The steady pulse gives me relief, but the patch of red above her temple has my stomach plummeting.
“Lexi?”
I brush back the loose strands and gingerly prod the swelling that’s already present. The cut isn’t deep, but head wounds should never be taken lightly. Without a medical kit there’s little I can do to help her, so I get to my feet and make my way to the force field that acts as a door. I peer down the hall while trying to block out the repetitive blare of the alarm, which grows louder. The enforcer who monitored us is gone and I’m not the only one who’s noticed. Several other women are also standing by their cell’s entrances with expressions that range from frightened to pensive.
“Do you see anything?” I shout.
A raven-haired woman three units down shakes her head, as does a brunette further on. As one we all go wide-eyed when the alarm silences and I know my apprehension is being added to theirs. This could mean we are back to the status quo of being prisoners.
Or something worse is about to happen.
The first scream is easily heard, despite being muffled by the energy barrier. My heart lurches in my chest when the set of tarnished boots hits the stairs. That type of gear is not issued to the enforcers that work for the Galactic Court, who prefer their military to be pristine in appearance. The alien, from a species known as Wrox, finishes his descent and the brightness in his gaze intensifies as he views us.
“That bastard was right,” he says, his voice scratchy like the dress I’m wearing. “A ship full of universal breeders just waiting to be delivered.”
“Did you find them?”
A second male appears and he’s a species I’m not familiar with. And that bothers me. If I don’t know anything about his kind, then I have no idea what to expect. But more importantly, I have no knowledge of his weaknesses. Everyone, no matter where they come from, has at least one, and I’ve been storing that type of information in my mind for years.
The Wrox male sweeps his arm out to indicate the row of cells. “See for yourself.”
“Well, I’ll be a black hole.”
“Yeah, a rich one. Come on, let’s get them onto our ship before another enforcer vessel answers the distress call.”
Within seconds the Wrox has the nearest energy barrier disabled and there’s a series of protests from the human women as they are taken from the cell and escorted up the stairs. I spin away from the doorway and race to Lexi’s side. The laceration on her head appears as if it’s stopped bleeding, but I can’t take comfort in that right now.
“Lexi, can you hear me?” I lightly slap her cheeks in hopes it will rouse her. “Lexi, I know the darkness feels like a better place to be right now, but you have to wake up.”
Her eyelids flutter until they open fully. She blinks several times and I take her hand in mine, leaning over her so she can focus on me.
“That’s it,” I coax.
She swallows deep and narrows her gaze in either concentration or pain. “What happened?”
I block out the footsteps and the shrieking, keeping my attention on Lexi. “Our ship has been invaded and the raiders are taking all of the women. They’ll be here soon so you need to get up. I don’t think we can escape, but that doesn’t mean I’m not going to try if given the chance, and I can’t carry you.”
A tiny smile pulls at her lips. “Only a friend would care about leaving me behind.”
I frown in order to cover up the truth. “How do you know I won’t use you as a distraction?”
“You wouldn’t.”
I scoff. “You don’t know me well enough to say that.” After hooking my arms underneath her, I help Lexi get to her feet and steady her when she tilts to the side. “Can you manage on your own?”
“Yes, thank you.”
“Good,” I say, turning to face the cell’s entrance. “Because they’re here.”
Preorder now!
Coming 12/21/20
The House of Kaimar
The Commander’s Captive (on Audio)
The Monarch’s Mate
The Bodyguard’s Breeder
The Legislator’s Lover
The Healer’s Hellion
Hearts of Stone
Chosen by a Beast (on Audio)
Tamed by a Beast (on Audio)
Seduced by a Beast
Taken by a Beast
Loved by a Beast
Elemental Mates
Glacier
Inferno
Obsidian
Tempest
Zephyr (2021)
Terra (2021)
A Warrior’s Redemption
Prideful Savage (Nov)
Delivering the Dirty Thirty
Sensual Breeder (Dec)
Brides of Ancient Greece
Daughter of Troy
Den of the Fallen
The Masquerade
The Maverick
The Marquess
The Madam
About Miranda
Miranda Bridges began sneaking romance novels as a teenager and did not confess to reading them until she became a legal adult. After years and years as a voracious reader she woke up one day with a story in mind. She decided to write it down in order to silence her imaginary friends, but they’ve grown in number and have gotten louder. When she is not reading, writing, or drinking coffee she is taking care of two princesses who are of a reading age. Needless to say Miranda is still hiding romance books around the house, but now some of them have her name on the cover.
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About Kyra
Kyra Snow a science-fiction romance author who lives in Scotland with her wolf and kitties. She writes about badass heroines in love with seductive alien warriors who'll totally make you want to get abducted and probed on their ship. Her books are guaranteed to make you laugh, cry, blush and squirm for all the right reasons.
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