Page 14 of Protected By the Alien Space Guardian

I wasn’t sure why Noodar popped into my head, if only because I had inquired about him a few years ago after not having run into him in a while. Possedion told me that Noodar had died the hero death during a mission. A mission he failed. He had been supposed to protect a princess, that much I knew. Strangely, the princess had never been heard of again either.

My hand wasn’t trembling when I entered the next command into the Cryon’s computer, but I had to make an effort to keep it that way.

Eric and Peter had reserved one of the few single occupancy cabins for me, and I suppose I should have been grateful for it, but part of me despised this show of power over the others who bunked off in six- and ten-person cabins, sharing communal bathrooms.

“It’s a perk that comes with being a leader.” Peter winked.

Eric took it one step further. “I’m willing to share mine with you.”

“I’m good.” I sighed, vanishing into the cabin before either one became too much of a nuisance. I already guessed a competition between them for me because we were the leaders now, and whoever aligned himself with me would have even more power.

Too much, I thought, leaning against the closed door. It was all just too much.

My head spun from all the events beginning with the Cryon’s invasion of Earth. Ever since then, my life had been spiraling. One thing happened after the next, leaving me to react or die.

The few stolen moments with Raasla had been a gift. For a little while, I had forgotten everything.

I could still feel his hands on me, his cock inside me.

I knew it had been a one-time thing, but fuck, it had been good, and God help me, I wouldn’t say no if he offered again. And again. Part of me even yearned for it.

He was the most arrogant man I had ever met. The most infuriating one too. The type of man I had always stayed away from. The one whose company might promise fun and adventure but not a secure future.

I snorted at that. Secure future? I guessed that went out the window the moment the Cryons invaded Earth. Or was that just my horny self trying to talk me into going for another round?

I didn’t know. I was tired. Exhausted. At the end of my rope.

The singular occupancy cabin wasn’t large, about twenty by twenty feet, with a small side door leading into a small bathroom with a shower, sink combination, and a toilet.

The main room offered a bed on one side and a table and a chair on the other. I suspected I would find some hidden closet space like Raasla had shown me in his room, but I was too tired to hunt for it now. Same with trying to figure out what the large screen on the last wall was supposed to do.

I simply fell on the bed, put my arm over my eyes, and closed them.

I didn’t think I even had time to drift off when a searing pain ran through my arm and hip. My eyes ripped open, and I frantically clawed at the uniform covering me to find the source. Expecting to see my skin on fire, the black lines crawling up and down were an even more horrifying sight. They looked exactly like the ones I watched appear over Raasla’s arm and hip.

How had Raasla been able to move with that pain?

I lay bent into a pretzel on the bed, hyperventilating and wishing I was dead. I was sure having my arm doused in acid would have hurt less. Sweat ran down my body, yet I felt freezing cold inside.

Time lost all meaning to me. It could have been a few minutes or hours, that I lay moaning and writhing in the worst pain I had ever endured, until suddenly, the door to my room opened, and Raasla stormed in. “Zoe?”

The door hadn’t even closed behind him when he was by my side on the bed. “Zoe, what’s wrong?”

My molar hurt so bad from grinding my teeth, but that pain was nothing compared to the agony running through me. I barely managed to hold up my arm for him to see before I tugged it back underneath my other, favoring it like a broken wing.

“By the stars, Zoe.” He pried my arm free and inspected it, holding his against it. The markings were exactly the same.

He pushed me to the side and sat down on my bed. I didn’t have the energy to protest or object, but then I was in his arms, and he cradled me like a child, hushing into my ear.

“Easy, little one, easy. Just breathe in deep. In and out. Just like that.” I tried to concentrate on his mouth as he exaggerated his breathing, focused on copying it. It did seem to help some.

His hand stroked my hair. “There, it’s alright. It’ll be alright. Just breathe.”

He kissed me tenderly on my sweaty forehead and wiped loose strands of hair from my face while his other hand drew reassuring circles on my back.

It helped.

As excruciating as the pain still was, it felt lighter, not as all-consuming as it had been before.

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