Page 8 of Touch the Stars
So, he wanted her to come with him, maybe?But, why?Did he know where Kris was and needed her help to rescue her?Or was this a trick to kidnap her too?He wasn’t putting off sleezy perv vibes, so…?
She let her shoulders sag, and the sound of heavy breathing filled the air.Her breathing.
Can’t…think…
The subtle motion of the giant’s other hand near his waist drew her attention.What was he holding?Some kind of metal manicotti noodle with buttons?It must be broken because it had a thick black rubber band around its middle to hold it together.Wait, no… She tilted her head to the left.He was pinching the band between his thumb and forefinger, so not broken.Weird.
Manicotti.
A giggle tickled the back of her throat as gray fog teased the edges of her vision.Not stopping for dinner was officially the dumbest dumbass decision she’d ever made.
“Get down, Miss Bergh!”
Okay.Sure.
A bluish light flashed out from Not Big Foot’s metal noodle, like an alien ray gun, and enveloped her.Every nerve ending in her body buzzed.
Then someone turned out the lights.
Chapter 3
Baatar.
Ididit!Isecuredthe future grand empress of the Gharan Empire!
And he had done so before the Bajiki Syndicate found her.He gazed down at the stunningly beautiful and completely unconscious female pressed against his side.Thanks to his quick reflexes, he had caught her before her body had fully collapsed.Presenting her to the emperor and the Ancient Ones physically damaged would not be honorable or well received.
At least she was safe.The Nineteen were safe.Her own planet, too, was safe, but her people would not know that until the imperial envoy was sent to guide them through the assimilation process.
Whoever the great one chose to be the envoy would be fortunate.What an honor that would be.Perhaps the emperor would be open to recommendations.Ulaani would excel in such a role.His older sister was a proven warrior with a keen mind for achieving victory through words.
He pushed those thoughts away.Before an envoy was chosen or sent, he must complete his own mission.All that was left was to deliver the future empress to Ghara so the emperor could prepare her to assume her duties.
Easy.
“What thehelldid you do to her?”
The alien words were instantly spun into Undetan by the translator attached to his earlobe.Ah, yes, the other human…a male, puny, and of no consequence.
“The grand empress’s welfare is no longer your concern.”
I am her defender now.
At least until he delivered her to Ghara.
The male tilted his head and yammered pointlessly at a small speaker-like device attached to his shoulder.Hardly anything to be concerned about.
What was concerning was how easily the empress-to-be had succumbed to unconsciousness from a single blanker beam.Blankers were designed to immobilize a subject, not render them senseless.
He moved his gaze to the device in his other hand.The setting was at its lowest, yet he had barely caught her before she had crumpled to the metal surface of her wheeled transport.Was she unhealthy?Surely the Ancient Ones would not have chosen her if she were weak, or ill.Besides, she had exhibited a warrior’s fearlessness when she had confronted him moments ago, and although her curvy form was smaller than even the smallest Undetan female, it was sturdy, strong.
He hefted her negligible weight up and over his shoulder.A soft cloud of womanly scent invaded his senses.Blood rushed straight to his groin, and he barely managed to stifle the groan lodged in his chest.What a wholly improper reaction to the female who would soon be his empress!
Says the one who was almost too ensnared by her gaze to function.
It must have been her deep brown eyes—a nonexistent trait among the people of Undet—that had struck a chord deep within him and set the rhythm of his heart fluctuating wildly.What other explanation was there for his reaction?
None.
