Page 29 of Abalim

“Why do I get the impression that if we don’t complete this trial to your satisfaction, none of us will be leaving Qorath?”

Rerqel floated closer and brought the scent of ozone with him. “I assure you, if you do not remove the blocker and participate, your assertion will be correct.”

Abalim studied his adversary with a frown. “So, what you’re telling me is if I remove my blocker and participate, you’ll let us all go? And what about the threat the Krystalii brings? Will you assist in keeping them out of our dimension?”

Rerqel folded his thin fingers in front of him with a nod. “We are open to the possibility that it would be advantageous for us to become allies. That is, if we deem your species worthy.”

Not that he’d admit it, but having the PsySchield on was a handicap. Without another word, he reached up and tapped twice on his right temple and then did the same to the left. The rush of psychic energy enveloping him made him throw his hands down into fists as he struggled to catch his breath.

The glorious feel of his mental sense coming back was a rush. With it came the inescapable sensation of someone behind him. The feminine feel unmistakable. Now the rush turned physical. Steeling himself, it took everything he had to control his primal reaction to Lisa coming closer behind him.

Heart pounding, Lisa's eyes snapped open. She stifled a sharp scream as she discovered a Xeltrian stood next to where she lay. The creepy hum of energy from it wormed through her mind.

She shivered, doing her best to block the images fluttering around her skill. Memories of the recent mind rape the Xeltrians put her through overwhelmed her. Mind rape. That’s what the damn things did when they invaded her mind. The violation of multiple minds burrowing through her, uncovering every little detail of her thoughts and experiences, left a slimy taste in her mouth.

Okay, missy. Take stock of where you are. Was she still in the round room with the aliens watching from above with an arrogant, detached air? Dragging her eyes from the silent alien, she glanced up and groaned. Damn, still on the stupid table. Didn’t look like any of the Xeltrians above her had moved one bit either. The only thing different was this one stared at her like she was a bug under a microscope. She licked dry lips with a parched tongue.

“We have decided to withdraw our examination of your mind to ensure permanent damage will not result.”

Wild guess this was the same alien as before since they all looked alike. Rerqel.

“Well, if I wanted your pity, I’d submit an application.” Lisa wiggled her fingers and toes to make sure they still worked. With a grunt, she pulled herself up on her elbows. Sweat broke out on her forehead. Taking a deep breath, she forced herself to sit up. She pushed her hair out of her eyes and narrowed a glare at the annoying piece of crap next to her. She didn’t care what the dumbass promised about not hurting her. A physical examination couldn’t be half as bad as what she’d just gone through.

“What now, you rat bastard?” Ah, hell. That’s it… call the alien villain’s names. If she was half as smart as she liked to think she was, she’d just sit there and keep her big fat mouth shut. Maybe she’d get lucky and they’d forget all about her. Yep, just call her the delusional invisible woman.

“We have deemed you ready for the next step of your evaluation.”

Jeez, it was college prep all over again.

“You will follow me. The male of your species has arrived, and we can now begin the Quandary of Existence.” The gangly alien turned and appeared to float to an open exit.

The dais lowered and disappeared into the floor.

Which left her no choice but to hop off and hopefully not land on her ass. “A male? What male?” Now her heart sped up for a different reason. Had they kidnapped some guy from Earth? That couldn’t be right. Rerqel told her the only reason they took her from that pudgy little alien was because they couldn’t reach Earth to get a human themselves.

Of course, the snooty Xeltrian didn’t answer her. And no way would she try to read its mind. She’d rather freak herself out by guessing what was going on like any normal person would. She was led to another round, totally different room.

So different it took her breath away.

The large chamber was a masterpiece in both form and function. The walls were iridescent with mirrored material that pulsed with a soft, inner glow. No need for lamps or obvious lights. The room's flowing, organic lines inside merged from one wall to the other, as if the auditorium was an extension of the planet's natural beauty.

The furniture scattered around was designed for both comfort and versatility.

Chairs and tables appeared lightweight, but made with high-strength materials she suspected would adjust to the preferences of the occupants. If she didn’t know any better, she’d swear when she walked by, several chairs reached for her, as if responding to her being there.

Holographic displays on the walls wavered in and out of focus. No telling what the Xeltrians used them for. It took her a moment before it dawned on her the room possessed a degree of sentience, responding to her thoughts and intentions. It reached out to her as if to adjust the lighting, temperature, and acoustics to make sure she had the ideal atmosphere.

In the center was a large, translucent, three-dimensional display hovering in the center. It pulsated with intricate patterns and symbols.

A whispered mental comment came to her, letting her know it was the Xeltrians’ way of conveying complex information. It was their central hub, where they shared their scientific findings and engaged in telepathic communication with others of their species throughout the planet.

Great. She was going to go viral on Qorath. Yay her.

A movement out of the corner of her eye made her stop. Was that… no, wait. It couldn’t be. Her heart skipped a beat. Was that… Abalim? The man she’d dreamed of? Hard to tell with his back to her. But who else had such long, ebony dreadlocks that cascaded down his strong back like a waterfall of midnight silk? His skin, a deep rich shade of warm mahogany.

Lisa put her fingers over her lips when he turned around. His dark gaze speared her. His deep-brown, almost-black eyes drew her in like a moth to a flame.

Here was a man who embodied controlled strength and power. His well-built, muscular frame was subtly outlined by the timeless tan leather outfit he wore, with knee-high boots that added an air of rugged elegance.

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