Conquered by the Alien Warrior

by Hope Hart

  We all laugh, and Nevada offers me a plate of food. I shake my head, my stomach tense.

  I’ve pushed it down and pushed it down, but all I can see —all I can think about—is the devastation on Korzyn’s face earlier.

  The closer we get to leaving, the sicker I feel.

  Chapter Sixteen

  Sarissa

  It’s not hard to track down Korzyn. He’s sitting on a large rock near the stream we ate next to yesterday.

  His eyes are hard, his focus intense as he stares at the water.

  “Hey.”

  He glances over his shoulder at me, but his eyes are still shuttered.

  I clear my throat. “I want to apologize.”

  He gestures for me to approach, and when I’m close enough for him to touch, he pulls me close until I’m standing between his legs.

  “You don’t need to apologize. I should be the one to apologize to you. Both of us knew this was temporary. The fact it happened at all is still…surprising.”

  I laugh. “Surprising is a good word for it. How did we go from hating each other to cuddling after sex anyway?”

  He smiles, but it’s sad, and we simply stare at each other for a long moment. I raise my hand, resting it on his cheek, and he leans down, brushing my lips with his.

  When I first met this man, I never imagined he was capable of tenderness.

  Shows what I knew.

  Our kiss is slow, gentle, and it brings tears to my eyes.

  From the moment I began working for the CIA, I’ve led three lives. I’ve been one person to my friends and the few family members I still see, another person to my colleagues, and yet another to my targets. It became difficult to remember who I was.

  When I’m with Korzyn, I know exactly who I am.

  When he pulls back, his eyes are silver mirrors.

  “When you walk onto that spaceship, don’t look back. Don’t hesitate even once. Because if you do, I won’t be able to let you go. I find it’s…important to me that you get what you want after you fought so hard for it.”

  A tear rolls from my eye, and I wipe it away. “I wish we had more time.”

  Korzyn’s voice is very quiet. “So do I.”

  “Can we…”

  He waits for me to get the words out, and I have to clear my throat and then swallow a few times before I can talk without bursting into tears.

  “Can we just make the most of the time we have left? Please?”

  He studies my face, and to my surprise, he nods. Both of us are very good at keeping others at arm’s length—and avoiding the inevitable pain that occurs when you let someone get too close. But some things are worth the pain.

  Some people are anyway.

  Korzyn

  I sit on my mishua, watching as the camp comes to life. The Dokhalls are close now and, according to our spies, have organized themselves into one army with their Zinta and Voildi allies—just as we expected.

  They’re marching toward this camp, hoping Rakiz was serious about giving them the ship. Of course, they’ll also be ready to kill as many of us as they can and take the ship for themselves.

  Rakiz sits on his mishua next to me, giving his warriors orders. Beside him, Dexar leans against the fence, his face cold as he stares in the direction of the Dokhalls.

  On the other side of the training arena, Charlie is handing out dragon scales to the other females. They shove them down the fronts of their dresses and shirts, helping each other position them at their backs.

  I meet Sarissa’s eyes. The hellion gives me a shaky smile, and I have the sudden urge to lift her onto my mishua and take her away from the danger.

  She would likely castrate me if I tried.

  The thought makes my lips twitch, and she tilts her head. Her gaze widens as she glances behind me, and I turn to find the blue male who flirted with her walking toward us.

  I grind my teeth, and he grins at me before sauntering past me and meeting Sarissa as she runs toward him.

  He wraps her in a hug as she laughs.

  “Urox! I didn’t think you’d received my message.”

  He smiles at her, reaching out and ruffling her hair. She beams up at him, and I force myself to release the hilt of my sword. Rakiz’s eyes meet mine, and he grins at whatever he sees on my face.

  “I would have come sooner,” Urox says, “but the Dokhalls made it difficult to get messages to my friends.” He gestures toward the camp entrance, where a group of Krinir males are waiting, their blue faces fierce, their body language making it clear they’re ready for battle.

  Rakiz waves his hand toward one of the guards at the camp entrance, and he allows the group to enter.

  There must be twenty or more males, and two of them are dragging a large cart filled with pods.

  “I know how you love blowing things up,” Urox says, making Sarissa laugh, and I let out a low growl.

  Rakiz slides off his mishua before stalking over to Urox and his friends. He slaps the other male on the back, and they immediately begin making plans.

  Truthfully, we need all the warriors and weapons we can get. But that doesn’t mean I’m pleased by this new development.

  I slide off my own mishua as Sarissa moves back toward the other females. I catch her wrist in my hand and turn her toward me, ignoring the curious eyes on us.

  “Feeling a little growly, commander?”

  I clamp my teeth together but nod, and her eyes turn soft.

  “Against my better judgment, you’re the only one I want, Korzyn. Urox is just a friend.”

  “I don’t like him.”

  She grins up at me. “Of course you don’t. He’s your opposite.”

  I frown, but she raises her hand, sliding it around my neck. She pulls me toward her, and I comply, leaning down. I know she expects me to plunder her mouth, to dominate, to show every other male here that she is mine.

  So I brush my lips softly against hers. Our kiss is slow, gentle, and decadent, and she blinks up at me as I pull away.

  “I need to get back to work,” she says. “Be careful today, Korzyn.”

  Never has anyone other than Arix cared if I lived or died.

  “You too.”

  Sarissa

  V,

  I’m just going to come right out and say it. This sucks. After everything that happened, I never thought I’d be saying goodbye to you in a letter.

  But as you and I both know, life isn’t fair.

  I’ve been thinking a lot about family recently. What makes a family, why some families are solid with a core of steel, and why others fall apart.

  You and I both come from the second category.

  But there’s something we never understood when we were kids.

  You get to choose your family. As adults, you get to say enough is enough and do what’s right for you. Both of us have done that—me when I went into the CIA and you when you stopped talking to your mom.

  I know it hurt when you found out they hadn’t looked for you—in spite of everything, they should have cared enough to find out what happened.

  But I looked for you. And I’m your family.

  You also have a new family. Arix adores you, and you fit into his kingdom in a way you never fit in on Earth. Nevada, Ellie, Alexis, and everyone else—they’re your family too.

  I’m leaving my family behind.

  I couldn’t do it if I didn’t know, deep down into my bones, that you’ll be okay. But I see the way your king looks at you. I see the friendship and trust you have with everyone here. And I know you’re going to have a long and happy life. You’re going to go on to do great things for Heriast. You’ll have children with your overprotective king and love them the way we were never loved. You’ll tell them about their kick-ass aunt who went to hunt the Grivath, and whisper funny stories to them late at night when they have nightmares.

  Don’t forget to tell them about the time you dyed my hair black. I was a bully, and they should learn to always stand up to bullies.

&nb
sp; I’m rambling.

  This is the most difficult letter I’ve ever written. Well, maybe the second-most difficult. Because I’m about to write a letter to Korzyn. A letter you’ll have to read to him because he can’t read English.

  Here’s a secret: I’m wildly, inescapably in love with him. And it turns out love hurts.

  I made promises to those women. I promised we’d get our revenge and that one day, they’d get to see their families again.

  Look after my commander. Because he is mine. But I want him to have all the love in the world. He deserves it. Invite him to dinner with you and Arix. He’ll be growly, and he won’t want to see anyone when I leave. But I wish him all the happiness in the universe. I want him to have what you and Arix have. Even if it’s not with me.

  See—I told you I was in love with him. Only love could make me hand him over to another woman. Even if the thought makes me want to puke.

  It’s time to go now. The battle is here, and you’re stuck on the wrong side of it. Story of our lives.

  I love you. No matter what happens in your life, always remember that.

  Rissa.

  I fold my note and tuck it into my pocket. It’s time.

  I walk through the camp, soaking it in. It’s quiet. The kids and the elderly have been evacuated, but they’re traveling slowly. If the Dokhalls take this camp, I have no doubt they’ll continue through it, wiping out every Braxian they come across.

  I shiver.

  Korzyn is already positioned on the front lines. I’ll be meeting him soon but not until we’ve lured the remaining Dokhalls close enough to camp that they can almost taste victory.

  In the meantime, he just has to stay alive.

  Nevada is in her tashiv, her face pale, eyes hard as she stares out the window, while bouncing her daughter gently in her arms.

  She glances over at me.

  “I just keep thinking about all the people who are going to die today. People who would’ve lived if we’d never landed here. The thought of all the death that’s going to come…it kills me. But if I could change the past and never land here, I wouldn’t do it. What does that say about me?”

  I give her a hip bump and hold out my arms for the baby. Nevada hands over Danica, and she gurgles at me, giving me a wide smile.

  “You’re precious,” I tell her before glancing at her mom. “It says you value the people in your life, Nevada. It says you know how lucky you are to have an incredible mate and daughter.”

  The door slams open, and we both whirl, staring at Ellie.

  She holds onto the doorframe and lets out a groan.

  Nevada’s mouth drops open. “Seriously? You’re going into labor now?”

  Ellie lets out another groan, following it with a curse I’ve never heard her say. She straightens up and takes a deep breath, slowly letting it out.

  “You can’t throw stones.” She points at Danica. “Cave baby, remember?”

  Nevada shrugs. “Good point. Okay. You’ll get through this. Where’s Terex?”

  Ellie waddles over to a chair and sits down, leaning forward as she goes silent for a long moment.

  “Tell me that’s not another contraction,” Nevada says.

  “Why?” I ask. “Is that bad?”

  “They’re close together. We have a plan for if Ellie goes into labor, and it involves evacuating her to Tecar’s camp.”

  I stare at her. “You mean she might not make it?”

  Nevada gives me a look that tells me to shut my mouth or she’ll shut it for me.

  Ellie manages to haul herself out of her seat. “I can make it to Tecar’s camp,” she says. “But I need Terex. He’s checking the traps to the east with Rakiz.”

  I glance at Nevada, and she nods.

  I hand the baby back to her.

  And then I run.

  Chapter Seventeen

  Korzyn

  The sounds of battle reach my ears long before the Dokhalls get close to the clearing where we will make our stand.

  We chose it because it’s far enough from camp to prevent the Dokhalls from easily getting to our most vulnerable if they slip past us, yet close enough that the wounded can be carried back to the healers’ kradi. The Dokhalls would need to either cross a large river or get through our camp in order to get to the ship in time to stop the human females from leaving.

  My gut clenches at the thought. I glance at Terex, and he nods. This trap is finished.

  We move back, waiting for the Dokhalls to arrive.

  “Terex,” a voice hisses, and we both turn. My eyes widen.

  “You’re not supposed to be here.” My heart pounds at the sight of Sarissa so close to danger.

  She glowers at me, then turns her attention to Terex. “Ellie is in labor.”

  He goes pale, and his eyes turn wild as he glances at the Dokhalls and then back in the direction of the camp.

  “Go,” I advise him, and he nods, turning without another word and sprinting back toward camp.

  Sarissa angles her head. “Are you going to be okay?”

  Am I going to be okay, knowing that not only is she in danger, but she will be leaving this planet as soon as the time is right?

  I can’t speak, so I simply nod as the Dokhalls break through the trees.

  “Get into position,” I order Sarissa, drinking in the sight of her for one last moment. Our eyes meet, and unsaid words linger between us as she blinks back tears, her mouth curling up in a shaky smile. Then she takes a deep breath and runs after Terex.

  In the front lines of the advancing army, the Zinta traitors lumber forward, swords in their hands as they walk shoulder to shoulder with Dokhalls. Voildi are scattered throughout the army, but it’s impossible to see exactly how many Dokhalls are approaching, with most of their troops still hidden in the forest.

  The front lines are aiming for Rakiz’s camp, most of the Dokhalls holding their stick weapons in their hands. Across the clearing, Vrex jerks his head at me, and we both retreat further until we’re standing next to Dexar’s mishua.

  I glance across the wide expanse of the clearing, my gaze drawn to the trees behind us, but all is quiet. The human females are hidden within the branches, perfectly positioned, crossbows in their hands. Vrex’s face is hard, his eyes burning with wrath. His female is crouched in one of those trees, and the Assassin of Agron has no intention of letting her be harmed in any way.

  The Dokhalls go quiet.

  One of them steps forward. “We accept your offer to give us the ship.”

  Rakiz slowly shakes his head. “We changed our mind.”

  “You have one last chance before we burn your camp to the ground. Surrender and we will let your females and younglings live.”

  Rakiz laughs from where he’s sitting on his mishua, sword in his hand. “As my queen would say…bring it.”

  The Dokhall waves his hand but stays where he is as his army moves as one, marching toward us, aiming for our front lines.

  I grind my teeth. We hoped whoever was leading the Dokhalls would be caught in the first trap, causing chaos as they scrambled to replace him.

  But we’re not that lucky.

  I expected Arix to be here by now. Thought he would attack before the Dokhalls arrived, thinning their numbers for us.

  Dread settles deep in my gut, but I push it away. I left Arix with our most loyal guards—a team I trained myself. He knows the Dokhalls are waiting. He’ll survive.

  But will he survive long enough to join the battle?

  Dexar nods at both of us, and our army begins to advance toward the Dokhalls. If the Dokhalls were paying attention, they would notice our warriors are moving much, much slower than their own.

  A few seconds later, they see why.

  The ground crumples beneath their front lines, giving no warning. Apparently, Charlie used this tactic on a much smaller scale during the last battle, and ever since, Rakiz’s warriors have been digging a huge trench for this very purpose.

  Howls of pain reach m
y ears as hundreds of Dokhalls, Voildi, and Zintas are swallowed as the ground beneath them disappears. Savage pleasure fills my chest as the Braxians roar a challenge, and the Dokhalls’ army is forced to split in two to avoid the deep trench now gaping wide in front of them.

  As planned, our army also splits—Dexar and I moving to the left, while Rakiz and Vrex go to the right.

  Behind us and to our left, arrows begin to fly, the tips dipped in poison as the human females aim for the Dokhalls. The Dokhalls scream, enraged and dying, but those that make it through the trees attack with fury.

  I swing the sword in my hand and lunge forward to meet them.

  Sarissa

  Terex reaches the tashiv before me, slamming the door open and dropping to his knees next to Ellie.

  His face is white as he glances at Nevada. “Can we evacuate?”

  Moni walks out of the bathing room. “No,” she says, her expression tranquil. “I’ve drawn you a bath, child,” she tells Ellie, who gives her a weak smile before panting through another contraction.

  “A bath?”

  Moni nods. “It’ll help with the pain, and it should help her feel calmer.”

  “Are you sure we can’t evacuate?”

  “Positive,” Nevada says, and this time, I see a glimpse of terror in her eyes. We both thought we’d be positioned a few hundred yards in front of the camp gates by now, ready for any Dokhalls who broke through the Braxian defenses.

  If Nevada’s not going to make it, it’s even more important that I get where I need to be.

  “Okay,” I say. I reach into my pocket and hand Nevada the two letters I’ve written.

  “I need you to give these to Vivian. If I don’t see you…”

  She nods. “Get on that ship. We’ll be okay.”

  I shake my head at that. “If the Dokhalls get close to camp, I’m not leaving. I’ll be manning our catapult.”

  She opens her mouth and closes it with a nod, then reaches out her arms and wraps me in a hug. “Thank you. Go kick some ass.”

  “You know it.”