Page 31 of Protected by the Alien Warrior Triad

I can only imagine the horror of hiding beneath your table and looking out of the window to see the membranous thickness of an egg sac right outside; bulging and squirming with the mass of creatures within.

Scorp warriors have torn their way out of eggs sacs all across the city; flooding the streets and alleyways with the huge, nine-feet-tall creatures. With inhuman purpose they’ve started to assemble in the streets. They don’t run, as before – skittering and snapping and fighting to establish a foothold on this world they’ve been thrown onto.

Instead, now, the Scorp warriors walk methodically from building to building – and I gasp as they start to break down the doors and smash the windows as they come to them.

They’re going for the survivors of the initial assault now – picking them off after crushing any initial resistance. I wish I could go down there and help the people of my city – but I know it’s already too late. The only ones I can still help are Tod, Stacy, Tyler and Runner.

Forn looks up at me with deep respect. The huge Aurelian is dripping blood from his countless wounds, but in his fiery green eyes I see a reluctant acknowledgement that the only reason he’s still alive is because of my brave – if foolhardy – rescue.

I realize that, astonishingly, Forn now sees me as an equal – not just another weak human to protect, but as a warrior. It fills me with a deep sense of pride.

Now we have a moment’s respite, I start to question everything I don’t yet understand about this situation. Where did these beastly, powerful aliens even come from?

The three of them are nothing like the gossip and rumors I’ve heard about Aurelians. Everyone here on Barl describes them as practically emotionless. Proud, haughty, and arrogant. Yet the waythisAurelian looks at me is primal, full of protectiveness and possessiveness; yet also a deep and natural respect.

But there’s more – there’s also desire there. It makes me squirm to see the heat in his gaze; and I realize hewantsme in a way I don’t think I’ve ever been wanted before.

As I look at him, I see the fiery green glow fade from his eyes, and Forn’s shoulders gently slump. It appears he’s shaken off whatever rage caused him to bark at me, and now he’s just pausing for a moment to catch his breath.

I watch his massive chest expand as he fills it with air. A shiver runs down my spine as I imagine what it would feel like to be alone with this immense warrior. Hadone and Darok stare at me with the same needy longing as Forn does; and suddenly I imagine all three of the warriors actually touching me – teasing me,takingme...

What the fuck!

I shake my head, ashamed at the random heat of my wicked thoughts. What had inspiredthat?

My adrenaline is still pounding, and I struggle to push the lurid thoughts out of my mind. I rationalize to myself that I’d come so close to death so many times today that my body is merely responding to the joy of remaining alive… for now.

The four children rush to me, wrapping their tiny arms around me and crushing me in their embrace. It’s a welcome distraction from that sudden moment of eroticism.

“You’re so brave,” says Stacy, crushing her head to my chest.

Brave? Ha! I’m still terrified – and I know that I’m nottrulybrave. Even when I jumped down to try and save Forn, I’d thought I was going to die. I’m still somewhat astonished we’ve made it this far. I’m certainly far from sure that we’ll actually escape.

But I have to pretend though – for the sake of these four children. I have to swallow my doubts and fears and work to get us out of this deathtrap of a city.

Still locked in the kids’ embrace, I look over the edge of the building – and my eyes widen as I witness the Scorp warriors start to clamber up the external walls. They slam their sharp pincers into the very brickwork and use them to haul their massive weight up, higher and higher.

Fuck!

This means I don’t even have time to use the last of my medical supplies to help Forn. We have to get out of here –now!

But gowhere?

Below us, the Scorp continue to slam their pincer claws right into the stone and brick walls, make footholds and leverage points to clamber up the building.

Walls are no defense against them…

Or,arethey?

I suddenly get an idea.

With a shout, I point – and the three Aurelians nod as soon as they see what I’m pointing towards.

Beside me, Forn straightens up. For a second, he looks like he’s about to pick me up and throw me over his shoulder, but I shake my head. Up here, on the perilous rooftops of Barl’s old buildings, I don’t want to be the reason he loses his footing and plunges us both down to our death on the streets below – especially if we climb even higher than we are now.

Plus, despite how proud the warrior is, I’m not certain he has the strength to carry me right now.

I point again to the edge of the city. That’s where the walls stand tall; even after proving useless against aerial attack of the Scorp egg sacs. But while the walls couldn’t keep the Scorp warriors out…

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