Protected by the Alien Warrior Hope Hart (books that read to you .txt) 📖

I shiver as my imagination presents all kinds of scary beasts, with tentacles and sharp teeth, waiting to drag me into the depths below.

What if Vrex is dead? What if those Voildi managed to kill him and he’s lying somewhere in the forest?

Or what if he killed them and decided I’d brought enough pain and heartache to his life? And then he headed back to his cabin in the woods?

“That was your first mistake, little Flame Hair. Believing that I was good. I warned you not to trust anyone on this planet.”

I shiver. Surely he wouldn’t leave me. Right?

I stop struggling as the Zintas turn so that I’m facing the hill, and I scowl at Aroth as he slowly makes his way down the grassy incline.

“You have cost me a lot of credits and time,” he says once he’s a few feet away. “When the Voildi did not bring you to me as agreed, I went to their lair and killed many of them until they swore they would fulfill their side of the bargain.”

I sneer at him. “You’d think you’d see it as a sign that you should move on with your life. This will end badly for you.”

Aroth laughs. “You know what I like about you, Flame Hair?” I flinch at the reminder of Vrex’s nickname for me, and Aroth reaches out to touch my hair.

I jerk my head back, and he laughs again.

“Your species is weak. You have no weapons and are smaller than most of our children. And yet you talk as if you are stronger and faster than all of us combined. Fascinating.”

Yeah, yeah, I have a big mouth. Since he enjoys it so much, I clamp it shut, glaring at him. He lowers his head, studying me from beneath thick eyebrows. “We have not seen creatures like you on our side of the Great Water. You will provide wealth for our children’s children’s children.”

I bite my tongue. “Pretend inferiority and encourage his arrogance.” I can see my dad, sitting next to my bed and grinning at me above his book. He’d expect me to be smart about this.

Aroth seems to lose interest, turning away and ordering his men to get ready.

Where are you, Vrex?

I still have my knife, but I’m not an idiot. I’m not going to be able to take down all of these guys with a knife shorter than their forearms.

“He will win who knows when to fight and when not to fight.”

I just have to hold on. Vrex will find me, and in the meantime, I’ll wait for my chance. They’ve already proven that they underestimate me.

“He will win who, prepared himself, waits to take the enemy unprepared.”

I study the Zintas’ every movement as they prepare the boat. They pull up the anchor, and then they’re gesturing us forward.

I dig in my heels, but one of the Zintas just picks me up, holding me in front of him with his arms wrapped around me, trapping my arms down by my sides.

My throat feels like it’s closing up as my heart races. I really don’t want to get on that decrepit boat. In fact, I’m coming perilously close to begging.

The Zinta passes me up onto the boat and sits down before placing me next to him, his hand clamped around my upper arm tightly enough to bruise. My gaze flicks from the boat to the rocky shore, to the Zintas, and back again as I concoct and discard one escape attempt after another.

“Move,” one of the Zintas suddenly roars, and I turn my head as Aroth strides through the shallow water and climbs onto the boat. My heart stops as I gaze up the hill to where Vrex is sitting on Nari, his sword in his hand as she gallops down the hill, feet scrambling for purchase on the stones.

I punch the Zinta holding me in the face, and he growls, reaching to grab my free arm. His hand is like a vise wrapped around my bicep, and he simply pulls me closer as I kick out at him.

“Ivy!”

We’re pulling away from the shore, but determination is clear on Vrex’s face as he jumps from Nari’s back and sprints toward us.

Aroth turns from where he’s sitting at the end of the boat and screams at his men, who paddle faster. Vrex splashes through the water, teeth bared as his eyes lock on my face.

Aroth kicks one of his men off the boat, then reaches out and pushes off another one.

“Kill him,” he demands.

The Zintas splash into the water, and we’re now deep enough that it’s is almost up to their chests. Aroth doesn’t expect them to kill Vrex, I realize. He’s just hoping they’ll slow him down long enough for us to get out of here.

Vrex kills the Zintas in the blink of an eye, but it’s still too late. He roars, the anguish clear on his face as he attempts to get to our boat only to sink beneath the water. He flounders, and terror makes my mouth dry. He can’t swim.

“Stop, Vrex! Please!” I beg as he comes up, gasping for air. He’s going to drown, but he doesn’t listen, and I choke on a sob as Aroth screams louder at his men and we float further and further away.

Chapter Ten

Vrex

I…failed.

Of course you did, my uncle sneers in my head. Did you expect otherwise?

No. I just need to get across this water. I know no one with this ability. But that does not mean that I can’t find someone.

Ivy is a survivor. If there is one thing I’ve learned about my little Flame Hair, it’s that she will never give up.

The Zintas may think that they have won. But Ivy will fight. And when I find her, they will wish they had never been born.

I haul myself onto Nari’s back, and she charges up the hill. We travel for hours until we’re finally approaching Rakiz’s camp. Nari is exhausted, and I feel half