Alien Romance: The Barbarian's Hunger: Scifi Alien Romance (Commander Of Rista Book 1)

by Ana Hunter

  ″Of course not. He does not know what is good for him. ″ Clar shook her head, ″Walk with me. ″

  ″Where to exactly? ″

  ″You were going back to his home? ″ Clar asked, ″I will walk with you. There is something you should know. ″

  ″What is it? ″ Ava asked, curious in spite of herself. Something had changed in Clar's tone and she couldn't help but feel intrigued.

  ″You think that Erox has punished Laypak because he tried to hurt you. You should know that is not true. Erox punished him because if he did not, you would return to Earth talking about how terrible our males are.

  He has been informed of the weapons you have on Earth. If humans believe we are a danger, they will destroy Rista. He was not doing it to protect you, but to protect all of us. ″

  It was a sharp reminder of how little Ava knew about Rista. With so little knowledge of the planet, she couldn't help but believe everything Erox had told her; he had saved her life after all.

  Now she was hearing a different version of it, she had no idea what to think. She knew Clar wasn't to be trusted, but it did make a lot of sense.

  ″How do you know all of this? ″ Ava asked. It didn't seem like Erox would particularly confide in her.

  ″It is obvious. ″ Clar shook her head in disbelief, ″Did you really think that you, a useless Earth woman would become Erox's soul-mate? ″

  ″He doesn't seem to think I'm so useless. ″ Ava said. Clar turned quickly then. She spun on her heel and punched Ava, missing her target slightly and catching her shoulder instead of her head. While Ava was still in shock, Clar took the opportunity and pushed her down to hit her again.

  Ava tried to fight back but struggled to get in more than two punches before she gave in and defended herself by blocking the blows instead. Clar only seemed to become more and more angry as she tried to knock Ava out.

  ″Why are you still here! ″ She shouted.

  ″Because he wants me to be! You said it yourself! ″ Ava couldn't help but reply. She knew it was the only way she could truly hurt Clar. In the pause while Clar took that in, Ava saw a chance and jabbed her with her knee. Clar fell heavily at her side.

  Rushing to her feet, Ava looked down at the pitiful figure and considered getting in a few punches herself but that one shot seemed to have caused enough pain to keep her down for a while. Instead, Ava walked back to Erox's hut, as she had wanted to do all along.

  ″What happened? ″ Erox asked as soon as he entered the hut. Ava felt refreshed after a shower and without a mirror could only try to feel the damage Clar had done. She wasn't a skilled fighter so the bruises were minimal but enough that he could see it.

  ″I had a run in with Clar. She blames me for what happened with Laypak. Then she tried to tell me some story about how you only punished him so I wouldn't tell everyone on Earth that Ristites are barbarians. ″

  Erox sat down beside her on the bed, nodding as though he was unsurprised by what Clar had done.

  ″She said something about how stupid I'd have to be to believe you liked me, when I didn't start crying or whatever she wanted, she became very angry. ″

  ″Let me see. ″ Erox said, gently taking hold of her chin.

  ″It isn't too bad. ″

  ″It looks painful. ″

  ″I'm sorry I've caused so much trouble. Soon, I'll be leaving and you can have your peaceful life back. ″

  ″I do not want it back. ″ He replied.

  ″What? ″

  ″When are you going to accept it Ava? It is your destiny to live here with me, as my soul mate. ″

  ″Everyone here hates me. ″ She said.

  ″Is that what is stopping you? I can change that. ″ He said.

  ″No, it's that. Sometimes, I think you might be a good guy. But then, you say things like that! You think you can do whatever you want. ″

  ″I can, I run this place. ″

  ″I know. ″ Ava sighed, ″And I'm not used to giving in to this big strong man idea. The idea that you'll take care of everything, take care of me and that women work on the food, all of that. ″

  ″The females here like it. ″

  ″Do they? Because they may just be used to it and not know any other way. ″

  ″There is no other way. ″ Erox said. He didn't seem angry about being challenged; only puzzled by the argument that there could be alternative ways of life.

  ″Perhaps on Rista, there is no other way. There are things that I like. ″

  ″What things do you like? ″

  ″I like how simple life is. It's so quiet here. The only food is grown from the ground. The fact that it doesn't rain. I miss very little about Earth. ″ Ava laughed, ″And you. You, I like very much. ″

  ″Ava, you are my soul-mate. Please, give yourself to me. ″

  As much as she hated the wording of it, she knew it wasn't deliberate; it was more a case of his limited language skills.

  ″My rescue ship will be here tomorrow, won't it? ″

  ″It will. Don't go. ″

  ″I'm in danger here. ″ Ava said, ″No, I have to go. ″ Even as she said it, it didn't fill her with the kind of joy she had felt when she thought of going home earlier in the week.

  The thought of leaving Erox twisted something inside of her. The nightmare of working in the fields all-day and coming home to the hut at night came back to her and steeled her resolve.

  ″I have to. ″ She said one final time.

  Chapter 6

  On her final day on Rista, Ava knew all she could do was wait to be rescued. Now that it was almost done, she just wanted to get it over with. She decided to take one last walk through the village to stretch her legs a final time before she would be cooped up on a ship for a week.

  She quietly made her way out of Erox's hut before he could wake up and try once again to change her mind. It saddened her that on her final night they had barely spoken. He tried to hide it but he was obviously hurt that she wouldn't consider staying with him on Rista.

  As she walked, she saw that Laypak was still tied to his hut, still on his back with a guard beside him. It's been days, she thought, how could he still be there?

  ″How long will this last? Are you waiting for him to starve to death? ″ Ava asked the guard quietly.

  ″No, we feed and hydrate him. It will be over soon. We are waiting for him to heal, by nature. Then we will cast him out. ″

  ″What does that mean? ″

  ″Far outside of our homes, there is a strong building where we keep those who defy our system. He will live there. ″ The guard explained.

  Just like prison, Ava realized. She couldn't believe she hadn't known that was an option on Rista. When she had been told there was nothing at all beyond the village, she hadn't known there was a prison somewhere in the distance.

  ″I'm very sorry that this happened to you on our planet. ″ The guard told her.

  ″It happens on mine too. Sadly, it seems it's inevitable. My rescue crew will be here soon. Thank you for having me this week. ″

  ″It has been interesting. ″ He said. Ava nodded and continued with her walk. Now that she knew Ristites did have somewhere to lock their criminals, she felt better about the place in a weird way. They had more in common with humans.

  ″Help me! ″ She heard someone cry in the distance, ″Help me! ″ Ava looked around but couldn't see anyone. Even the guard and Laypak were far behind her now. She had walked a long way deep in thought about their justice system.

  ″It hurts! Help! ″ The voice cried again. Ava followed it between some of the huts, further until she was in the fields. In the distance she could see some of the women working but they appeared to be oblivious to what was going on.

  ″Hello? ″ Ava said.

  ″Please help! ″ It was close now. She stepped into the field and found herself instantly surrounded by some of the longer plants.

  ″I'll get some help! ″ Ava shouted, thinking there was no way she would find the pers
on.

  ″No, help me, please, it hurts. ″ It was right beside her, Ava realized, then she felt something at her side.

  ″For a scientist from Earth, you are not smart. ″ Clar smirked.

  Ava couldn't believe she'd fallen for such an obvious ploy. Turning, she tried to run but plants surrounded her, it was impossible to get away before Clar wrapped a strong hand around her arm.

  ″Let go of me! ″ Ava shouted, hoping someone would hear.

  ″No.″ Clar said, reaching for something amongst the plants. When she pulled it out, Ava saw it was a primitive kind of knife. Enough to make it this fight one she was guaranteed to lose.

  ″Clar, listen to me, I'm going back to Earth. ″

  ″No, you are not. If you go back, you will tell them horrible things about us. I cannot have that. And Erox definitely will not take me as his if he thinks you are an option. You need to be killed. ″

  Ava felt terrified. Nothing had prepared her for that situation. All of the training she had had for the mission on Rista and none of it taught her what to do when a vengeful woman pulled a knife on her.

  She felt so helpless, standing in a field with hardly any clothing even to protect her. All she could was try to reason with her.

  ″Clar, I don't want him. ″ She said, ″You can have him. I'll tell him that myself. And I won't tell anyone on Earth about any of the bad things that have happened to me here. ″

  ″You cannot be trusted. ″ Clar said and lunged forward with the knife. Ava managed to dodge it but Clar moved forward with her and thrust it again. With little hope, Ava sprinted into the crops, hoping she could at least make her way out of the field to give herself more space.

  Right at her back, Clar followed with the knife held out between them. Once, the tip of it caught Ava's back but she kept running.

  ″You can't hide from me! This is my home! ″ Clar shouted.

  Ava gasped as they broke out of the field and onto dusty ground. Knowing she had no chance of outrunning her, she instead decided to surprise her and stopped suddenly, turning around to grab Clar at the waist. Clar was caught off guard and went down with Ava, the knife still tightly gripped in her hand. Although Clar landed with her back against the ground, Ava struggled to get hold of her arm as Clar swung the knife towards her. Ava cried out in shock and pain as the edge of the knife cut into her arm.

  It was only a shallow cut but rather than slowing Ava down, it drove her to fight harder.

  ″I haven't done anything to you! ″ Ava screamed and she finally managed to take hold of Clar's arm. As Clar struggled, Ava bent her arm back until she could take control of the knife.

  ″It isn't my fault he doesn't want you! It's yours! ″ She shouted. Clar lifted her arms to protect herself but Ava used it to take hold of both of her hands.

  Clar looked up at her wide-eyed, ″Don't hurt me. ″

  ″You think you can ask me that now? When you tried to kill me? ″ Ava scoffed.

  She raised the knife above her head, ready to put an end to the fight once and for all. She couldn't do it. The angry, scared part of her wanted to but she knew she wouldn't be able to, it wasn't who she was.

  ″Get up! ″ Ava ordered.

  ″What? ″ Clar asked, opening her eyes slightly.

  ″Get on your feet! ″ She kept hold of her hands and pulled her upright, ″Walk with me.″ Ava told her with a smirk and held the tip of the knife against her back to help her get the message.

  ″You can't even kill me? ″ Clar laughed. It was a cold, hollow sound.

  ″I can. But I'm better than you. ″ Ava said.

  Ava was glad to see the same guard was still watching over Laypak. He'd been so kind earlier and if he was a guard it was because Erox trusted him, she knew that.

  ″Clar just tried to kill me. ″ Ava told him as they approached, ″She's incredibly dangerous. ″

  ″You do not have to tell me that. ″ He said, ″You have been warned before this Clar. You will be cast out for this. ″

  ″Why do you believe her? ″ Clar asked, a whining tone in her voice.

  ″It is not the first time you have done something like this. Most of us will be relieved to see you gone. ″ He said, ″Here is Indes to take over as guard, I will walk you over. ″

  He stood from his place next to Laypak and took Clar from Ava's grip. At first it looked as though Clar was going to try to make an escape but she gave in quickly. In a village so small, escape was worthless.

  The new guard sat down beside Laypak, seemingly unsurprised by what had just taken place. He didn't look at Ava, only stared at the space in front of him. Now that her quiet farewell walk had been well and truly ruined, Ava walked back to Erox's hut.

  ″Where have you been? ″ Erox asked, still lying on the bed.

  ″I went for a walk, I wish I hadn't. ″ Ava said, collapsing on the bed beside him. Now that the fight was over and she was safe, Ava felt tears forming and let it happen.

  ″What happened? Who hurt you? ″ Erox asked, sitting up and awake instantly. He wrapped his arm around her and once again Ava was amazed at how safe he made her feel.

  ″Clar lured me into the fields and tried to kill me. She had a knife. She almost succeeded too. It was horrible. If I hadn't managed to get the knife away from her, she would have killed me.″

  ″Where is she now? I'll kill her!″

  ″No, I managed to get her to one of the guards, he took her away.″

  ″She tried to kill you and you were able to take the knife from her and get her to a guard? ″ Ava couldn't tell whether he didn't believe her or if he was admiring her.

  ″I did. It was the most terrifying thing I have ever done. I can't believe she almost killed me. ″

  ″I can. Clar has been out of control for a long time. I am happy she will not be able to cause any more trouble. ″ He said.

  ″The guard told me about what it means to be cast out. It sounds like she won't be doing us any more harm. ″

  ″No, I really will get some peace it seems. ″ He said, with the saddest smile Ava had ever seen.

  ″I should get ready. ″ She said, looking at her very few things. She checked her bag to make sure she had everything, not that she really needed to given how minimal Erox's home was, it was obvious there was nothing left behind.

  ″I will carry those for you. ″ He said, pointing at the case of heat spray.

  ″Thank you. It will be weird not using those when I get home. ″

  ″It really is an impressive technology. ″ Erox said.

  ″It is, to think that one little spray can keep me so safe here. ″ Ava said, ″Well, the spray, and you.″

  ″You do get yourself into danger a lot. ″ He smiled, ″But I'm happy to save you as many times as you need it. ″

  That pull Ava had felt towards him when he first saved her was only stronger now. All she wanted was to kiss him one last time. Instead, she picked up her bag and threw it on her back. He picked up her case and they left the hut one last time.

  Chapter 7

  The village was quiet with the men either at work in the Command Center or relaxing in their homes. The women were working away in the fields. Ava thought about what it would be like when she returned to Earth. She had no doubt she would be a hero, a legend, in the Research Center.

  When she told them everything she'd been through to collect the research they wanted her colleagues would be amazed. When she left, she had been so afraid of what she was going to face and everyone had known it. They hadn't all believed in her abilities. Now they would never doubt her again.

  It was what would happen outside of work that worried her. When she had to return to her empty home. The thought of sitting alone in her apartment, the TV and phone no longer the kind of company she wished for.

  There were Earthmen she knew who would be interested in her once she was back, but none of them matched up to Erox in any way. He had his flaws, she knew, but he had proven he could take care of her like no one else.
>
  There was also no one who looked like him; his luscious blonde hair, his toned abs, muscled like she had never seen on Earth. She never had had the chance to find out what it would be like to go all the way with him.

  ″This should be the correct place. ″ Erox said, breaking her thoughts. They were close to the crash site but that seemed to be where he had arranged for them to land.

  ″We should be able to miss them. ″ Ava said. She put her bag down and sat beside it to wait, ″What if the same thing happens to them? We don't know what caused my crash. ″

  ″I am sure it will not happen again. ″ He said.

  ″Thank you for everything, for saving my life, more than once, she letting me stay with you. ″

  ″It has been my pleasure. It is not too late. You can stay longer. ″ He said, ″I would like it very much if you would stay.″

  Ava opened her mouth to reply but they heard it then, the ship. She looked up, shielding her eyes and saw it approaching in the bright sky, ″Here they are. ″ She said. She didn't feel the excitement and relief she had expected. She felt only sadness that she was finally going to leave Erox behind.

  ″Are you sure? ″ He asked her, helping her to her feet.

  Ava hesitated, ″I am. ″ But she didn't feel it.

  Erox didn't say a word then, only kissed her one last time. His lips were warm and so soft in spite of how tough he was. He gently held her face between his hands.

  ″Have a safe journey Ava. I love you. ″ He told her over the sound of the ship landing.

  Ava couldn't say anything. Her throat felt clogged with unshed tears. After one last squeeze of his hand, she picked up her case and walked towards her ship. She didn't look back.

  The ship door opened and one of her colleagues was standing in front of her. Suddenly, it felt like she had been away from Earth much longer than one week.

  ″Ava! You're safe! ″ He cried.

  Although she was almost at the ship, the door only feet away, she knew what she had to do. The thought of getting onto the ship made her feel as though she was being torn from something greater, as though she would be trapped. It was the biggest decision she would ever make but she knew it was the right one.