by Hope Hart
I look up at the sky and scowl. Rakiz has declared that I have to be back in his stupid hut by sundown. Having a curfew really grinds my gears, but I’m playing nice. For now.
Thankfully, the days are long here right now, but the curfew still cuts down on the amount of time I have to eavesdrop on Rakiz’s warriors when they’re relaxing after a long day. Their tongues are looser later on in the night when they’ve had more noptri—a drink similar to alcohol.
While it’s a shame I can’t hang around, at least I have my secret weapon to help.
I duck into Vivian’s kradi on my way back to Rakiz’s hut. She’s picking at her nails and smiles as she looks up.
Vivian’s beautiful, and she knows it. Unfortunately, she’s also someone who tends to lash out at those she considers weaker than herself.
I’m not one of those people, but our friend Ellie is. Regret occasionally crosses Vivian’s face when I mention Ellie’s name, and I’m pretty sure she feels bad for the way she acted when we first arrived.
As she should.
“Hey, Nevada, what’s up?”
“Not much. Hey, listen, what have you heard about the Seinex Forest?”
She frowns while I move to my hiding place and unearth my map.
“Isn’t that the place the dragon was last seen?”
Triumph hits me. “That’s it. I knew I’d heard it before. Dexar mentioned it when we went to ask him for information.” I stare at my map. “Do me a favor. Find out everything you can about Nexia.”
Vivian nods, looking curiously at my map. “Anything else?”
“The usual. Find out where most of Rakiz’s warriors are located and which areas they’re looking.”
She grins. “More flirting with the giant warriors? Sure.”
I smirk. Most people assume Vivian is exactly as she appears. If they paid attention, though, they’d realize that all that flirting and gossiping is for one reason and one reason only.
To find our friends.
For all her bitchiness, Vivian wants to find the other women as much as I do. And she sure as hell wants to get back to Earth. It almost killed her to stay behind when we went looking for news of Charlie and the other women, but while we were gone, she collected most of the information I’m using for my map.
“Thanks, Viv.”
“No problem. I wish I could go with you.”
“Same. But it’s better for me to go alone. I need you to keep gathering information in case I’m caught.”
She nods, but her gaze moves away.
“I know you’d rather come,” I say. “But these guys trust you.”
Her mouth twists. “Because they assume I’m an idiot who is only interested in what my dress looks like.”
“Yeah,” I say honestly. “Because you were smart enough to act that way so I could figure out where the hell we are. Teamwork makes the dream work.”
She smiles again, and this time it reaches her eyes. Then she leans forward and pokes her head out of the kradi.
“It’s getting dark,” she warns me, laughing at my scowl. “You still haven’t climbed on that warrior?”
I shake my head. “Nope.” I pop the p, and Vivian raises her brow.
“Even after that kiss?”
That kiss.
The one that Rakiz laid on me the moment I got back from Dexar’s territory. Later, I learned that he thought that I was the one who stayed behind. And he was ready to go after me himself—sending shock waves through the entire tribe.
Apparently the king leaving camp alone simply isn’t done. If he gets killed, Terex is next in line, and while he’s popular and well liked, everyone knows he doesn’t want to rule. That means that there would be a power vacuum, infighting, and at the very least, an outcry that the king could possibly leave his people to fend for themselves.
I roll my eyes at the thought even as a warm feeling rises in my chest. He was going to risk that for me.
“That kiss was his way of punishing me for going. He knew I’d hate the attention.”
Vivian tilts her head. “I don’t think so. But go on and bury your head in the sand if you have to.”
“I do.”
I glance toward the sky and sigh, muttering my goodbye as I leave the kradi.
Unfortunately, Rakiz is still up when I arrive. I prefer to crawl into my bed when he’s fast asleep on the other side of the room.
He looks up from sharpening his sword, his chest bare and those incredible scales catching the light.
When I study the way those muscles move, it’s easy to see how these people could be descended from dragons.
“You’re late,” he says, and I wrinkle my nose at him.
“I need a bath.”
He flashes his teeth at me. “You do indeed.”
Arana walks in, her eyes crinkling at the corners when she looks at me.
“Oh dear,” she says. “I’ll fill the bath.”
I hate the idea of other people serving me.
“I can do it,” I offer, and she glances at Rakiz, who shakes his head.
“You know the rules.”
I narrow my eyes at him. “When are you going to let me go back to my kradi?”
He stretches, and it takes all my willpower to keep my eyes on his face.
“When I feel you are smart enough to understand why you can’t leave this camp by yourself.”
Arana smiles at me. “I’ve left your evening food by the fire.” She nods toward it. “Why don’t you eat? And your bath will be ready when you’re done.”
I open my mouth to protest, but when Rakiz flicks his eyes to me, I sigh and simply nod.
Truthfully, I’m exhausted. After a long day of training and then mucking out the mishua pen, I want nothing more than to fill my belly and then slide into some warm water.
I sit across from Rakiz and take my plate. I’ve always had a healthy appetite, and the food here is better than one would think. Arana is an excellent cook, and she’s always slipping me a piece of fruit or a sweet cake between meals.
Rakiz makes me uncomfortable in a way that few men make me uncomfortable. Half the time, I want to kill him. But the other half…I can barely resist the urge to jump his bones. He’s huge, but he moves like the perfect predator. A few days ago, I watched him training, and to my complete mortification, the sight of him in his element, a savage grin on his face, a sword in his hand…
I instantly dampened.
The first thing I’m doing when I get back to Earth? Getting laid.
I must be desperate if I’m eyeing up the same man who treats me like a child, coddles me, and gives me stupid rules. He seems to think that simply being born with a dick means that he can tell me what to do.
“How was your work today?”
I almost ignore him, but there’s no one else to talk to. Let him think he has me where he wants me.
“Fine.”
He stretches, and I move my gaze back to the fire. Soon we won’t need to light one anymore, and the entire camp will move to a new location. I’m planning to be on my way back to Earth before that happens.
“The moment you apologize and swear on your honor that you won’t leave this camp, you can stop working with the mishua.”
I know this. Unfortunately, I’ll eat dirt before I apologize, and I’ve made my feelings about staying here clear.
“I don’t understand why you won’t just let me go. Send me with the next group of warriors who take up the search.”
“It’s not happening.”
“News flash, buddy, you’re not in charge of me.”
“In this tribe, I’m in charge of everyone.”
Sometimes I see hints of humor in his eyes as if he’s almost laughing at himself. That doesn’t stop me from grinding my teeth at his high-handedness though.
Arana reappears. “Oh, you’re finished. Good. Your bath is ready, Nevada.”
“Thank you,” I say, getting to my feet. I ignore the heated look in Rakiz’s eyes and move int
o the bathing room.
Chapter Three
Rakiz
I almost groan as the hellion gets to her feet, those long legs striding into my bathing room, where she’ll take off her clothes and splash in the water until I’m almost out of my mind with need.
Listening to Nevada take her bath is my favorite part of the day.
Her sighs and groans as she slides into the water?
Bliss.
I can barely resist the urge to stalk into the bathing room and climb into the bath with her.
I feel my lips curl at the thought. She would likely gut me if I tried.
Sometimes she mutters to herself while bathing. I’ve heard the words “arrogant fucking asshole” on more than one occasion.
She is the most frustrating, infuriating, stubborn female I have ever met. But when she is close…I am never bored.
My father raised me to be thankful for my crown. To appreciate the trust my people have in me and recognize the importance of putting the tribe’s needs before my own. Before he died, I was a true warrior, known for my fearlessness in battle. I was most content when riding far from the camp, hunting Voildi and keeping our people safe from threats.
The moment he died, that life ended.
In some ways, I understand Nevada’s need to be free. I have the same need.
But we don’t always get what we need.
I barely hold back a growl as I hear Nevada’s clothes drop to the floor. She says something to Arana, who laughs, likely promising to clean her pants.
Those pants…
I listen intently, cock hardening as Nevada slides into the water, a tiny moan leaving her lips. She gasps as she dunks her head, and then I’m treated to the sound of splashing as she washes her body and hair.
She’s efficient, rarely spending longer than a few minutes in the water. If she were my female, I would teach her to relax, basking with her in the water while I massaged that gloriously toned body.
I shake my head at the thought, getting to my feet and striding to the door. I open it, letting in some fresh air while I look out at my people.
Eventually I will have to take a mate. To rule by my side, she will need to be pleasant and agreeable, popular and kind. My councilors remind me daily that if I were to fall, I would have no heir to take my place.
I grind my teeth. I have known all the females in this tribe since before I could hold a sword. It’s not uncommon for rulers on this planet to arrange to swap unmated females. Truthfully, I know one or two who would be willing to travel to Dexar’s tribe with the hope of finding a mate there. In return, he would send some here.
One day, such a thing will happen. As my father taught me, I must always think of the good of the tribe.
I close the door and move into my sleeping room while I attempt to ignore the sound of Nevada getting out of her bath. Water will be running down her body even as she pats the drops from her skin, then she’ll change into her sleep clothes—a shirt she lifted from my closet.
If the sight of her dressed in my shirt fills me with savage pleasure, I don’t let her see it.
I slide off my pants and climb between my furs, pulling them over me as Nevada walks in, ignoring my presence.
She climbs into her own furs, and a tiny groan leaves her throat. I bet she is sore after such a long day of physical activity, and I take a moment to imagine the moans that would leave her lips as I kneaded the knots out of her tense muscles.
I sigh and roll onto my back, staring at the ceiling as I prepare for another sleepless night.
Nevada
I add another shovel of poop to my mountain. I’d never let Rakiz know, but I’m enjoying the physical activity.
Better than sitting around in a dress anyway.
When the Arcav invaded Earth, I prepared to go to war. But I could never have imagined the firepower and technology the alien race had. Within two months, all of us had implants in our ears so we could understand other alien races, and women were giving blood samples to determine if they could be mates to the Arcav.
If I weren’t a marine, I would have gone into hiding.
Thankfully I wasn’t genetically compatible as a mate.
“You know, I feel sorry for you,” I murmur to Racia as I shovel. The mishua looks on, standing closer than the other mishua, who prefer to pretend I don’t exist most of the time.
Racia lifts her head, eyeing me. Is that eye narrowed slightly in offense?
“It’s just that…all the other mishua get to go have adventures. What do you get? The occasional ride for exercise. That’s it. All I’m saying is that must really suck. I’d understand if you thought about leaving sometimes. I think about it too.”
Racia stares at me for a long moment and then goes back to eating the grains and meat the mishua prefer.
I hold back a laugh. I’ve been working on her every day. No one would ever accuse me of being subtle.
When the Braxians first found us, they put me on a mishua named Leai, making sure to tie her to the mishua that Asroz was riding. She tolerated me on her back only because I wasn’t actually steering her anywhere.
Since I’ve been here, I’ve tried to make friends with her, figuring that since I’ve already ridden her once, she’d be the most likely to let me ride her again.
I couldn’t be more wrong. The mishua loathes me. While most of them ignore me, Leai actively hates me, attempting to bite and gore me whenever I step into the pen. A few days ago, it finally got to the stage where the warriors had to separate her from the pack whenever I was working in the pen.
Now all my eggs are in Racia’s basket. At the very least, the mishua occasionally appears to find me interesting.
“Wow, it stinks.”
I turn as Ellie arrives, gagging. Her face pales as she opens her mouth, turning her head to suck in some fresh air.
“Yeah, no shit.” I smirk, and she grins back while we examine the huge mountain of poop I’ve created.
“How are you?” she asks.
“Better than you’d think.” I wipe the back of my hand across my forehead, and from the look on Ellie’s face, that hand wasn’t as clean as I thought it was.
She wrinkles her nose in horror, and we both crack up.
“God, who would’ve thought that this would be how I’d end up on an alien planet?” I say, reaching up to wipe at my eyes.
“Ew. No. Let me.”
Ellie steps forward, using her sleeve and preventing me from smearing who knows what on my face.
“How was the mating ceremony?” I ask. We were all invited, but I preferred to work on my technique with my sword. These people have been gracious hosts since we arrived, but the last thing I need is to start forming relationships here. I need to keep my eye on the prize.
“It was good. I wish you had come.”
I shrug. “I had things to do.”
“What kind of things?”
I send her a look. I don’t think Ellie will approve of my plans.
“I’m going after Beth, Ivy, and Zoey. I’ve been eavesdropping and collecting information, and after our visit to the Krazion tribe, I’ve got a pretty good idea of where they would’ve been taken.”
Ellie bites her lower lip, something she only does when she’s anxious or nervous. “It’s so dangerous, Nevada.”
I nod. “I know. I’m not an idiot, Ellie. I know it’s not the best idea I’ve ever had. But here’s the thing. I’ve got food, clean water, clothes, and somewhere to sleep. No one’s planning to eat me or sell me or anything else. We can’t say the same for the other women. I can’t just sit around here and do nothing.”
Her brow creases. “I’ll come with you.”
I don’t think so. “You’ve done enough. It’s because of you that we have the information we do. And no offense, Ellie, but you’re useless in a fight.”
She sighs. “What if I convinced Terex to help? We could all go.”
“Don’t say a word to him,” I say, narrowing my eyes. “He’
ll tell Rakiz, and then I won’t be going anywhere. You know that asshole is making me sleep in his hut? He decided he wants to keep an eye on me.” I scowl, annoyed all over again, and lean against my shovel. “I’m still deciding whether to take a bath after I’m finished here. As much as I’m dreaming of clean water, I’d love to stink up his place.”
“You’re both as bad as each other.” A smirk dances around her mouth, and I laugh. She’s not wrong.
“Look, Ellie, I’m experienced in the outdoors. Okay, this planet’s different, but the basic rules apply.” I sigh, checking to make sure there aren’t any curious ears listening in. “Right before the Arcav invaded, I was a prisoner of war in Baghdad. The only thing that got me through was knowing that someone would be coming for me. They weren’t going to leave me behind.”
I glance away. Even the thought of that time in my life makes me tense, and I push down the memories that tend to climb on top of each other. I’ve been so exhausted since I got here that I’ve barely dreamed, but the occasional flashback still hits when I least expect it.
Ellie scowls, drawing me from my thoughts. “Are you seriously going to leave me with Vivian?
I laugh. “She’s not that bad. Honestly, I feel sorry for her.”
“Yeah, her life must be so hard.” Ellie’s voice is dripping with sarcasm, and I eye her.
“Vivian has obviously been taught that her only worth is connected to how she looks. You and I know better. And on this planet, her looks will only get her so far. We’re all aliens here.” I grin at the thought. “Now are you with me?”
“Fine,” she says with a sigh. “How can I help?”
Chapter Four
Nevada
I’ve fallen into somewhat of a truce with the tribe king. Rakiz is the only one around to talk to after a long day, and these days, he stays up waiting for me, asking me questions about my life on Earth while I eat the evening meal.
I think he’s lonely.
I get it. During the day, everyone wants a piece of him. They’re knocking on his door first thing in the morning, and they don’t stop until Arana shoos them away when the sun goes down. Someone always wants something—whether it’s permission to hunt, a blessing for their mating, a resolution between feuding families…the tribe king never gets a moment of peace.
