Alien Mine (Zerconian Warriors Book 7) (4 page)

But sometimes you didn’t always get the option to hide under the bed and let someone else chase away the monsters.

“We do not know if the Coizils remain in waiting or where the escape pods have landed. The area we received the emergency communication from has a number of hostile planets within reach.”

“I know. I’m prepared for that.”

Liar. Liar.

He studied her. Crap, she got the feeling he saw right through her. “My warriors would do everything in their power to protect you. In return, you would be expected to obey them if there was the slightest hint of risk.”

“Believe me, I’m no hero.”

“Now that I do not believe. You do not have to do this, Lucy. I would not force you. And you would have a home here for as long as you wished, regardless.”

Could he be for real? No one was that truly generous were they? Except Rye was. He’d rescued her when he could have walked away. Maybe Dex was as well. Maybe it was time to stop judging everyone by the lessons she’d learned in the past.

“Thanks, that means a lot.” Probably more than he knew. “But I want to help.” There was no going back now. He knew. Thor and Darac knew. The secret was out.

“My mother, my best friend and his mate are among those we search for. I would welcome any help to find them. But I would not expect you to risk yourself. Perhaps it would be best if we kept your ability to ourselves. Rye, Zoey, Thor, Darac, Willa and myself. Would that make you feel better?”

Air swooshed out of her lungs as her stomach truly relaxed for the first time since she’d heard the news of the attack on the Zerconian spaceship. “You would do that?”

“Of course. I consider you and the others in your village to be under my protection.” Dex leaned forward. “Rye has not told us about your past, but he did mention your gift had been exploited in the past. I promise to try never to do that. If I do, you have my permission to make your displeasure known.”

She smiled. “Thanks. I’ll do that.”

Standing, he nodded. “Good. Then you must prepare yourself. The ships were due to leave two hours ago.”

“I’m ready to go now.”

He didn’t reply and she followed him to the door. When she stepped through the doorway, she saw Thor waiting there, along with Darac and Rye.

But let’s face it, her attention was all on the gorgeous healer.

“Lucy and I have spoken and she has agreed, without duress, to help us track our people.”

“Good.” Darac nodded.

“But her secret will not go beyond us, other than to include Zoey and Willa. It must be impressed upon them that they cannot speak of Lucy’s abilities to others. To protect her.”

“That will have to do I suppose,” Rye stated in a low voice.

“No. She should not be coming with us.”

She turned to gape at Thor. “Excuse me?”

“You will not come with us. That is final.”

***

“That is final. That is final? Who the hell does he think he is?” Three hours into their journey and she was still fuming over Thor’s high-handedness.

After his proclamation, Dex had practically dragged his cousin out of the room and she hadn’t seen Thor since.

She sat on the masic and it adjusted under her weight. It was still a bit weird to her to sleep on something that was alive. A mattress should stay where someone put them. Still, at least she had something to sleep on. There had been many nights in her life where she had slept on a hard floor with nothing more than her clothes to protect her from the chill of night.

She shook off that thought. What was she going to do about Thor? What would she say to him? He seemed to be under some impression that he had a say in what she did.

“Maybe that was my fault.” She had gone to him first. That probably made him feel like he had some stake in what she did.

He didn’t.

And the next time she saw him she needed to make that very clear. The communicator by the door buzzed and she stood, walking over to press on it. “Yes?”

“Hey, it’s Willa. Want to go get some grub?”

She opened the door. She didn’t know Willa that well. Lucy had always tried to keep to herself. But what she did know about the other woman she liked. Willa was tough. She wouldn’t run when faced with danger. She’d face it with a war cry and probably a crazy grin on her face. Truthfully, she was a bit jealous. Willa had a family who loved her, and now a mate who adored her. She’d found a place where she belonged.

Maybe after this she’d feel more like she’d carved her own place. A sense of worth. Or maybe she would find out that the Zerconians weren’t as honorable as they appeared.

Better to find that out early on rather than after she’d settled in. If they turned around and tried to use her then she’d rather walk away with her emotions intact.

“Sure. Thanks.” She’d planned on just going to sleep. She was exhausted and she knew she would need all her energy for the coming few days. The Zerconians already knew what direction to take, because of the last communication from the spaceship before everyone evacuated. However, she had tracked a few of those who’d been onboard, including Koran, just to be certain. Tracking people drained her.

But she had to leave her quarters at some stage and perhaps it was best to go with Willa. Walking into a room filled with hungry Zerconian warriors was kind of intimidating.

“Has anyone given you a tour?” Willa asked as they moved down the passageway.

“No.”

“Cool, I’ll point out a few things.”

A few things? By the time they reached the dining area, her head was reeling and she was pretty sure she would never be able to find her own way back to her quarters.

“Lucy? Lucy?”

“What? Oh, sorry, I was thinking.”

Willa grinned. “I was talking too much, wasn’t I? Damn, I always accuse Zoey of being a chatterbox now I’m the one who can’t shut up.”

“It was just a lot of information to take in. Pretty sure I’m going to get lost finding my back to my quarters.”

“I’ll take you back and if you do lose your way just ask any of these guys. They’ll be happy to help.”

It did seem that the Zerconian warriors would be happy to come to her aid. They all nodded and stepped out of the way of the two women. She put some food on a plate and carrying her tray, followed Willa to one of the long, large tables. They sat at a long, rectangular table half-filled with warriors. Across from them, a truly stunning male looked up and nodded at Willa. Then his gaze turned to her and narrowed as he studied her.

A huge smile broke out on his face, surprising her. Zerconian warriors didn’t tend to smile much. Or ever in some cases.

The smile almost blinded her, making her catch her breath. He had to be the most beautiful man she’d ever seen, and not beautiful in a feminine way. She couldn’t think of a better word to use to describe him. Golden hair lay around his head, reaching his shoulders. She’d never understood the saying, hair like spun gold. Now she got it.

Vibrant blue studied her for a long moment.

“Hello. We have not met. I am Safan.”

He held out his hand. It wasn’t Zerconian custom to shake hands so she was kind of taken aback. But she figured it would seem strange if she ignored him, so reluctantly, she reached out. He took her hand and squeezed it. Then suddenly standing, he leaned over and kissed her hand.

Ugh, gross.

He was stunningly gorgeous. Breath-takingly so.

Didn’t mean she wanted his lips touching her skin. Who knew where those lips had been? A man that gorgeous probably had a different lover every night. He could carry all manner of skanky diseases.

A huge roar filled the room and she snatched her hand back, staring in horror as Thor sped across the room. He was almost a blur, he seemed to move that fast. Then he grabbed Safan, almost tossing him through the air as he threw him to the ground. Red eyes studied her briefly before he turned towards Safan.

Safan didn’t take long to recover. He quickly stood, chest heaving as he glared at Thor.

“Thor. What are you doing?” She stood, gaping at him.

He didn’t turn. Didn’t even seem to hear her as he scowled at the other male. “Do not touch her.”

Safan frowned. “You have a claim on her?”

“Yes!” Thor stepped forward, hands clenched. “She is mine!”

Oh, hell no. No she was not.

***

Thor wondered if he had lost his mind. He was normally so level-headed but the moment he had seen Safan touching Lucy, fury had tornadoed through him. Like nothing he had felt before.

Perhaps it was because it was Safan. He was known as having a way with females. He seemed in no hurry to find a mate. Safan had been born on Zerconia but raised on Moran where, according to him, females swarmed to get into his bed.

Thor rolled his eyes. Personally he thought Safan was filled with his own self-importance. Still, as his fury calmed he realized he owed the male an apology for his reaction.

But he had his lips on her! That was Thor’s privilege. Admittedly, Safan had not realized Thor had a claim on her. Neither had Lucy until he had blurted it out in front of everyone.

What had he been thinking? He hadn’t been thinking. Not clearly. When he had finally calmed down, he discovered Lucy had left.

“Be prepared to grovel,” Willa told him as she strode beside him. “She did not look happy when she left.”

Willa turned down the corridor towards her own quarters. Thor stepped in front of Lucy’s door and pressed down on the communicator. Nothing. He pressed again. Still nothing. Perhaps she was asleep? Or hadn’t returned to her quarters?

He pressed again.

The door slid open and Lucy scowled up at him.

“Umm, Lucy.”

“What do you want?” she asked. The hostility in her voice took him by surprise. For a moment he was speechless then remembered why he was here.

“I came to apologize.”

“Fine. Goodbye.” She turned her back. Realizing she was about to close him out, Thor slipped into the room.

The door slid shut.

“Lucy—”

“What are you doing? Get out!” Panic crossed her face and he held his hands up. The last thing he wanted was to scare her.

“I just wish to speak to you, Lucy.”

“So you force your way into my room?” She took a step back and he bit back a growl at the fear emanating from her.

“Not force. You have nothing to fear from me, Lucy.”

“What are you going to do? Throw me to the ground as well?”

Shock filled him. Never. “No. Certainly not. I would never harm you.”

“But you were fighting Safan?”

“Not fighting,” he corrected. Although it could easily have turned into one had Safan fought back. “He touched you.”

“He didn’t harm me. I gave him my hand in greeting. What right did you have to attack him? And what was that bullshit about me being yours. I’m not yours, Thor.”

“I did not mean to tell you in such a way.” Certainly not in front of everyone. “You are my mate.”

Her face paled. “Uh-uh. No way. Not on your life, Nellie.”

He frowned. “Who is this Nellie?”

“It’s something my mom used to say. I’m not your mate, Thor. I never intend to mate anyone. So you can get that out of your head right now.”

“I cannot, Lucy. I cannot get you out of my head. Since meeting you, I think of nothing but you.”

She shook her head. “No. Not happening. And don’t think just because you announce it to the goddamn world that it means you own me. I won’t be owned again, Thor.”

“Again,” he whispered. “Someone owned you?”

He knew something terrible had happened in her life. The glimpses of fear, her attempts to keep a distance between herself and everyone else, the little hints she’d let drop. But someone had owned her? That was something he would never have guessed.

Face pale, chest heaving, she stared at him. There was a haunted look in her pale blue eyes. “You need to leave. Please.”

“Lucy. I did not mean to hurt you or scare you.”

“I can’t deal with violence. I know the Zerconians are an aggressive race so maybe this just isn’t the place for me.”

“Yes, we are aggressive. But never towards women. I made a mistake. We are very protective of our mates.”

“I. Am. Not. Your. Mate. You cannot force me to mate you.”

“I would never force you. I always intended to give you time. I still do. All the time you need. But I will win your trust. You will be mine.”

“When pigs fly. Now get out. I want to be alone.”

***

Lucy collapsed on the sofa as Thor left. She stared down at her shaking hands. What the hell had just happened? In the space of an hour everything had turned on its head.

Did he seriously think he could just declare that she was his and she’d fall into his arms? He was going to be waiting a long time before she would agree to mate him.

A shiver raced through him at the memory of him throwing Safan to the floor. She knew he was strong, but she hadn’t seen him display that strength aggressively.