“This will be fun,” the one on the right said to the other.
The one on the left grabbed at my arm. I swiped clawed fingers, raking them across his face. He let go and jumped back. Blood welled up, his face twisted in rage.
“You filthy…” he stepped forward, then thought better of getting too close.
I heard Millicent grunt once or twice, heard the scrape of metal before she groaned in pain. With the need to protect her, I had to end this! Now!
The one in front wiped the blood from his face as they both pulled out holstered weapons. Reacting swiftly, I attacked the same time they fired.
Something pierced my skin as my claws raked across his neck, cutting deeply. His blood spewed over my face as I fell to my knees, head hung down. He collapsed dead in front of me.
I heard the penetration of soft tissue followed by grunts, and feared that Millicent had been stabbed, though I knew it would not be fatal even if she had; Human females were too valuable to the Andore race.
Angry that I’d been so useless, caught unaware when I knew better, I stared at a weapon aimed at my head. They’d won, and Millicent would be subjected to unspeakable acts. After all of this time here, I should have listened to Gar. Instead, I had let my guard down, let myself be vulnerable.
“Any last words?” the Andore smirked, quoting a Human saying.
I closed my eyes and waited for death. I would not beg, would not give him the satisfaction of last words. When nothing happened, I opened my eyes only to see his eyes widen in surprise, face twisted in pain. He dropped to his knees, leaving Millicent standing behind him holding a blood-soaked dagger.
She looked magnificent, even with her bleeding wounds.
Fierce.
Tight black long-sleeved shirt, loose black pants with black boots…she was like a warrior princess. There was no fear on her face, no hatred, just hard determination.
With one foot planted firmly on his back, she shoved him the rest of the way to the ground.
Dropping to her knees, her eyes scanned for wounds.
“Where are you hurt?” she asked. There was no judgement, only a simple question.
“I am fine.”
“Bullshit.” Her hands gently ran over my shoulder and chest. She scrunched her nose. “And you look scary as hell.”
I laughed, then grunted with pain.
“Come on.” She grabbed my arm and helped me stand.
“I need to get back.”
“You’re not going anywhere alone like this.”
“I am fine, Human.”
“Uh-huh.”
“If you insist on escorting me, then escort me to my territory.”
“Rightttt…that sounds like a terrifying idea.”
With every step, I felt the draining energy and knew I was losing too much blood. My body would shut down so the healing sleep could help me quickly regenerate the loss, but not here. When Jyan realized his men were missing, he would send someone to investigate, and if they found me, I was dead.
At the mercy of this Human female, I had to trust her with my life.
Literarily.
8
Millicent
Okay, Murda looked scary as hell. Fangs protruded below his upper lip, eyes narrowed with a fiery glow.
I wonder if it helps him see better at night?
And those claws—thank God—had now receded to a slightly less intimating sight. No wonder people were scared of the Tizuns. I knew him, and he still looked like he could take down the fiercest animals.
Staring at this transformed…creature…made me hesitate for a mere second, yet seeing him hurt also made me feel something I didn’t want to acknowledge. But one thing I knew for sure was that I couldn’t—wouldn’t—leave him injured and open for another attack.
Jenna would kill me for bringing him home, but I didn’t know what else to do. The thought of venturing into Tizun Territory turned my veins to ice. What if Murda lost consciousness and they thought I was the assailant? I knew next to nothing about their species. Their motto could well be ‘react first, ask questions later.’
Nope, not taking that chance, I told myself firmly.
The sun had risen already; I’d stayed out too long, which left me open for an attack. Stupid mistake on my part.
It was slow going, and I sensed his strength waning, more than he would ever admit. Neither of us spoke; it was best to concentrate on getting back to safety.
The farther we traveled, the more his steps turned into small shuffles.
An hour, maybe two had passed when the house came into view. I spotted Jenna sitting on the porch with her head bowed over a steaming cup of coffee just before she lifted her eyes to glance our way. Eyes instantly growing round as saucers, she leapt from the swing, sloshing hot liquid onto her hand.
“Crap,” she growled, and set the cup down, rushing from the porch. “Millie!”
Murda’s head hung low, then lifted when Jenna yelled.
Seeing his face, Jenna stopped and almost back-peddled, before standing rooted in one spot.
“Millie?” She sounded hesitant, confused, and truly frightened. Her eyes shifted between the two of us.
“It’s okay, Jenna. Help me get him into the house.”
“What?” she exclaimed, questions flashing in her wide eyes.
“He’s injured. I couldn’t leave him there.”
Slowly, she started forward. Her fear of being this close to a Tizun was visible, and frankly, I didn’t blame her one bit.
“What happened?” she asked.
“Andores.”
Gasping, she took his other arm and wrapped it over her shoulder. “Are you okay?”
“Yeah. Three of them showed up. We won, but not before Murda took a hit.”
“It looks like you didn’t fare so well yourself.”
Shrugging, fatigue began to set in as the adrenaline wore off, and I became aware of my own injuries: a few scrapes and bruises as well as a shallow gash down one thigh and a cut on my left cheek.
“It’s nothing,” I replied dismissively. “Murda’s the one to worry about.”
Sweat poured from my forehead and down my nose. It felt as though I’d done strenuous exercise for the past hour. Jenna relieved some of the weight, making it easier for me as we made it to the porch; still, he was heavy.
“Murda, I need you to lift your leg.”
I don’t know how, but he managed to take the steps one at a time.
“Sleep,” he mumbled, so low I almost didn’t hear.
Grabbing the screen door, I propped it open with my foot. Once inside, we tried to gently lay him on my bed, but he ended up falling onto his back.
He was out.
Jenna met my eyes with concern and sighed. “I don’t ask many questions, but this time, you owe me an explanation.”
I nodded once. “I know. Let me make sure he’s alright, and then I’ll tell you everything.”
“I’ll be waiting.”
I watched her leave before focusing on Murda. Lifting his legs, I twisted him so they also rested on the bed.
“Okay,” I mumbled before heading into the kitchen for a small bowl.
I filled it with warm water, grabbed a washcloth and some bandages, then went back to my room.
Sitting on the side of the bed, I carefully unbuttoned his charcoal shirt, exposing a muscular chest with a black, almost glowing glyph on the upper left shoulder. Running a finger over his chest, there wasn’t an ounce of fat anywhere. I couldn’t look away,
I bet his people consider him handsome, I mused.
Dunking the cloth into the bowl, I gently washed off the blue blood coating his side. Some had dried to a darker blue, while more still oozed from the gunshot wound.
After cleaning the area, I inspected the wound to make sure nothing had lodged inside. When I deemed the wound as clean as Humanly possible (given the circumstances), I bandaged it with white dressing.
Staring at his sleeping face, he didn’t see
m homely at all. Just…different. I brushed a strand of wheat-colored hair away from his forehead.
“I will keep you safe,” I whispered. “Sleep well.”
One last glance and I pushed up from the bed, gathering my supplies. After putting them away, I grabbed my clothes and headed for the shower.
I poured a little shampoo into my hand, and as the water sprayed over me, I lathered it up.
Going through the automatic tasks, I kept wondering why he had protected me.
Why does he meet me at the pond every night? I asked myself. Why did he give me that little device?
I had so many questions, but none of it mattered. I’d let him stay and heal, then when he was better, I’d take him back to the pond.
My plans hadn’t changed.
After getting dressed, I went outside to face Jenna. I owed her everything—I would tell her the truth. It was the least I could do after everything she’d done for me.
Glancing outside, I saw her sitting on the swing, head bowed, fingers laced together and elbows resting on her knees. She appeared to be deep in thought.
As I quietly shut the storm door behind me, she glanced up.
“Jenna.” My attempt at a smile felt more like a grimace.
“Why did you bring him here?” she demanded.
“I get it, you’re mad.” I took a seat next to her.
“You had no right!”
“What should I have done? Left him to die?”
She sighed heavily, staring at her hands. When she looked up again, I saw the sorrow in her eyes.
“I don’t know what to tell you. I have two kids I’m trying to protect, and until now, we’ve mostly remained hidden. But now you’ve brought the enemy to my house. My house!”
My heart ached; she was right. Although I didn’t consider Murda the enemy, I didn’t know anything about his kind.
Had I just ruined everything?
My heart sunk with a heaviness I hadn’t felt in a really long time. I loved Jenna and the kids, and would never intentionally put them in danger.
Yet now I’ve inadvertently done just that…
“I’m sorry.” It came out low and full of regret. But there was nothing more I could offer. The deed was done.
After a beat of silence, the air tensed with unease before Jenna asked the dreaded question: “Where have you been going every night? And don’t say to meet him.” She nodded over her shoulder toward the house. “It started long before that.”
How could I admit the truth?
No, I corrected myself. How can I not?
This was an impossible situation—Jenna was my best friend, and I’d let her down.
Swallowing the lump in my throat, I chewed on my lower lip and considered my next words carefully. I wasn’t the same person anymore, not the one Jenna remembered. I held no illusions of fairytales—evil existed in all universes, and I knew that only too well.
Even Murda—who I trusted as much as possible— was an alien who played by a different set of rules.
Inhaling deeply, I blew a slow breath through my lips and sighed. “I have been searching for him.”
Jenna sat up a little straighter, her eyebrows pulled down. “Who?”
“You know, the one who killed them.” That was a half-truth, but something I knew Jenna would understand.
Her eyes widened, lips parting. “Oh, Millie, you have to let that go.”
“I can’t.”
“You must! What if you find him? What then?”
I shrugged a shoulder even as I visualized various ways to plunge my dagger inside his perfectly flawless body. I didn’t tell her that I’d already found him, nor that I now had a name: Raun. I wanted to kill him; no, I needed to, and I refused to rest until the sick bastard was dead.
“I don’t know,” I replied finally, leaving the rest unsaid.
Jenna swallowed her words, but I knew what she was thinking. Hell, I’d thought about it a lot too. Me staying with them was inviting danger to the house and putting every person I loved in jeopardy. If I could just get up the nerve to leave, I would do just that. But every time I stayed in the area, Jenna, the kids…somehow they drew me back.
Watching Austin play, hearing the back and forth banter…it reminded me of what I once had.
What I lost forever...
“Millie…” Jenna implored, “you are no match for him!” She waved her arm in the air. “For any of them! You have to let this go, I’m begging you.”
I sighed; she couldn’t possibly understand. Revenge burned deep, and I didn’t care if I got hurt or killed. Raun needed to be stopped.
But Jenna needed peace, and I understood that. With a quick nod, I lied to my best friend.
Again.
“Where’s the others?” I asked, changing the subject.
“Cara is still asleep. I’m not sure if Austin is in his room or out back.”
I pushed up from the swing. “I’m going to grab a piece of toast, then go lay down awhile. I’m beat.”
“Where will you sleep?”
Huh, good question. “I may just stretch out on the floor.”
“You’re welcome to sleep in my room.”
“Thanks.” I smiled as my eyes lingered on her face a few seconds longer while she sipped her coffee.
The only worries she has are the kids and the raids, I thought.
How I envied her.
Working on autopilot, I grabbed a bite to eat, swallowing but hardly tasting the last bite of toast, then chased it down with a glass of water before heading to my room.
As soon as I stepped over the threshold, I froze, my eyes transfixed on the Tizun stretched across my bed.
Taunt skin covered high cheekbones, and he looked peaceful with that wheat-colored hair splayed over my pillow.
Staring at him, my heart swelled with something I couldn’t quite identify. After the horrific death of my family, I had kept everyone at arm’s length, even Jenna to some degree. I mean, if I didn’t care so deeply, then losing them wouldn’t hurt as much, right?
And yet this man, this Tizun had protected me. He offered me friendship and I’d had to trust him as we fought back-to-back. We functioned as a team. I hadn’t felt companionship like that in a very long time.
Slowly, I pushed off the wall, then quickly changed my clothes before walking over to the bed.
Standing near the edge, I hesitated. The floor looked hard and uninviting. Maybe if I laid down next to Murda, I could be up and gone before he even knew I was there. Would he mind? Did I even want to lay next to him? Something definitely drew me to him.
I hesitated a beat…
Carefully, I crawled over top of him and settled my body close to his, but not touching. I checked to make sure he hadn’t stirred and then took a lock of his hair, letting it run through my fingers. The strands felt like fine silk, in a way that even the softest Human hair never could.
The longer I stared, the more exotic he looked.
And to think I once thought he was homely, average at best, I chided myself.
Tucking my hands under my cheek, I smiled at my unusual guest. “Goodnight.” The heat from his body lulled me to sleep.
My eyes fluttered closed.
Murda
Soft breathing, heat permeated my left side. Someone (or something) stood to my right. My muscles tensed as I readied myself for battle.
I remembered the fight, losing too much blood and having to lean on—to trust the Human—a female, no less. I wanted to groan at the irony.
Taking inventory, someone had bandaged my wound and the pain was almost non-existent. The wound should be almost healed by now, but it would take a few days to regain my strength.
My nose twitched. The odor of foul breath as air brushed my face. Someone standing over me shifted positions. A little closer and I’d have them in my grip.
A little closer…
Almost…
“What are you doin’ in Millie’s bed?” a voice yelled in my face.
>
Surprised and caught off guard, my eyes popped open to see a little boy standing over me mere inches away, peering down. His eyes widened when they met mine.
“Aaah!” he screamed, turned on his heels and ran from the room.
The female next to me jumped, her short raven hair messy and wild. A skimpy shirt showed the swells of her breasts.
With her proximity, and the fact that she was scantily clad, my cock jerked and hardened to the near point of pain.
I had not relieved myself inside a female since the emergency landing, and her body was a powerful temptation causing this unexpected reaction.
That must be the reason, I told myself firmly.
Not that she impressed me with her fighting skills. Nor that I had to trust her with my life. It had simply been too long since I kissed and licked the delicates of a female.
To sink deep inside, feel her contract around me as I took what I wanted…make her beg, and writhe, and scream my name…
I knew we would be compatible. Most species were. Legend spoke of an ancient race that spread their DNA throughout the galaxies, making us all descendants of the same people. There were enough similarities to take Millicent right now, roll her underneath and plunge deep inside. Feel her body give way to mine.
“I’m so sorry,” she broke the trance as she tried to scramble out of bed.
With my hard cock, I couldn’t let her cross over me. Not yet.
I snaked an arm around her waist and pulled her into my side. “Just rest, Human.”
Her body tensed, then softened against mine, her head resting on my shoulder.
It had been too long. I enjoyed having a female in my arms, even if she was an ugly Human. But she didn’t seem so ugly anymore. Her courage was beautiful, her spirit strong. Those traits were rarely seen in our females.
“I should check on Austin. Poor guy is probably traumatized.”
“You are talking about the small Human?”
She chuckled, making me smile. “Yes.”
“Are we safe here?”
“Yes.”
“Good.” I had suspected as much. “You were injured this morning.”
“No, not really. A few scratches and cuts, but nothing serious.” A few beats of silence and then she continued: “After what happened, they will probably send a search party out today. They may even raid the area again. I should warn Jenna.”
Falling for the Alien Prince Page 7