Conquered by the Alien Warrior

by Hope Hart

  “Excuse me?”

  I shrug. “If I get taken, they’ll search me, and they might find it. You’re slowly recovering, and eventually, you’ll be able to sit on the mishua. If I don’t make it, you need to get the chip back to Alexis.”

  He opens his eyes, his nostrils flaring. “There is no need because you’re not leaving.”

  I roll my eyes. Trust him to make this more difficult than necessary.

  “We’ll have to agree to disagree. Either way, I’m starving. I’m going to go see if I can forage us some more food.”

  “Swear to me you’re not going to their camp.”

  “I’m not.”

  “Give me your word.”

  “I give you my word I’m just going to pick a few plants and scrape together whatever food I can find. I’ll be back soon.”

  He studies my face and then finally nods, his eyes sliding closed.

  He’s not going to enjoy what happens when I get back.

  By now, I know the best spot to find berries, but I’m also in luck, and I find a tree bursting with a type of fruit called a dorza—a cross between an apple and a mandarin. I eat a few right there, wishing I had some form of protein, and then gather a few more, stopping to pick one juicy maradoza berry.

  I need to be careful. This is how Zoey killed the Dokhalls who mistakenly kidnapped her and Nevada. But it’s most commonly used by the healers for knocking out patients before surgery or ensuring they recover from painful injuries.

  I don’t want the commander dead; I just want him to take a nice nap.

  The fact is he can’t follow me. After staggering outside last night, he was so weak that he fell into a deep sleep for hours. But it’s clear he’s not resting properly when I’m away from the cave.

  And we both need him to recover.

  I’ll err on the side of caution. I’d rather the berry not work than to work too well. An enraged commander who wakes up alone is better than one who doesn’t wake up at all.

  I break the berry in half and then squeeze a tiny amount of juice from the berry into the commander’s zebra-plant water when I return. His eyes are still closed, but I know he’s awake because a muscle is jumping in his jaw.

  “Drink this.”

  He’s strong enough to hold the cup for himself this time, and he gulps it down.

  While he drinks, I feed the mishua the last of her food and make sure she has clean water. When I return, Korzyn’s eyes are heavy-lidded, liquid silver as he stares at me.

  “What?”

  “You have a scratch on your face.”

  I shrug, fingering my forehead. “It’s fine.”

  “You should take care of it.”

  “I’ll find an ortar plant later.”

  I move closer to the commander, suddenly drawn like a moth to a flame. “You know, you never told me why you were so certain I couldn’t be trusted. You followed me around like a stalker the entire time I was at the castle, but you basically gave Vivian a free pass. Why?”

  He shrugs, the movement languid, and his head rolls. “You do your best to avoid attracting attention unless it benefits you in some way to cause a distraction. You lie easily and charm without thought, and it was clear you were gathering information about us.”

  I nod. “That’s fair. But if I’m so untrustworthy, why do you care if I attack the camp?”

  He opens his mouth and seems to change his mind about whatever he was going to say. “I only get the name of my female if you’re returned to Rakiz alive.”

  I ignore the way his words make something in my chest twist. I’m going to enjoy what happens next.

  “All the things you named are some of my best qualities, and that’s why my plan will work,” I tell him. “Luckily, I don’t need trust, approval, or anything else from you.”

  My throat feels tight, and I turn away, gathering the things I need as his eyes close.

  “Dizzy,” he mutters. “What did you do?”

  “Just a little something to help you sleep.”

  He lets out a low growl, but I lean over, tying his wrists together before he can realize what I’m doing, then I wrap the rope around the tree root sticking out of the cave floor.

  In his current condition, Korzyn is going nowhere.

  His eyes fly open as he tugs at the rope.

  I smile. “Payback is a bitch. Don’t worry, I won’t gag you.”

  “Kill you.”

  “Toughen up, buttercup. You did the same to me. I’m just looking out for you. You’re safe here, so go to sleep, recover, and we’ll chat when you wake up.”

  If he regains his strength, the rope won’t hold him for long. But I don’t need it to. I’ve carefully thought out each step of my plan. Including the next one.

  His eyes are slits, and I feel like his prey as I slide my earring out of my ear. I lean forward and poke it through his shirt, fastening it next to his neck.

  “If I don’t come back, tell the other women I’m sorry. Tell Vivian…tell her I went out with a knife in my hand. And tell them to have good lives. Lives they’ll be proud of.”

  “Don’t you dare,” he growls, tugging on the rope. I study his face, and I don’t know what comes over me because I lean closer and brush my lips against his, wishing for…something.

  He goes silent as I pull away, but his eyes are blazing. “If you leave me here, I will hunt you,” he tells me, his voice very quiet and all the scarier for the control he’s using. “I will make you wish you had never been born.”

  I smile at that, but my heart cracks as I get to my feet. “You’ll have to get in line.”

  Chapter Eight

  Sarissa

  I was born during one of the worst storms of my parents’ generation. My mother said it was a sign of things to come. She said I was a storm and just like the day of my birth, my life would be turbulent and angry. She once told me I would never know peace.

  She was a hateful woman, consumed with herself. My father was just as bad, too self-involved to even make sure our smoke detectors were working properly.

  At the time, I sneered at my mother, pretending I didn’t believe her. But deep down I knew she was right.

  When I was abducted, it was barely a surprise.

  That’s the thing about storms. They ruin, they devastate, but eventually, they always die—leaving peace behind. Until they appear elsewhere.

  I may never know peace. That’s okay. But if I’m a storm, I’m going to ravage this galaxy until I find the Grivath. And then I’ll make them pay for what they did to us.

  I stalk away from the cave, and as soon as I’m far enough from Korzyn that I can no longer hear his roars of outrage, I pull my map out of my pocket and study it. I’m not egotistical enough to think I can pull this off alone. And if the commander were able to walk in a straight line without falling on his face, I’d happily take his help.

  But what am I supposed to do—let us be sitting ducks until he’s better?

  I don’t think so.

  Still, I feel oddly…lonely as I make my way through the forest, giving the Dokhalls’ camp a wide berth. My journey is agonizingly slow as I’m careful not to draw attention to myself.

  I need to cross a river to get to Hexir, and I can feel the hair on the back of my neck stand up as I walk across the skinny bridge. I raise my eyebrow at the blackened ground on the other side of the river. There’s no vegetation for about twenty feet between the edge of the river and the forest.

  Dragix has obviously been in the neighborhood, and from the look of the place, he wasn’t in a good mood.

  I walk through the ash and to the blackened trees at the outskirts of the forest, gritting my teeth against the urge to break into a run now that I’m out in the open. As soon as I’m back in the shade of the trees, my shoulders slump, and I have to lean against a charred tree trunk—my legs trembling as I come down from the adrenaline.

  I make it to Hexir by early afternoon—judging by how high the sun is in the emerald sky. It’s certai
nly not a large town—more a collection of tashivs than anything else. I hide behind a tree for a while so I can ensure no Dokhalls have taken up residence here.

  I turn my map over, reading my notes. Apparently, Teriez’s house is just outside of the town, backing onto the forest. I’ll be able to spot it thanks to the flowers in the window.

  I sigh as I stare at the three houses in front of me. All of them have flowers in their windows.

  I wander through the town until I find a few houses that are backing onto the forest. Nothing else for it. I march up to the first one and knock on the door.

  An old woman opens the door, a dagger in her hand, fear on her face.

  “I’m not here to hurt you,” I blurt out. “I’m looking for Teriez.”

  “Two tashivs down,” she says and slams the door in my face.

  I can feel eyes on me, and I fight back the urge to pull my own knife as I walk toward the tashiv. I knock on the door, and a shirtless man opens it, a sword in his hand. He has Braxian features, blue skin, and horns, and I must’ve been on this planet for too long because it’s a surprisingly attractive combination.

  “Yes?”

  I eye the sword. “I’m looking for Teriez.”

  “Who are you?”

  He’s not rude, more…curious.

  “Sarissa. Her sister, Weva, sent me.”

  He grins, revealing straight white teeth. “I’m their brother, Urox.” His grin widens at my raised eyebrows, and he gestures to his blue chest. “Half, obviously.”

  Urox is so easygoing that I can’t help but smile back. “Is she home?”

  He opens the door wider. “Come in.”

  Teriez is sitting in front of a fire, boiling some water. She wrinkles her nose as I walk in, and I blush. Yes, it’s been a few days since I bathed. And yes, I’m well aware I must stink.

  “You must be Sarissa,” she says. “My sister told me you’d be coming.”

  “Yes. I’d hoped to travel alone, but Arix’s commander came with me. He’s sick, and the Dokhalls are gathering an army.”

  Urox leans against the doorway, his eyes shining with interest as I explain everything that’s happened.

  “So let me ensure I understand you correctly,” he says. “You dragged the poisoned commander onto a mishua, got him into a cave, saved his life, spied on the Dokhalls, killed one of them, drugged the commander, and snuck through the forest to get to us.”

  I think about it. “Yep.”

  He throws back his head and roars with laughter. “You’re my kind of female.”

  Teriez smiles at that. “Ignore my brother,” she advises me. “How can we help?”

  “All I really need is a distraction.”

  Teriez runs her eyes over my ripped dress, her gaze lingering on the cut on my forehead. “You need more than that. Sit down, and I’ll make you some food. Then you can wash.”

  “I don’t have time. The commander—”

  “The commander is likely in a deep sleep if you gave him maradoza berries,” Urox says. “Teriez is right. You’re not going to be able to hit the Dokhalls until after the sun sets anyway. I’m guessing you have a plan?”

  I smile at him. This is the kind of support I need in my life.

  “I sure do.”

  Korzyn

  I stare up at my father. Why must I leave our camp? I have a home here. My mother has another babe in her belly, and I play with my friends each day.

  “It is time,” he says.

  “Father…”

  “Remember what I said, Korzyn. Your purpose is to protect the king. That is your only purpose. Do you understand?”

  My mother’s lips are bloodless, her eyes filled with tears as she hugs me goodbye. She immediately turns away, as if she can no longer look at me.

  I have seen fourteen summers. I’m one of the strongest of my friends and the fastest with my sword. But had I known I’d be sent to train as a guard for the new king, I would never have spent so long improving my sword skills.

  I crack open my eyes as I attempt to reach out for my mother, but my hand is tied. A cave. My mother isn’t here. I’m in the cave. And there’s something I must do…

  I struggle, but it’s no use, and I’m once again pulled under.

  “Too slow,” my trainer tells me. “You are to be the last defense between the king and those who would kill him. What happens if you are too slow?”

  I grit my teeth, blood running down my face from the cut along my cheekbone.

  “He dies.”

  “He dies, and the entire kingdom of Heriast knows it was because his guard was too slow.”

  “Korzyn?”

  I turn at Arix’s voice, and my trainer bows. “Your Majesty,” I murmur.

  Arix waves his hand. “You know I hate formalities. Are you ready for the hunt?”

  I gesture at my bloodied clothes. “I will clean up and meet you in your quarters.”

  He grins at me, and I blink. For so long I have resented this young king, who was responsible for the loss of my home—even if he was not aware of it. But…he is honorable. Kind. He has the potential to be a great ruler, if I can keep him alive long enough for him to consolidate his power.

  I blink open my eyes, the cave dancing in front of me.

  The little witch drugged me. I pull at the ropes around my wrists, not missing the irony. I tied her to my bed, so she returned the favor. If she had not left to throw her life away, I would almost be amused.

  I groan, but my eyes are too heavy, sliding closed once more. I grit my teeth. Not again.

  I’m in the marketplace, the crowd’s shocked whispers surrounding me after the sudden attack. The attack I was too distracted to see coming.

  Sarissa stands in front of me, her face white as she stares at the wound in my chest. She drops to her knees.

  “Serves you right for stalking me,” she mutters. “Oh God, there’s so much blood. You need a healer.”

  “Cava berries,” I manage to get out. “Right pocket.”

  She pulls them out, stuffing them in my mouth. I can feel my blood draining onto the ground around me. When my pocket is empty, she takes my sword and gets to her feet, eyeing the crowd around us.

  Is she…guarding me?

  The world turns dark, and then I’m lying in the healers’ quarters, insisting that Arix find the little hellion who chased after the Zinta that stabbed me.

  She appears, the Zinta’s head clutched in her hand, and I can’t help but laugh as her cousin gags.

  “Vicious female.”

  Sweat is dripping in my eyes when I next open them, and from the bright light in the cave, the sun must be high in the sky. Sarissa has been gone for hours. I pull on the rope, feeling whatever she has tied me to bend a little.

  She gave me the chip. A clear sign she doesn’t believe she will live. Fury burns through my chest at the thought.

  I will not allow her to die this way. Not while I’m still breathing.

  “Obstinate, impulsive, stubborn witch.” I mutter a litany of curses as I yank on the rope, managing to raise my head to scan the cave for weapons. There—by the remnants of the fire—is a knife. I stretch my foot toward it, but it’s too far, and the drug once again pulls me under.

  Chapter Nine

  Sarissa

  Teriez feeds me freshly cooked udazin, while Urox helps me go over the finer points of my plan.

  “You’re going to need a bigger impact,” he murmurs. “Especially if you’re hoping to take down that canopy.”

  “What do you suggest?”

  “Let me think about it. We need the distraction to be so big that most of the Dokhalls are consumed by it…or at least have their attention focused on it.”

  I nod. “My thoughts exactly.”

  Teriez holds out her hand for my clean plate. “Thank you,” I say. “That was delicious.”

  My stomach twists at the thought of Korzyn, still in that cave. He must be starving.

  “Are you okay?” Teriez asks.r />
  I explain what I was just thinking, and Teriez nods. “We will give you meat to take with you. The commander won’t starve.”

  “I can pay you—”

  Teriez waves that off. “My sister told me all about you and your cousin. She was impressed by you both, and it takes a lot to impress Weva.”

  She gets to her feet. “Now, I had just heated water for a bath before you arrived. Why don’t you take it?”

  “Oh no, I couldn’t.”

  “Oh yes, you can.”

  I blush some more, and Urox laughs. His face clears as I hesitate.

  “I can leave the tashiv if you like.”

  “Huh? Oh no, it’s nothing like that…it’s just…the commander.”

  “You feel bad about him lying in his own filth in that cave?”

  “He’s not lying in his own filth!”

  Urox grins, and I realize I took his bait.

  I sigh. “I do feel bad about it, yes.”

  “Well, look at it this way. I need to go find a few things so we can make sure everything will go smoothly. And only an idiot would hit the Dokhalls during daylight. There’s no reason not to bathe.”

  Well, when he puts it like that. I glance at Teriez. “I’d love a bath, if you’re sure it’s not too much trouble.”

  “Not at all.”

  She leads me into a small bathing room, and guilt hits me at the sight of her bath, still steaming. Hot water is a luxury around here. It must have taken her a long time to heat enough water.

  “I’ll get you a fresh dress,” she says, and I vow to someday repay this family for their help.

  I strip off and slide into the water. Teriez returns with a clean gray dress and hands me some soap.

  “I’m going to go send a message to our cousin,” she says. “She lives in the Seinex Forest—between the cave where your commander is and your camp. Once you’ve created enough chaos for the Dokhalls, you can get your commander onto a mishua and get to Iprox. She’ll give you a place to stay overnight if you need one.”

  “Thank you. He’s not my commander, by the way. He’s Arix’s commander.”