Rescued by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (literature books to read TXT) 📖

arm again, the movement possessive. He leads us over to the trees, lowering his voice. “This market meets every few days,” he says. “If you want to guarantee you will be here when the vendor arrives, you will need to ensure you are in the area. I am willing to help you find whatever parts you need if you would like to stay here.”

And his game becomes clear. Vivian narrows her eyes at him. “I don’t understand you.”

He laughs. “You don’t need to.”

“Why do you want me here?”

“Am I not allowed to want to enjoy the pleasure of your company?”

“What’s your endgame?”

“If I told you that, it would spoil the surprise,” he purrs, and Vivian tilts her head as she studies him.

Then she turns back to us. “I’m staying.”

I blink, and she gives me a tiny smile at whatever she sees on my face.

“Then I’m staying too,” Sarissa says. Arix nods, seemingly unconcerned he may end up cockblocked by Vivian’s cousin. I suppress a smile at the thought. Something tells me the king has more than enough ways to get around Sarissa if he needs to.

“Are you guys sure?” This has happened so suddenly it feels like the world is spinning out of control.

Vivian steps forward, taking my hands in hers. “This is my chance to contribute to us getting off this planet,” she murmurs. “I’ll be fine. I promise.”

Next to us, Arix is very still. I study him, and his gaze shifts briefly to me. He raises an eyebrow and then returns his attention to Vivian.

I don’t trust him as far as I can throw him, but ultimately, it’s Vivian’s decision. And I feel much better about the situation knowing Sarissa will be here as well.

I glance at Sarissa, whose face is carefully blank. Why is this guy so keen to help us? If he wants Vivian, helping us leave this planet is not the way to get what he wants.

“It’s settled, then,” Arix says, and I shiver at the pure triumph in his eyes.

Tagiz

Zoey is quiet on the trip back across the Colossal Water. It’s evident she is unhappy to be leaving her friends behind.

“They will be safe,” I say, and she glances at me, wincing as Hewex retches over the side of the boat.

“Arix is scary.”

“He definitely wants Vivian, but I don’t believe he will hurt her.”

“He knows we’re planning to fix our ship and she intends to leave this planet. Why would he help make that happen?”

I shrug. “Perhaps he is hoping he can convince her to stay.”

She laughs at that. “Vivian is the least likely of all of us to stay here. Since the moment we landed, she has been one-hundred-percent focused on getting off this planet. What if he doesn’t let her leave?”

“We will deal with that if it happens.”

She searches my face and finally nods. By now, she knows our tribe will fight for the human females’ freedom.

Silence stretches between us, but I can’t help myself—I have to ask.

“And you? Do you plan to leave Agron?”

She glances at me, her blue eyes huge, and then she returns her attention to the water.

“Yes,” she says, and my chest aches. “Unless someone gives me a reason to stay.”

I should be happy for her. I should be pleased she will no longer be around. That I’ll no longer be tempted by the kind, stubborn, beautiful female who makes my gut clench with want.

Instead, all I can think about is the male she will meet on her planet. The one she will gift with her wide smiles and soft touches. The one who will get to hear her bright laughter and soft moans.

The one who will kiss her, will stroke his tongue inside her mouth, strip off her clothes, and—

“Tagiz?”

Zoey glances up at me, wide-eyed, and I realize I’m shaking, my hands fisted.

“Uh, is everything okay?”

I nod, but I can’t bring myself to speak of my thoughts. I want Zoey to have a good life. The kind of life she has always wanted. And it will be another male who will sleep next to her each night. Who will watch her belly grow rounded with his babe.

“Okay, Tagiz, seriously, what’s wrong?”

“Nothing, little healer,” I lie. She doesn’t look convinced, but I will not voice my thoughts.

She raises one eyebrow. “Can I ask you something?”

“Of course.”

“Are you going to mate with Malis?”

I shift, uncomfortable—both at the question and at the thought.

“It is…complicated.”

“Uh-huh.”

Zoey chooses not to ask any further questions, shrugging out from beneath my arm. “I’m going to go check on Hewex,” she mutters.

I watch her go, my heart heavy, my body filled with regret.

Chapter Five

Zoey

“Are you listening, child?”

“Hmm?”

I blink, focusing on Moni, who looks amused. The healers’ kradi is quiet at this time of the day, and we’re currently taking stock of the most important salves and tonics.

“Sorry.” I blush. My mind is a million miles away, all thoughts focused on one gorgeous, frustrating Braxian warrior. A warrior who is probably going to mate with someone else. The dickhead.

“What did you say?”

Moni raises one eyebrow but chooses not to comment. Yes, I’ve been distracted lately. But some nights, I’m lucky if I get just a few hours of sleep. And when I’m not gasping through my nightmares, I’m daydreaming about Tagiz.

“We need more maradoza berries,” Moni says. “I would like to make more yaroz today.”

I nod. Yaroz is a tonic and the closest thing Braxians have to a general anesthetic. Maradoza is the key ingredient, and the juice from the maradoza berries provide most of the properties that will knock someone out—during even the worst pain. But the measurements must be perfect during the creation of the tonic. Too much maradoza and the patient may not wake up. Not enough and they’ll be able to feel everything.

I wipe my hands on my apron and remove it before plucking a small knife from one of the tables and shoving it in my pocket. It’s so dull it’s unlikely to cut through my dress, but it’s