Page 22 of Xefe
He nodded in his alien way, a quick hike up of the chin. “True.”
“And you’re okay with that?” I adjusted the blanket, subtly bringing it to my nose to breathe in his essence. His musk should have terrified me, but I believed him when he said I was safe. And thinking about Freckles threatened my equilibrium.
“It is life. I have accepted it.”
“Well, I don’t.”
“That is your choice, but make no mistake, this planet will not bend to your will. You adapt, or you die.”
Oh, really?I will burn thischingadodown.Just you wait, Sunny.After I find my sister… and a way out. “What doyouwant?”
“Your truth, not the lies you tell after you bare your teeth.”
Bare my—“You mean when I smile?”
“That is what I said.”
“What?A smile conveys friendship and openness.” I smiled reflexively.
“You are saying that is whatyoumean when you bare your teeth?”
“Of course. I’m trying to work with you. I’ve decided you’re right.” I poked my bottom lip out, trying to appear broken, small, and intimidated. “I do need to adapt. I’m hoping you’ll help me.”
He stopped sharpening his knife. “I don’t know what to be more disgusted with, the lies that drip from your mouth or the fact that you only ask for help for yourself and not the other earthers.”
My mouth dropped open. “You’rejudgingme?” All pretense gone. He had no idea that I spent every waking moment concerned about other humans. Well, one in particular.
Again, he rubbed his chest and alien-frowned, brows snapping down over his eyes. “I will not deal with someone who misleads, who manipulates.”
But that’s my specialty.Okay, I would have to pull back on the stunts in order to get what I wanted.Time to smooth things over.“Look, we’ve gotten off on the wrong foot. We both have information the other wants; let’s not ruin it by fighting.” I wiped the smile from my face before he could accuse me of manipulation again. It was pretty amazing that the big guy figured something out that took “earther guys” months to know.
“I will let you remain if you tell me truths.”
So easy for him to say. Fury, so deep and dark, tore through me. My hands fisted. My heart slammed into my chest. I had never felt so vulnerable in my life. For once, I didn’t measure my words. I let them fly. “You don’t deserve my truth. You’ve done nothing to earn it. I have been kidnapped from my home, abused, and manipulated with some golden drug. I haveresponsibilities.” My voice broke, but I held back the tears. “People that need meat home.”
Again, he watched me for a long time. Upward nod, and then he sharpened the knife once again. “Then let us help each other. Compromise. In here, you give me truth or nothing at all.”
“And what will you give me?”
“The same.”
CHAPTER 11
Finally, the truth.It rarely left the scheming earther’s mouth. She was furious that she’d been abducted, and Xefe would not take that from her. He should send her away, try with another alien, but his supreme had decreed it so. And the idea of her vulnerable with anyotherwarrior made him want to tear something apart. Shaking off the ridiculous thought, he gave her one last chance. “You may ask me any question between these walls.”
She carefully eyed the knife in his hand before swiveling her gaze to his own as if measuring his worth. After a fewtics, she seemed to have decided and asked, “Where are we?”
“This planet is called Nozaroc. It is ruled by the Aavvee and protected by the supreme’s warriors. I am First.” He sat straight and wondered if the earther understood his title and the hard-fought battles to obtain it.
“Are there any other humans here?” Her small body tensed with this question, her hands fisting and then releasing. It seemed…important to her.
“Yes.”
Her gaze snapped up to his. “Where are they?”
“They have arrived recently, and are all over the planet.” He gripped his knife tighter, feeling the tension coming off the alien. But it didn’t feel like her usual manipulations, this almost felt desperate. “Why do you ask?”
“You want to take it easy with the knife, Sunny? It’s freaking me out, especially because we’re supposed to betalking. Sharinginformation, right?” She grabbed the sack and shoved it over her head, maneuvering so the blanket stayed in her hands.
