Chapter 3

CHAPTER THREE

KObrIK

I 'm about to leave the war-torn industrial area when I spot a lone figure running in the distance.

The being jogs under one of the few working street lights, long enough for me to see green skin and the unmistakable black uniform with silver shoulder spikes of a grud scout.

Despite his bulk, he's moving at a fast clip, but not fast enough to outrun me. Grud are known for their immense strength, not agility.

And this one lacks grace, tripping over the uneven ground. He rises quickly and resumes his flight. He must sense I'm nearby.

I race ahead, intending not only to run him down, but also to break several of his bones in the process. An injured grud is much easier to capture than a healthy one.

When I slam into the grud, he crashes to the ground without any resistance. My horns pitch forward, ready to spear the male. No grud goes down that easily unless he has a weapon ready.

Before he can shoot me, I straddle his waist and thrust my knife against his throat. The male beneath me is uncharacteristically soft .

"Make one move and I will kill you," I warn in Common.

"Please don't," a feminine voice squeaks.

A female grud scout? It's not possible. The grud subjugate their females. Keep them hidden deep in their tunnels for breeding and serving.

I shine my comm's light onto the grud's face.

No scales. Green eyes, not yellow. And the smooth skin of a human, albeit green. I've never seen a green human, but I've only been on Earth a few days.

"Who are you?" I demand.

"Don't hurt me," she pleads.

Slowly, I move my knife away, but don't sheathe it. A delectable floral scent confirms I've captured a human female wearing a grud uniform. Could she be aiding the grud? While improbable, I've seen people betray their own kind. Namely, anyone in the Brotherhood.

"Explain these," I say, tapping my knife against the spikes on the uniform.

"The guy who owned the uniform didn't look good in shoulder pads?" she says, green eyes wide and cautious as she watches my reaction.

It takes a moment before I realize what has happened here. She's dressed like the other humans I've seen in the residential areas. In clothing meant to disguise her true identity so she does not shame her family when she begs for food.

This female is not a spy. She's hungry .

"Had I known you were a human, female, I never would have tackled you. I mistook you for a grud."

The fear in her face begins to fade. "Does that mean you won't hurt me?"

"You have my word as a warrior."

"You certainly have the alien warrior look down. Seriously, great costume, though the way you tackled me, you should have dressed as a football player."

"A football player? What is this?"

"You're kidding me, right?"

I shake my head.

"A disguise. Though not as unique as the one you're wearing."

"Should I need a disguise on Earth, I will consult you."

"Great. First, can you get off me?"

I want to say yes, but my body says otherwise. Despite the grud uniform, she's rather captivating, especially those expressive eyes.

"I rather like this position."

Her eyes widen.

"It's easy for talking," I say, so as not to scare her further.

"That's because you're not the one on the hard ground," she says with a note of amusement. "Are you going to get off me or must I beg?"

Beg. Drekk. I've forgotten why the humans have been dressing in costumes. To beg for food. Except there's no youngling with her. A missing youngling would explain why she's here.

I get off her and scan the area. "I will help you find your youngling."

When I offer her my hand to rise, she shakes her head. I want to take my time looking at her beautiful green eyes, memorizing her features , but not while there's a lost youngling. This world is full of dangers, including a grud lurking about.

"I don't have any children, but you really have the alien act down pat. The terminology clinches it. No one says ‘youngling.'"

No youngling? I can relax now that there is no urgency. Again, I offer my hand, but she refuses. "Are you hurt? Is that why you don't rise?"

"I'm a little shaken." Her eyes remain on me as she stands. "I can't believe you thought I was a grud."

"You wear a grud uniform. And you are green, female," I say as I take in her full, delectable form. She's taller than I envisioned. "From a distance, you appear to be grud."

A smile graces her lovely face. "That's a compliment. I worked hard on this uniform. Though I must admit, I need horns like the ones you're wearing to complete the alien look. What are you when you're not chasing imaginary grud?"

"I'm in law enforcement. Here on special assignment."

"Special, as in classified?"

When I say nothing, she lifts her chin. "Ignore me. I'm too curious for my own good. Great costume, by the way. Definitely better than mine. The horns are fabulous ."

"This is standard clothing for a mission off-world. I'm a zyanthan warrior."

"And I'm a grud." She twirls in her uniform. "I can't wait to tell Tammi my costume was good enough to fool a cop."

"Tammi? Is there another female lost here?"

"No. She was smart enough to stay on the bus. I was so busy talking that I got off without checking where we'd stopped. I'm Kenzie, by the way." She holds out her hand.

Instead of shaking her hand as per human custom, I run a finger along her palm. She's very soft. And I wish to touch more of her but that is not appropriate.

I force my hand to my side. "I've never seen a green human before."

"That's homemade paint. As part of my costume. It's mainly food coloring and cornstarch. See?" She takes my hand and rotates it to show the green residue on my fingertip.

Most humans refuse to talk to me. This female, however, is bold and confident. And her presence has my horns trying to twist at the tops, making them hard to control.

"What is your destination?" I ask.

"You're supposed to say, ‘Take me to your leader.'" She winks, another odd human custom, but one that intrigues me because of how her face lights.

"I have no desire to meet your leader."

She sucks in air. "Harsh. I guess there's no camaraderie among fellow aliens."

"Are we talking about more than intergalactic politics?"

"Depends." She bats those long lashes. "Where do aliens, um, negotiate their differences?"

This I can answer. "In a room with audio and video recordings for later review."

Her brows scrunch together. "I think we got off track."

"Yes, because you evaded my question. I asked about your destination."

"I don't give out personal information to every Tom, Dick, and Harry I meet. Safety reasons, you know?"

"Ah, then you need not fear, because my name is not Tom, Dick, or Harry."

She rolls her eyes. The cultural packet I read on route to Earth covered this mannerism. It's a sign of disbelief. And yet I find the action quite adorable on her.

"I am a fellow alien, yes?" I try instead, searching for a way to set her at ease.

She laughs. "Yes, indeed."

"Come, female. I will escort you out of this area."

"I was heading to a party at my friend's house."

"And you dressed as a grud for this party?"

"It's a costume party. For Halloween. Josh emphasized scary costumes only. Nothing is scarier than a grud, right? Though I have to say, for as much thought as I put into my costume, you have me beat, hands down, even without the horns. Those muscles are fabulous!" She squeezes my biceps and squeals. "And they're real!"

The heat from her touch and the excitement in her voice shoot straight to my cocks.

Not cocks. Cock . Singular. Just the one, not the other. I'm quite sure my mating cock did not move.

Green eyes light, captivating me.

Ninety percent sure.

Slowly, this female runs a finger down the length of my arm.

Eighty percent sure.

"And your chest… Really impressive. How much do you work out each day?" she asks.

"I run and spar when I have time."

"May I touch you again, um, elsewhere?"

Drekk, my trousers are suddenly tight. I'm now only thirty percent sure my pleasure cock—and nothing else—twitched.

My mating cock definitely remains dormant.

I think.

That dainty finger works its way across my jaw and down my neck. "Killer paint job, you have there. It's not coming off."

That sizzle grows, as does my pleasure cock.

And my mating cock.

No! I'm imagining that! All her chatter is confusing my senses!

"This is not an area a female should walk unescorted." I focus on getting her out of here, anything but what my pleasure cock may be doing.

"Muscles, you don't have to twist my arm."

"My name is Kobrik, not Muscles. And I will not twist your arm or slam you to the ground again."

"What a pity. Not the arm part but slamming me." She sucks in a breath. "That could be fun."

"I would not hurt you. I vow this."

She laughs, nice and hearty. "I believe you. Don't worry, we're good."

We begin walking. "No need to escort me all the way to the party, Muscles, I mean Kobrik. Sorry. I'm a person who thinks in terms of nicknames. Anyway, if I can get to a bus, any bus, I'll be good from there."

"I will escort you to your destination."

Despite the green paint disguising her natural color, a blush definitely overtakes her face seconds before plump pink lips form a smile. "Just get me out of this hellhole and I'll be fine. This place gives me the creeps. I was convinced someone was following me."

"Someone was . Me."

"No, I mean something not human."

"Again, me."

When she slips her hand in mine, a sense of familiarity, peace even, fills me. Suddenly, my parents and siblings on Zyan don't feel so far away.

Krike, I should be focusing on finding the drekking grud, not how good her hand feels in mine.