“An oath of celibacy? Are you serious?” This just keeps getting worse. I already feel guilty about making out with Lodyn when I have a team of women counting on me to do my part. Now this.

“Yes.”

“Shit. I wish I would have known before I made a pass at you and made you break your oath.”

“Technically we haven’t had sex. So I remain celibate. And I was as much a part of it as you were.”

I look at him, shame flooding through me while he tries to put me at ease. He’s standing in front of me wearing his traditional warrior attire. Due to his body temperature, he doesn’t need to wear much and my eyes keep stealing glances over his body. His massive muscles bulge like rocks, unknowingly tempting every ounce of my self-control.

The straps that cross his chest, marked with his insignia, make him look so professional, a distinguished member of the guard. I know what it’s like to wear a uniform with pride. What it feels like to earn any medal, badge, or patch. I can’t help feeling that I’ve taken something away from him.

“What would happen if any of your men found out?” I ask.

“Breaking an oath would mean death.”

He doesn’t seem nearly as concerned as I am but the shock I’m feeling must show clearly on my face. “What? You can’t be serious!”

“It is the truth.”

“That seems ridiculously harsh, don’t you think?” He just shrugs before he responds and I’m starting to realize for the first time that he might be correct about the dangers of their planet.

“I suppose it is,” he says.

“But why?” It isn’t any of my business, I know that. The Attlans will do whatever they have always done, no matter what a human female from Earth may think about it. But I can’t help the need to understand why the warriors must face a death sentence instead of choosing to find love and happiness. “I mean, why is it such a big deal if you find someone that makes you want to settle down and start a family? I don’t understand why you don’t have the choice to walk away.”

“Attala is not like Earth, Margo. I’m sure it makes no sense to you.” He looks away from me for the first time, rubbing the back of his neck with his strong hand. Every time I look at his hands I fantasize about what it felt like when they were exploring my body. Apparently knowing that he would face a death sentence for having sex with me hasn’t managed to diminish the sex appeal I feel toward him. “They invest a lot of money into their warriors. The genetic enhancements, the armor, the training. From what I can guess they don’t want to waste money on one of their investments.”

I find that completely appalling. “So it’s about money.” I throw my hands up, having a much stronger reaction than I would have thought. “Actually, that makes complete sense to me. It’s always about the money, isn’t it?” According to his government, or whomever it is that makes the rules, he’s only worth the cost of what they’ve put into him.

My heart is pounding in my chest. I’m so taken aback by what Lodyn has confessed to me. It makes me question whether it was wise for us to come here in the first place. If something goes wrong with this business deal, will we face harsh punishment as well?

“Lodyn.” The sound of Kjallak’s deep booming voice makes me jump. “We’ve got company.”

Lodyn runs out of the room behind Kjallak and I’m close behind. Kjallak hands Lodyn something that I assume is their version of binoculars. He takes the binoculars and looks out the small window at the top of the hatch. I stand impatiently behind him, waiting to hear what’s going on.

“To the left of the valley at the base of the mountain,” Kjallak says.

“I see them,” Lodyn says. “A scouting party. How many did you see?”

“Ten on the ground, two of them riding Argali.”

“That’s what I see as well.” They both seem so calm. I’m standing here ready to start pounding on Lodyn’s back so he’ll give me a look. “Shit, the Argali will make things more complicated.”

“Aye.” Krjallak grunts his agreement.

“Branyx knows?” Lodyn asks.

“Yes. Just waiting for the word.”

Lodyn pulls back from the door and hands the binoculars back to Kjallak. “We’re at a disadvantage. There’s no cover once we leave the ship.”

“My thoughts exactly.”

“We’ll need to wait them out. If they decide to venture in for a look we’ll be ready from here.”

I’ve been following their comments, my head whipping back and forth as they talk to each other. I’m tired of being ignored. “Who’s coming?” I finally blurt out. For the second time in five minutes I throw my hands up in frustration. “What the hell is going on?”

Lodyn turns and meets my gaze, a current of emotions traveling through his features. “The Salthu. They’ve come to see what has crash-landed on Attala.”

Obviously they aren’t good or their reaction wouldn’t have been so severe. “So I take it they aren’t friendly?”

“Not friendly,” Kjallak says, pulling on a sword belt that he had lying on a pile of his things. “In fact, there aren’t many friendly things out here, princess.”

I glare at Kjallak, putting my hands on my hips. “I’m not the frail little princess that you think I am, Kjallak.” Turning to Lodyn I say, “What’s the plan and how can I help?”

He stalks past me, leaving me to scurry after him. “The plan is for you to stay here and let us worry about defending the ship.”

He’s so much taller than me and he moves so fluidly that I’m practically out of breath when I say, “I’m sure there’s something that I can do to help.”

He stops suddenly, turning around so fast in front of me that his size overtakes me. I’ve spent so much time avoiding him that I forgot how he makes me lose all of my senses when he’s so close. “If you really want to help, listen to me for once and do what you’re told. I don’t have time to worry about your safety and the blood thirsty savages about to knock on the front door.”

His words sting and I know that I shouldn’t push things and just do what he says. But that’s never been in my nature. I let him see with the expression on my face how I feel about the tone he has taken with me. Without waiting for my response, he turns around and disappears down the corridor.

Kjallak follows but as he passes me he says, “Lodyn is not used to having his words challenged. Especially by a woman.” He winks and then keeps walking, as if he’s just filled me in on some big secret. There’s a sour taste in my mouth as I stand firm with my hands on my hips trying to decide what to do next. My chest is rising and falling rapidly with each breath that I take. My eyes start to cloud over with tears but I’ll be damned if I’m going to stand here and cry when everything is going to shit.

Instead I turn around and head back to where I came from…the weapons room. Five intelligent women on a science mission from Earth aren’t coming to an alien planet without some very serious firepower. Thankfully, with the backup power operating again, I’m able to input the code to unlock the secure weapons vault inside the room.

There are drawers holding the smaller handguns. Bullets are obsolete on Earth so weapons technology has evolved to thermal pulse technology. There are short-range guns, distance snipers, and thermal cannons that really pack a punch. As long as the power is functioning on the ship, all of the weapons, which are all fully charged, can be charged when clicked onto the charging plates, which line the drawers. They only lose a charge when they’ve been used excessively. So unless we have a conflict with the locals, we should be fine for the length of our visit.

I’m looking around the room trying to figure out what I can use to be helpful without having to leave the ship. I already know there’s no way in hell Lodyn’s letting me outside and he’s definitely not in the mood to have another conversation about it.

I holster a short-range gun onto my waist and I’m about to grab one of the sniper guns when I stop and literally smack myself in the head with the palm of my hand.

“Of course, the exterior guns,” I say out loud. I should have thought of that sooner but intergalactic space travel is so common now, almost like taking the interstate. The intergalactic police force has stations all over the galaxy and shuttles that monitor the skies. We’ve never needed the exterior guns.

Depending on which way the spaceship crashed, I might be able to position the exterior guns toward danger. That way I can stay on the ship and stay out of the way, but if there are signs that the warriors are in trouble, I’ll still be able to help. Knowing there’s something productive for me to do, helps to improve my mood.

Feeling much lighter on my feet now that I have a plan, I walk out of the weapons room and am about to follow the corridor to the bridge when movement from out of the hatch window catches my eye. Icy fear grips me as my hands grasp the metal frame for something to steady my trembling body.

I’m not sure what caught my eye first, the two huge rumbling beasts charging through the snowdrifts or the massive creatures carrying battle axes that look like something out of my worst nightmare. The skin that is visible from their armor is a sickly green color and their size dwarfs the Attalans. Their arms and legs are disproportionately large, their heads just as large but even more menacing. The fangs protruding from their mouths are deadly and grotesque.

I turn my head, gasping for each breath as I close my eyes and wish for it all to go away. Suddenly I feel very alone on this alien planet. As if sensing my fear, Lodyn appears in front of me when I open my eyes.

His eyes are soft, no longer carrying the anger I saw in them only moments ago. “You have nothing to fear, Margo. I told you, I will protect you.” He’s wearing his battle gear of the guard, standing before me looking regal and handsome. His presence puts me at ease. I don’t know if it’s his confidence or the tingling sensations that I experience when he’s near, but I can already feel the anxiety slipping away. When he tells me he’ll protect me, I know he means it. “They’ll be here soon. We’re going to wait until they are close, but not close enough to get anywhere near you.”

I want to be strong but the flutter of panic that overtakes me when he tells me they’re going to leave is unavoidable. Stepping forward, I grab onto his arms. Not the armor plating but his skin. I need to feel him under my fingertips. “Don’t leave me here alone. I want to stay with you.”

He looks down at his feet before pulling his gaze back up and looking me straight in the eyes. His hand cups my head again, just under my ear and along my jawbone. Pulling me close he doesn’t hesitate for a moment before touching his lips to mine. His lips are soft and giving, his mouth warm and comforting to my fluttering heart. His tongue slides through my lips and plays with my own as we taste each other. My kiss is fierce, relaying my apology for the position we find ourselves in.

When he steps back and pulls away, I feel the loss of him as if I’m losing a piece of myself.

“I won’t be long,” he says, before placing one more gentle kiss on my lips. He shakes his head and gives me a playful smile.

“We shouldn’t do that, you know.” I can still feel the heat on my face from our kiss. “If your alien friends catch us that would mean your head.”

He smiles and my heart flutters in my chest. “Ah, there she is. I was worried when you stopped trying to boss me around.” I give him a playful push in response to his teasing. Somehow he has managed to distract me from the dangers around us and the decision I had made to stay away from him. Avoidance is the only way I’ll ever be able to keep my hands off of him.

“And for you, my mate…I’d happily take one night with you. Then I would die satisfied.”