Page 36 of The Alien Warlord's Fated Mate

She braced herself against dismay. Not once had she considered that she might not be welcome here. After all the traveling she’d done with her parents, and all the people they’d met, she should’ve known better. No one was universally liked. Not everyone welcomed outsiders, even those who brought much needed aid.

If humanity and Xeruvians shared a commonality, she wished it had been anything other than this.

Alara’s gaze had fallen on her. Waiting, Mia thought, for a response. She shook her head mutely. What could she say? She was a scientist, not a leader. These people were foolish to look to her when she couldn’t even clothe or feed herself here without help.

Leona answered for her. “Now that that’s settled, we poor humans would like to pair off with our counterparts among you. It’s in everyone’s best interests to cooperate. Anyone who feels put upon can hit the road.”

Mia shot her an exasperated glance. Kira merely shrugged. Oh, well. At least no one was openly rebelling. Not a single Xeruvian walked away.

Mia took a fortifying breath and squared her shoulders. If she’d learned anything from Zoran, it was that Xeruvians valued strength. She might not be the strongest person physically—even for a human, she was puny—but there were other kinds of strength, and other ways to wield it.

“You, there,” she said, pointing to the Xeruvian who’d tried to draw her into a challenge. “What’s your name? What do you do here?”

The Xeruvian said, stiffly, “Raelka Korlis. I am attached to the biology labs.”

Isabella Rossi shifted where she stood, catching Mia’s gaze. The evolutionary biologist was classically beautiful with copper colored hair and kind eyes, the kind of woman who attracted men wherever she went, and remained quietly humble. “She’s under me, then.”

Mia nodded sharply, then turned her attention back to Raelka. “If you step even a single toe out of line, I will remove you from your position.”

Raelka’s eyes widened in enraged horror. “You cannot do such.”

“Try me,” Mia gritted out. “If anyone needs me, I’ll be in my office.”

She pivoted sharply and stalked away, her earlier good mood shattered.

Office politics. Who needed ‘em anyway?

Chapter Eleven

Zoran spent his day sorting through and divvying up supplies for the humans with help from the unmated warriors who had accompanied him to Earth. Most of those supplies would be stored at the compound with the unmated females, where they could be easily accessed by any in need. Some would go with the females who had found mates, to keep in their homes. Others would be set aside as mating gifts.

Like the chocolate. Zoran was astounded by the quantity and variety of sweets included in the females’ necessary supplies. He discovered chocolate bars, chocolate truffles, chocolate coated candies, and chocolate morsels which, if his scans translated correctly, were used in the baking of special cookies.

Did human females truly consume this many sweet treats from day to day?

Other items baffled him completely. In addition to food, toiletries, and an overly large supply of chocolate, he found paper books, a wide range of technological devices and power cords, an entire crate of seed kernels whose purpose he could not fathom, and several boxes labeledDVDs.

He lifted a silent prayer to the Fates that little clothing had been included, undergarments only. More would have overflowed his ship to the point of rendering it incapable of flight. As it was, the supplies they’d gathered had nearly filled his holds, save the one in which the females had been held during their short journey here, where part of their food and water had been stored.

Zoran was unpacking the technological devices when Aklan of Clan Phyrz approached. The other warlord stood eye to eye with him, an imposing example of Xeruvian strength and cunning. He bore as well the contented air of a well-mated male, one reeking of the harmony that had thus far eluded Zoran in his own mating.

He greeted Aklan, one warrior to another. “I thought you had taken your mate to visit yourjutji.”

Aklan’s expression melted into a rare smile. “Sonja wished totouch basewith the other females before our departure.”

Zoran returned the smile. “Human females have a vivid way of expressing themselves.”

“Indeed. An entirely new way of viewing their environment. We have much to learn from them.”

“Let us hope we can give as much in return.”

“I believe we will. Already Sonja has pointed out several ways in which Xeruvian technology and knowledge could expand human capabilities. But first, we must find a way to treat with them, to parlay.”

Zoran grunted. None of the warlords had been satisfied with the human response to their trade requests. Perhaps Aklan and his mate could swing human sentiment to their favor, perhaps not. Either way, Xeruvians would find a way to fulfill their own needs.

But that was no longer his job, Zoran mused. He would remain here, with his mate, working to integrate her and her companions into Xeruvian society. Fighting to change the minds of those who had originally opposed interbreeding with another species.

His grimace must have registered in his expression, for Aklan’s own gaze grew shrewd.

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