Page 45 of Fated to the Alien Protector

I shake my head. “He knows we’re hunting. Besides, you won’t let anything happen to me.”

“Never. I will protect you with my life,” Rojtar says and it sounds like a vow.

“I know you would, but I don’t ever want it to come to that.”

He dips his head. “Then we will continue on our hunt. If we find them easily and bring down more than we both can carry, we will make a sled to haul them back to the village.”

I’ve read about those in the book I found. “Let’s do this then.”

We pick up the goats—which, thankfully, weigh far less than a dreri—and head deeper into the trees. A loud popping sound causes the alien birds—mellenje—to shriek and soar from the trees away from the noise. It takes a second for me to process that Rojtar has fallen to his knees. When he topples over, I stare in horror and scream his name.

Chapter 22

Abby

I drop to Rojtar’s side and roll him to his back. Blood leaks from a hole just below his right shoulder, but he’s breathing. I stroke both sides of his face, pushing his hair off it. He doesn’t move or open his eyes. He doesn’t make a single sound.

“Please don’t die. Oh god, Rojtar.” I can barely see him through the tears.

“Boom!” A voice yells out with glee. “What a shot.”

I whirl around on my knees. Lewis strides forward with a cocky gait and a gun of some kind in his hand. One I’ve never seen before. He stares down at Rojtar with hatred spewing from his gaze. His face is still slightly bruised from the beating he took and the nick on his neck has healed, but a thin, white scar remains

“You son of a bitch.”

“I told you both you were going to regret crossing me,” Lewis says with so much malice it sends a shiver down my spine. “You should have accepted my offer when you had the chance, Abby. Instead, you chose thisaliento spread your legs for so this is what you get.”

“Fuck you.” My fist clenches around my bow. God, I wish I had my spear. Not that it did me any good the last time Lewis attacked, but at least it offers better protection than what I have.

Lewis cackles like a mad man and moves closer. “Oh, Abby, we will. But only one of us will enjoy it.”

Panic flares, and I scramble to get away. Before I can get far, he tackles me onto my back. But then there’s nothing. No movement from him at all. He’s frozen on top of me with eyes that grow wider. A shadow shifts and I search out the source. I whimper in relief and despair at the sight of a bloodied Rojtar standing with his sword at Lewis’ neck.

“Are you well,keeshla?” he asks in a steady voice. Only I can see the pain etched on his face.

I nod and push myself out from beneath Lewis. I’m on my feet in seconds and standing next to my mate. His tail weaves around me and I sink into the sensation of it. Lewis remains where he is facing away from us, the gun he’d been holding lying on the ground next to him.

“What did I tell you the last time I saw you?” Rojtar growls and presses the tip of his blade farther in, drawing a line of blood that trails down Lewis’ flesh. He hisses in pain.

“I’m sorry,” he cries out. “Please don’t kill me. You’ll never see me again. I swear. Just don’t kill me.”

“Turn and look at me.”

Slowly the asshole pivots, but remains kneeling. Rojtar’s weapon moves with him until he finally faces us head on. Where only minutes ago hatred radiated from him, terror has replaced it. Tears actually fall from his eyes. I want to pity him, but I can’t find it in me. This is the man who would have raped me on two different occasions—including now—if it weren’t for Rojtar.

“I will not kill you,” my mate says.

I’m surprised by his words. It might be the first promise he’s broken.

“The dhembi will,” Rojtar finishes. “While I would prefer to feed you to a luani, another beast will have to do. Unless, of course, you manage to escape before it reaches you. Rise.”

Lewis swallows against the sword tip which draws more blood, but he does what he’s told. He sways on his feet and for a second I almost think he’s going to try and bolt, but he doesn’t. I’m a bit disappointed since maybe that would be Rojtar’s excuse to follow through and actually kill him. I never would have considered myself bloodthirsty before, but after what Lewis has tried to do, hatred runs through me. Whatever happens to him is exactly what he deserves.

“Go. Sit there.” Rojtar gestures with his blade toward a towering tree with vines running up its length.

Without taking his gaze off us, Lewis side steps until he reaches the base of it and slides down onto his butt. My mate slices at the vines until they fall to the ground in long strands. In no time, he has Lewis securely bound to the wide trunk with his arms behind him on either side of it. There’s no way he’ll be able to reach the knots on the backside of the tree. They’re too far away.

Once he’s finished, Rojtar steps back and assesses his work. He’s even tied the mans’ legs in a way that would prevent his escape. Before I can blink, he drags the tip of his sword across Lewis’ throat. I gasp in shock and Lewis makes a strangled noise. Blood cascades down his neck from the wound.

---