Page 73 of Alien Prince's Claim

“Why would I want to poison you?” the other male asked. “You’re my ticket out of here.”

“Why did you help us?” Yaltah snapped.

It was the first question I wanted to ask too, if not in the same tone of voice. “By helping us, you revealed your hiding place. The Goblars will break in here, and they will, given enough time. Why did you help us?”

Yaltah was angered, irritated.

I wondered why.

The alien male shrugged his muscular shoulders and squeezed his sleeping mate’s arm. “I did what I had to. I saw you fight those things earlier. I’ve never seen anyone tear through them so easily. You have training?”

Yaltah’s eyes tightened and gave no other outward reaction.

I guessed the answer was yes.

It was news to me but I couldn’t say I was surprised.

You didn’t tear the head off Goblars the way he had if you’d enjoyed a calm, sedate life of a prince your entire life.

The other alien male let out a sigh. “That’s a relief. I wouldn’t have wanted to rescue someone who can’t fight.”

His eyes shifted between us before he raised his hands as if caught in an embarrassing situation. “Not that I’m not glad I rescued you earlier! But like you said, I put us in danger by alerting those things to our location and I wanted to make sure it was worth the risk. I can see it was.”

“So why is my ability to fight useful to you?” Yaltah growled.

The other male licked his lips. “Because there might be a way out of here. For all of us.”

Yaltah’s ears perked up and we exchanged a look.

We were fresh out of ideas so anything he suggested would be much appreciated.

“First, let me introduce myself,” the male said, “my name’s Cayah.”

He extended his arm toward Yaltah, palm facing up.

Yaltah didn’t take it without due consideration.

After a pause, he did, and they performed what I assumed had to be some kind of private salute.

They gripped each other’s arms, twisting their arms around each other before slamming their fists with their free hands, meeting in midair between them.

Cayah retracted his fist and shook it off, grimacing with pain. “I can see I chose the right guy.”

“What’s your plan?” Yaltah snapped.

Nisa mumbled in her sleep, causing Cayah to drop down beside her and stroke her forehead with a damp towel.

“She’s been like this ever since the Goblars attacked,” he said. “Her species feeds on the auras of others, of places. If she’s surrounded by happiness, she’s happy. If she’s surrounded by success, she’s successful. If she’s surrounded by dangerous creatures intent on harming her…”

He let the meaning hang. Then she’s not going to do too well.

“As soon as I heard the explosions and the attack begin, I brought us down here. There’s no further to go without bringing a shovel and digging more tunnels. It’s the safest place there is. For now, at least.”

Yaltah scowled at his question being ignored but I placed a hand on his arm to calm him.

He relaxed and let me approach Cayah.

“You have a way to get her out of here?” I asked softly.

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