Free Warrior Invasion: A Science Fiction Alien Mail Order Bride Romance (TerraMates Book 10) by Lisa Lace Page B

human on Oretoz into the capital would be an effective piece of propaganda.
    He left the bridge and followed the looping corridor around to the prisoner’s room. When he slid open the door, he found Katie staring out the window, her arms wrapped around herself as she shivered. She looked tiny and frail as she turned to him. “What are you going to do to me now?” she asked in a shaking voice.
    Troxeo felt a moment of sympathy for her, but he mentally brushed it aside. He had to remember his responsibilities. “I’m taking you to Commander Reck. Then I will resume my other duties, and my time with you will be over.” He grabbed Katie’s arm and started to lead her out of the room. His entire hand fit comfortably around her bicep.
    “I hope he’s nicer than you,” she muttered as she tripped over herself on the way to the door.
    He smiled down at her. In her eyes, he could see the terror his grin inflicted. “Commander Reck? Nicer than me? You’re in for a surprise, Earthling.”
    Chixo and Arkhan were waiting for him at the bottom of a small ramp that had opened at the back of the ship, allowing them to disembark. His cousin was smiling and looked relaxed, but concern clouded Chixo’s face. He didn’t bother asking her what her problem was. Troxeo knew it was likely related to the same troubles he was having. It didn’t matter, anyway. There was nothing he could do about it.
    As they moved toward the large gate leading out of the shipyard with the human stumbling and trembling next to him like a frightened animal, Troxeo noticed a noise he hadn’t expected. It was coming from the other side of the high wall that surrounded the ships, and it seemed to grow louder as they approached the gate. He perked up his ears. It wasn’t the whine of an engine or the controlled and precise shouts of soldiers drilling. It was cacophonous, a noise built of chaos and perhaps anger.
    The gates swung open to reveal more Oretoz than Troxeo had ever seen in one spot before. The crowd even eclipsed the gathering for the election of the current Master Ruler, and that mob of people only got so big because they were commanded to come. The courtyard in front of the building was fenced off, and there were more men on guard duty than normal.
    Soldiers formed a double line of security leading away from the gate and toward the Capital Fortress, guarding Katie’s path in case someone who had come to see the human managed to slip past the fence with a weapon. Some shouted for her to go back to her planet. Others called for her blood. The people at the edges threatened to push past the lines of military, either because they were angry or because the irritated Oretoz at the back of the crowd mindlessly shoved them forward. Troxeo wrapped his hand around Katie’s arm protectively, but he didn’t hurry. He couldn’t let anyone see he was intimidated.
    The small party finally reached another set of gates. These were three times as tall as Troxeo and heavy enough to require five men to pull them open. The howl of the crowd outside subsided as the gates closed behind them. They were now safely in the entryway of the Fortress.
    “Troxeo ar Trepniss to see Commander Reck, in the company of Arkhan ar Trepniss, Chixo Velina, and one human.”
    The guard on duty visibly blanched at the mention of the Earthling, but he quickly recovered with a bow and a murmur. “One moment, sir.” He scrambled out of the entryway and disappeared through a small door.
    “We seem to be making quite a commotion,” Arkhan remarked.
    “Shut up.”
    “Why are there all those people out there?” Katie seemed to get smaller the longer she was on Oretoz. She stared up with giant eyes at everything around her.
    When Troxeo didn’t answer, Chixo spoke up. “It has to be because of you. They’ve never seen a human before.”
    “They don’t seem curious. They sounded angry.” Katie’s voice was nearly a whisper now. “I didn’t do anything to them.”
    The guard