Free Erun (Scifi Alien Romance) (The Ujal Book 4) by Celia Kyle, Erin Tate

brat.” The priest kicked out at Tabby and Erun forced himself to remain still. He had to get Tabitha to safety and then he would show the male what happened when he threatened those he cared for.
    “Tabitha Walker,” he snapped, recalling Vados’ mate speaking with such a tone to her youngling. He pointed at the ground with a rough poke. “Come here.”
    Tabitha frowned but slowly untangled herself and came toward him. The moment she was within reach, he snatched her close. One slam of his hand on a nearby palm pad had a set of doors sliding open to reveal a room much like they’d recently vacated, though empty of medical equipment save a large bed. He did not believe leaving her alone was safe, but when compared to the dangers of the corridor, he had to do what was best.
    “I need you to remain here, Tabby. I have to speak to the male holding your momma.”
    “Is he a bad man?” Fear filled her eyes.
    He wished he could kill the male. Twice.
    “Yes, but you know what?” At her head shake, he continued. “Erun fa Arex is stronger and I will protect you. Now,” he glanced out the corner of his eye and watched the male holding Vanessa drag her farther down the corridor. “You must stay here while I go after your dam . Yes?”
    She nodded.
    “I must have the words, Tabitha.” It was another thing Vados’ mate required. He did not understand the concept. A nod was an acceptable method of agreement. What was the point of putting that agreement to voice?
    “Yes, Daman.”
    “Good girl.” He leaned down and mimicked Vanessa, pressing a gentle kiss to her head. “I will return.”
    Erun hated leaving small Tabby alone yet it was unavoidable. He reached over, slammed his hand against the emergency call button embed in the wall and then shifted his touch to the pad that would lock Tabby in. As the panels slid closed, the last thing he saw were her tearful eyes and damp cheeks.
    Tabitha secured, he focused on the male clutching Vanessa like a shield. Blood streamed from her cheek, her tears mixing with the life-giving fluid and staining her top. There was a plea—an unmistakable entreaty—that he care for Tabitha.
    Yes, he would always care for the youngling, but Nessa also. He could not have one and not the other.
    “Tabitha is safe.” At his words, she slumped in the male’s hold, forcing him to struggle with her weight.
    As the male juggled the knife and Vanessa, Erun did what he’d been trained to do—he struck. He drew on his hard-won instincts, his body’s knowledge immediately jumping forward. His muscles remembered the moves his brain desired. He acted without thought, form doing as it had for so many years. He was faster than the human, faster than even most Ujal, and he sliced through the distance between himself and his prey.
    Erun was familiar with battling other warriors—males who knew to expect the unexpected. Not humans who were spooked by a quick-moving alien. So when he flew over the space between them, the male jerked in surprise. He screamed and jolted, yanking on Vanessa’s form with the sudden movement.
    Yet that was not the only result of the quick shift in position. The blade, the silver sliver of shining metal, danced through the air as well. It did not fall to the ground, it did not slip from his fingers and dance through the air. No, it pressed forward. It found a home in pale, soft flesh. Skin and muscle that formed Vanessa’s delicate neck.
    It pierced her and he could do nothing but watch as it buried itself inside Nessa’s body. Surprise coated her features, a lurch of panic overtaking her expression. Pure agony consumed him, the new flow of blood scraping at his soul with each new wave of red liquid. Every heartbeat brought another fresh river.
    A sound, a thundering, alien roar unfamiliar to Erun filled the air. It pulsed off the walls, driving deeper and deeper into the station with its strength. With each passing moment it increased, expanding, consuming, announcing its