Conall wasn’t hungry. His mind was still churning over what the royals had said. Lukas had waved off the danger, but it was obvious that his mates were concerned. It made him wonder if they were threatening just Lukas, or all Earthers.
Everyone got up from their seats and followed Palavi into an adjoining room, where food was spread out buffet-style. Conall hung back and let everyone precede him until it was just him and Brogan. Conall wanted to hurry into the other room away from the male, but if his family were in danger on this planet, he needed to know.
Conall squared his shoulders and approached the black-clad guard.
“Brogan? I’m Conall MacLeod.”
He held out his hand in greeting, and the male shook it. His grip was firm, and sent a tingle up his arm from where they touched. What the hell?
“It is nice to meet you,” Brogan replied with a slight smile.
“Mind if I have a moment?”
“Of course,” Brogan answered. “What can I do for you?”
Conall lowered his voice a bit, just to be sure the others wouldn’t hear him in the next room.
“I want to ask you about the threats that Lukas has been receiving. Have any been made towards other Earthers?”
Brogan took a moment to think about the question. “If you’re asking specifically about your family—no, we haven’t intercepted any threats made against anyone else.”
Conall breathed a small sigh of relief.
“But you’re right to be concerned about such things,” Brogan continued. “I believe that the anti-Earther sentiment will only escalate after Lukas is crowned High King.”
The relief Conall’d been feeling evaporated. Brogan noticed.
“You worry for your family. That’s admirable.”
Conall wasn’t sure why, but those words made him proud. It was stupid—of course he wanted to protect his family. Any person would want the same. But Brogan’s words made him a little too pleased with himself.
Why? He’d never worried about what other men thought of him before. Why should he start now, with this one?
Perhaps it was because Brogan was intense. Now that Conall was getting a closer look at him, he could tell that Brogan was dressed in a uniform which wasn’t made from ordinary fibers. He also had weapons peeking out from all over his body; one at his waist, two in his boot, there was even a glint of metal from under the large wristunit on his forearm.
When Brogan’s eyes met his, Conall’s attention was grabbed by an unusual glint in his right eye. The iris was green, but it had a strange geometric pattern on it. Was it bionic?
Everything about this male screamed protection. Conall’d never felt so helpless.
“What I’ve told you has made you more nervous.” Brogan said it as a statement, not a question.
Conall gave a single nod, and his eyes drifted to the doorway where he could see Oliver on the other side, ladling food onto his plate.
“If we were back home on Earth, I’d know how to respond to rising political tensions, but not here. On this planet, I have no idea how to protect them.”
Brogan followed his line of sight. “I do,” he stated. “I’ll come set up a security network at your home.”
The offer was generous. Too generous. Conall’d had enough of charity. “You don’t have to do that,” he argued.
“I’d be happy to,” Brogan answered. “Actually, it’s a hobby of mine.”
Conall was about to object, but Brogan’s eyes met his and the words died on his tongue.
“Let me do this for you,” Brogan insisted in a lower voice. “For you, and for your family.”
Conall found himself nodding. What was it about this man? Why were his thoughts suddenly so jumbled?
Thankfully he was saved from having to think too much about it by Oliver coming over with his plate piled high with food. The corner of Conall’s mouth quirked up. It wasn’t too long ago that Oliver refused to even try Arathian food. Now the lad was constantly stuffing his face with it.
“Da’, Grandma Clare sent me to come get you. Everyone’s sitting down to eat,” Oliver told him.
“I’ll be right there,” Conall replied. “Brogan, this is my son, Oliver. Oliver, this is Lieutenant Brogan.”
The male gave a slight bow. “Nice to meet you, Oliver.”
“You too. What’s that?” Oliver asked, pointing to the piece of technology on Brogan’s forearm. It was at least six inches long, and almost looked like a larger version of Reus’s wristunit. Brogan held out his arm so Oliver could get a better look.
“This is a special wristunit that Karo designed for me and the other Guards. It lets us bring up information, and remotely control things around us.”
“Wicked,” Oliver exclaimed, before asking, “Does it control people?”
Brogan chuckled. “No. It controls anything with computer components. I’ll show you sometime, if it’s okay with your father.”
Oliver turned hopeful eyes to him, and Conall smirked. The lad always wanted to play with gadgets. The more alien, the better.
“Not right now,” Conall told him. “Go sit at the table, and tell Grandma that I’ll be there in a moment.”
Oliver nodded, and walked away, shoveling food into his mouth as he went. Conall heard his mother admonish his son for eating with his fingers as he turned back towards Brogan.
“I should go. Thanks for the offer to set up the security network. Do you need me to give you my… ahhh… number, so that you can call me when you’re ready?”
My number? When did I turn into a nervous teenager?
The corner of Brogan’s lips quirked ever so slightly.
“It’s alright, I’ll manage. Give me a couple of days to sort out the details and I’ll contact you.”
Conall nodded. He had no clue what else to say to the man. He simultaneously wanted to continue talking to him, and run away. He chose the cowardly way out.
“I’ll see you then,” he lamely replied, before heading into the dining room.
What the hell is wrong with me?!
Alien Revelation will be released June, 2018.
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ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Nicole is a romance novel junkie (completely uninterested in the path to recovery), who spends most of her time weaving stories her mind. When she surfaces to the real world, she lives in Sicily, Italy, with her husband, two wee girls, and their fur-baby, Emma.
When not writing (or reading), she likes to watch movies, paint, and above all: travel!
She loves to hear from her readers, so contact her through her email or Facebook.
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www.NicoleKrizek.com
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Can’t get enough of Nicole’s heroes and heroines? Make sure to read her other books in The Arathians & The Sirilians series. Each are available now on ebook, paperback, and audiobook!
Alien Savior
Alien Rescue
Alien Incursion
Adrift
Unearthed
Shipmates: An Arathian Universe Novella
Alien Revelation
Tropical Temptation Page 12
