Alien Conquest (Fated Mates of Xaensskar #2) - Jude Gray Page 0,3

the gates and got four steps before I was grabbed. “Where are you going, boy?”

Another guard joined us. Both were huge, armed, and maybe a little bored. The first guard gave me a quick search, then pushed me to my knees.

“My friend came through here a few minutes ago,” I told them, calmly, making sure my voice wasn’t argumentative or fearful. “We’re expected by his mother who works here.” I gestured at the wound on my forehead. “I was delayed by some street kids.”

The second guard crossed his arms and snorted. “You’re a street kid.”

I shrugged and grinned somewhat wryly. “We’re a rough bunch.”

The first guard glowered down at me, frowning. “What’s the woman’s name?”

The high street and security lights seemed to spotlight me, making me nervous. I was always afraid someone would see through my disguise and then I’d have a real fight on my hands. It had happened before. “Her name is Avanya Praeva. Her son is Vihn.”

The second guard laughed and elbowed the first guard. “We well know Avanya, don’t we, Bo?”

Bo touched his earpiece and turned slightly away as he muttered something I didn’t catch, and I was forced to kneel on the cold ground for what felt like an eternity before Bo turned back around and leaned over to haul me to my feet. “She doesn’t know you,” he said flatly, “and her son said you should go home.”

Shit balls.

I didn’t say a word. I didn’t fight, or struggle, or beg them to reconsider. I wasn’t an idiot. The second guard gave my ass a solid kick and propelled me through the gates. “Don’t come back, kid.”

I was seriously worried about Vihn. Nothing good would come from his visit there tonight, but my options were limited. All I could do was stand across the street and wait for him to leave. I donned my coat, which, thankfully, was still where I’d left it, then put my back against the tree and settled in for what would probably be a long damn wait.

I shivered and huddled in my coat, then had to laugh as I realized my dislike of the cold weather had grown as I’d aged—not that nineteen was aged, exactly, but when I’d been a kid and Ilen was teaching me the ropes, the cold was just a fact of life. I barely thought of it. Now, though—

A hoarse yell interrupted my thoughts and with a suddenness that was disorienting, the property across the street broke into chaos.

And I heard Vihn’s voice above the others.

“Mo,” he cried. “Mo, tell them.”

I realized immediately what had happened—or so I believed. Without a single thought for my safety or the futility of the situation or even the precious, stolen items in my coat, I raced across the street, dodging traffic, and burst through the open gates of Eastmeadow. “Wait,” I yelled. “Let go of him, asshole!”

The place was lit up like it was the middle of the day instead of after midnight, and Tavin’s guards and other employees poured from the house as it became evident a thief had been caught.

And then, two thieves were caught.

Before I could reach Vihn, who lay prone on the ground with a guard’s knee on his thin body, someone grabbed the back of my coat and hauled me up short.

I struggled until I looked up and saw not one of the guards, but the master of Eastmeadow himself. Dexx Tavin.

Apparently Vihn’s sweet mo had lied to him about a lot of things. Shocker.

I forgot about Vihn as I stared up at the master of Eastmeadow. He was tall even for a Craeshen, his body big, muscular, and solid with broad shoulders and bulging biceps. His hair was parted in the middle and hung in gentle waves to his shoulders—but that was the only thing that looked gentle about him.

His face held a hawkish fierceness, and his dark green eyes were narrow with suspicion and dislike. His full lips were pressed tight with anger and he looked at me like I was a bug to be squashed.

“Drimuti,” he snarled, then flung me at the guard, Bo. “Chain them both in the back courtyard,” he ordered. “Tomorrow have them taken to the sheriff. He can decide their fates.”

“Wait,” I yelled. “I am not Drimuti.”

“You have Drimuti in you. That is enough. Thieving, murderous lot.”

It was no secret that Craeshen hated Drimuti. Ancient stories said that Craeshen were nearly wiped out by Drimuti. Recent generations of Craeshen were born with an aversion of Drimuti—or