An alarm on the shuttle’s screen indicated that the Zzjitzzeëns had sent the landing coordinates over to them.
“I really don’t like it,” he grunted, entering the coordinates for the Zzjitzzeën ship into the transporter’s computer, “but I have to admit you’re probably right. Just don’t overdo it.”
“As long as you remain calm, everything will be alright,” Kat retorted.
Dykan rubbed the ridges on his forehead and blew out a long stream of air.
With the instructions Dykan received from the Zzjitzzeëns, he piloted the shuttle toward the landing platform of their ship, landing smoothly in one of their docking bays. Two Zzjitzzeëns, armed with blasters, were already standing there, waiting for their arrival.
“I’m going out first,” Dykan said. “I’ll give you a sign when it’s safe for you to come out. Okay?”
Kat nodded.
Dykan cupped her face with both hands, his thumbs caressing her lips. He wanted to say something comforting, something encouraging, but he couldn’t find the right words. So instead he bent over and planted his lips on hers in a brief kiss. His tongue flicked over her bottom lip, tasting the sweetness of her mouth. He closed his eyes for a moment and nuzzled her neck, breathing in deeply to savor her scent. Maybe this was the last time he would touch, taste and smell her. That thought caused a sharp pain to radiate from within his chest.
From the moment the leader of the Zzjitzzeëns had seen Kat, there was no going back, he knew. The Zzjitzzeën wanted her. It was so apparent that he didn’t even need to say it out loud. The alien’s interest in his Kitten had almost been tangible. Maybe he just wanted to make a quick profit, but Dykan feared he had other, more lecherous motives. A mixed feeling of possessiveness, anxiety and protectiveness raged through his body. He repressed to urge to start the shuttle and return with Kat to the safety of his own ship as fast as possible. The Zzjitzzeëns wouldn’t respond well to him leaving with the female. There was a chance they would shoot at the shuttle in an attempt to stop him, maybe killing them both in the process. Dykan had no other choice than to shut off his instincts to attack anyone who dared to look at her lustfully. He had to remain calm, for both their sakes.
“We’re going to be okay,” Kat whispered, her eyes full of confidence. “I have faith in you and your crew.”
Dykan laughed joylessly. He, as the male, was supposed to reassure his female. Tell her she needn’t worry, that he would protect her with his life. But from the get-go, she was the one who had been reassuring him. Her words did made him feel a little better, though. Reluctantly, he let her go and moved to the exit, pushing the panel next to the door.
The door opened and he stepped out, stretching his arms out to his side just in case the Zzjitzzeëns had twitchy trigger fingers. Immediately, the two Zzjitzzeëns raised their blasters in his direction.
“Don’t move, Makaen,” the tallest of them hissed. “We have received orders to inspect you first. Our leader wants us to make sure you aren’t carrying any weapons.”
Dykan shrugged. “Do whatever you find necessary, but I’m not carrying weapons. Unlike others, Makaen don’t need to arm themselves to feel brave.”
Both Zzjitzzeëns snorted but didn’t respond further. The tallest one walked up to Dykan cautiously and patted him down. Dykan smirked inwardly when the Zzjitzzeën neglected to find the key he had hidden in his jacket.
“He’s clean,” the Zzjitzzeën informed his colleague, then he turned back to Dykan. “Where is the female? We were ordered to bring her to our leader immediately.”
Dykan nodded toward the shuttle. “Like a good slave, she is waiting until I, her master, tell her to come out.”
“Well, tell her to come out, then,” the smaller Zzjitzzeën hissed, “unless you want us to go in ourselves and drag her out.”
“You can try that, but you wouldn’t like my reaction.” Dykan spoke in a deadly calm voice, even though he was raging on the inside, ready to pounce on both Zzjitzzeëns if they took one step toward the shuttle. “No one touches what is mine without my permission.”
“Then call the female,” the tallest said anxiously, waving his weapon in front of Dykan’s face.
“Not until both of you lower your blasters. You seem a bit nervous. I don’t want you to accidentally shoot the female and damage the merchandise. Furthermore, I doubt your leader would be very forgiving if the female got hurt.”
The Zzjitzzeëns glanced at each other for a moment and then simultaneously lowered their weapons.
“That’s more like it.” Dykan turned to the entrance of the transporter and held out his hand. “Red, you can come out now.”
From the relative safety of the transporter, Kat listened to the conversation that took place outside. If she didn’t feel so nervous, anxious, and, yes, afraid—even though she would never admit that to Dykan—she would be impressed by the way Dykan stood up to the Zzjitzzeëns. He didn’t seem intimidated in the slightest. She hoped some of his bravado would rub off on her.
When he called out her name, she jerked up. Her heart was beating like a stampede of Myrbyn beasts.
Kat pulled her dress down, then up, then down again with an irritated groan while doing her best to keep her breasts covered. She drew in a deep breath, lowered her head and stepped outside.
Dykan was standing near the exit, holding out his hand to her. Kat placed her hand in his and glanced at the two Zzjitzzeëns through her eyelashes. They were almost as tall as Dykan but far less muscular. Just like the Zzjitzzeën she had seen on the viewscreen moments before, these two had beaks, beady eyes and gray-green skin.
Kat noticed both of them ogling her like she would ogle a chocolate bar, like a Snickers or a Kit-Kat. Yep, Kat the Kit-Kat. That thought made her chuckle nervously.
Dykan squeezed her hand, reminding her that they were on a Zzjitzzeën ship, surrounded by dangerous aliens. This was no laughing matter and she had to stay in character. She stopped laughing instantly.
“Okay,” Dykan said, “what are you waiting for? Take us to your leader.”
A snort escaped Kat’s lips and she did her best to suppress the giggles that were bubbling up in her stomach. Dykan gave her a questioning look. She just shook her head gently, holding in the laughter. There was no way she could explain to him right now why what he had said was so funny, or why her nerves made things sound funnier than they perhaps were.
“Come with me,” the tallest Zzjitzzeën replied, irritated, and he turned around, gesturing to Dykan to follow him.
What Kat witnessed next was enough to clobber any existing nervous giggles to a painful and horrifying death.
Chapter 17
“Close your mouth and stop staring at his ass,” Dykan whispered through his teeth, annoyed.
Kat and Dykan were being escorted to the bridge by the two Zzjitzzeëns. One of them was walking in front of them at a rapid pace, the other one behind them. Far behind. Apparently, he found it prudent to keep his distance from Dykan. Kat grasped the logic. He didn’t trust Dykan, and the last thing he wanted was to be in grabbing range of a Makaen who could snap his neck like a twig.