Page 38 of Beauty and the Alien Beast
The expression on his face was like I was his new drug, which was more than a little flattering, giving me a strange rush of pussy power. But I’d never been a manipulative woman, and I preferred to deal with people directly and honestly, especially men.
Shit.Some men found my honesty off-putting. Many found it refreshing—once they realized it was genuine. But right now, looking back over my shoulder at my sleeping alien, I wondered,How much would he do for me if I wanted him to?
I lifted an eyebrow. He was an amazing lover, a brave warrior, and a devoted guard, and he couldn’t get enough of me—and I him. And weirdly enough, he was a better listener than most guys I had been with, even though Teken and I only shared knowledge of a few dozen words.
I’m really tempted to try to find a way to take him back to Earth with me, which is a ridiculous idea. He wouldn’t fit on Earth, and I have no idea if it would be safe to bring Mom here.
I stiffened when the reality of my situation sank in.
What if I can’t go back home? Could I be happy on this planet with Teken?
Frankly, I didn’t know.
I loved my mom and the life I had on Earth, but there was a real possibility that I would never be able to return. And sooner rather than later, I’d have to figure out what my new life would be like on this alien world.
Turning back toward the jungle view, I spotted six hoverbikes rising above the tree line. A few of them were pointed in my direction.
Shit!I ducked back out of sight, very aware that I was naked and, worse, unarmed. My clothes were back in the tent. But hadn’t Teken been wearing a strange-looking pistol on his hip before he had stripped down to tend his wounds? His belt was in the saddlebags with his now-mended clothes. Well out of my reach.
“Teken!” I called in a panic. “Teken, wake up!”
He barely stirred, but then Brax popped his head up and his ears lifted. The dog let out a thunderous growl, and Teken sat up at once.
I started digging frantically through the saddlebags, looking for the damn gun, while the sound of one of the hover engines drew steadily closer.
24
Teken
Ella’sfrightened voice cut through my post-mating slumber. I was already waking when Brax’s warning growl brought me to full alertness. I sat up and opened my eyes, taking in the scene.
Ella, still gorgeously naked but now tense with fear, was digging through my saddlebags with an air of desperation. Worse, I could hear a hover engine approaching.
I immediately cut the lights of the tent and grabbed Brax’s collar, signaling for him to go silent. Ella was at least staying quiet, but she kept moving around closer to the cave entrance as she struggled to find something. As the sound grew nearer, however, she had the sense to duck down.
A dark shape briefly blocked most of the light at the entrance. I braced myself, trying to ignore the first stirrings of fresh lust at the base of my spine. My sheleki was endangered, and protecting her was my only focus right now.
After a moment, two more shadows paused in the cave mouth, then swept on again, their engines humming. I leaped to my feet as soon as they were gone, intent on joining Ella. I couldn’t call out to her and instruct her to come to me without alerting the catcher. I would have to go to her.
Brax trembled with excitement but stayed obediently where he was as I rose and moved along the wall toward Ella. She pulled out my swords and laid them aside for me, then kept digging, being as stealthy and quick to duck down as she could.
I edged along the wall toward her, back to the stone, ready to dip behind one of the outcrops if another slaver paused at the entrance. I wanted to shift into my Wulfaen, but the energy it would take to morph into my beast—swiftly killing the intruders before the rest of the catchers arrived—could jeopardize my ability to protect my mate. This was a risk I wasn’t yet willing to take.
Ella looked up as I came toward her and smiled with relief. But the brief distraction of our eyes meeting nearly proved fatal. Brax suddenly growled again, and another shadow appeared in the doorway before Ella could get behind the cover of our gear.
The hoverbike landed in the flat, dry spot just beyond the entryway, blasting us with air from its fans. Two figures jumped off—and I heard them talking as the engine cycled down.
“These caves are full of shovel-claws. No one would stay here.” The first one was smaller and younger-sounding than the other, but I couldn’t see features. Only dark silhouettes against the bright cave mouth.
“That alien had a riding dog. They eat shovel-claws for breakfast. Those things run at the smell of dogs every damn time. We have to check every cave, or Belland will find out for sure.” Dazzled by daylight, they did not yet see us as they dismounted. “I’m more scared of him than a hundred shovel-claws.”
“You have a point. Let’s search this section using the climbing ropes and report back. I need my teaberry broth, or I’m not ever going to wake up fully.” A sigh and shuffling from the younger one. “Where’s my damn wrist lamp?”
“It’s supposed to be on your wrist, youngling.” The elder sounded so tired that I almost felt sorry for him. I was still going to take off his head, though.
“Well, it’s broad daylight. I must have left it back at camp.”
The brewing argument distracted them as I snuck the last few body lengths.
