Free Alien Soldier's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors) by Luna Hunter Page A

soft, unprotected belly with my dagger, over and over again, until its foul, green innards spill out on top of me. It lets out a high-pitched howl, and I only just manage to roll away before the beast collapses on the ground.
    “Kelly!”
    I crawl towards my mate. She’s still breathing, lying on the stone floor, her body unclothed. My hands reach for her neck, feeling her pulse.
    “Stay with me!”
    Her eyes open, but they are unfocused. My gaze drifts down, towards her leg.
    It’s severed above her left knee. The monster swallowed it whole. The pincer injected a venom into her as it struck, instantly cauterizing the wound, keeping her from bleeding out within minutes. The Ygg like to keep their prey alive as they devour them.
    “Stay with me, Kell,” I say, my hand resting on her cheek.
    She smiles at me, her eyes washed over. She’s going into shock, her system shutting itself down because of the immense pain she’s in.
    “You’re here,” she breathes.
    “I’m here,” I say, holding her tightly. “I’m here for you.”

13

Kelly
    I stare into Koryn’s honey-colored eyes.
    Is this the look Bey was talking about?
    I think about her words through a pain-induced haze.
    “Stay with me,” my purple mate says. His eyes are filled with fear, horror and sorrow as he tries to get my attention, but despite the immense pain I’m in, all I can do is smile.
    “You came,” I say, my voice soft and distant, as if I’m hearing someone else speak.
    A second later everything goes dark.
    When I wake up again, I’m lying on a wooden stretcher in Frostpaw’s office. Bey is by my side, her paw holding my hand as she dabs my forehead with a wet cloth. I glance down to see that – thankfully – I’m no longer naked. A rug is covering me, and it feels cozy and warm.
    Koryn and Frostpaw are standing in the corner, arguing with one another.
    “It’s too risky,” Frostpaw says. “We can’t.”
    “You must,” Koryn growls, “and you will! ”
    “What if they return?” he says.
    “It’s not matter of if , but of when ,” Koryn snaps. “And hiding in your tunnels only means you’ll die slower.”
    “She’s awake!” Bey says, drawing everyone’s attention. A moment later all three of them are crowded around me. Koryn grabs my hand instantly, our fingers locking together.
    “How do you feel?” he asks.
    “What do you remember?” Frostpaw says. “You must tell us what you saw!”
    “Give her some time,” Bey responds. “She just went through a traumatic event!”
    I try to wiggle my toes, but only one foot responds. I glance down to see the left side of the sheet covering me is empty below my thighs.
    Right.
    The beast got to me.
    “It’s okay,” I say. “I can talk. Can I have some water, please?”
    Bey hands me a glass before I even finish my sentence. I gulp it down quickly, and my memories slowly come back to me.
    The beast was on top of me before I’d known what was happening. Despite its lumbering appearance, it was as quick as a fox. The thought of its many feet scampering across the floor sends chills down my spine. There’d been nowhere for me to run.
    I’d called for Koryn. I never lost hope that he’d come to save me, not even when I was staring into its disgusting mouth, all dripping acid and snapping pincers, while its legs held me down.
    In the end I was right. Koryn saved me, risking his life for me. He’s a hero.
    “Where did it come from?” Frostpaw asks. “Were there more? Information is vital ,” he says, stressing the last word.
    I shake my head. “I don’t know. It was suddenly just there . It came around the corner. I don’t know how…”
    “There’s got to be more,” Frostpaw says. “You’re the only survivor!”
    “She doesn’t know , Frostpaw,” Koryn growls. “Leave her alone . She needs to rest.”
    The only survivor?
    That means others…
    “I want to help,” I say, trying to sit upright. “I’ll try to remember…”
    Bey pushes me down again,