His companion was too big and too muscled to be called adorable, but next to the rest of the Kalquorians, that description fit. His eyes were large for his features, giving him a sweet, innocent cast. And he was gorgeous. Movie-star, romantic-leading-man gorgeous. Tina’s heart thumped faster.
When his gaze swept in her direction, she ducked purely on instinct, though she kept looking at him through her hair. He didn’t appear terrible. Quite the opposite. Despite his size, something about the alien claimed gentleness.
You can’t know that. Stop humanizing them. Stop—stop feeling sinful stuff when you look at them!
She was shocked anew when the new arrivals noticed Sister Katherine speaking to the guard. They bowed. Then they bowed toward the clusters of young women, like gentlemen at a fancy party.
Stick them in tuxes and put them on the red carpet. “Good evening, miss. Lovely weather we’re having. Would you like an autograph?” Hysterical laughter bubbled in Tina’s throat at the idea.
“I’d feel better if we’d pray,” Sabrina whispered. The group was already kneeling for the most part, and they bowed their heads.
Tina played along, but she couldn’t resist peeking at the newcomers. They approached the scary man with the four silver bars. The Kalquorian who’d started out cheerful spoke, and the guard answered. He jerked in the direction of the knot of captives that included Tina.
All three men looked directly at her.
* * * *
“Do you see her?” Osopa pulled his gaze from the pale stare of naked fear.
“I hate that she’s terrified. Along with the rest.” Tukui also brought his gaze to the Nobek, as did Yorso.
Osopa found some solace in Tukui’s obvious discomfort. His Dramok saw the misery the Earther females suffered, and he was acting appropriately. Osopa had been half afraid Tukui would dive into attempting to charm the prisoners, who would no doubt reject such wrongheaded efforts. As goodhearted as his clanmate was, Tukui had a bad habit of leaping before he looked.
Yorso bit his lip. “I wish we could do something to comfort them.”
“It’s not in our power to help any but one. We’ll concentrate our efforts on her. Do you still prefer Tina, Osopa? Yorso and I agreed she’s a wonderful choice for our clan.”
Osopa drew a deep breath. His concerns that Tina might be selfish or egocentric hadn’t been proven. Despite her tears, she’d spoken to the other girls with some calming effect. He wished he knew what she’d said to ease the worst of their horror.
“From what I’ve seen, I’d choose her over the others.”
Tukui nodded. He glanced over the huddled captives, careful to not let his gaze rest overlong on Tina. No doubt he was trying to avoid spooking her.
It fascinated Osopa to watch as the commanding cast of a born Dramok settled over Tukui’s youthful features. It was happening more often as the months under Captain Tranis taught him the leadership skills he needed.
With respect, Osopa suggested, “My recommendation is to get this over with quickly. That female—” he nodded towards the frail-looking blonde talking to Nobek Miv “—might interfere. The others look to her. If she tries to stop us from claiming our Matara, the rest may decide to help her. It will be traumatic enough for Tina without adding a struggle.”
Yorso paled at the idea of turmoil, but Tukui nodded. “Then let’s make this as fast as possible. Since this is more in your line of expertise, take the lead, my Nobek.”
Osopa wasted no time, refusing to give himself the opportunity to second-guess what had to be done. He strode towards Tina and her three companions, weaving around two other clusters to get to her. Tukui and Yorso followed close behind.
The Nobek kept his expression impassive, as was proper for a warrior carrying out his orders. He showed no reaction to the females cringing from his approach. They cried out as he neared; heartbreaking sounds he pretended weren’t driving spikes in his chest. In the space of seconds, he stood over the knot of white-clad Earthers that included Tina.
Her eyes were wide. Her face had lost all color, but for the little dots of pigment standing in stark relief on her nose and cheeks. A surge of adrenaline shot through Osopa, readying him to catch her should she faint.
He held his hand out to her. “Valentina Novak. Come with us.”
She shrank from him, and he realized he should have ditched the stoicism for a smile. Or at least softened his naturally gruff tone. It was too late to fix the matter, however. Tina called out to the startled golden-haired woman standing with Miv.
“Sister? They say I have to go with them.”
No time to lose. Osopa swooped down and scooped Tina into his arms. As he pivoted, Tukui and Yorso stepped out of his path. He noticed his Imdiko’s expression of rebuke.
I know, I know. I’m not handling it as well as I should.
He dodged as much of the tiny fist shooting at him as possible. Her blow grazed his chin as she screamed piercingly. The strike was barely noticeable, but his ears rang. He managed to secure her squirming body so that her arms were pinned against his chest. She kicked, and Tukui had to dodge.
Bedlam erupted.
Chapter Three
The other females added their shrieks to Tina’s, the little groups shifting towards the clan as they carried her to the door. The revolt was only temporary, as they fell back with more terrified cries when other guards stepped forward. Osopa jerked his head to the side, and the Nobeks froze. No threats.
The slight show of power had been enough. None of the prisoners moved to intercept him, though they shouted tearful protests and pleas that he let Tina go.
Only the blonde who’d been interrogating Nobek Miv fought to reach Tina. Miv restrained her, and she turned on him. They were still struggling when Osopa and his clan rushed out.
Tina’s despairing cry of “Help me!”, garbled by hysteria, was agonizing. She continued to fight, though her resistance barely taxed Osopa’s strength.
It was the most difficult thing he’d ever done, nonetheless. Osopa imagined a knife plunged into his heart wouldn’t be as painful as making his beautiful fire woman cry.
He was grateful his expression was set in its usual impervious mask. He passed several Nobeks in the building’s halls, and more outside as he carried Tina between the identical rectangular buildings of the colony. He ignored the stunned looks he and his clan received, refusing to falter despite how his men’s countenances darkened with fierce concern for the thrashing, squalling girl in his arms.
“Help me! Somebody, help!”
Though Osopa was fourth in the spyship’s chain of command, he imagined more than one warrior might have challenged him had Tukui and Yorso not been trotting at his side, desperately calling over her cries in an effort to calm her.
“Tina, please. We won’t hurt you. I swear it.”
“It’s all right, lovely girl. We’re here to take care of you.”
Their voices rose, sounding as desperate as hers. Tina flailed with unabated terror. She couldn’t punch Osopa again, but she tried to claw through his formsuit to tear at his chest. Between shrieks her teeth snapped at his jaw, millimeters from taking a bite out of him.
He admired her boldness and hated her fear of him.
As Osopa turned on the smooth stone pathway, hurrying faster to get where he was going, Tukui gasped, “Osopa, the shuttle pad’s the other direction.”