Daughter of the Alien Warrior

by Honey Phillips

  “That didn’t take you long—”

  Her words came to an abrupt halt. Instead of Inzen’s big body, the Ruijin filled the doorway. He had found her.

  Chapter Twenty-Three

  “Did you expect me to linger? I told you that I would track you down, human.” The Ruijin raised a shaggy brow. “I would have been here sooner if the Trevelorian navigation systems weren’t so primitive. I had to walk in from the road.”

  A bead of cold sweat slid down her spine, but she kept her face calm and raised her chin. Thank God Lily was no longer here.

  “I was not expecting you at all. I was expecting my mate.”

  “Your mate?” He threw back his head and laughed, revealing a disturbing number of gleaming white fangs. “One does not mate with those from the primitive planet. Although, they do have their uses.”

  His eyes slid over her with obvious lust and she had to hide a shudder of revulsion. She refused to give him the satisfaction of knowing how much he repelled her.

  “Not everyone feels that way. I am mated and he will return shortly.”

  “Your mate? Is he one of these fragile little Trevelorians?” He sneered as he strode casually into the room. “The last one I encountered fainted from no more than a single broken bone. I would have been most annoyed if it hadn’t been for the fact that she was in the process of recording the rental of this property—to a human. That was all I needed to track you down.”

  “B’gento?” she whispered, her stomach rolling at the thought of this brutish alien putting his hand on the Trevelorian’s delicate bones. “What did you do to her?”

  “Not as much as I could have done. She should be grateful that I don’t find feathers stimulating.” He gripped the bulge between his legs suggestively as he leered at her. “Unlike all that naked flesh of yours. It will show every one of my marks.”

  “I didn’t mate a Trevelorian,” she said furiously. “I mated a Cire warrior. Inzen will destroy you.”

  “Inzen?” To her astonishment, he threw back his head and roared with laughter. “You must see the humor. I was the courier who brought him the gemstones he purchased. He mentioned that they were to make a mating bracelet, but he never told me that it was for a human. How unfortunate that he will never get the chance to give it to you.”

  “Yes, he will. He’ll come for me. You’re no match for him,” she sneered, and the amusement left his face.

  “I am a Ruijin warrior in my prime. He could—perhaps—be a minor challenge but he would never defeat me. You would see for yourself if it weren’t for the fact that we will be long gone before he returns.”

  “That doesn’t matter. He’ll never stop looking for me.” The truth of that echoed with every beat of her heart, but she didn’t want Inzen to suffer through the pain of searching for her. She eyed Gokan. He looked too bulky to be much of a swimmer and she swam twice a week. If she could just get past him, she’d take her chances with the river.

  Feinting to the right, she ducked to the left instead, trying to reach the frying pan still sitting on the kitchen table. Unfortunately, the Ruijin intercepted her, tugging her up against his body, the spikes of his chest armor pressing painfully against her back as he ground his crotch into her ass. She struggled wildly but he was so much larger and stronger she had a hard time getting leverage. Even when she clawed at him, her nails couldn’t penetrate his thick fur.

  Remembering when she had trained with Inzen on the ship, she tried leaning into him instead. His grip relaxed just enough that she started to slip free. She had almost escaped his grasp when his hand clamped down on her wrist, yanking her back with painful pressure. Before she could renew her struggle, cold, hard metal encircled her neck. Shock kept her motionless as he stepped back, laughing.

  “Do you remember that, human? I obtained it from Master Eiran. He was only too glad to hand it over after sponsoring that debacle of an auction.” He shook his head in mock regret. “I only hope his successor is more successful.”

  Her stomach churned. She had no sympathy for the slave master, but Gokan’s cheerful brutality nauseated her.

  Outside the cabin, the rain had diminished a little, no longer drowning out all other sounds. Her heart started to beat faster as she thought she caught the faint hum of a flyer. Had Inzen returned already? She had to distract the Ruijin.

  “You killed him?” she asked. “Do you cause damage everywhere you go?”

  “Only when it’s necessary.” He flashed his fangs again. “Fortunately, it’s often necessary.”

  She put her hand to the collar and glared at him. “I thought you said you didn’t need this?”

  “I don’t. Once we return to my ship I have much more entertaining ways to train you, but I don’t have the time to fight you all the way back to Wiang, no matter how amusing it might be.”

  Even as she kept him talking, she listened, desperately hoping to hear the sound of someone approaching. Her heart raced as she heard a soft whisper of sound from the top of the hill. Had the flyer landed?

  For once, her stoic mask must have failed her because the Ruijin’s eyes sharpened and his ears flicked up. He crossed to her in a single step, just as she opened her mouth to scream out a warning. A huge furry paw clamped down across her face before she had a chance to call out.

  “So the eager mate returns, does he?” he murmured in her ear as the disgusting odor of his fur surrounded her. “I almost hate to do this. It would give me immense pleasure to let you watch me defeat him, but I’m afraid you might get damaged in the process and I take better care of my toys than that.”

  He raised his right paw and she saw the control to the shock collar.

  “Still, perhaps I will bring his head along as a reminder that it’s impossible to defeat me.” As he spoke, he pressed the button, and a fiery wave of pain spiraled out from the collar, traveling along every nerve as her body spasmed and she collapsed to the ground.

  Her vision turned dark but only for an instant and she didn’t lose consciousness. As the pain washed over her, she remembered that day on the ship when Kwaret had adjusted the collar to the lowest intensity.

  Gokan didn’t even bother to look in her direction, obviously assuming she was now unconscious. Instead, he moved into position behind the door, the same position she had taken the night before. If the pain throbbing through her body hadn’t been so intense, she would have smiled. Despite his boasts about his skills, he still wasn’t confident enough to face Inzen directly. But she couldn’t let him take advantage of her mate, even though she could barely move.

  Struggling to turn her head, she searched desperately for a weapon. Her body had fallen to the ground between the two big chairs and she spied a gleam of metal under the closest one. The knife! After Inzen had taken it away from her the previous night, he had dropped it to the floor, and it must have skidded underneath the chair. She tried to reach for it, but the aftereffects of the shock collar had caused her muscles to seize up. Sweat poured from her body as she gradually forced her arm to reach forward until her hand closed around the knife handle.

  Water splashed, then the porch steps creaked. Inzen was here—she was out of time. Calling on every ounce of love and determination she possessed, she tightened her grip on the knife. As the door began to open, she threw herself at the Ruijin’s leg with a hoarse cry. The blade slid into his flesh with sickening ease and he growled. He started to turn towards her and then Inzen was there.

  Overcome by the effort, she fell back to her knees, her vision fading in and out as she caught brief glimpses of the battle raging between the two warriors, their bodies colliding with brutal violence. Finally, she heard a sharp crack, and then Inzen threw the Ruijin’s body aside as he rushed over to her and lifted her into his arms.

  “Jade! Are you all right?” His face blurred over her, her vision shrinking into a single dark spot, but she managed to smile.

  “Love…” she whispered before the darkness took her.

  Inzen’s heart skippe
d a beat as Jade’s eyes fluttered close. No! By Granthar, he couldn’t be too late. He bent closer and felt the soft brush of her breath and then the beat of her heart, fast but steady. Relief overwhelmed him and he collapsed to the ground, still cradling her in his arms.

  Thank Granthar he hadn’t dallied with Hrebec. The trip to his former captain’s home had been painfully wet and slow, and Lily had been miserable, despite his efforts to shield her. But she had proven to be her mother’s daughter, handling the entire experience with determined bravery. When they finally made it to Hrebec’s, his growing sense of urgency wouldn’t allow him to rest. After sending a message to Cassie and making sure that Lily was once again safe and warm, he had demanded the loan of a flyer. Lily had started to protest his leaving, but when he told her that he was going to get her mama, she had let him go without any further argument.

  The whole way back to the hut, he had been plagued by an increasing sense of doom but hadn’t anticipated finding the Ruijin waiting for him. The smell of blood had been the only thing that had alerted him to his presence. That and the hoarse cry that he now recognized must have come from Jade’s lips.

  He scowled at the shock collar circling her delicate neck, her golden skin reddened along the edge of the device. What had that bastard done to her? He wanted to remove it, but he was loath to let her go, even for the length of time it would take to find the controls. Instead, he cradled her against his chest, rocking her back-and-forth as he murmured words of love to her unconscious body.

  Water splashed outside, and he heard footsteps on the porch. Had the Ruijin been accompanied by more of his kind? Reluctantly, he lowered Jade to the ground and stepped in front of her. No one would ever hurt her again.

  The door opened but instead of another Ruijin, Hrebec appeared.

  “I heard there was trouble in town. A Trevelorian female was attacked, and I was concerned that it was related to your mate.” His gaze traveled past Inzen to the body on the floor. “However, I see you have already taken care of the problem. Did he harm your mate?”

  “I know that he shocked her, but she was conscious enough to stab him.” Despite his concern, fierce pride filled him as he gathered her back in his arms. She was truly a warrior. “I want to remove the collar—can you check for the controls?”

  Hrebec bent over the Ruijin’s body for a moment, then handed him the device. Inzen had to fight back a snarl as the other male approached, even though he knew Hrebec would never harm Jade. She was unconscious and vulnerable and he hated having anyone close to her.

  “Be easy, my friend,” Hrebec said softly while Inzen removed the collar and threw it to one side. “She is safe in your arms and she will need you to be calm for her.”

  He sighed, forcing his protective instincts under control. “I know. She needs to be examined as soon as possible to make sure that she has suffered no lasting injury.”

  “I agree. Do you want to follow me back to the village? Or perhaps you would prefer to accompany me in my vehicle? It will be difficult to fly and hold her at the same time.”

  He didn’t like the idea of being in an enclosed space with another male but neither did he want to be distracted from watching over her. “Very well.”

  As he started to stand, Jade’s eyes fluttered open and she immediately focused on his face. “You’re safe.”

  “Of course. You did not have to take a foolish chance in order to ensure my safety.”

  She frowned up at him. “Would you have let him ambush me?”

  “Of course not. You are a very brave letari. But I do not wish you to try and protect me.”

  “We protect each other,” she insisted, her eyes sparkling with their usual fire, and he gave a relieved laugh. She was back with him.

  Chapter Twenty-Four

  Exhausted, Jade let Inzen carry her to Hrebec’s flyer without protest. Even though the rain was still pouring down, he kept her cradled so close against his chest that she was barely wet when he sat down with her in his lap and she was grateful not to add being soaked to her other miseries. Her neck hurt, her throat hurt, and her entire body ached with the aftereffects of the shock. Shame Kwaret hadn’t been able to turn it down a little more, she thought wryly, then was immediately ashamed. If it hadn’t been for the Vedeckian’s assistance she would still be unconscious on the floor of the cabin—or perhaps being carried away by the Ruijin with Inzen dead or injured. She shuddered and Inzen immediately looked down at her, his face worried.

  “Are you in pain, my letari?”

  “No - well, yes, but it’s nothing serious. Just aches and pains.”

  “We will have you examined as soon as we reach the village,” he assured her.

  “I don’t think that’s necessary -”

  “It is necessary. I want to make sure you have come to no harm through my carelessness.”

  “What on earth are you talking about? You weren’t careless.”

  His dark eyes were filled with guilt. “I left you alone to be attacked by that bastard.”

  “Inzen, you were taking our daughter to safety. I’m so thankful she wasn’t there when he arrived.” She lifted a shaky hand to touch his cheek. “And you came back to rescue me.”

  “I will always come for you, my love.”

  “I know. For me and for our daughter.” She knew that Inzen would never have left their daughter unless she was safe, but she had to ask. “And Lily is all right? The trip wasn’t too much for her?”

  “She was as brave as her mother. Abby was giving her a hot bath and promised to make her something called hot choclot.”

  “Hot chocolate? Here? That sounds wonderful.”

  “Then you shall have some too,” he promised.

  “Abigail and my girls are most fond of it,” Hrebec said from the front of the flyer. “Especially during the rainy season.” He peered through the front window. “It started unusually early this year.”

  “So I gathered,” she said dryly, remembering the water swirling around the summer house and the half-drowned flyer. She would have to find some way to pay B’hira for damage—oh no. The Ruijin’s words suddenly returned to her and she started to struggle up.

  “You need to get in touch with someone in Wiang. Gokan said that he hurt the female who helped me rent the summer house. That’s how he knew where I was. You have to send help for her.”

  “Calm down, Jade,” Inzen ordered, pulling her back against him.

  “No! Don’t you see? It’s my fault that she was hurt. Someone has to go check on her.” Weak tears trickled down her face at the thought of the delicate B’gento hurt by the brutish alien.

  “She is already being cared for,” Hrebec said. “She regained consciousness long enough to say that her attacker was searching for a human female. I am friends with one of the chief medics, so L’chong contacted me to warn me.”

  “Is she going to be all right?”

  “He assured me that she will make a full recovery.”

  “Oh, thank God.” More tears spilled down her cheeks, from relief this time, and Inzen’s tail gently wiped them away. She snuggled into his arms, letting his comforting scent soothe her. She was half-asleep when they landed.

  “Take her inside,” Hrebec ordered. “Tell Abigail that I will fetch the medic and return.”

  Another quick trip through the rain and she was inside the house, warm and bright and full of the delicious smell of chocolate.

  “Mama! Dada!” Lily came flying over as Inzen carried Jade into the kitchen and sat down with her on his lap.

  Brown eyes opened wide as Lily put a gentle finger to the swollen flesh on her neck. “Mama hurt?”

  “I’m fine, baby.” She pushed against Inzen’s arms until he reluctantly let her sit up enough so she could lean forward and hug their daughter. With a muttered exclamation, he lifted Lily onto his lap as well, and she sighed with contentment as Lily snuggled against them. “Daddy said you were a very brave girl.”

  “Brave,” Lily agreed, then fl
ashed her a wide, chocolate stained smile. “Got choclot.”

  “Well, not exactly. But close enough.” Abby laughed. “Would you like some?”

  “I’d love some.”

  A moment later, a warm mug was in her hands and she took a cautious sip. Mmm. As Abby said, it wasn’t exactly chocolate and it had an odd, but not unpleasant, spicy aftertaste, but it was satisfyingly close. Lily wiggled down to join Tiana and Lucie, and Jade was half-asleep when Hrebec returned with the doctor. She was a thin Trevelorian female with an orange crest that reminded her of B’gento’s but unlike the gentle property agent, she had a brusque, no-nonsense attitude.

  “I’m Medic N’tana. And you are Jade?” Sharp yellow eyes surveyed her neck. “Looks like you have some swelling there. Any other injuries?”

  “I’m fine—”

  “She was shocked and unconscious for many minutes,” Inzen interrupted. “She is not fine.”

  “I see.” N’tana turned to Abby. “Is there a room I can use to examine her?”

  “Of course. Let me show you to the guest room.”

  Jade started to try and stand, but Inzen simply rose with her in his arms.

  “I can walk, you know,” she muttered.

  “Perhaps later. After the medic examines you.”

  “You Cire warriors.” N’tana shook her head. “I’m glad that Trevelorian men are more reasonable in their approach.”

  “Oh, I don’t know,” Abby said as she led them into a small bedroom overlooking the village. “Didn’t I see your mate telling that nice young teacher to stay away from you at the last festival?”

  N’tana’s beak-like nose turned bright red.

  “I suspect L’vert had too much ale that day.” The medic sighed. “But your point is well taken. All males are capable of irrational behavior. Now if you two will leave me alone with my patient…”

  “I am not leaving,” Inzen growled.