Page 16 of Claimed By the Alien Warlord

Gary’s face is inches from mine, his red eyes burning with a rage that makes my blood run cold. “You mock me,” he growls, his voice low and guttural, more animal than man. “You mock my pain, my grief! You mock the memory of…” He cuts himself off, his jaw tightening, and I think he might kill me.

I struggle, clawing at his hand, but it’s like trying to move a brick wall. My lungs scream for air, panic clawing its way up my throat. He must see it in my eyes because he shifts his hand, uncovering my nose but keeping my mouth firmly shut. I gulp in air, my chest heaving, but his grip doesn’t loosen.

“Know this,” he says, his voice still that same inhuman growl. “Gary Irons makes no mistakes. If you are wearing something that you feel degrades and humiliates you, it is by design.” His eyes bore into mine, and I see something beyond the anger—pain, raw and unrelenting. “You have no idea what you have taken from me, but I will give you some measure, some inkling of my pain before I am through with you.”

He releases me suddenly, and I stumble back, my legs trembling so badly I almost fall. I press a hand to my face, the skin where he touched me still tingling. His skin—it wasn’t right. It wasn’t human.

My heart hammers in my chest as I stare at him, trying to make sense of what just happened. The anger, the pain, the way he looked at me like I was the one who had shattered something irreplaceable. My mind races, trying to piece it together.

“What have I done?” I think to myself, my throat tight. “To break someone as powerful as this?”

CHAPTER 8

GUVAN

Iturn away from her because looking at her is like staring into the sun—too bright, too raw. The shattered remnants ofSunrise on Vakutaburn in my mind, and the wood chopping isn’t doing a damn thing to quiet the storm inside me. Especially not with her standing there, watching. Waiting. Her presence is a distraction I can’t afford, a thorn in my side that I can’t pull out.

I spin around, forcing my eyes to stay locked on her face and not wander down to the ridiculous outfit Jareth thought was appropriate. “Why are you still standing here?” The words snap out of me, sharp enough to make her flinch. “You saw the mess, I’m certain. It had better be cleaned before it’s time for my dinner.”

She doesn’t move. Just stares at me with those blue eyes that see too much, that dig too deep. There’s fear there, sure—good. Sheshouldfear me. But there’s something else, something soft and dangerous. Pity. My chest tightens.

She knows.The thought hits me like a punch to the gut.She knows how broken I am because I lost control.

I kick the chopping block hard enough to send it toppling over, the sound of wood against wood cracking through theclearing. She takes a half-step back but doesn’t run. Doesn’t look away. Her spine stays straight, her chin up. And that look in her eyes—it’s still there.

“Don’t look at me like that,” I growl. “Don’t you dare pity me.”

“I don’t pity you.” Her voice is soft but steady. “I just… know what it means to lose.”

Before I can stop her, she steps forward, her hand reaching out. Her fingers brush against my chest, right over my heart. The contact is light, almost hesitant, but it feels like a brand. My hand twitches, , I almost cover hers with mine. Almost.

“It’s okay to feel sad,” she says, her words quieter now, almost a whisper. “It doesn’t make you weak.”

I freeze. The weight of her hand, her words, her gaze—it’s too much. I snatch her hand away from my chest, my grip tight enough to make her wince. Her eyes widen, but she doesn’t fight me.

“My living room isn’t going to clean itself.” The words come out harsh, jagged. I drop her hand and turn away before she can see the cracks in my armor. Before she can see anything more.

She hesitates for a moment, her breath catching in her throat. Then, without a word, she turns and walks back toward the cabin. I watch her go, my jaw clenched so tight it aches. The storm inside me rages on, but it’s quieter now. And that’s worse—so much worse.

I can’t stay. The cabin, the woods, thisplanet—it’s all suffocating me. Reily’s presence is a weight I can’t carry, her words a blade cutting through defenses I’ve spent centuries building. I turn and run, my boots pounding against the earth, the rhythm of my stride grounding me in something familiar. The image inducer buzzes faintly on my wrist, and I rip it off, letting it clatter to the ground. My scales flare in the sunlight, dark red and unyielding, and the air feels cooler against my skin.

I don’t stop until I reach the ridge overlooking Mirror Lake. The view is… breathtaking. The water is a perfect mirror, reflecting the mountains and the endless blue sky. It’s beautiful. And it’s going to be destroyed because of me.

The weight of that knowledge hits me harder than I expected. I’ve destroyed plenty of things in my time—ships, cities, lives. But this? This feels different. Reily’s face flashes in my mind, the way her eyes narrowed when she accused me of ruining Coldwater. She’ll hate me for this.

“Why does it matter what she thinks?” I mutter aloud, my voice a low growl. It shouldn’t. She’s just a human. A stubborn, infuriating, beautiful human who somehow sees right through me.

I kneel at the edge of the ridge, my claws digging into the earth. My mind drifts to impossible things—her laughter, her touch, the way her body would feel pressed against mine. Stupid fantasies.

“No,” I snarl, shaking my head like it might dislodge the thoughts. I slam a fist into the ground, sending a shower of dirt and rocks tumbling down the slope. “She’s not mine to want. She’s notanything.”

But the memory of her hand on my chest lingers, warm and soft, and it makes my scales itch. I can’t afford this. I can’t afford her.

“You’re a warrior,” I remind myself. “Not a fool.”

I stand, turning my back on the lake. The image inducer is still in pieces somewhere behind me, but I don’t care. Let the humans see me for what I am. Let them fear me. It’s easier that way.

The hike back to the cabin does nothing to clear my head. Every step feels like a battle, the weight of Reily’s presence clinging to me like a shadow. I try to focus on the crunch of leaves underfoot, the distant call of a hawk overhead, but it’s nouse. Her face keeps flashing in my mind, her blue eyes wide and defiant, her hand brushing against my chest like she thought she could fix me with a single touch.

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