by Ivy McAdams
Small smooth pebbles form a gray beach along the edge of the lake and disappear into the teal ripples. I set my human body along the upper shore and walk into the first couple inches of water. It’s cool on my skin and for the first time since waking up, a small smile pulls at my lips. The sensation is refreshing even before I cup the liquid in my hands and bring it to my lips.
The water sliding over my tongue helps instantly. It’s rejuvenating.
I cup a second handful and bring it to my mouth. It pools in my belly, cold and filling.
I'm ready for a third go when the still mirror of water in the center of the lake erupts in a violent splash. With a gasp, I fall back as a long slimy-looking tentacle shoots out of the water. My ass hits the rocks just as the bendy appendage snags me by the leg and begins to pull.
I scream and dig my fingers into the rocks to pull back, but there’s nothing to give me any grip. Pebbles pop free left and right as I slide along the bank. The tentacle hauls back, dragging me toward the water. A wave of ripples and a shadow rushes at the shore, and the water breaks as a massive creature breaches.
A big black rubbery cone of flesh surges toward me. It has a chomping mouth up top and glowing saucer-like eyes on either side that glow an eerie green. They roll around and land on me as three more tentacles lift out of the water, whipping about over the surface.
The scream that grates its way out of my throat is enough to deafen me and I pull back with all the strength I have left. My fingertips dig further into the rocks and sandy dirt beneath, but it’s no use. The ground just breaks free everywhere I grab.
The demonic squid beast lowers its mouth toward my feet, chomping its jaws and growling as it drags me into the cold water.
A crash through the brush behind me sets all my muscles quivering. Not only am I going to be drowned and eaten by this bitch, but some dinosaur is coming to snap my head off too.
I don’t even get a chance to peek over my shoulder before the silver body lands in front of me.
Huge shoulders bunch and move as the alien savage brings a machete-like blade down onto the tentacle holding me. The monster shrieks and swipes a second limb at us, swatting at the alien's head, but he lifts a long, muscled arm and snatches it from the air. I back away in horror as he wraps the tentacle around his forearm once and pulls it taut. The squid screams when he lifts his blade again and hacks the beast's limb clear from its body.
The mysterious creature retreats noisily back into the Lagoon of Death, leaving my rescuer standing on the beach, the remaining couple feet of tentacle wrapped around his arm. It slides down to splat onto the ground at his feet.
Holy fuck.
My chest heaves and I feel as if I can’t pull in any air. As if I’m already drowning below the depths with that nightmare.
But it’s gone.
When the silver barbarian turns around to look down at me, it’s all I can do not to burst into tears.
He moves closer, dropping to a knee in front of me and reaches out a hand.
“Are you okay?”
Aw, shit. Who am I kidding?
The tears spring forth with abandon, cascading down my cheeks as I leap against his chest. I press in close, peeking just over the edge of his scaled shoulder.
“That thing tried to eat me,” I sob, letting the warmth of his body and the solid protective urge in his energy field envelop me.
I don’t trust these aliens, but they’re nowhere near as scary as that thing!
It only takes a couple heartbeats for the barbarian to soften and wrap his long arms around me.
“You’re safe now,” he murmurs into my hair. “That beast will have to get through me to get you.”
Thank God, because I don’t want to ever see that slimy sonovabitch again.
The alien’s fingers flex on my back. It feels good. His body is so hot and safe. After my crazy-ass morning, this is just what I need.
It feels right.
Enough to stir a tickle in my stomach. A flutter down low that warms all my parts downstairs.
Oh, no. That’s not cool.
A new alarm goes off as his nose moves through my hair. Is he smelling it?
Out of one predator’s territory and into another.
I push my hands up between us and separate his chest from mine.
“Whoa, whoa. Thanks for saving me and all, but that’s enough.”
My heart is racing, though I’m not sure who pushed it harder: the monster that tried to eat me or the savage who kinda seems like he might want to eat me too. Only in a much more delightful way.
But, shit, what am I thinking? He’s an alien! They’ve totally screwed up my head. He’s not a man. He’s a savage.
I just wish my new body would listen.
It’s still buzzing in all the most sensitive spots, and I’m not even sure why. He hugged me. That’s it.
Trying to rationalize doesn’t stop the shiver from running through my body though.
The alien stands a foot away where I pushed him, staring down at me with those intense purple eyes. He doesn’t look angry, thank God, but certainly curious.
“You shouldn’t be out here alone,” he says. His voice is deep, a serious warning, but also holds a tone that intrigues me. Is he being flirty?
I can’t help the words that fall out of my mouth. “Why not?”
My eyes don’t leave his and I’m careful not to move, even though I’d like to slap myself in the forehead. Um, because you were almost eaten alive by a living nightmare. That’s why not.
He takes the bait without a flinch.
“The beasts out here aren’t properly subjective to beautiful women. They’ll eat whatever they can get.”
I clench my fingers tight, the tips biting into my palm, in an attempt to ward off the blush lifting in my cheeks.
I will not let this alien sweet talk me.
He’s nothing but a savage.
"Let's get away from this lake," he says as he rests a hand on my elbow to lead me away. "Watermusks have an insatiable appetite."
I jerk my arm from him but go as he directs. That’s sure not something I want to experience again.
We walk from the bank and I catch a glimpse of his strong muscled back. The scales on his shoulders taper off as they move down his toned hide, and his thick black hair trails down his spine nearly to the base of his tail. I clench my fingers to ward off the desire to reach out and run my fingers through it.
Instead, I focus on my human body on the rocky ground, stooping down to pick it up. The alien watches me carefully.
I’m not sure what I expect of him. Is he going to take the body from me? Throw me over his shoulder and haul me back to the village? Any option that runs through my brain has my stomach twisting.
Instead, he speaks.
“She doesn’t look well.”
Not what I was expecting.
“Excuse me?”
He nods at the smaller body. “She’s not getting proper air.”
It’s not something I’ve missed. The human skin is pale and gray. The breathing is shallow, even for someone unconscious. A nervous weight settles in my stomach.
“What is this thing on my face?” I ask, lifting the head higher and examining the strange gourd attached to the oxygen mask.
“Gemma said the Shaman made it,” he says. “After your supplies ran out. It filters the air or something. Makes it easier for them to breathe, but it’s not as effective while the bodies sleep. They’re still dying.”
I grimace, looking over the contraption. “So it would work better if I was awake?”
The alien doesn’t reply and the silence stretches long enough that I look up at him. His eyes are fixed on me. They narrow slightly before he starts walking again. Then he speaks.
“You are Trinity, the female with the wounded knee?”
Hearing my name on his lips is surprisingly exciting. I hurry to follow him away from the lake.
“Yes.”
I knew he remembered me back in the t
ent. I’m not sure how. It’s not as if I looked anything like I did before. But the way his eyes tracked me, looked right into me. I knew.
“I’m glad you are moving better,” he says.
I glance down at my two healthy knees as I walk and realize there is at least a small perk to being in a new body.
But it does not outweigh everything else.
“Yeah, and who are you?”
He stops and places a hand over the smooth scales of one of his large pecs. “I am Xjhun of the Kutarian Warriors.”
I wrinkle my nose. “Zee-hoon?”
“Zeh-hoon. Like the mountains in the far west.”
He must realize I have no idea what he’s talking about because the edge of his mouth turns up in a playful grin and he shrugs one of his large shoulders.
Huh. For a weird alien creature guy that smile is pretty damn hot.
As soon as the thought enters my mind, I look away from him and continue walking.
“I’m not here to make friends,” I say. “I want to go home.”
“I would think so. It’s unfortunate to be separated from your people.”
I peek back over my shoulder but he’s not looking at me. His thoughts are far away.
“It is,” I say. “It’s like being the only person left on Earth.”
His eyes meet mine again as he coaxes me toward a small clearing among some large stones. He motions for me to sit, and after trekking through the woods earlier and almost dying, sitting sounds good. He settles on the ground near enough that our knees almost touch.
“Earth? Is that where you come from?”
Oh, right.
“Planet Earth, yes. Far away from here. I came on a spaceship.” I hold my hand out flat and mime a ship flying through the air.
The edge of his lips quirks. “I have seen many of these ships.”
“Oh. Well, yes. Those.”
These barbarians have the technology to fly?
“Visitors come here often,” he says. “They never stay.”
Well, with man-eating lake monsters and insect ravagers, I can’t imagine why.
“I don’t intend to stay either.”
He nods slowly. “What of your friends? Are you going to leave them?”
I lean away and turn to give him a skeptical eyebrow. “Did you turn them all into aliens?”
He matches my eyebrow’s attitude with his own. “If you mean more Kutarian women, then yes. The Shaman performed the swap on all of you.”
An uncomfortable ache radiates from my stomach to my chest as I recall Gemma’s brainwashed face and smile. They’d somehow convinced her that she was better off that way.
Bunch of dirty con artists and sorcerers.
“I’m the only one with the common sense enough to get out, I suppose.”
“You’re only the second to awake.”
My brow creases hard. “What?”
Xjhun stretches out his long legs in front of him. It shifts his loincloth enough that it slides away to reveal the entirety of his muscular thigh. I'll admit it's distracting. It takes a moment before I can peel my eyes away.
“Of the seven females we brought in, only two have successfully completed the body swap. You and Gemma.”
“You know Gemma?”
“Of course. She’s been among us for seven days’ times and is helping secure the Kutarians’ future.”
Seven days?
My open mouth nearly hits my lap.
“Have I been unconscious for seven days?”
“You and the rest of the humans.”
The word humans sounds odd on his tongue.
“Gemma has told us about many of you,” he continues. “That you study different things about our planet. She prefers our creatures. What do you like?”
My eyes drift to the large boulders around us, checking out the striations of layers nearly hidden in their surface. The colors and textures are foreign from any sedimentary rock I’ve seen on Earth. These are what I wanted to see.
Before my abduction.
Now I just want to survive and go home.
“Rocks,” I say simply. “I study rocks.”
His brow twitches in a small frown. "You study these?" He points to one of the huge stones as if maybe he didn't hear me right.
I nod.
He breaks into a grin. “That seems boring.”
My scoff slips out unchecked. “Rocks tell us a lot about a place. New planets. New environments. And if you dig in the right places you can find priceless gemstones and metals.”
He rubs at his lifted chin, skewing his lips as if considering. He reminds me of a Greek statue, those big arm muscles bunching as if he’s striking a regal pose.
Can’t he put on some real clothes? He’s very distracting.
“You like the stones that sparkle then?” he asks.
Finally.
"Yes. I specialize in those." My eyes drift to the black stone pendant resting against his chest. The hanging crescent moon design has clean-cut edges that shine. Some decent craftsmanship.
“There are many here,” he says. “If you’d stuck around the village long enough to do something other than scream, I could have shown you many of them."
Okay, so color me intrigued. And also, this guy’s an ass.
I'm not even sure how to respond to that, but it's no matter. He continues without me.
“Gemma said you’d like the jeweled dresses.”
My eyes catch his again. That does sound fantastic. What kind of jewels? Anything like on Earth? I want to see them.
Though I may be more curious about what all Gemma has told these people. She sounds like she's been talking a lot.
“So Gemma is a Kootatara now?”
“Kutarian. Yes, she is the mate of the Warrior Captain.”
Mate? I grimace and shake my head. “That’s insane.”
Xjhun grunts a short laugh. “You find it impossible that one of your own would find us suitable for a mate? Are we not up to your standards?”
I bend my legs up against my chest, regarding him silently over the tops of my knees. There’s an edge in his voice but he doesn’t look angry. Maybe testing. I’m not sure, but I’m positive I don’t want to piss off any of these savages.
“I’m sure you and your people are just fine.” For aliens. Even a buff, attractive one that’s giving me a teasing eyebrow lift. His eyes are so deep that I nearly forget I have an argument at all. “But I’d prefer to get back to base and swap back to my regular body. Not party with the naked Wookies, thanks.”
There’s a little more venom in my voice this time―trying my best to convince myself maybe―but it doesn’t seem to deter him. The corner of his lips quirks as he gazes down at me.
“There’s no need to try so hard,” he says as he flashes a grin so charming I nearly climb into his lap. “You’re attracted to me, and I’m happy to have you in this body or that one.”
Chapter 5
Xjhun
I’ve never seen someone fight desire like Trinity.
It’s obvious she isn’t thrilled with the idea of being stuck on our planet and becoming one with the Kutarians. Or at least that’s what’s coming out of her mouth. But her body and energy waves are saying something completely different.
I haven't missed the way her eyes travel over me, lingering here and there. Or the way the color in her cheeks changes when she catches herself doing it. The flutter of embarrassment and frustration in her energy.
She doesn’t want to be attracted to me, but gods, she is.
“W-what?” she stammers. “Whoa, cool down there, stallion.”
There’s a quiver in her voice that tells me she’s not angry at my comment. She’s intrigued. Aroused.
I bite back a groan.
I don’t drop my smile, and it seems to unnerve her. Though not in a creepy way. She can’t stop staring. I can smell her spike in adrenaline just as much as I can feel it in her energy.
Her cheeks are changing again. It�
�s a cute color on her. A soft rose against a shimmer of silver.
Her fingers fidget, like an inexperienced youngster discovering her own arousal for the first time.
I hate to see her struggle, but I won’t lie. I love it too.
Despite this time of strange transition for her, there’s hope for me.
Where else will I find an energy that sings to me like hers?
It’s grown stronger by the hour. The weak pulse that only fluttered at me when she was human is reaching farther and farther out, wrapping itself around me and warming me to my core. It speaks to me and I could bathe in it.
In her.
The shiver in my breath is almost enough to betray me. She either doesn’t notice the hard twitch in my loincloth or she’s blatantly ignoring it. The way her wide eyes―like an innocent female vultir―stare at me, I’m going to guess she’s utterly oblivious of what she does to me.
The way my heart races when she looks at me. The primal urge that’s been buried inside of me is emerging with ferocity to claim her, to keep her safe and make her mine.
“I’m fine,” I murmur with a soft growl in my voice. “Shall we be on our way?”
I get to my feet and offer her a hand to follow.
As much as I’d love to stay and continue to make her deliciously uncomfortable, if I don’t step away now, I may not be able to keep myself from jumping on her there in the dirt. My cock is aching as it is and unless I want to fight her, there won’t be any claiming going on just yet.
The very idea of taking her now has my muscles tightening, but hurting her goes against every instinct I have to protect her.
I will wait until she is ready for me.
She stares my hand with a shaded expression. “Where are we going?”
Back to the village is the most appropriate answer. The Captain isn't going to be thrilled with me missing my uza hunt, especially with the ghont mating season ending soon. If my window closes, I'll have to wait until next year to complete my training.
But bigger adventures are standing right in front of me.
I nod to the small human body in her arms. “To your people as you wished.”
Her eyes widen and I’ve got her full attention.
“You want to help me?”
“I will do what I need to help you to finish your quest.”