Enticed by the Alien Warrior (Warriors of Agron #8) - Hope Hart Page 0,46

stew on our table, ordering us to eat quickly so someone else can have our seats.

“At the market when Korzyn was attacked, it all became clear. When I saw him lying there…no matter how much I hate him, I don’t want him dead. We’re in over our heads here. I overcompensated, I know I did. I always do.”

Tears drip down my face at the despair in her voice. Sarissa feels like she has to save everyone because she thinks she failed to save Kelly. I can tell her it wasn’t her fault until I’m blue in the face, but she’ll never believe me. My cousin did everything she could that night—she has the scars to prove it.

“What are you saying?”

“I’m saying I thought I could betray these people, who’ve never done anything to hurt us. But I can’t. You were right, you know. I’m broken. But I’m not a monster.”

“I shouldn’t have said that. I was upset because I couldn’t face the thought of betraying Arix. You’re right, it’s more than just a fling. For me, anyway.”

Sarissa sighs. “Well, I couldn’t face the thought of telling the other women we don’t have any way to get off Agron.”

My stomach swims, Clara’s words running through my head.

“We all have our stories. None of them are good. That’s why I’m looking forward to getting off this planet. Maybe we’ll be able to find a way to contact Earth. At the very least, we might be able to give our families some hope.”

I push away the image of Clara’s sad face for now. “They’ll understand once we explain what happened. This isn’t the end. We’ll figure out a way to get that ship off Agron. I promise.”

Sarissa nods, but I can tell she doesn’t believe me.

“Do you want me to be the one to tell the others?”

She immediately shakes her head, her pale lips firming. “I can do it.”

I reach out and squeeze her hand, relief hitting me like a drug.

“Okay,” I say. “Now we just have to figure out how to get our hands on that chip without betraying the king.”

Sarissa’s face goes hard. “These assholes thought they could use our desperation? Let’s make them see just how wrong they are.”

Arix

Korzyn is back on his feet, no matter how many times I tell him to rest. “Our enemies wanted to kill me so you’d be vulnerable.”

“Without Sarissa’s quick thinking, they would have succeeded.”

Korzyn’s jaw tightens, and I almost laugh. He hates that he was taken by surprise. And he loathes being in debt to the little human.

Truthfully, I can’t blame him.

Korzyn’s gaze is steady on my face. “You have the chip now. Will you give it to them?”

I remove the tiny silver device from my pocket, holding it up, and we both watch as it gleams in the low light.

“Such a small thing to cause so much deception,” I murmur. “I could snap it in the blink of an eye.”

Korzyn shrugs dismissively. “You and I both understand the lengths a person will go to protect their family. And those human females consider one another to be family.”

“I know.” But the knowledge burns.

Korzyn is studying me, his silver eyes almost glowing, and the hint of a smile plays around his mouth. “But you don’t forgive her for it.”

“The same qualities I admire about her, the ruthlessness, the deception, the commitment to her people…they are also the things that have allowed her to betray me.”

“You would have done the same thing.”

I nod. “I know. And the guilt wouldn’t have eaten at me the way it eats at her. Some days, she can barely look at me. To guarantee my people’s safety, I would do worse and never think twice.”

“And yet.”

I laugh humorlessly. “And yet.”

“You’re in love with her.”

I shake my head, and Korzyn laughs.

“Why else would you allow her to take her deception this far while still sharing your bed?”

“I need our enemies to believe they have turned someone I trust.”

“Tell yourself that as many times as you wish. But you could achieve the same by paying attention to her publicly and ignoring her in private. Unfortunately, you are unable to stay away from her.”

His tone turns cutting, and I narrow my eyes.

“Careful.”

“And there it is.” He waves a hand, and I grind my teeth, but I’ve made it a habit to never lie to myself. Truthfully, Vivian has gotten under my skin.

But she doesn’t have to stay there.

Tonight, I have a formal banquet with Mazark and some of our other allies from Kenritz,