Niko: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 9)

Home > Romance > Niko: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 9) > Page 14
Niko: Scifi Alien Invasion Romance (Hell Squad Book 9) Page 14

by Anna Hackett


  Grumbling, the fighters pulled apart, then shuffled off down the street.

  Lexa swallowed. “Fine. I’ll stay out here.”

  “Stay close,” Damon warned.

  She tossed him another mock salute and when he scowled, she felt a savage sense of satisfaction. Then he turned and ducked inside.

  She turned back to study the street. One building down, she saw a stall holder standing behind a table covered in what looked like small artifacts. Lexa’s heart thumped. She had to take a look.

  “All original. Found here on Zerzura.” The older man spread his arms out over his wares. “Very, very old.” His eyes glowed in his ageless face topped by salt-and-pepper hair. “Very valuable.”

  “May I?” Lexa indicated a small, weathered statue.

  The man nodded. “But you break, you buy.”

  Lexa studied the small figurine. It was supposed to resemble a Terran fertility statue—a woman with generous hips and breasts. She tested the weight of it before she sniffed and set it down. “It’s not a very good fake. I’d say you create a wire mesh frame, set it in a mold, then pour a synthetic plas in. You finish it off by spraying it with some sort of rock texture.”

  The man’s mouth slid into a frown.

  Lexa studied the other items. Jewelry, small boxes and inscribed stones. She fingered a necklace. It was by no means old but it was pretty.

  Then she spotted it.

  A small, red egg, covered in gold-metalwork and resting on a little stand.

  She picked it up, cradling its slight weight. The craftwork was terrible but there was no doubt it was a replica of a Fabergé egg.

  “What is this?” she asked the man.

  He shrugged. “Lots of myths about the Orphic Priestesses around here. They lived over a thousand years ago and the egg was their symbol.”

  Lexa stroked the egg.

  The man’s keen eyes narrowed in on her. “It’s a pretty piece. Said to be made in the image of the priestesses’ most valuable treasure, the Goddess Egg. It was covered in Terran rubies and gold.”

  A basic history. Lexa knew from her research that the Goddess Egg had been brought to Zerzura by Terran colonists escaping the Terran war and had been made by a famed jeweler on Earth named Fabergé. Unfortunately, most of its history had been lost.

  Someone bumped into Lexa from behind. She ignored it, shifting closer to the table.

  Then a hard hand clamped down on her elbow and jerked her backward. The little red egg fell into the sand.

  Lexa expected the cranky stall owner to squawk about the egg and demand payment. Instead, he scampered backward with wide eyes and turned away.

  Lexa’s accoster jerked her around.

  “Hey,” she exclaimed.

  Then she looked up. Way up.

  The man was part-reptilian, with iridescent scales covering his enormous frame. He stood somewhere over six and a half feet with a tough face that looked squashed.

  “Let me go.” She slapped at his hand. Idiot.

  He was startled for a second and did release her. Then he scowled, which turned his face from frightening to terrifying. “Give me your e-creds.” He grabbed her arm, large fingers biting into her flesh, and shook her. “I want everything transferred to my account.”

  Lexa raised a brow. “Or what?”

  With his other hand, he withdrew a knife the length of her forearm. “Or I use this.”

  The Phoenix Adventures

  Among Galactic Ruins

  At Star’s End

  In the Devil’s Nebula

  On a Rogue Planet

  Beneath a Trojan Moon

  Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

  On a Cyborg Planet

  Return to Dark Earth

  On a Barbarian World

  Lost in Barbarian Space

  Also by Anna Hackett

  Treasure Hunter Security

  Undiscovered

  Uncharted

  Unexplored

  Hell Squad

  Marcus

  Cruz

  Gabe

  Reed

  Roth

  Noah

  Shaw

  Holmes

  The Anomaly Series

  Time Thief

  Mind Raider

  Soul Stealer

  Salvation

  Anomaly Series Box Set

  The Phoenix Adventures

  Among Galactic Ruins

  At Star’s End

  In the Devil’s Nebula

  On a Rogue Planet

  Beneath a Trojan Moon

  Beyond Galaxy’s Edge

  On a Cyborg Planet

  Return to Dark Earth

  On a Barbarian World

  Lost in Barbarian Space

  Perma Series

  Winter Fusion

  The WindKeepers Series

  Wind Kissed, Fire Bound

  Taken by the South Wind

  Tempting the West Wind

  Defying the North Wind

  Claiming the East Wind

  Standalone Titles

  Savage Dragon

  Hunter’s Surrender

  One Night with the Wolf

  Anthologies

  A Galactic Holiday

  Moonlight (UK only)

  Vampire Hunter (UK only)

  Awakening the Dragon (UK Only)

  For more information visit AnnaHackettBooks.com

  About the Author

  I’m a USA Today bestselling author and I’m passionate about action romance. I love stories that combine the thrill of falling in love with the excitement of action, danger and adventure. I’m a sucker for that moment when the team is walking in slow motion, shoulder-to-shoulder heading off into battle. I write about people overcoming unbeatable odds and achieving seemingly impossible goals. I like to believe it’s possible for all of us to do the same.

  My books are mixture of action, adventure and sexy romance and they’re recommended for anyone who enjoys fast-paced stories where the boy wins the girl at the end (or sometimes the girl wins the boy!)

  For release dates, action romance info, free books, and other fun stuff, sign up for the latest news here:

  Website: AnnaHackettBooks.com

 

 

 


‹ Prev