Page 38 of Taken By The Alien Warrior Pirate

“Yes, he does.”

“He’s just going to end up hurting you.”

“You can’t speak from your own experience,” I said. “My experience with him is totally different.”

“The little human weasel is sounding way too overconfident,” Amada chortled.

“You only call me degrading names because it’s the only defense you have against me,” I said. “But your words don’t hurt me anymore because I know they aren’t true. It’s just your way of trying to get back at me. You’re just jealous because you want what you can’t have — whatIhave.”

Amada took a step backward to size me up again. Her eyes roamed over me in maniacal disbelief. “Excuse me? Youactuallythink I amjealousof you? You are a scrawny, nothing of a human.”

“That’s your opinion,” I said flatly, trying not to let tears pool in my eyes because Silver was right. If I showedanylevel of weakness whatsoever, Amada would prey on it. “An opinion of which I care nothing about.”

“You’ll care when the time comes,” Amada said ambiguously.

“What is that supposed to mean?” I asked.

Amada’s lips curled into a sinister smile. Her eye were cold and calculated. She simply smiled, saying nothing. She knew she was making me nervous by not elaborating on what she meant.

“You know what? Whatever. I’m not going to stand in here and let you antagonize me anymore.”

I huffed past Amada and went to the sink. I clamped my hand over the faucet and twisted it on. I didn’t dare look in the mirror because I knew Amada was behind me and I didn’t want to look at her reflection. I didn’t want to give her any more attention.

She was like a misbehaving child. The more you addressed their bad behavior, the more they were going to do it. It was just better to ignore it until it stopped. It was like feeding oxygen to a flame. You had to starve it, or it would keep spreading.

It was different with Amada, though. She didn’t seem to have an off switch. She was ruthless. The woman never tired of making my life a living hell. I wasn’t even safe in thebathroomfor crying out loud. This was theoneplace on the ship — let aloneanywherethat should be considered sacred.

I didn’t look, but I noticed Amada walking toward me from behind. When she got close, about an inch away, she stopped. Her breath was warm on the back of my neck. I stiffened again and goose pumps prickled on my skin. I shuddered quietly as I washed my hands under the hot water of the sink basin.

Amada inhaled slowly. “Listen up, you human piece of trash. Keep your nose out of things that will never be of your concern,” Amada whispered in a chilly tone directly in my ear. I still refused to look at her face in the reflection of the mirror. I wouldn’t give her the satisfaction of her seeing me crumble.

I swallowed hard and kept my temper in check. After a moment, I finally worked up the courage to look her in the eye, through the mirror.

“Leave me alone.”

Amada’s lips curled into that twisted smirk again. She started backing away from me.

“I’m telling you,” she warned. “If you don’t stay away from Cyburn, you and I willbothsuffer for it.”

“Shut up and go away,” I said, turning my head to glare at her as she slowly walked toward the bathroom exit. I was done listening to her idle threats.

Amada’s features looked suddenly started, as if she wasn’t expecting this type of resistance from me.

She turned her back and stalked through the door, leaving me to pick up the pieces left behind by despair and anxiety.

ChapterSixteen

CYBURN

Iwalked into the robot laboratory a little before lunchtime to get Carmela. It was something I often did.

We enjoyed eating together, and we were on a bit of a routine with each other when it came to our schedules. Even when we were busy engaging with our own obligations, we tried to make time during the day to visit with each other, or at least eat our meals together.

Catching up with Carmela was always my favorite part of the day. I was always so excited to see her, even if we had only been apart for a few hours.

Carmela had her back turned when I entered the lab. She looked lost in deep thought, studying the robot parts on the table. Her head was down as she leaned over, clearly focusing.

I cleared my throat to let her know I was there. I hated to interrupt her, but I didn’t want to startle her either.

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