Page 36 of Captured By the Alien Captain

Hendrick has killed my people. He’s harmed my Rhis. No more.

I don’t listen to his curses. I don’t hear anything but the blood rushing through my ears as I rip him off of Jax. If whatever she’s mouthing is telling me to stop, I can’t.

As easily as he snapped her arm, I squeeze his throat and quickly discover what different colors a human can turn when they don’t get the oxygen they desperately need.

There’s another blow to my stomach. He’s shot me up close and I feel the bullet tear its way through my core. The pain is numb compared to the high I get from hearing him choke.

I snap his neck without meaning to as my grip grows. I’m not satisfied with just a break once I feel his head slacken against my hold.

A snarl leaves my lips as I separate his head from his shoulders. The warmth of his blood taints my dark skin. Disgusted by his quick death, I drop both parts, crush his head beneath my boot, and snarl my own set of curses as I look down at his lifeless form..

By the time I can think and feel again, I realize I’m breathing heavily. My body is shaking. I’m ready to kill everyone who watched Hendrick and didn’t think to stop him. Bloodthirsty, I’m ready to get my revenge. All of this time being forced to sit back and watch without getting involved, I can’t wait another minute.

I need this.

Then there’s Jax. She’s moved to sit up, clutching her broken limb. I realize what she’s trying to say is my name.

“Runar,” she tries again, her brows bunched together. Her skin is pale and clammy from the pain. Even now, she’s focusing her concern on me more than herself. “Runar.It’s okay.”

It’s not. She’s in pain and it’s my fault. I allowed her to get grabbed. I allowed Hendrick to hurt her.

The ground is wet when I fall to my knees.

The only thing to pierce my blood thirst is the anger I feel over myself.

“Runar,” she whispers again, her eyes welling with more emotions I never want to see again.

I need to heal her. Despite whatever poison is coursing through my body, I need her to live.

There’s another shot behind us and I turn to see Varrum has been hit. Directly in the chest, his body struggles to heal, just like mine. Just when I think I’ll watch another human die, my body tightens when I watch him pull out a round weapon. The kind that explodes.

Twisting around, my immediate thought is to cover Jax. No matter what happens, I’ll heal her. She’s myRhis.

The sound of the explosion hits my ears before the heat touches my back.

In a matter of seconds, everything hurts. My back burns and my heart races as I listen to Jax continue to call out my name.

I doubt anyone in the tent can survive the blast. My thoughts are confirmed by the silence creeping in after.

Taking in Jax, my breath catches. She’s blinking, her eyes wet. Wordlessly, her mouth moves from shock.

We’ve both been poisoned. I feel her pain deep in my soul. Pain that could’ve been avoided.

Hugging her close to my chest, I’m only able to apologize to her. Apologize for letting it get to this point.

Then, I use my head and think.

No matter what happens, I need to figure out how to heal us before we lose this fight.

9

Jax

Everything hurts. Fuck, I can’t remember the last time someone has caused so much of an injury to my body. It’s a mystery how I haven’t gone into shock by now. The only thing keeping my focus is the alien hovering over me. His touch to my cheeks feels like butterfly kisses.

Nothing compares to the pain behind Runar’s stare as his eyes lower. The way his expression morphs as he takes in every inch of damage is heartbreaking.

He blames himself. I can see it written all over his face.