Erun (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 4) (2 page)

The grumbles and complaints followed with each step they took toward the station, the volume rising the nearer they came, and once again the cleric drew her gaze. He was a man of the cloth, a priest. It’d been a long time since she’d attended church, but she remembered the clerics always gave her a sense of serenity and peace.

This guy? He scared the hell out of her.

And then they were inside, the cool air of UST enveloping them as Thame pulled the door closed and secured it. That left her faced with… Erun.

She was almost tempted to take her chances with the priest because this Ujal… scared her even more.

Erun was ill. That could be the only explanation for his inattention all day and his… daydreaming. Yes, that was the reason behind his actions. It was the only motivation behind what he was doing at that very moment—following Vanessa Marie Walker and Tabitha Rina Walker as they walked to their temporary home.

The youngling shared a name with the principessa and it did not take much to encourage the female to divulge the reason for such a naming. Vanessa was the principessa’s
very best friend in the whole universe
.

The concept of friends was not foreign to him. Erun did not have any, but he understood the attraction. Someone to trust, talk to and lean upon. He would never risk having a
friend
. He would never be so vulnerable as to share his secrets with another.

Not only were Nessa—for that is the name Rina used when speaking of the female—and the principessa friends, the presence of Tabitha was possible due to Rina’s involvement in Nessa’s life. Nessa was unable to bear young. Rina used her family’s funds to secure a youngling for her
very best friend in the whole universe
through a loan that Rina refused repayment
.

The concept was… odd.

A female would want a child not of her blood? And a
mate
would allow such a thing?

It was proof she—and her mate—were human. No Ujal—male or female—tolerated such a thing. Orphaned and unwanted younglings were tossed into the currents, finding a place in a sanctuary for unwanted younglings or… worse.

Erun had experienced
worse
. So, while he could not understand a male’s willingness to accept a youngling not of his blood into his home, he respected this
Constantine Walker
. Yes, he respected him, even in death. Though none of this was knowledge shared with him by the principessa. After gaining basic details about the female from Rina this morning, he’d explored the station’s data systems and discovered more on Vanessa. If questioned, he would say his research was part of his protection of the principessa. He would not explain his inquiry was nothing of the sort.

He was… curious. He wished to know more about the female who fought so hard, paid so much, to have a youngling she then neglected. And when he knew, he would report her crimes to the human police. While the Ujal may not value every life, the humans seemed to. He would protect the youngling while this female would not.

At least, that is what he told himself now with each step.

Because he was not attracted to the small female. He did not enjoy watching the sway of her hips, did not imagine sliding his hands over her body, and his heart did not quicken when her joyous laughs floated to him on the wind. His heart also did not squeeze when the high-pitched giggle of the youngling filled the air.

The two girls did not make him think of things he had no right to entertain. Things he long ago accepted as impossibilities.

And yet I follow them
.

They turned at the next intersection, ducking out of sight for a moment, and he quickened his steps. There were two more turns before she reached her street and then one more block before she arrived at their rented house. Rented—though he’d heard the principessa was not charging Vanessa much because Nessa was her
very best friend in the whole universe
. Apparently even humans had pride and Nessa refused to live in Rina’s house rent free.

Interesting. He’d heard humans were opportunistic parasites and yet…

Erun eased around the corner, his gaze quickly finding Nessa once more. She plodded home, her fatigue obvious while Tabby seemed to overflow with energy. She bounced and wiggled in her
dam’s
arms. A youngling’s babble escaped her lips as she jerked and pointed at the world around them. He had not been around many younglings, but the little one had exhibited similar behavior around Rina. It must be what the humans considered
normal
.

He found it odd, but he was not the youngling’s
sire
.

I will never be a sire.

He banished the words before they took hold and he began the descent into self-pity. He had thirty-nine earth years and he’d been truly free for the last thirteen. It was time to “get over his shit” as Rhal would say.

The male sounded more human every day. If he did not know of the scales hidden beneath Rhal’s skin, Erun would think no different.

Vanessa ducked out of sight once more and he jogged to catch up, unwilling to lose sight with the next turn and…

He didn’t know why he did this.

His scales fluttered beneath his skin, threatening to rise and expose him to the surrounding humans. Unlike many Ujal, his coloring allowed him to move amongst the humans without overt detection. His hair had an undercurrent of purple, but seemed almost black and his eyes held a hint of brown due to events of his past. Now dressed in human
jeans
and
t-shirt,
he appeared as human as any other on the street.

When they neared the final turn, he increased his pace, yet forced his body to remain loose, face devoid of the stress of keeping up with the females. Something teased his senses, a feeling that suffused him with the need for vigilance. He felt exposed and unprotected, uneasy with the situation. And why? He did not know. His skin prickled and scales reacted once more, his instincts, honed through many battles, voicing their concern. Something was wrong. Or would soon be.

He scanned the area with his gaze, attention drifting along the street while he kept the females in sight. He did not notice anything amiss, no male or female paying close attention to him or the girls. But his shoulders were tight and muscles tense, waiting to spring into action. He was suddenly thankful Rhal had insisted he learn to handle human weapons. He hated the scent that accompanied phasers, but should his instincts prove right, the ability to defend himself would be welcome.

He refused to acknowledge that his worry was not about defending himself, but the two females.

The area between his shoulders rippled, as if someone stared at him with hatred and malevolence. He had experienced the sensation often enough to identify it with ease. A youngling of ten knows when he is hated.
He also knows the feel of a lash against scales and a knife to his fins.

The unease remained even as they neared their home. Vanessa remained focused on the chattering Tabby and that inattention infuriated him. Further proof she did not truly care for the youngling. For if she did, she would be aware of her surroundings—his presence—and worry over their safety. Of any on the planet, Erun was one of the most dangerous. Only Rhal was more deadly and that was due to their chosen methods.

Rhal was a quiet killer.

Erun wanted another’s defeat and weaknesses to be witnessed by all.

The two females were so intent on one another that neither turned their attention to their destination. Nor the male currently striding from the home. He was large with broad shoulders and thick arms. His gate was easy and he did not look as if he meant harm, but appearances could be deceiving.

Erun had deceived many over the years.

Another exited the building, his body similar in shape. Strong and sure, uncaring if the owner returned as they believed they could overwhelm her with their strength.

They could.

And still she remained pre-occupied.

Neglectful females…
He growled and broke into a jog, racing forward to stop the woman before she risked both their lives. He was caring less about Vanessa’s plump ass and full breasts when faced with the danger to Tabby.

Tabitha spied his approach and immediately squealed, her voice reaching him with ease. “Da man!”

He did not know the meaning of her words, but her shout was enough to have Vanessa halting. He bolted around the wide-eyed female, blocking her path as he glared at her.

“Are you missing your senses?” He hissed the words even as he wished to shout them. He’d learned that the youngling Theresa disliked yelling. That had been apparent after Prince Tave caught Principessa Rina walking up stairs with the young one in her arms.

Tave did not believe a female should move around so soon after birth. She explained that their daughter Theresa was four months old and he needed to get over it.

Erun agreed with Tave but was unwilling to tell him so. The principessa could be devious in her retaliation when others disagreed with her. The other day—

“What the hell are you doing here? Are you following me?”

“Hell, hell, hell…” The youngling clapped her hands, a bright smile on her innocent face. To think that her
dam’s
inattention could end such a beautiful life.

“Yet again you neglect your youngling,” he growled.

“I…” She shook her head. He ignored the way her dark curls brushed her cheeks. “What are you talking about?”

Erun moved closer to her, his eyes narrowed while he stepped to the side, just enough so she could see her home. “I am talking about the large males who just came from your home. They would have taken you, harmed you and your youngling, and you—”

Vanessa screwed up her face, nose wrinkled.

It was not adorable in the slightest. Especially not when Tabby imitated the movement.

“You mean the movers?” She nudged him aside with her free hand and he was unsure why he granted her space. She gestured at the large hovotruck he had not noticed before.

I was too focused on her ass.

He read the logo inscribed on the side of the vehicle and frowned.
Three Men and a Hovotruck Moving
.

“Rina hired them to pack up our house in Arizona and move everything here. I brought the necessities, but they dragged everything else to the house. She even paid extra to—”

He would admit—only to himself—he may have made an error. But that did not stop his next inquiry. “How could you be sure they were your
movers
? You were not even paying attention to your surroundings,” he accused. “Once more you neglect your youngling’s safety—”

“I have never,” she stepped closer to him, invading his space, and poked him in the chest, “ever neglected my child. She is a gift, my miracle, and my only reason for breathing. So back off.”

Her glare would have cowed a weaker male. He was not weak. Yet, perhaps…

She continued. “I will admit I wasn’t paying attention like I should have and I won’t make excuses for it because you seem like a big enough asshole to throw them in my face.”

“Asshole, asshole, asshole…”

“Little ears,” she grumbled. “I have never cursed more in my life than at you, you know that?”

She shook her head, those curls swaying once more. He wondered if they were soft.

Vanessa sighed and stepped away from him. He missed her heat. “What are you doing here?”

He would not address her inquiry. “Why are you acting like a human leech and taking from the principessa?”

Her eyes drifted closed and weariness covered her delicate features. It made him regret his question. “You know what? I’m too tired for this. Can we table the neglectful leech discussion until tomorrow? I will still be a bad mother in your eyes and I’ll still be taking money from my best friend when the sun rises.”

He glared harder, allowing his full frustration to enter his gaze. She rolled her eyes and stepped around him, seeming to not care about his anger. Curious. And annoying.

By the time he decided he would merely remain annoyed with her and banished his anger, she’d continued to the home and reached the wooden steps that led to the porch. Her soft voice drifted to him and her repeated thanks to the large human males twisted in his gut. He was not sure why she felt the need to offer her appreciation and kindness. They were merely performing their assigned duties in exchange for credits. He did not like the way the largest smiled down at Vanessa and Tabby. He definitely did not like the way the male reached out to touch the youngling.

Unacceptable. No male would put his hands on Tabby.

Except, possibly him.

He discarded the idea, unwilling to acknowledge it, and jogged toward the females. “Vanessa!”

He did not need to see her face to know she rolled her eyes. Her annoyed huff was enough to tell him she no longer wished for his presence. Did she ever?

When she turned to him with a glare on her delicate features, he decided she did not.

“What?” she snapped.

He should not be intrigued by her anger. “I will remain.” He gave the
mover
a narrow-eyed stare. “Until the males have completed their task.”

“Seriously?”

“I have said the words, and I do not lie.” He focused on Vanessa’s flashing brown eyes once more. “Do you have difficulty processing speech? I do not believe such a trait would be appreciated in the UST public relations department.”

“You… I… Are you capable of talking to anyone without insulting them?”

Erun tilted his head and tried to recall such an instance. “Yes.” He’d been too afraid to insult Rhal the first time they met. Though he refused to say those words aloud.

“I don’t know what to do with you.”

“Allow me entrance to your home.” He wondered how a woman with such mental difficulties could become friends with Rina.

“Miss?” The human male drew their attention. “Is everything okay here?”

Erun captured Vanessa’s gaze with his own, daring her to say something that would result in confrontation. It was a battle of wills.

He would win.