Chapter 6

Chapter

Six

ZOE

I still can't believe Taruk accepted my offer of friendship! My entire body hums with happiness—so much so that it's almost impossible to sit still like he instructed. I perch at the top of a large wooden cabinet in the middle of the deserted hallway, waiting impatiently. I clench the net tightly, flexing my fingers every so often against the cold and stiff fibers. I thought it was made from cloth, but Taruk explained it's made of some sort of indestructible metal.

"Incoming!" Taruk's voice echoes down the hallway. My breath catches in my throat as several dozen Yumz suddenly appear around the bend, rolling across the floor. Behind them, Taruk takes the corner with speed, sliding across the smooth flooring with grace without even slowing down. It would almost be comical to watch this huge warrior chasing after a dozen creatures ankle height, if the situation weren't so dire. Since they've escaped, we've been getting reports of them popping up all over the hotel, including guest suites.

I throw my net out, cursing as a couple duck beneath the mesh and escape.

Suddenly, my body is pulled from the cabinet by the combined weight of the Yumz attempting to flee.

One moment I'm looking all cool like some badass heroine in an action movie, the next I find myself sprawled on the floor, air gushing from my lungs as I land heavily. I wheeze as I attempt to breathe, my side smarting. Of course, before I truly get a chance to, I'm being dragged across the floor. To be honest, I'm glad the floor isn't made of carpet but some weird metal rubber-like material, as I'd otherwise have some serious rug burn right about now.

"Human, let go!" Taruk curses behind me, chasing after my body.

"I can't," I cry, "my wrist is caught!"

My eyes widen in horror as I glance up and realize that the Yumz are running straight towards the outdoor balcony. Are these things freaking lemmings in disguise—using a double-story drop rather than a cliff? I get being in a net sucks, but jumping off a height like this does not equate to freedom.

"Taruk!" I squeal. I struggle, trying to get my feet beneath me, but the slick floor just slides beneath me without any traction.

Outside light washes over me as I'm dragged from the hallway onto the balcony.

The edge looms closer.

With a roar, Taruk throws his body over mine. As in, literally over mine. Suddenly his weight is pinning me down, squishing air from my already starved lungs.

With quick movements, he's grabbing hold of the net, relieving me of the weight of the net and creatures. My entire arm shifts with the net, still tangled in the metallic fabric. I'm vaguely aware of how Taruk fumbles with the fabric, freeing me from the confines. My heart hammers in my chest from both adrenaline and something more… something that feels all too much like arousal.

A Volscian alien rushes up to us, an excited grin on his face. His white suit and red skin seem remarkably out of place.

"Is this another event?" the Volscian asks, running a hand over one of the towering horns jutting out of his temples.

"Rathdalia," I greet through gritted teeth and a tense smile. Our resident hotel critic. He'd witnessed Elana's daring escape and rescue, which resulted in the hotel practically being destroyed in a gunfight. She'd made up some wild and wacky story about the hotel hosting a special event as a cover-up, which led to Rathdalia's awe-inspiring review. No doubt the number of guests here and the hotel's success are all thanks to that one review. And for some reason, Rathdalia just doesn't seem all that keen to move on.

"Event… yes," I stammer. I'm not like Elana, able to come up with grand schemes out of the blue. If anything, I seem to be just making a mess of everything. "We are just testing out a couple of ideas for events."

"Oh, I do hope I get invited to participate this time around," Rathdalia exclaims. Of course he's completely oblivious that I nearly just fell to my death, or serious injury. Then again, aliens seem so much tougher than humans. A fall off this balcony is probably like jumping only two steps for them; inconsequential.

"The staff will announce any events well in advance," Taruk says over my head as he drags me to my feet. Taruk passes the net of squirming Yumz to me. I clutch at it, wishing I could sink into the background. I feel like I've just been stuffing up constantly. I'm more of a burden than a help to everyone around me.

I gasp when the world tilts around me. Taruk lifts me bridal style, net wedged between us.

"If you'd excuse us," Taruk says to Rathdalia. I'm at a loss for words—I've never heard Taruk talk so politely to anyone. He's normally just grunts and grumps. To say I'm a little jealous is an understatement.

Before I know it, he's walking past curious-gazed human staff as he makes his way back inside and towards his own little retreat—the animal stables.

"You can put me down now," I say as my cheeks flame with heat. It's one thing to crush on these guys, but an entirely different thing to be treated like a damsel in distress. They have to know that I'm willing to pull my own weight. I'm not here for a free ticket to ride.

"Shhh, female," Taruk says, not even glancing down at me. "All you humans seem to do is talk."

I scoff in disbelief at the alien brute carrying me so gently. "Did you just tell me to shut up?"

Taruk's eyes pierce down at me. For the first time, I notice that his eyes aren't truly black, but an incredibly dark brown. Why does such a revelation leave me breathless? Oh, maybe it's because I'm being carried around like I weigh nothing, like the chub on my thighs means nothing at all.

"Yes, I did. I told you to shut up," Taruk replies.

Oh boy, does this alien have another thing coming.