Page 10 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

For an instant, his hold on her strengthened. When he finally released her arm, she numbly moved it to the shifter and switched the car into drive, turning the wheel to pull back onto the interstate.

She slammed on the brakes again as another car sped by with its horn blaring, and narrowly avoided a collision.

“Control yourself,” the monster said, loosening his hold on her. “Breathe, human. Operate this vehicle as you would if I were not here.”

Right. As if I could forget a four-eyed, four-armed creature is my car.

Zoey did as he instructed and took several deep breaths. It helped a little — she was still terrified, but at least her hands weren’t shaking anymore. She adjusted her grip on the steering wheel, checked for cars, and eased back onto the interstate.

She drove in silence, her gaze shifting ceaselessly between the road, the helicopters patrolling the desert, and the monster in her rearview mirror. His hand was heavy, solid, and warm on her thigh, even through her jeans. It was a brand, a reminder that he was still there. That he wasreal. She risked a glance down at it.

His skin was green, though its precise hue was impossible to determine in the poor light. He had only three fingers and a thumb, tipped with blunt black nails. He was also covered in scales, but that hardly seemed the strangest part, by now. Her eyes flicked up to the mirror.

He was covered in dust, and something dark was splattered on his face and shoulder.

Don’t try to guess what that is, she warned herself.

“Who are you?” She could be proud, at least, that she’d kept her voice from trembling.

He didn’t answer.

Perhaps if she kept talking, if he came to see her as a…aperson, he wouldn’t hurt her before she found a way to escape.

“My name is Zoey. Zoey Weston. I am —was— a waitress in—”

“I have no interest in conversation.” The arm around her neck loosened, and she felt him shift his weight back. “Continue in this direction. Make no signal to the other humans.”

“Are they looking for you?”

The muscles in his arm flexed. “Whether they are or not, you would do well to obey my commands.”

“I-I was just asking.”

“And I have had enough human questions to last me a lifetime.”

Zoey took that as her cue to shut the hell up.

The silence promptly resumed. Her frightened grip on the steering wheel soon had her hands aching, but she couldn’t loosen her hold. Zoey’s entire body was tense, waiting for the inevitable deathblow. What did he plan to do to her? What did he want? Would he let her go, or would he kill her once she was no longer useful to him?

They eventually overtook the farthest helicopter, and, before long, the aircraft were nothing more than faint blinking lights in the rearview. Immense heat seemed to radiate from the monster, but his hold gradually eased. Finally, the arm around her neck slid away, leaving only the scalding pressure of his palm on her thigh.

The desert flew by outside. She passed slower cars, and faster drivers — some of themdangerouslyfaster — sped past Zoey.

A sign ahead declared Las Vegas was ninety-five miles away.

“Where are we going?” she chanced to ask.

He lifted a hand and pointed ahead with one of his long fingers. “That way.”

“What is that way?”

“A place free of these questions, if I am fortunate.”

A rush of anger surged inside her, obliterating her fear. She was tired of being disrespected.

“I didn’t ask to be kidnapped by some green monster,” she snapped, “so you’re just going to have to deal with my questions! I’m scared, I’m tired, and I’m…I’m…just tired.” She clenched her jaw and pressed her trembling lips together. She inhaled deeply and stared at the road ahead.

Stupid, Zoey! Don’t antagonize him!

---