Page 17 of The Alien Noble's Little Human

8

ZAYA

“But when will you be back?” Hanai asks with wide eyes.

“Very soon,” I reply while Taurek’s footsteps echo behind me. “We have to go get this mineral so that you can feel better, alright?”

“Daddy?” she asks, lifting her eyes to Taurek, now standing over me.

“Yes, sweetheart?”

“Do you have to go?”

“Unfortunately, I do, honey. But only for a little while.”

“Can Zaya stay with me?”

“Well, honey, Zaya is actually the one who knows where the mineral is.”

“So you can stay?”

“We both have to go. But don’t worry. Zaya will keep me safe.” He winks. “I’ll make sure we both come back very soon.”

Standing up, I leave the two of them to talk and walk into the hallway. I can’t imagine being stuck with this smug megalomaniac all the way up to the peaks.

Maybe I should have taken his offer to go alone. I’m unsure if I would survive, but at least I would have had some moments of peace in the peaks without him beside me. With a guide, I have as good a chance as with him.

As if he could hear my thoughts, he walks out of the room and greets me with a sly smile. My rage is bubbling up to my throat, and I can’t contain it anymore.

“I changed my mind,” I blurt out. “I want to go alone.”

He laughs and shakes his head. “You had the chance to take that offer. It’s no longer on the table”

I run my fingers through my hair and shake my head. “Well, I’m taking it now.”

“Not a chance.”

“Hanai wants you here. You should stay.”

“Don’t,” he growls. “You’re acting like the child in this situation. It’s undignified. We’re going together.”

“If it’s about danger, I could just send a message –”

“You think any of our comms work in the mountains?”

My mouth closes, and I shake my head. “Well, I could just take a weapon.”

“Look, this isn’t even a conversation right now, so you’re only talking to yourself. But, for fun, I’ll ask. Have you ever used any type of weapon?”

“Yes,” I bark.

“What weapon?”

“A knife.”

He laughs almost uncontrollably, and I’m about to lose my patience. To stop myself from saying something that could get me shoved in a Kiphian prison, I walk away. I’m about three steps away from him when he grabs the back of my cloak. I look into his eyes, and he shakes his head again.

“We’re going together. A knife won’t do you any good out there.”

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