Page 32 of Protected By the Alien Commander

Doshax

I tiedthe pirate’s hands together and then to one of the poles of the bunk bed. And did the same to one of his legs.

"Hey, you can't just leave me tied up! I got rights!"

I wish this guy would have disappeared instead of the other pirate who had known more. At that thought my quills rose. Could that be why the other pirate had been taken? If the pirates had teleportation technology that was silent… but that could not be possible. But then where did he go?

I looked back down at the scum struggling against the bonds holding him to the bunk bed. This one might not know what he knew. Perhaps he could be of use yet. I would interrogate him later. First, I had to check on Ned. Then deal with Ohliveah.

I left the room as the pirate started yelling. Thank the Goddess the door blocked all sound. That Gamilon’s voice was grating.

I stormed down the corridor to the medical room and entered to find all the females staring at me with big eyes. I must have walked too forcefully and scared them. Pulling my sunshades off, I looked at Ohliveah. "How is he?"

She pointed to the vidscreen on the medpod. "It says it’s still checking him. There's no critical injuries though.”

I breathed a sigh of relief as my shoulders loosened. Thank the Goddess. I had not wanted to lose him due to not finding him soon enough. How many of my men were also being held captive or had been attacked by pirates?

Herrex. I needed some way to cover ground quickly so I could find them all and bring them back to the ship. We had a better chance of staying alive and defending ourselves if we were together.

"I checked on Emma, and she's still sleeping."

She paused like I was supposed to say something.

"She could be tired after being healed by the medpod. Your friend was unconscious for a long time. If she does not wake up tomorrow we will put her back in the medpod. I am sure Ned will be healed by then. His injuries are not severe.”

Miranda asked, "What happened out there? One of the prisoners just disappeared out of thin air?"

"I will tell you later." I looked at Ohliveah. "Let us go into our room. We have something to discuss."

The same female spoke again. "Hey, if you’re going to discuss what you think is going on with this planet, I really think it should be done in front of all of us. We’re all in this too."

I slowly turned my head towards Miranda. Her skin lost color, and she stepped away as far as she could, her back against the medpod.

"It is of a personal nature that I have to discuss with Ohliveah. I will share what happened after I am done speaking with my mate."

Both females looked at Ohliveah. She flushed that odd camouflage again, but she also had a big smile on her face. Humans were strange.

Ohliveah waved at the females, then I left the medical room, leading the way to our room. I did not speak while we walked. This conversation was for my mate only.

The door to our room swooshed as it closed behind us.

Ohliveah smiled at me, so big that I wondered if her mouth had grown larger. "You called me your mate. Does that mean girlfriend to your species?"

I stepped closer until we were almost toe to toe. "It does not.”

Her smile disappeared.

"It means that I consider you my mate. I have claimed you. We can only be torn asunder by death or if you proved to be unsuitable. For instance, if you tried to kill me."

Ohliveah stared with her mouth open. Good. She was not inclined to talk, and I had more to say. "I told you to stay on the ship for your safety. Yet you ran out with light sticks to be bait for a monster that did not even exist. It was unreasonable, foolish, and not needed. You—"

"Hey!”

Now she was ready to talk, but I was speaking.

“I know that there was no monster, okay? I saw that you needed help. You who claimed me as your mate," she said, poking my abs.

Goddess help me, but my kok grew hard at her touch. I grabbed her finger to stop her from poking my stomach. It was soft, like the rest of her. My resolve to not mate with her right now was growing weaker.