Free Alien Lover (Zerconian Warriors Book 2) by Sadie Carter Page B

dawned. “You’re deliberately trying to make me mad. But why? So I won’t worry? Koran, what’s happened to Dex? ”
    Koran sighed. “Panic is counterproductive.”
    She would show him counterproductive when she shoved a stick up his ass to remove the one already lodged in there.
    “Tell me.” If he didn’t tell her then she was going to question everyone on this ship until someone told her what was going on. “Tell me what is going on.”
    “Fine,” he growled. “But if all Earther females are this bossy then I want nothing to do with them.”
    Koran walked over to the control panel and pushed a few buttons.
    A holographic image of a thin, clean-shaven man with a smug smile appeared.
    “Greetings. I am going to assume you know who I am. I have your Crown Prince. He is unharmed at the moment. Well, mostly. But that will not continue unless you fulfill my demands. You have four moon risings to produce Danteson LaBellen to me. Then I will return your Crown Prince and warriors.”
    The holographic image disappeared.
    “Shit. What did he mean, ‘mostly unharmed’?” Zoey placed her arms over her stomach, as though trying to contain her pain. Dex had been captured? What would she do if something happened to him?
    It hadn’t been that long since she had nearly lost him. She didn’t know if she could do this all again.
    “What are we going to do?”
    Koran watched her carefully. “That was Targos Turek. Last year, he challenged his cousin, Dante, to a high-stakes poker game. Targos’ mother and Dante’s father were brother and sister. Dante bet his kingdom and lost. Dante’s father was always a close ally of Dex’s father. When Dante had to flee Edreinia, the Emperor gave him sanctuary.”
    “So why does this Targos want him now?”
    “I don’t know.”
    “Can we get Dante here in four moon risings?” she asked, pacing back and forth.
    “We cannot swap him for Dex and the others, Zoey.”
    Zoey swung around to gape at him. “Why not? Shouldn’t your first loyalty be to Dex?”
    Koran straightened his shoulders, staring down at her coldly. “My first loyalty is always to the Crown Prince.”
    “Then what is the problem?” She had to save Dex. She couldn’t live without him.
    “It would not be honorable. Dex gave Dante sanctuary. It is our duty to protect him.”
    “Even if it means Dex might die!” While she knew Koran was right, she wanted Dex back. No matter what she had to do.
    “Dex will not die. You insult him by suggesting that.”
    She turned to gape at him. “He nearly died not so long ago or have you forgotten that?”
    “That is different. That was out of his control.”
    “So is this. He’s being held prisoner, Koran. What do you think is going to happen when we don’t meet this asshole’s demands? Do you think he’s just going to shrug and say ‘oh well, my evil plan isn’t going to work so I’ll just release you, oh, and here’s some chocolate and champagne, no harm, no foul’?”
    He frowned. “I think I understood about half of that. Of course, Targos will not simply release him. But Dex will find a way to free himself and his warriors.”
    “Forgive me if I’m not so certain of that.”
    “Dex is a warrior. Targos is weak. Dex will triumph.”
    “Targos can’t be that weak if he managed to capture Dex and his warriors.” Why wasn’t Koran more concerned? These warriors could be so infuriating.
    “Not through a fair fight, I’m sure.”
    “Look, I know you guys are all about honor and crap, but not everyone fights fair.”
    “We know that.” Koran appeared highly insulted.
    “But are you prepared for it?”
    “Dante had a gambling addiction. He should never have gambled his kingdom. That was his first mistake. His second mistake was believing that Targos would play fair.”
    “And that could be your undoing as well. He won’t play fair, Koran.”
    “What Targos does is of no consequence. Dex will find a way to escape.”
    “And if he doesn’t? If