C.L. Scholey - Zuri's Zargonnii Warrior (Unearthly World # 2) (5 page)

Zuri stood up, but remained somewhat crouched, as though curled within for protection. Her look was skeptical, resigned; he had a point. She moved to stand before him, her movements stilted, mechanical, jerky, and made an attempt to straighten. The little thing had courage; he was monstrous compared to her. He saw her swallow hard and tried to refrain from smiling as he knew his large pointed teeth would scare her further. She looked at his five-fingered hands; they were large, his fingernails were two inches long, pointed, black, and sharp as daggers.

“My guess is your friends screamed because some of the warriors aren’t as patient as I am. The others were more than likely tossed over a shoulder and taken to the ship.” She looked at his broad shoulders, the oval bare spot on his belly, then lower until she snapped her gaze back to his. A red hue crept over her face, and once more she swallowed hard. Feeling cheeky, he refrained from mentioning he had no control over the erection she no doubt saw the outline of. When in battle form, he always maintained a hard on, every inch of him had to appear large, another tactical maneuver. He pointed to his furry chest. “Kobe.”

“Kobe?”

Kobe said his name again. The way she said it made him sound dainty; his name was guttural, male, firm. She practiced the pronunciation a few times until she managed to get it right. Kobe had been informed humans were capable of learning the Zargonnii language, which was good, he’d never figure out hers. At one time, he had known his mother’s language, but as the years passed he had forgotten it.

“How would you like to drink some real water? Not this bat piss.” She shuddered then grimaced as he waved at a nearby pond. “I can smell in the air you’re the last human around here. Your friends must be on the ship enjoying a clear, clean glass of water. I can find you a warm blanket and decent food. As I said before, if I meant you any harm, you would be dead already. Even a human must be smart enough to realize that.”

She bristled, outraged at his slight, but then her face seemed to deflate; she looked lost and alone. Her tiny nose wiggled, her funny-looking blue eyes blinked. Kobe frowned; the woman in the image had blue eyes and was smiling. This female wasn’t happy. Perhaps the assumption of human eyes changing color to match their mood was wrong. Her small hand lifted to tuck a wisp of light hair back behind an ear. Kobe couldn’t picture a Zargonnii female doing any of those things or looking the way this little human female did.

Titus’s warriors were right, human females were cute. On Kobe’s planet, the term cute would be the last word to describe their females. Majestic or regal most definitely, but cute? Never. Kobe turned and began walking away; there was no way he was going to leave her here, but he hoped she would follow him on her own. It was an odd first for him, even though the females came to the warriors’ continent, it was male instinct to follow after a female. She chose whether or not a male was worth the battle; she chose if she would Holiday with a warrior.

Before long, he could hear small feet traipsing after him through the foliage. His red eyes burned bright, helping her to see a clear way; he didn’t want her to bang into anything again. He continued his crooning, another beacon in the dark night. As a warrior, he could sense her fear, and he could sense her strength of character as well. Being a mercenary, Kobe had come across many species, some smaller, some larger, each with its own unique defense ability. Kobe wondered about this human and her ability to defend herself.

Each time he glanced back to marvel at Zuri’s strange structure, she stopped; her hands worked worriedly at the fabric of her bizarre clothing. Zargonnii females didn’t wear clothing, at least none that Kobe had ever seen. Their Holiday was the beginning of his species’ sexual confrontations. Male and female Zargonnii met in the jungle to fight for dominance. Both sexes were naked. Clothes would only be shredded. A female wanted to see a warrior’s strength, the size of his maleness was paramount. To Holiday was thrilling, dangerous and satisfying, even if Kobe had lost his confrontations he still felt he had won. Zargonnii females were a worthy opponent, some of his chosen standing over nine feet in height.

The brilliant blue of the shining Zargonnii space vessel caught Zuri’s attention and he heard her gasp. When he looked back she was standing still, gaze heavenward, mouth agape. To Kobe, it looked like any normal vessel he had seen his entire life. His father was a commander until his death a year previous. Kobe had been expecting his father’s demise. At five hundred years old, his father had walked into the jungle and never returned. His father was past his prime, he would not shame himself or his son by dying a feeble death. He was on a mission to die in battle; the cyron he must have chosen would have been the biggest he could find. It was an honorable death. Kobe missed him. He had been his father’s only son and though Kobe had been on Holiday four times he had not given his father a grandson. Either the females he had mated with had not conceived or had birthed females.

Zuri mumbled a few words, catching his attention; her motion had ceased altogether. Obviously humans were capable of space flight, but perhaps the Zargonnii ship was intimidating.

“Does the ship alarm you?”

She nodded, frowned, shook her head no then crossed her arms and rattled off a number of highly unintelligent words. Looking at her attire, she seemed distressed and pointed at him, her clothes, or lack thereof and motioned to him again.

“There are many male warriors on board, each hoping for a glimpse of you,” Kobe said. Her eyes widened.
Hmm, maybe not the smartest thing to say.
He only meant the males of his species were curious, they wouldn’t eat her. “If you wish, I will make you a vow and offer my protection. I only ask you at least try and learn my language so we may discuss your planet. I too am curious.” The idea of offering protection made him feel somewhat awkward and uncomfortable. Females on his planet didn’t need a male’s protection for anything. To even think to offer would be construed as ludicrous.

Zuri looked from him, to the ship and back to him. She cast a glance back toward where they had come. Kobe moved closer, assessing her indecisiveness. It must be a human trait; Kobe always knew what he wanted. It was apparent Zuri needed some type of comfort to make her choice, but Kobe had never interacted like this with anyone. Other warriors would scoff at his attempt to offer aid. A Zargonnii female would kick his ass. He needed to show this female how strong he was, that he meant what he said. She didn’t know him, but Kobe found actions spoke louder than words. There was only one thing to do.

Kobe pushed Zuri to the ground with one hand. She was even lighter than she looked and when he unintentionally sent her flying, it surprised him. For a second, he had the urge to go after her. He’d have to remember her apparent weightlessness for later use. Zuri landed with a hard thump and a sharp squeal. Her feet splayed out in front of her in the air. She looked a little ridiculous. Her behind was rounded and the small material she wore was white, giving him a glimpse of her woman’s area. That was something else he would love to see close up. When he had mated before, the Zargonnii females had kept his eyes from their heat; he was curious. Kobe smiled.

“There, you see how strong I am? That should make you feel better.”

Zuri scowled up at him; her feet settled onto the ground before her. “Moron.” The single muttered word was strange to Kobe; normally the female strung a long-winded sentence together. He thought about it for a second. Perhaps it was a human word to plead for mercy, or since he had exhibited great prowess maybe the little female was impressed, she didn’t look terrified.

That must be it.

Kobe smiled brighter. Moron
must
be a word for great strength. “Yes I am this—a moron. A great warrior moron.”

Her eyes widened in stunned surprise. “Dumb ass.”

Excitement filled him, she must be very impressed with him. He struggled with her words for a second. “I will be your dumb—ass—moron protector.” Surely that must make her feel better.

Zuri muttered something under her breath and smacked his hand when he offered to help her up. Her hand rubbed her behind and hip. Kobe became concerned; he sensed her discomfort. There was no time to ponder, the bright red fire wave was sent from the ship and Kobe could feel the welcome, gentle draw of the vessel as he and Zuri were pulled aboard. The brilliant light was beautiful, absorbing into his heated eyes. Inhaling deeply, Kobe let the scent of the radiant beam seep into his lungs. The surrounding beam always made him think of his father.

The light tug stopped the second they boarded the ship. Kobe could feel his feet on the solid deck. His gut tickled for just an instant then settled immediately, he turned and smiled at Zuri. She was a paler white than his fur.

“Zuri?”

She gasped, gagged and voided the contents of her belly all over his booted feet.

* * * *

“
Oh my God.
That was horrible. What the hell was that? Shit, this ship is huge. This thing is the size of a football field,
it’s shaped like a football field,”
Zuri complained as she still gasped for breath, her fists ground at her eyes. “What the hell were you trying to do, blind me? My God the smell. What the fuck was that light, that stench, fire and brimstone? Burnt toad guts? My lungs have been violated by noxious, putrid gasses.
Violated I tell you
.”

Zuri blinked her watery eyes rapidly. Her fear of her situation disintegrated at the humiliation of losing her pathetic dinner. At least she wasn’t surrounded by the big ass aliens anymore. It was a nightmare come to life. There had to have been a hundred powerful warriors waiting to gawk at her in her underwear, a sea of furry testosterone. She had cleared the hanger with her stink; the warriors had stood openmouthed for a mere second before scattering in all directions when she gagged again.

Her nose wrinkled as she gazed down at Kobe’s boots. Hunks of her dinner stuck to him, a few chunks falling when his big ass boots hit the floor as he moved. Now, Kobe was practically muscling her down a corridor, grumbling about his filth-ridden footwear. Zuri’s tummy lurched miserably.

“What do you mean you didn’t know human females could stink?” Zuri was outraged when she caught some of his words. “No, you
dumb ass moron,
it’s not my defense mechanism. What do you think I am, a skunk?”

“I don’t understand you, but am now guessing ‘dumb ass moron’ is not a term for powerful warrior,” he grouched.

“This is not my fault,” she continued to complain as he dragged her along. He kept her at arm’s length. “You took me on the roller coaster ride from hell without so much as a warning. What did you think would happen? An enthusiastic
weee
?”

“I told you, I don’t understand you, but I’m certain I don’t like your tone,” was his reply.

Zuri tossed up her arms and waved her hands melodramatically in the air. One second, she had been standing on the ground in relative darkness, the next moment a streak of red lightning grabbed her body, ripping her from the ground. Her bones felt altered, her insides were tossed into a blender. It was like being sucked up a tiny straw; her teeth had actually tingled and her eyes must have protruded as though some freakish cartoon. Her feet had hung onto her ten toes for dear life as she was sucked upwards. Her scream had been cut off abruptly when she hit the tarmac, almost shattering her knee caps. Her guts, which had dropped to the pit of her belly, were rudely sent jolting upwards. Vomit had spewed so fast from Zuri’s mouth, it had shot out her nose.

Ick.

She shuddered just thinking about it and stuck a finger up her nose before snorting. Kobe sent her a disgusted look and with a shove sent her into a room. They stood staring at one another, each scowling. Zuri took a good look at him, feeling a little confused; she was positive he had been larger than he was now. His teeth weren’t nearly as sharp or long; there were spaces where there hadn’t been before. His body sported strange wrinkles, not ugly wrinkles; they were more a ten-pack on his bald stomach. There were no longer long claws at the end of his fingers. It had been so dark out and she had been so scared, maybe she imagined all of it.

“Stay here with the other females, I’ll find you some clothes and see you get water.” His tone was a deep growl, he sounded annoyed. “Your attack was unnecessary. I told you we wouldn’t hurt you. The warriors were just curious. I hope you are out of ammunition. It may not be deadly, but it’s disgusting.”

“I puked; it wasn’t all fun and games for me, mister. It was an accident.”

“I don’t understand you.”

“Ugh,” Zuri said in exasperation. Wildly, she made gestures to indicate her vomiting wasn’t on purpose.

“Yet you managed to hit only me.”

Tough shit, moron.

Kobe was gone, storming from the room; the door slid closed behind him and Zuri looked around with curiosity. Now that he was gone, her thoughts centered on what he had said.
Other females?
Had they found other survivors besides her crashed shuttle? That would be wonderful.

“Zuri,” came a shout. “Thank God, I thought these creatures had eaten you.”

“Cash, Leo. I’m happy to see you both. Where are the other women?” Zuri asked. She filled with relief at the sight of them.

“What other women?” Leo asked.