Page 44 of Star Defenders (My Alien Mates 2)

I swallowed. They couldn't make me a host, but they could kill me and I was pretty sure the security officer was armed.

"I mean you no harm." I took a step back.

"You will come with us," the laundry worker said, so pleasantly they could be inviting me for a picnic, or something equally fun.

"I'd love to," I said regretfully. "But I can't. I have to meet a friend. A good friend. He'll wonder where I am if I'm late." I glanced at my watch. "Look at the time. I'malreadylate. Sorry guys."

I took a step to the side, but found a blaster in my face.

"You will come with us," the security officer said.

"On second thought, I could spare some time." I couldn't guess what they wanted with me, unless the nanobots in the dish were little snitches who told what human blood could do. I thought rude thoughts at them. Wasn't trying to take over one of my boyfriends bad enough?

Wait. Boyfriends? When did I start thinking about them that way?

Anyway, focus, Edie.

"Where are we going?" I asked.

"Turn around and walk," the security guy said reasonably. He stepped away from the laundry worker.

Rule number one, never let anyone take you to a second location. I remember my mother telling me that. I wasn't sure if it applied here, but what the hells.

I popped open the lid to the dish and tossed the contents into the security guy's face. He jerked back.

I wasn't sure what happened then, because I turned like a cute little rabbit and ran like hells.

I bolted around the bend and almost collided with J'avet. I skidded to a stop and he grabbed me before I could trip over my own feet. Or his.

"Iri," I said simply.

He shoved me behind him so fast I almost fell for the second time in as many minutes.

Zarex grabbed me this time and pulled me to him. He held me close while the three non-Iri security officers pulled their blasters and faced back down the corridor.

"The dish?" Zarex asked.

I winced. "I might have thrown it to slow them down. I figured human blood and all…"

"You're safe. That's what matters." He kissed me quickly on the mouth, then stood with a protective arm around me.

Blasters flashed and the laundry worker—it sounded like him—cried out.

J'avet shouted something and my heart skipped.

No, I totally didn't care if he was hurt. Or so I told myself. Okay, I cared, but it was only professional compassion, nothing more. Nothing to do with physical attraction. No way.

"We should see if they need help," I said. Technically, we should get as far away from here as quickly as possible, but if anyone needed my help, I'd stick around to give it.

"Keep near me," Zarex said.

That was the plan. I slipped my hand into his and we walked shoulder to shoulder.

A dozen steps and the laundry worker lay on the floor, presumably dead. Beside him, J'avet held his arm. His sleeve was torn, but I saw no blood.

"Blaster singe," he said with a grunt. "Security went after the last one."

More blaster shots and a shout sounded from a room nearby, followed by silence.

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