Page 130 of Saved By the Alien Hybrid
“As long as that blaster is not in your hand when my men arrive, you will live. Do you hear me, Rentir? Do as your nature bids you. Drop it.”
Thalen looked to him, his expression inscrutable in a way Rentir knew was his best attempt at concealing his doubt.
Rentir raised his blaster to the speaker set into the ceiling and squeezed the trigger. The Lord Commander’s voice was a distorted screech, and then there was only silence.
Silence?
Had he shot out the siren for this whole level? But even the lights had stopped?—
The door at his back hissed open, and a hand reached out to seize him by the collar and drag him inside at the same instant the corridor filled with auretian soldiers.
CHAPTER 53
Rentir spun,nearly toppling his rescuer over as his tail knocked into her gut. She grunted, swatting it away.
“Careful with that.”
“Cordelia.” Her name was pure reverence on his lips.
She grinned unevenly up at him, and then he was crushing her in his arms.
He buried his nose deep in her hair, stiffening as the reek of another male assaulted his senses. Jerking back, he held her at arm’s length and studied her. “What is that smell? Who touched you? Were you harmed?”
“If you want her to explain, you’ll have to let her get a word in,” Thalen said wryly, turning away from the sealed door.
There was the faintest sound of commotion from the other side, but it was as thick as the hull of the ship.
“It’s alright,” an unfamiliar voice piped in. “I’ve set the protocols to the highest level. Without the Lord Commander’s personal biometrics to override the lock, they’re not getting in. And he’s currently on…”
The male balked, finally realizing both Rentir and Thalen had their weapons trained on him.
Cordelia stepped between them, much to his chagrin. “Easy. That’s Kliath. He’s on our side.”
“If that is his scent all over you, I will have to disagree.”
“It isn’t.” She rubbed at her neck as her eyes went distant. “The spittle is courtesy of the High Sentinel—and he isverydead now.”
Kliath waved the male’s disembodied hand, illustrating her point.
Reluctantly, Rentir lowered his blaster. “Did he hurt you?”
She shrugged, but something flickered in her eyes. He forced himself to set it aside. He understood all too well what it was not to want to speak of a painful experience. She had done what she had to do; there was nothing left for it at that moment, given that Rentir could not kill him twice.
With a quick peck of a kiss, she left his side to sit at the console before the viewport. The horizon of Yulaira filled the bowled window around her, limning her in silvery light. She took the controls in her hands as he watched, her fingers hovering over the switches on the panel before her, before she flicked one.
“I think I can put her down, but it isn’t going to be easy,” she said over her shoulder. “It’ll be slow going on a ship this big, if I can even bring the whole thing down.”
“I am doubtful,” Kliath interjected. “They build the greater liners in space for just such a reason.”
She muttered a curse under her breath, turning to pore over the many controls before her. Would that Rentir had half the training Lidan did to assist her, but when it came to anything more complex than a hovercraft, he would be nothing but a hindrance.
Thalen moved to stand by Kliath, holding a soft conversation with him about the others. They’d all made it off. Some of the weight on Rentir’s shoulders lifted. He had not led them to their deaths. All that remained was to reach the surface once more.
And to deal with…
The door opened behind them, and Rentir barely had time to flinch before soldiers poured onto the bridge. Lord Commander Tellefan emerged from the wave of bodies, striding forward in his sweeping, silver robes. Those blotted black markings on his face haunted Rentir’s nightmares.
“Did you truly think I would permit you to take my ship?” he asked, his heels clicking against the metal floor.
