Free Bethany's Heart (Unearthly World Book 3) by C. L. Scholey

warriors ran for their lives and now the entire ship knows about her. Couldn’t you have left her behind? I’m tempted to hand her over to the Castians but they aren’t the enemy. The Tonans would be a better choice.”
    “Come now, you’re more than twice her size. You can manage her.”
    “When we get home I’m building a cage in a tree at the perimeter. Every time she sees a cyron she can warn us with her howling. Best fucking form of defense on the planet.”
    “Holy yackity yack,” Blu complained as he flopped down at the table and poured himself a mug of booze. He gulped down two mugs of the strong beverage before taking a breath.
    “Now what’s your problem?” Finn asked taking in his bedraggled appearance.
    “Adan found the interpreting console and asked me four hundred questions in five fucking minutes, tops. Her mouth is motorized, solar-propelled, or runs on some substance not known to our kind as yet. Yippee for us it’s being tried out on me.”
    Finn rolled his eyes. “So who’s next to complain?”
    “The other warriors seem happy with their females.” Titus rolled his mug in his hand.
    “Where is Adan?” Finn asked.
    “I gave her a glass of garneg. She’s out cold, on my bed and hard to resist when she’s quiet. She’s so damned cute when asleep—and her gums aren’t flapping like the hood of her fur coverings in a brutal wind. My urge to Holiday is in overdrive with her so close.”
    Finn waggled a finger at Blu. “Do not touch her unless you want to be her mate. If she smells like you I’ll have a hard time giving her to another warrior.”
    “No worries. I plan on staying drunk for the duration of our journey home. Garneg isn’t called limp dick fuel for nothing. I’m certain whatever warrior you give Adan to will be crazy about her. But words to the wise—find a deaf warrior.” Blu downed another drink and left, but not before refilling his mug.
    “Fucking limp dick fuel. The human female cyron has a mouth, but her female scent is killing me. You’re an ass, Finn.” Titus also downed another drink and rose, also refilling his mug, he was glaring at Finn. “Find two deaf warriors.”
    * * * *
    Finn crawled into bed beside Bethany. She stirred and protested when he took her into his arms.
    “Shh,” he muttered.
    For a moment she tried to pull away but Finn snuggled her closer. A sound as old as time filled his throat and he crooned a melody to her. Each warrior was capable of producing the sound. It was to lull an infant or strangely enough calm a female Zargonnii they had overpowered during the Holiday with a slight variation. Finn switched between the two sounds. She wasn’t a babe and he hadn’t overpowered her. His cock was thankfully at rest. She felt warm and soft. Female Zargonnii were tougher than rock.
    The garneg made him awash with annoying feelings. His body slipped into battle mode when he was engulfed with a sensation of protection. He slipped out of battle mode when he had thoughts of tenderness. Into battle mode when he heard an unfamiliar sound. Out of battle mode when he heard her whimper. He was reminded of when they first met. Her running, stumbling, falling, up again. He slipped into battle mode when her face pressed into his chest and her warm sweet breath filled his nostrils. She was a female and if he dominated a female he should be in battle mode to protect her.
    Bethany groaned and Finn slipped out of battle mode. She was too delicate to pull against him so roughly. By the time Finn fell asleep he felt as though his body had gone to war. There was no winner. Garneg had become the enemy.

Chapter 6
    “You look horrible,” Bethany said to Finn.
    After five days aboard the ship Bethany was used to Finn and the other warriors. But lately they all seemed a bit squirrely. Many were growly, a few fought, tempers were high. One moment Finn was desperate to be by her side, the next he almost tripped over himself to keep his distance. It made no sense