Page 15 of Protected By the Alien Warmachine

“My family wants this world rebuilt from the bedrock up, turned into a paradise for human colonists. I won’t pretend I’dstand in the way of that. If nothing else, it would make me a fortune in bonuses. However, I am prepared to offer you the planet, too. I’ll acknowledge the protected site and sponsor your research, which will put the terraforming on hold for a decade at least.”

I straightened in my chair, blinking and hoping I’d hidden my gasp.Amazing poker face, MacKenzie.“What do you get out of the deal?”

Taverner gave a dry chuckle at that. “Well. An Ancient war machine with impressive weaponry, and early access to anything else you find on the site.”

“That can’t possibly be worth more than a planet.”

“No, probably not. But you are not bargaining with Taverner Terraforming, you’re dealing with Mallory Taverner—andIdon’t own Tulla. The war machine is worth more than my bonus.”

“Not happening,” I said, firm as I could manage. “He’s a person, not a thing to be traded, and I don’t control him like that, anyway.”

“I suppose, in that case, I might have an extremely lucrative position opening up. Curator of alien artifacts? That sounds like a good fit for you.”

Damn her. The offer didn’t tempt me, not for a moment, but she was forcing me to say no to my dream job and I resented it. “He is not for sale. It’s not about the price, he’s not my property.”

“Well now, don’t be hasty. These ruins will require extensive research, so the curator will need an…Institute of Alien Studies, backed by sizeable Taverner donations. Just think of all the secrets you’d be able to uncover.”

I’m not sure what I’d have said to that if I’d had a chance to. Something along the range of ‘no’ to a string of expletives ending with no. Kal’va spared me the need to reply.

“You will spare all the humans,” he said, growling low and menacing, leaning over the transmitter. “Spare the prisoners you have already taken, as well as those here. Or there is no deal.”

10

KAL’VA

The humans around the table turned as one to stare at me. It might have been comical if my heart hadn’t been breaking.

“I can agree to that,” the Taverner female said, voice pitching just a touch lower when she spoke to me. “Provided they are willing to cooperate in turn, I will make sure every member of your expedition is released unharmed and compensated for their work. Do you have any other requests, Mr. Kal’va?”

A word that sounded like heaven falling from Tal’ia’s lips, Taverner made into a poison. I bared my teeth, knowing she could not see it. “Do not speak my name. You have not earned the right.”

“Very well. In that case, we have a deal,” Taverner said, with a smug tone that made me want to rip out her throat. I clamped down on my instinctive growl. As long as Taverner honored our deal and Tal’ia lived, I would put up with far worse.

“We do.”

“Like hell!” Tal’ia spoke over me, anger and grief pouring from her in waves. “No, no way, no fucking deal. You are not making himproperty. I won’t let you.”

“Will you not?” Taverner sounded smug and amused rather than angry. “How will you do that, given his agreement? Doyouown him, then, that you can decide for him?”

My mate closed her mouth with a snap, glaring at the wall across from her. Her shoulders shook and tears welled in her eyes. Carefully taking her hand in mine, I gave her a gentle squeeze.

“My love, this is the only way,” I told her. I muted the microphone with my free hand and continued. “You must live. I will not accept any plan that risks your death.”

“She’llkillyou.” My mate’s voice shook, and she gripped my hand as though she’d never let go. “Kill you and take you apart to study.”

“Perhaps she will, but I am willing to die to protect you. Few people meet their mates at all, so I count myself among the luckiest of men.”

Her grip tightened further, knuckles turning white. “I don’t accept it, you ass. If you care about me at all, you won’t let yourself die for me. If you won’t live for yourself, then you can damned well do it for me.”

“And then we both die, along with our friends.” I cupped her cheek, feeling hot tears. “If you forbid this, my heart, what do we do instead? I will fight for you in any way I know, but I have no strategy that will work.”

“You can’t trust her.”

“I do not, nor will I. But perhaps we can trust her self-interest.”

Tal’ia just looked at me, more tears welling in her beautiful eyes. It tore at my heart, a pain like nothing I’d ever felt. I don’t know how long we’d have sat there if Taverner hadn’t interrupted.

“It is a big decision to make,” she said. “And it seems you need to discuss it. I understand, but I do not have all the time in the world. You have until six A.M. to make your choice.”

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