Page 41 of Taken By The Alien Warrior Pirate

“I’m not the one with the power problem.” Amada’s lips curled wickedly, her mouth forming perfect parentheses on either side.

“I’d beg to differ.”

“We can agree to disagree.” Amada’s shrug was indifferent, but I knew it was all a front to make herself look tougher than she actually felt inside.

“Just stay away from Carmela. I don’t want to have to tell you again. Things won’t end well for you if you continue to harass her,” I warned.

“You’re all talk,” Amada chastised. Her eyes flashed with excitement. “I don’t believe a word you say.”

“Watch me.” I gave her an icy glare. “You still haven’t given me an explanation forwhyyou ambushed Carmela in the bathroom. You invaded her privacy. There is no excuse for that.”

“She’s not one of us,” Amada fired back. “She doesn’t belong here. She should have gone back to where she belongs with the other humans.”

“She wants to be here helping us,” I said. “She’s courageous and kind, something you know nothing about.”

“She’s notdoinganything of value,” Amada argued.

“Yes, she is. She is helping with the robots,” I countered. “Something which you know nothing about because you won’t even bother to get to know her. You won’t even give her achance.It’s not about her being a human. It’s because she’s in a romantic relationship with me. That’s therealreason why you hate her so much.”

“I don’tneedto know her. Ineedto do my job,” Amada protested. Once again, she missed the whole point.

“Well, if you don’t stop antagonizing her, you won’t have a job todo,” I threatened.

Amada’s laughter was diabolical. “What’s done is done.”

“What’sthatsupposed to mean?”

“If you are waiting on an apology for sneaking up on your little friend in the bathroom, then you’ll be waiting forever.” The typical darkness shrouded over Amada’s features again and she glared at me.

“Just leave her alone,” I said.

“You should heed your own advice. If you want to taint the royal blood line by breeding with some inferior human, it’s none ofmybusiness,” Amada exclaimed.

She was descending into the madness in her own head, yielding to it. Her smile brightened, but it wasn’t cheery. There was still a storm inside her eyes just waiting for the perfect opportunity to wreak havoc on the world.

“What are you trying to say?” I narrowed my eyes and studied her with distrust.

Amada continued with the devilish smile that rattled my senses. “Maybe my opinion doesn’t carry much weight, but I know some whose opinionsdomatter.”

“Who?” My heart drummed anxiously. I knew where Amada was taking this, but I wanted her to confirm. I needed to hear her say the words.

“The Elders. Our own kind who are still at large. What willtheythink? Willtheyapprove?” Her features twisted impishly. "I should certainly thinknot.”

“What are you trying to say?” I hissed through clenched teeth.

“Maybe you should re-think your decision to be with the lowly human,” Amada declared with a casual shrug, and a breezy tone to inflict more damage to my psyche.

“Are you trying to blackmail me by threatening my reputation with the remaining Elders? Are youreallygoing to stoopthatlow to put my position at risk?”

Amada’s smile was glacial. “See? Itoldyou that all you cared about was power. As soon as I mentionedanythingabout your reputation, you start to panic.Thatgot your attention quick enough.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about.” I stiffened. Every muscle in my body became taut as if I were preparing to go into battle. Perhaps in some ways I was.

“No.” Amada made a clicking sound with her tongue. Her tone was chirpy and rage-inducing. “I think you are getting the messageloudand clear.”

I turned my back to her. I couldn’t look at her another second. Everything about her disgusted me. Her attitude made her incorrigible. A throbbing headache pounded between my temples, caused by the stress of having to deal with my scorned ex-lover. I began to question my decisions. Was any of this worth it in the end? What was I even working for, if I couldn’t get the respect and dignity, I felt like I deserved?

“As soon as the remaining rescued people are returned to their home worlds or embassy bases, I will be replacing you as the ship’s chief engineer, Amada.”

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