Free Alien Hostage by Tracy St. John

cruel laugh. “Ah, so now you’re a revolutionary. Is that why you’re still playing with Maf? Is he your stepping stone to becoming the next Empress of Kalquor? Or are you in it just so you can add the Basma to the long list of men you’ve fucked?”
    He knew the slap was coming, but the crack of Feyom’s palm against his jaw still rocked his head a little. His hateful smile never faltered for an instant, however.
    He waved to the door. “I think you know your way out, Matara Feyom. “
    Fuming, she turned on her heel and hurried out, her head held high but her face burning red. Falinset listened until he heard the front door open and close. Only then did his knotted shoulders relax.
    He stood quiet for a few moments, his head bowed and eyes closed. Falinset concentrated on his breath, letting his heart rate slow and anger dissipate.
    Would Feyom and Maf ever leave him alone? He had brought his clan to Lobam in an attempt to escape them, along with the three men he’d thought were his fathers for most of his youth. Though Feyom’s clanmates had been good to him, Falinset was angry with them. They allowed Feyom to behave dishonorably, turning blind eyes to her many dalliances and affairs. As far as he was concerned, they shared equally in her shame. He could no longer call them fathers even though they’d raised him as their son.
    Falinset heard a single pair of footsteps enter the room. He guessed both of his clanmates had entered, however. As a Nobek, it was second nature to Wekniz to move silently.
    Falinset opened his eyes and raised his head. Both men had indeed come into the room. They stood shoulder to shoulder, one face worried and the other suspicious.
    Nur spoke in a soothing tone that was as much of an instinct to him as Wekniz’s silent tread. “We thought you’d rather deal with Feyom alone. Were we right to stay out? More importantly, was I right to let her in?”
    Falinset managed a smile for his Imdiko. Of the three, Nur had the best claim on good looks, though he often claimed no one could call him handsome. He claimed his facial structure was too aggressive with its strong features. Having broad facial characteristics himself, particularly a large jaw, Falinset thought Nur looked perfectly fine. As always, the Imdiko’s jet black hair was styled in a flattering style, accentuating a clear brow and well-shaped cheekbones. His body was masculine without being bulky with a trim, toned frame. His eyes were bright with intelligence, and a caring nature shone forth on his face. When he laughed, which was far too seldom, Falinset saw nothing but beauty in his clanmate.
    The Dramok had told Feyom that he’d once feared his clanmates would kill him in his sleep. It had been true, especially in Nur’s case. Imdiko he might be, but the man was no pushover. In anger, he was a sheer force of nature. Fortunately, the days of being at odds with each other were far behind them now. Now there was only love between the three.
    Falinset told Nur, “Feyom would have kept hitting the announce until someone did let her in. As for staying out of her presence, I’m glad you did. The last thing I want is for her to get her digs in on you two.”
    Nur grimaced. “She already has us. Well, Maf does anyway.”
    Wekniz growled, “If only she was a man and Maf not a cripple. Then I could honorably beat the shit out of both of them.”
    When Wekniz scowled as he did now, he looked ready to kill. The stretched skin dragging at the corner of his left eye and mouth, scars from the burns that had nearly killed him several years ago, made the Nobek look malevolent to most even when he wasn’t angry. The raised lumpy skin of the cheek and jaw on that side of his face added to the ferocious look. More damaged skin ran down Wekniz’s neck, extending down to the shoulder and chest hidden beneath the Nobek’s loose-fitting shirt.
    Falinset could not say he didn’t see Wekniz’s scars, but they held no horror for him. To the