Page 35 of Fated for the Alien Fighter

“Ti’venit,” the Quillon said, voice gruff. “Food or shelter?”

“Both.” Taryn took out the necklace he’d been hiding underneath his own tunic. It had a round sigil, with a green, winding symbol on top of it. He placed the sigil on top of the counter. The area surrounding it instantly glowed brighter. “One night, two rooms.”

“Not possible. It’s gem season, we’re full. The storm filled up the last rooms.”

“Ah, a problem to solve. My favorite.” Taryn looked around the tavern. “Who here would like to give us their room and make a profit for the night?”

His voice sliced through the laughter. A heavy, curious silence fell over everyone. Finally, one of the younger-looking Quillons swayed upright. “I do.”

“Two beds?” Taryn asked.

The Quillon nodded.

“I’ll give you triple its price for tonight.” Taryn nodded at the Quillon’s full table. “And pay for your meal.”

A hint of a smile pulled at the Quillon’s lips. Just as he was about to open his mouth–and say yes, if Leah had to guess–the Quillon female next to him piped up. She was shorter than the males, her black hair tinged blue at the ends; her horns were smaller and spindlier, curving around the back of her head. “Six times the priceandtomorrow’s meal, too.”

“Triple the price, two meals.” Taryn leaned against the counter, all calm and controlled, eyeing the Quillon male. “And I’ll buy you the most expensive vinnor they have here.”

“Done,” the Quillon said, much to the female’s dismay.

Taryn smirked, placing his sigil on the counter once more. It glowed and a whizzing sound erupted from the slab, for only a second. It was very similar to the way Leah paid for her transportation back in the city.

“Bring our food to the room, please,” Taryn said, his hand resting on the small of Leah’s back, guiding her through the tables. He really did seem taken with her back, especially her spine.

His arm was warm and comforting, but even as Leah’s stomach growled at the thought of food, one thing kept blaring inside her mind.

One room.

One night.

Alone with Taryn.

Universe help her.

12

TARYN

As soon as the door to their room for the night slid to the side, Taryn knew there would be trouble.

Leah walked in like a breeze, soft and curious, her glorious human eyes taking in the oval space with the unrestrained wonder only younglings on Quillon ever dared to show. Her gaze swept over the large windows embedded in the ceiling. Outside, the storm still raged, rain hitting the glass as if it wanted to shatter it.

“We’ll be totally safe from that, right?” she asked.

“Of course. The weather gets menacing here, the houses have been made to endure,” he said.

Kustume, for all its wonders, had been built between the hills that created a natural wind tunnel, perfect for starting storms. It was located in the heart of the Royal Grounds, stretching halfway around the planet. The other half was nature’s territory and few ventured out there to fight zeratops and whatever gnarly beings had evolved in the meantime.

Before the Zavorians had left Quillon, in a sea of blood and despair, a few of them had tried to breach the dark side of Quillon. They’d wanted to settle it, fight nature instead of working alongside it.

They’d lost countless Zavorians in that foolish mission.

Taryn was still convinced that the Zavorian ruler, still the most wretched being he’d ever met in his life, had decided to start a war with Quillons to make everyone forget about that failure.

His pride allowed nothing but success, even if it came with bloodshed.

“Wow, are those beds? They look like bathtubs.” Leah circled the two ovals located underneath the windows, eyes lingering on the dark sheets. They were embedded in the stone floor, with golden rims around them. The space between them, enough for at least three other Quillons to sleep, was made out of gray disks, each with small circles inside it. “Fancy design.”

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