside him. His breath heaved out of him in a rush, the tension in his body appearing to ease.

“So are you saying you’ve never had sex?” She hadn’t, but that wasn’t surprising. Who did she have to sleep with? Steele or Deacon or ick, Mitch?

Yeah, not happening.

“No. Yes.” He closed his eyes once more. When he opened them this time, they were more brown than red. “I have had relations. I have lived for nearly a hundred years.” Yeah, that would be a long time to go without sex. “But no relationship.”

“So you’ve slept around but never committed. Wow, you’re a catch, huh?” No girlfriend for nearly a hundred years? “Sounds kind of lonely, though. Never having a proper relationship.”

He gave her a menacing look. “Why are you still here? I said leave.”

“You didn’t want me to leave before. In fact, you wanted me to get closer to you.” Why the hell had she reminded him of that?

“I lied. I do not want you.”

A shard of pain pierced her insides. “Like you ever had a chance.” She hoped he didn’t hear that hint of hurt in her voice. It was better this way.

“I’ve got some food for you,” she said briskly. Picking up the plate of sandwiches, she stared down at him in dismay. “Only you can’t really eat.”

Crap. She hadn’t thought that one out.

She couldn’t undo the hover cuffs. Even if she wanted to, she didn’t have the code. His arms were secured above his head so he couldn’t move them.

She cleared her throat awkwardly. “Just my luck, I’m going to have to feed you.” This was surely above the call of duty. But better her than Mitch; he’d probably take sadistic pleasure out of stuffing Darac to the point of choking.

He was fun like that.

“All right, I’ll hold the sandwich up to your mouth, and you take a bite.”

“This makes you uncomfortable.” His eyes were far too knowing as he studied her.

“No, it doesn’t. Why should it? You’re a prisoner; we have to feed you. No use to us dead, are you?”

“But you do not wish to get close to me. Is it because you fear me?” he asked.

That should be the reason. He was even crazier than Zuma. But it wasn’t a physical fear that held her paralyzed. Feeding him seemed almost too intimate.

Suck it up, Willa. Worrying over it ain’t going to get the job done.

Picking up the sandwich, she held it over his mouth. He took a bite, frowning slightly.

“What is that taste?”

“Um, it’s turtlefish and lemon paste. Why? Doesn’t it taste good?”

“You made this?”

“Uh-huh. Rye ordered Mitch to feed you, but he’s a dickhead. So I thought I better bring you some lunch. Big guy like you needs to eat a lot, I’m betting.” And it probably wasn’t good for his temper for him to be hungry.

“It is delicious.” With a nod, she fed him some more. “I can eat no more. Why are you here alone again? Did you not remember what I told you?”

“Are all Zerconian males this annoying? Or is just a special talent you have? You should be thankful I’m here. Someone else would probably ram that sandwich down your throat just to get you to shut up. Which is exactly what Mitch would have done, except he obviously decided to starve you instead. He was supposed to feed you. Do you have family?”

Sadness filled his face. “None left. Our people are at risk of extinction. Fewer children are being born. Very few have been female. We have a long lifespan, but many of our males lose their life to the mating madness. As my brother did.”

“Your brother?”

His gaze moved to hers, and the pain in his eyes grabbed her heart. Reaching out, she touched his chest lightly. He drew in a deep breath but otherwise didn’t move. As though he were scared of frightening her.

“He was twenty years older than me. I was a surprise to my parents. Normally, one child is all that a Zerconian couple can hope for. So they were shocked when my mother fell pregnant with me. A few years ago, I sensed that Duran, my brother, was growing closer to the edge. His temper was short when he had always been a patient man. He was a healer. Everyone liked him.”

“What happened?” she whispered, not certain she wanted to know.

“One day, he just left. I should have known something was going on. I saw him the night before, and he seemed almost melancholy. He snapped at someone earlier that week. He nearly hit a younger male working with him. I could tell he was feeling guilty, but I did not think he was so far gone or I, well, I know not what I would have done.”

“Where did he disappear to?”

“I do not know. He simply disappeared and never returned. I searched for him, but never found him.”

Wow, that had to be hard. She couldn’t imagine one of her brothers disappearing. It would create a hole inside her that would never be filled.

“I’m sorry about your brother.”

“I did the same thing,” he said suddenly.

“What?”

“I left without saying goodbye to anyone. I should not have done that. I remember now how much pain I felt when Duran did the same to me.”

“What about your parents?” she asked.

“They died soon after Duran. But I have friends who were worried about me. They contacted me as I was about to shut off coms. I did not have the strength to say goodbye in person. That shames me.”

“You thought they might convince you to stay?”

He shook his head. “It was time. I had to go. I could not risk harming them.”

“So they believe you’re dead? They’re going to freak when they find out you’re alive.”

“Freak?”

“Be really happy.”

“Perhaps.” There was doubt on his face.

She frowned. “You don’t think they’ll be happy?”

“They will see me as a danger to eliminate.”

“They’d kill you?” They couldn’t ransom him back, not if his own people were going to kill him. “But you seem fine right now.”

“Looks can be deceiving. You can leave now. I must rest.” He closed his eyes. Well, she guessed she was dismissed.

She stood. “I was leaving anyway. I’ve got things to do.”

“Willa?”

“Yeah?”

“These hover cuffs will not hold me if the madness takes me over.”

She frowned. “They should. Kyle tested them before we left. He’s an inventor. It was Kyle’s invention that let us sneak past the Coizil warship.”

“What?” His gaze snapped to hers.

Crap. She hadn’t actually meant to say that.