Page 94 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

Control!

He redirected the gathering energy, allowing it to disperse throughout his body, and drew in several deep, steadying breaths. The seatbelt finally clicked into the buckle. The chiming sound ceased abruptly.

“I have never hated a machine, but you are pushing me to reconsider,” he said through clenched teeth.

Before long, he passed one of the white signs Zoey had told him about while they traveled away from Vail — aSpeed Limitsign. He adjusted his pressure on the accelerator to match the number on the vehicle’s internal display to the number on the sign. The pedal seemed a bit overly sensitive, making it a challenge to maintain the right number, but he figured it was close enough.

Though it was dark and overcast, Ren could make out enough of the surrounding landscape to tell that it was unlike anywhere he’d been on Earth so far. They’d descended from the mountains onto a vast, flat plain that had begun so abruptly its existence seemed impossible, contrasting far too heavily with the rocky peaks they’d left behind.

It didn’t take him long to feel exposed; there was nowhere to hide out here.

Without a map to guide him — and unable to read anything but the numbers, which he’d only learned by playingCardswith Zoey — he followed the road’s course without deviation. If nothing else, it was leading in roughly the right direction to bring them to his ship, though he sensed the distance was still great. Their direction changed when the road merged onto a larger pathway — theInterstate, perhaps? — but he didn’t panic. They were moving closer to the ship, and that was all that mattered.

He reached into the bag between him and Zoey with one of his lower hands, feeling around for one of the water bottles she’d purchased, when his fingers brushed over something familiar — a smooth wrapper with two solid, stick-like objects inside. He withdrew the item. Its wrapper gleamed in the glow of the vehicle’s control panel.

Twix.

Even when she’d been rundown, exhausted, and pushed beyond her limits, Zoey had still taken a moment to think of Ren and obtain something he enjoyed. A small gesture, but so full of kindness and consideration.

Ren looked at her again; she was fast asleep, her tousled hair partially obscuring her face.

After all he’d been through in his life, all the battles, all the blood he’d given toward fulfilling his duty, he wasn’t sure that he deserved her.

But he sure as hell wasn’t going to give her up foranything.

“A little longer,kun’ia. Then we can find peace together.”

Chapter Twenty

“If I were piloting my ship, I would blast you off the road!” Rendash growled.

Zoey’s eyes fluttered open. The sky was dark, and the only illumination was provided by the glow of the dash and the headlights of the other cars on the road. She looked at the clock; 4:17. She’d slept that long? With Ren driving thatwholetime?

“Yes, you pass me, too!” he said. “You are without honor!”

Zoey settled her gaze on Ren. He was scrunched up in the driver’s seat, knees so high that they were mere inches from bumping his hands on the wheel. His jaw muscles ticked in frustration, and his brows were low.

She giggled.

He glanced at her, and the hard light in his eyes softened. “You are awake,” he said, with a touch of guilt. “I’m sorry.”

“Don’t be,” she replied, reaching down to pull the seat lever and return her seat to its upright position. She groaned, closing her eyes as she rubbed the side of her neck. She hated sleeping in cars. “I didn’t mean to sleep for so long. Honestly, I’m surprised I woke up at all. I kind of expected you to crash a long time ago.”

Ren frowned deeply. “If there have been issues, it is only because your fellow humans are too stupid to obey the very laws they have put in place.”

“What do you mean, Ren?”

“You told me to follow the speed limit. I have been doing so, butno one elseon this entire road has done the same!”

As far as she recalled, she hadn’t given himanydriving pointers, which — now that she was rested and alert — made her wonder if she had some subconscious death wish. “Um, right.” She beamed at him. “You’re doing great!”

Though he’d returned his primary attention to the road, she couldn’t help but notice his rightmost eye watching her. “So…you don’t recall any…disturbances during the trip?”

Nope. You shagged me into a coma.

Shagged? He’s an alien, not Austin Powers!

“Yeah, baby, yeah!” she said in a terrible accent, grinning to herself. Boy, she was going absolutely nuts.

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