Sweet Alien Savage (Zerconian Warriors Book 4) (9 page)

“Not really,” she said quietly.

Koran was looking grim. “Perhaps this is a conversation for another day.”

“I don’t know; I think today is perfect. She doesn’t know, does she?” Aline pointed at Mila.

“I don’t know what?”

“That you’re his mate. He refused to sleep with me because he already had a mate. Only he wouldn’t tell me who it was. And it’s you! My sister! Can you believe it? How can he want
you
over me? I’m smarter, better looking, and much more successful. You’re my assistant, for God’s sake. Plus, you’re clumsy and kind of mousy. But you’re his mate.”

Even though it was the truth, Aline’s words still hurt. Why would Koran want her over Aline?

“Your sister?” Koran gaped at them both. “You are sisters?”

“Yeah, hard to believe, huh? What is she talking about?” she asked.

Koran clasped hold of her shoulders, turning her. “Mila, look at me.”

She raised her gaze up to his. “You had her lipstick on your cheek. I thought the two of you…”

“She kissed me. It just brought home how wrong it was to be near her. You are my mate, Mila. I felt it when we kissed.”

“You kissed and didn’t tell me?” Aline accused.

“This is a conversation we should have in private,” he replied.

“Oh please, don’t let me bother you.” Aline stood, wobbling. “I’ll leave you in privacy.”

She moved towards the door and took two tries to open it. Mila looked after her worriedly. “I need to go with her, she shouldn’t be walking around alone.”

“I will escort you both.”

“I don’t think that’s a good idea right now. Her quarters aren’t far away. I’ll stay with her tonight.”

He nodded, clearly reluctant. “I will allow you to go with her if you promise that you will go nowhere alone. You are important, Mila.”

Her breath caught in her throat. “I-I’ll see you tomorrow. We have a murderer to catch.”

And a lot of talking to do.

Mila tried to calm the butterflies in her stomach as she stood outside the Zerconian warriors quarters and knocked on the door. She had a headache she couldn’t shake. Although, she bet Aline would feel ten times worse when she finally woke up.

Last night had been exhausting and heartbreaking. Finding Sally’s body, Darac being accused of murder, then listening to Aline go back and forth between laughter and disbelief over Koran choosing Mila. Talk about a blow to her self-esteem, and it had never been that robust in the first place. She’d only found the courage to turn up here this morning because Darac needed her.

And she wanted to know if it was true. Was she Koran’s mate?

The possibility that he’d lied to avoid Aline’s advances occurred to her at around five a.m. She was fully expecting him to ask her to go along with his lies until he was well away from Aline. She knew how persistent her sister could be.

So her plan? Pre-empt him. Before he could start explaining his reasons, she was going to tell him she understood and that it was fine. She wouldn’t reveal his lies.

Yep, that’s what she would do.

The door opened and he stood there, staring down at her. Immediately, her heart raced her body warming in his presence. Damn, how did he manage to turn her on with just a look?

It was embarrassing. She just hoped he didn’t realize how aroused she was.

“You look exhausted. You should be in bed,” he told her bluntly.

“Good morning to you, too,” she said dryly. “I couldn’t sleep.” Did she look that bad?

He frowned. “I’m not going to let anything happen to you, Mila.”

It wasn’t worry about being harmed that had kept her awake. It was the memory of Sally’s dead eyes. The thought of never hearing her friend laugh again, of not having a chat over coffee and cake.

And when she did sleep the dreams came. Erotic, arousing dreams that had her waking in a state of total need.

“I’m not scared,” she told him. “Just eager to get started.”

“Your eyes are puffy and red.”

That’s what happened when you cried for hours. Obviously, she needed better make-up.

“Can I come in?” she asked.

He stepped inside. “How are your hands?”

“They’re fine.”

“You need to be more careful.”

Inside, there was a sober air.

“I’m sorry you’re all confined to quarters,” she said, glancing around at them all. “I’ve made certain food will be delivered. It will be left outside the door.”

“None of this is your fault, Mila,” Jaxan said. “Just find out who really killed Sally.”

The others nodded.

“Why did the killer frame Darac?” Safan asked.

She frowned. “Why was Darac in Sally’s bedroom? He said something about a note?”

“He received a note asking him to meet her there,” Koran told her. “He’d noticed some bruising on her and told her to contact him if she ever needed help. When he arrived, the body was cold. We believe the murderer sent Darac the note to frame him.”

“But why frame Darac?” she asked.

“Because he’s an outsider?” Safan guessed.

“Or maybe the killer wanted to give the ambassador a reason to force us to leave,” Jaxan added. “Could this have anything to do with the real reason we are here?”

She frowned. “No one knows about that except for Aline, myself, and the High Chief. How could Sally’s death have anything to do with that vid?”

“I don’t know,” Jaxan said. “But whoever sent out that vid hates the idea of human females having anything to do with us. Maybe they don’t know the reason we are here, but they still want us gone.”

“Yes,” Koran nodded. “This could be a way to make Earthers fear us more. By framing one of us as a killer.”

“I guess you’re right,” she said. “I could see how that would work. But I still don’t understand why they would use Darac?”

“Maybe they just picked one of us at random,” Safan suggested.

“Or they could have seen Darac and Sally talking,” Torex added.             

“But that means they killed Sally to make you guys look bad. That’s awful.” She placed a hand over her stomach. Her head spun. “Did Sally’s life mean so little?”

“You are not going to cry are you?” Koran asked in a horrified voice. She glanced up to find them all staring at her uncomfortably.

“What?” She sniffled. “No.”

“Maybe you should sit down.” Jaxan moved from his seat.

“We should get tissues or hot water or blankets.” Safan stared around the room in a panic.

For goodness sake. A few sniffles and you’d think the world was coming to an end.

“Calm yourselves. I will handle this.” Koran loomed over her.

She watched through blurry eyes as he clasped hold of her shoulders, then stared down at her sternly.

“Mila, you will not cry.”

“I won’t?”

He shook his head. “No.”

“Why not?” She really felt like she might. Her friend had just been murdered. She’d had no sleep. She hadn’t felt like eating this morning so she was feeling light-headed.

If it wasn’t for the men looking on, she was pretty certain she’d be curled up into a ball, crying her heart out like a teenager whose prom date had stood her up.

“Because I order you not to.”

Talk about arrogant! “You can’t order someone not to cry. It doesn’t work that way.”

“It will. Crying won’t help. We have things to do.”

She stared at him incredulously. How could he be so unfeeling? Wiping at her eyes, she pulled herself together. She had experience with pushing her own feelings and needs aside for others.

“I’m fine now. Let’s get on with things, shall we?” Standing, she moved towards the door.

Koran watched Mila leave with the sense that she was upset with him. What had he done?

“I do not think she appreciated that advice,” Safan stated.

“You are supposed to comfort a female when she cries,” Jaxan added. “Not order her to stop.”

Koran scowled at him. “How many crying females have you cared for?”

“None,” Jaxan admitted. “But Mila taught us about how to conduct ourselves should a female cry. You are to offer her comfort. A hug if you know her or find her some tissues.”

“And pat her back and say ‘there there’,” Torex added.

“What would that achieve?” Koran asked incredulously.

Torex shrugged. “I do not know. But she did not look happy with you.”

No, she hadn’t. Koran wondered where he had gone wrong. Emotions helped nothing, they got in the way of clear thinking and logical action. It was obvious to him that he had to help Mila get over this affliction of allowing feelings to cloud her thinking.

He stepped outside, frowning to discover Mila wasn’t waiting for him. “Mila?” He spotted her bright yellow top in the far distance.

He raced toward her. “Mila, wait.”

She turned, her eyes shuttered, as she waited for him.

“Did I upset you?” That wasn’t what he’d intended to say. “It is just that the others believed I handled that incorrectly.”

“Yes, you did.”

“I apologize,” he said stiffly. “I do not like to see you cry.”

“Why?”

He frowned, thinking that over. “Because I want you to be happy.”

“Oh. Well, that was kind of sweet.”

He scowled. Warriors were not sweet. “Emotions only get in the way of logical thinking.”

Mila placed her hand over her eyes to shield them from the bright sun as she stared up at him. “But you feel emotions. You got angry at Darac the other day. And you must feel other emotions, your damn eyes change color with strong emotions. You can’t say they don’t have a place in your life.”

“Of course, I feel emotions, but I do not allow them to rule me. You can feel emotions, but letting them control you is counterproductive.”

“Like when you yelled at Darac?”

“Perhaps. There is no point getting upset over things you cannot change. You must move on.”

“So you’re saying I need to ignore my sadness over Sally’s death and move forward.”

“Exactly.” He nodded. “Glad you understand.”

Mila rubbed her head.

“Are you unwell?” he asked with concern. Her pale appearance concerned him.

“Just a headache.”

“Perhaps you should lie down. I will conduct investigations this morning.” Her delicate constitution was a great concern. How would she cope with Zerconia’s harsh climate?

It was his job to ensure she remained healthy and safe. Even if he had to confine her indoors.

She shook her head, wincing. “Aline only agreed to let you investigate if I was with you. Besides, people won’t talk to you. I’ll be fine.”

“We will go to medical and get you some painkillers.”

“No, I’m fine. I downloaded a book on how to conduct a murder investigation. I thought we could sit down and read it before going further.”

Koran stared down at her. “A book?”

She nodded enthusiastically. “Yep, want me to send it to your tablet?”

“No.”

“But it has some good points I think we should consider, including how to question people, how to search the victim’s premises and what steps to take. There is a formula to this. Just take a look.”

“No.”

“Why not?” She glared up at him, hands on her hips, her face flushed with temper.

She looked adorable.

“Because I do not need a book. I know what to do.”

***

“Fuck off.”

Mila smirked as Koran attempted to question Doc Angus. The Scottish doctor had a bad temper and an even worse mouth. Angus turned, giving Koran his back.

It wasn’t nice of her to take pleasure in Koran’s frustration. But it kind of served him right.

She sat on a table and swung her legs back and forth.

“Bet you wish you’d read that book now, huh?”

Koran glared at her. “He is impossible.”

“Why don’t the two of ye piss off, I have things to do.”

Mila sighed. Angus was a cantankerous ass. But they needed his report.

“Just give us the report on Sally’s death and we’ll leave,” she told the red-headed doctor.

“I sent it to Zac.”

“Well, Zac is being a pain in the ass. Seems to be something afflicting the men around here.”

Both Koran and Angus turned to glare at her. “Just send it to my tablet, Angus.”

The tall doctor leaned back against his workbench and folded his arms across his chest. “And what are ye going to give me, lass, if I do?”

Mila sighed. “How about that vacation pass you’ve been wanting?”

“The ambassador said no.”

“Aline has given me the authority to conduct this investigation as I see fit.” She’d worry about Aline later.

“All right. I’ll send you the report. Nothing of interest in it, though. No defensive wounds, no skin under her nails, just bruising around her throat where she was strangled. Although there were some other interesting bruises.”

“Interesting, how?” Koran asked.

Angus ignored him, looking over at Mila. “Her arse was bruised.”

Mila frowned. “She’d fallen?”

Angus smirked. “Maybe. But that’s not the only way an arse can end up bruised. A good, hard spanking will do the same.”

Do not blush.

“You think Sally was spanked? Who would do that?”

Angus shrugged.

“Fingerprints?” she asked.

“That’s Zac’s area. Not mine.”

Yeah, but Zac was having a hissy fit over Aline allowing her and Koran to investigate and wasn’t telling them a thing.

“Time of death was about two a.m. Everything else is in my report. Now get the fuck out.”