Page 92 of Captured By the Alien

“Well it’s not up to you,” Layahn said snidely. “And you should be hoping she’s eliminated too, Risane. Vecca just missed out on a spot and she’s your friend, isn’t she?”

“Oh, stop trying to stir up trouble,” said Hespia. “Kara’s through and that’s all there is to it.”

“I’d be more worried about the next round if I were you,” Vysh told Layahn. “You might end up facing Kara.”

Layan sneered.

“And why would I care if agemlekhuman tries to fight me? My only regret is it would be over in seconds.”

“You’re right there,” said Kara. “It wouldn’t take long to kick your butt.”

Layahn stepped into her space.

“I really hope we do meet in the next round, human, because I’m tired of holding back.”

Kara activated her anti-grav boots to rise to Layahn’s height.

“That’s fine by me, bitch.”

They stared each other down until the general arrived to tell them Kara’s place in the final six was approved.

Now they were all a little worse for wear except for Layahn. She’d gone to see her uncle, presumably to chew his ear off about not getting the human eliminated.

Kara raised a glass to the remaining Potentials

“To a fabulous group of girls. Any one of you would be a great Zhaalini.”

“Us,” corrected Vysh. “Any one ofuswould be a great Zhaalini. That includes you, Kara.”

“Hm.” Kara looked down at her glass. “But would a human really be accepted as the Zhaal’s mate? Tell me truthfully, all of you.”

“It’s an interesting question.” Hespia hiccuped and carried on. “A few days ago I would have said no. But after today, peopleloveyou.”

“They do,” nodded Risane owlishly. “They really do.”

“To be fair, people love anyone who sticks it to the authorities,” giggled Vysh.

“Do you know who else likes you?” piped up Lyrith.

“Who?”

“The Zhaal. I saw him looking at you after you blasted your pole to bits. He looked…” she thought about it for a moment and everyone waited. “Relieved.”

“Relieved?” asked Vysh.

“Definitely something like that. Like he cared whether you succeeded or not.”

Kara took a gulp of hermelamak.

“Well hedoescare,” she said carefully. “He needs me to do well in the challenges to show that humans can be trusted and we’re not all, you know, homicidal maniacs.”

“Would you really marry him if he chose you?” asked Hespia curiously. “Could you marry a Vraxian after all the hatred between our species?”

Kara avoided looking at Vysh.

“If it would help to end the hatred, then yes. Wouldn’t you marry a human to do the same?”

“I don’t know,” mused Lyrith. “Do your males have great bigzarnads?”

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