Page 15 of The Stolen Tribute
“Technically, this time,” The Zexian sat at the dashboard and started punching in coordinates.
“Can you at least tell me your name if you’re going to kidnap me?” I asked.
The purple alien sighed. “Again, you hit the teleport button all on your own. This,” He paused, gesturing to me. “Was not supposed to be part of the plan.” He paused, his gold eyes meeting mine. “My name is Jaxir.”
Jaxir. Much nicer than Dal, anyways.
I glanced down at my satin dress and tried to smooth the rip closed. I failed. “I’m Kylie,” I said. “Now, I’m not sure what sort of plan you had aside from trying to assassinate my Zexian husband, but I don’t want any part of it.”
“You’re telling me you wanted that guy?” Jaxir scoffed.
I went bright red. Technically, no. Dal had made my skin crawl since I saw his face. He looked at me like an animal, and I could never put up with that. “I’m a Tribute Bride, this is going to fuck things up for Earth.”
Jaxir glanced at me again. “Forgive me, sweetheart, but you don’t really seem like the kind who would put your whole planet before your own happiness.”
“What gives you that idea?” I asked. “I applied, didn’t I?” Was I that easy to read? Did he know how much I hated the idea of being with Dal?
“I know all about the Tribute Bride arrangements,” Jaxir said, glancing down at the control pads. “I probably would have got one for myself this year if I was still considered a warrior.” He chuckled darkly. “Thank goodness for that.”
Now that piqued my interest. “You look like a warrior,” I said. “What happened?”
Jaxir had the build, the height, the strength. He was obviously bred for battle, just like the other male Zexians I had seen. So, what happened to him? What was his story? I couldn’t help but feel a little curious.
“Maybe I’ll tell you when we have time,” Jaxir said.
I scoffed. “We’re flying through space, when would we not have time?” I gestured around us.
Suddenly a beeping sound went off, echoing in the cockpit. Lasers shot outside the windows, hurtling through dark space with almost impossible speed. I spun around to see what the commotion was.
Another starfighter, one much sleeker and impressive, appeared through the blackness.
Jaxir glanced over his shoulder. “Because your mate has come to take you back.”
