Free Mated to the Alien King (Lords of Astria) by Juno Wells Page A

who approach us. I hear her turn the door handle and from my peripheral vision I can see it doesn't open. She rattles the handle but it's locked.
    The approaching men reach inside their overcoats. Tingling sensations run over my skin as every nerve alights with a primal sense of danger. The lizard part of my brain knows that I'm in jeopardy and instinct takes over. Grabbing Abby tighter, I push her behind me then start backing down the street.
    There are no street lights and the night is still overcast so there's only pale moonlight to illuminate the men. My danger sense is on overdrive. They have something odd in their hands but I can't tell what it is. It's not a phone or a gun. At least there's that.
    "Missy," Abby says her voice quavering.
    "Just keep moving," I say.
    "Not a good idea," she says.
    I whip my head around to see that there are two more men approaching from that end of the street. A quick look back and forth and it's obvious the trap has been sprung but we've backed up enough there's an alley just a few more feet from us.
    "Abby," I say catching her eye.
    I look from her to the alley quickly. She gets it, I nod and we both bolt. Abby is younger and plays college softball so she's quicker than I am. I keep myself in shape working out three to four times a week but I'm older and nowhere near as quick as her. She's pulling ahead.
    There's a flash of light then the wall next to me explodes showering shards of brick and dust. My face is lacerated as I throw up an arm for protection.
    "Abby run!" I scream.
    She's halfway down the alley when there's another flash. Instinctively I duck, fear gripping me. A trash can turns into shrapnel flying across the alley. Blinking rapidly to clear my vision I run into Abby and we both tumble to the ground.
    Do not move. You will not be harmed. We need you. I don't hear the words, they're in my head.
    Rolling on to my back I look up at the two men looking down at me. I can't see their faces or any details, just their forms. They're wearing trench coats and wide brimmed hats pulled low over their heads which keeps their faces in shadow. There are steps behind us too and one quick glance tells me we're trapped.
    "Just let her go," I say as I try to cover Abby with my body. "I'll do whatever you want. Let her out of here."
    The two men in front of me look at each other but say nothing. My heart's pounding in my chest like a jackhammer trying to break through my ribs.
    "Missy," Abby says from below me. "They're behind us."
    The two men in front of us step closer so I move as quick as I can lashing out with one foot trying to take out the one closest to me. My shin connects and pain explodes up my leg. It's like hitting a metal post. He barely glances at where I kicked him.
    No. The voice is in my head again. Do not do this. You must not be harmed. It has been ordered.
    "Who the hell are you?" the words rip at my throat.
    One of them reaches into a pocket and pulls out something. I'm sure it's going to be a gun this time. I'm about to die and I can't save Abby.
    In his hand is a small rectangle. A phone? He waves the thing in front of me and I see it displays my face along with words. Cold chills run down my spine. What the hell is this?
    Chosen. You are the one. Great honor. No harm must come to you.
    A flash of light and the wall beside the two men in front of me shatters. One of the men drops over Abby and I, covering us with his body and I hear the raining shards of brick and stone pattering against him. Flashes and explosions are happening all around us. The man on top of us smells oddly of flowers.
    Odd how my mind locks onto this mundane fact while apparently there's a war going on over my sister and I. The man covering us wiggles, his hand diving inside his coat, then emerges with a device of his own. I see his thumb and finger moving across it quickly then everything turns white. My stomach drops out like I'm going over the top of the world's biggest roller coaster and