Page 32 of Claimed by an Alien Warrior

“That is some sort of disease?” Ren asked, voice uncharacteristically gentle.

“Yeah. We didn’t catch it soon enough. By the time he was diagnosed, it was too late.” Those last few months with her father had been at once the best and worst time of her life. If nothing else, they’d made what little time they had left together count. Now that she was older, she understood how difficult that must’ve been for him, the willpower he’d demonstrated in giving his daughter happy memories while he was dying.

Tears stung her eyes, but this time she didn’t allow them to spill.

Ren was silent. She half-expected him to go off on how primitive humans were, on how his people likely had cured all the diseases that once afflicted them.

“I am sorry for your loss, Zoey,” he said. For once, she was glad to have misjudged someone. “What of your mother?”

Zoey shrugged. “Never knew her. She walked out on us when I was two and never looked back. My dad took it hard, though. He loved her. I don’t think he ever got over the pain of knowing she didn’t care about either of us enough to stick around. But my dad was the best there ever was, and he made sure I knew I was loved.” She glanced up at the rearview mirror. Ren’s face was unreadable in the deepening shadows, his eyes masked by his dark sunglasses. “What about your parents?”

“I was born into theKhorzar, which is the class of warriors in aligarii society. A soldier from birth. I knew my parents only as my earliest trainers and chose at a young age to be separated from them to continue my training. They were at the ceremony when I received mynyrosand took great pride in my accomplishment. I have not seen them since.”

“That’s…kind of sad.”

“What’s sad about it?”

“It sounds like you never really had time with them. That you immediately went into this training program, or whatever, and that was it. I couldn’t imagine not having my dad around as a kid. We did everything together, and if he were alive now, I’d be calling him every day to talk.” She blinked back a fresh wave of tears. “I’d giveanythingjust to hear his voice again.”

“I had a strong bond with myUmen’rak. We spent every day together, whether in combat or not. They were my family. Their absence leaves a great emptiness inside me.”

“I know I said it already, but I’m sorry, Ren. Blood doesn’t always make a family. I’m sorry you lost yours.”

A large sign up ahead caught Zoey’s attention.

NO BULL

NO SERVICE FOR THE NEXT 110 MILES

SALINA-NEXT EXIT-ALL SERVICES

Zoey looked down at the dash. She had three-quarters of a tank of gas, a bag of beef jerky, chips, a few candy bars, and a small styrofoam cooler filled with bottled water and packaged sandwiches. It was only 5:42pm. They could make the stretch and book a motel in the next town.

“I’m curious about something,” Zoey said as they drove past the Salina exit. “You keep sayingnuros; what is that?”

“Nyros,” he corrected before falling silent.

She glanced at his face in the mirror. His features seemed drawn in thought, though she couldn’t be certain between the caked-on makeup, the sunglasses, and the deepening twilight.

“All of the aligarii receive a lesser form of it, calleduldros,” he finally said. “They are…machines, too small to see with the naked eye, that mend the body from within and prolong life. They allow us to heal quickly and battle disease without additional treatment. Butaekhora, like me, receive the stronger form,nyros, when coming of age. Strong enough that the bonding kills many hopefuls despite spending their youth in training. Those who survive are honored to becomeaekhora, the greatest of our soldiers. Those who do not are honored for giving their lives in the attempt to serve the aligarii in a greater capacity.”

“Wow. That sounds amazing and totally scary all at the same time. No wonder you call us primitive. You have tiny machines inside your body.” An oncoming car in the far lane flashed its headlights as it passed. Zoey flipped hers on; it didn’t seem like it should be so dark already, but she’d been caught up in conversation. “So…what does yournyrosdo? Other than heal you, I mean.”

“I should not tell you any of this,” he said softly. “I’ve already revealed too much.”

“As curious as I am, I can respect that. Betrayal of your kind to a weak human—”

“It is not because I distrust you, Zoey. The more—”

“Ren, I get it. You don’t have to tell me.” She cleared her throat. “Besides…it might be for the best. What if one of those guys gets hold of me and tortures me for information? I don’t like pain, and as much as I’d like to say I wouldn’t break, I can’t make that promise.”

“That is the only reason I am hesitant, Zoey. The more you know of me, the more valuable you become to them.”

“Yep. Totally not looking forward to torture.”

Despite her genuine fear that such a scenario would come to pass, Ren’s words had softened something inside her. He trusted her. Though he’d chosen her car at the rest area by chance, though he’d known her for less than twenty-four hours, hetrustedher.

“I gave you my word, on my honor, to keep you safe.” The tone of his voice — the dedication, the graveness — drew her eyes back to the mirror. He’d removed the sunglasses and opened his side-eyes to meet her gaze. “I will not fail in that.”

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