“Get her out of there,” one of the men snarled.

The conis was still on. It would pick up and translate any speech in the room. She could understand them so they could understand her. She knew it probably wouldn’t help but she had to try. The hand around her ankle increased pressure until she screamed out in pain. It felt like he was crushing her ankle. The bastard was purposely hurting her to make her let go. The pain was enough to make her scream.

“Ral will kill you. Don’t do this.”

“Ral is busy,” another male snarled. “We will set fire to his house when we are done with you and there will be no scent of us left for him to track.”

“Get her out now. We don’t have much time.”

The man gripping her ankle yanked hard. Ariel screamed out again. Her fingers were torn painfully loose from the bars. The man brutally yanked her out from under the bed. She stared up at three half-undressed Zorn males. The one gripping her ankle didn’t let go. Instead he reached with his other hand and grabbed her pants in his hand.

He fisted them and yanked hard.

Ariel kicked at him with her free foot. Zorn males were freakishly tall in her opinion since she couldn’t reach his balls. Her legs were too short. She did manage to kick his thigh hard. She screamed as her pants were yanked down her body. She tried to roll and grab for the bed. If she could just get away and crawl back under there she could avoid being raped just a little longer.

Two of the men bent down, grabbing each of her flailing arms. They lifted her and she found herself dropped on her back on the bed. The man gripping her ankle put his knee on the end of the bed between her thighs. She yanked her free leg up to her chest and with pure terror she found the strength to kick at him again. This time she nailed the man harder and in a better place. His head snapped back as her heel slammed into his jaw. The hold on her ankle loosened as her attacker suffered from the force of his head slamming back hard. Unfortunately it didn’t break his neck because he roared out in pain.

She heard another roar and it sounded close. She saw the men who still gripped her arms snap their heads in the direction of the bedroom door. Ariel didn’t waste time looking at whatever got their attention. She jerked her free foot back to her chest again.

She was hurting. Her ankle might be broken or at least sprained but she ignored the pain. She looked down. The man she’d kicked held his jaw with one hand while still gripping her other ankle with his other hand. Taking aim, she kicked out as hard as she could. Her foot nailed his crotch.

She’d hit her intended mark. She saw his mouth open. His hold on her ankle was suddenly gone as he grabbed for the front of his pants. He fell slowly backward to crash to the floor. He made a high-pitched squeal. Joy hit her in that second. That was another way men were universal no matter what planet they came from.

Ariel twisted her body try to kick at another man who held her but they released her. Both of them backed away from the bed before she got the chance. Terror was etched on their faces as they stared toward the broken bedroom door. Her eyes followed theirs. Ral stormed into the bedroom.

Rage like nothing she’d ever seen before twisted his features. He roared. It hurt her ears. The conis didn’t translate. She didn’t need to be told what that sound meant. Ral’s eyes met Ariel’s. She saw his eyes flash over her body. He moved fast to throw himself at the nearest man to him. He attacked the man to her right.

Something warm sprayed her. She looked at her arm and saw bright red dots all over her body. Her brain registered it was blood. Her eyes turned in shock to Ral and the man. She saw the flash of a metal blade in Ral’s hand. The large intruder dropped to his knees. She saw that his throat was slashed. He pitched forward. Ral roared again as he dove for the other man before the first body even hit the floor. The second man didn’t even get out a sound before Ral was on him. Ral’s arm rose and she heard a grunt. She listened to silence for a second before she heard a soft whine from the end of the bed.

Ral rose up from the floor alone. He walked slowly to the end of the bed. He glared down at the man Ariel had kicked in the crotch. She saw Ral bend down. His expression was still masked in pure rage. A whine, louder this time, came from the man. Ral dragged him up by his hair and Ariel watched as Ral slit the man’s throat, tossing his body aside. Ral was breathing hard. He was bloodstained—it was on both hands, the blade he still held and splashed on his clothes. He turned to stare down at Ariel.

“I’m okay,” her voice broke. “You got to me in time.” Ral dropped the blade on the bed as he reached for her. Ariel didn’t flinch as Ral reached for her with both bloody hands. He gently lifted her up into his arms and held her tightly against his bloody chest. He buried his face in her throat. He was still breathing hard and shaking with fury.

Ariel didn’t hesitate. She threw her arms around his neck to hold on to him for dear life. Ral had saved her again. He’d killed for her again. They had survived and they were both together.

Chapter Ten
Ral refused to put her down, refused to leave her side. Ariel didn’t mind at all. They sat on the couch with Ariel firmly on his lap. Ral’s arms were around her, holding her tight. After a shower, they were both clean with wet hair and fresh clothing. The dead men had been removed from Ral’s home. She’d been lucky. Besides some bruises, she’d just sprained her ankle. Nothing was broken.

The uniformed Zorn police force had come and gone. Ahhu had arrived to treat injuries. Erra was bruised but fine. She’d run for help but Ral had gotten home before the neighbors could rush to Ariel’s rescue. The conis had been moved into the living room. The bedroom was bloodstained and off limits until it could be cleaned up.

“I don’t understand why they would dare,” Erra said softly. “You are Argis Ral.” Erra held ice to the large bump on the side of her forehead. “It was death for them if they harmed Ariel or not.”

Ral eased his hold on Ariel and gripped her jaw gently. He turned her face so they could stare into each other’s eyes. “I know why this happened. I know you will be angry. I am enraged. When we took the tests at medical we were monitored without our knowledge. Someone with access to that monitoring released them to the population to watch on the conis. We were seen by many.” Ariel blinked. She was horrified as his words set in. The blood drained from her face and she felt a little dizzy. Her heart almost stopped. She stared into his eyes and saw his rage reflected there. He nodded at her grimly.