Desired by the Alien Read online

  No. It is best that Sloane stays at the lairs with the other human females.

  “Others go,” Sloane continues. “Prince Korben would let you go. Layla went and—”

  “I do not go where Dolan goes,” I say. “Please, Sloane. Do not ask me. I will not take you.”

  She winces, and though my heart aches to see the pain etched upon her pale features, I cannot take my words back. If only she knew how difficult it was for me to deny her. “It is not because I find you tiring,” I can’t help reminding her. “It is not because I do not trust you. I simply—”

  “You like to be alone. Got it.”

  I flinch, hurt by her words. She is not wrong.

  I do like being alone. But perhaps, what I would like more is be alone with Sloane.

  It would be painful spending so much time at the lairs to please her, but if we could spend time in my private lair would things be different? If we would not spend so much time around my brothers and their Chosen mates, could I make it work?

  “Look, I think I’m going to see if Layla’s done with whatever she and Dolan are doing.” Sloane stands without saying much else, staring down at me. Her cheeks are hot pink, and her eyes are narrowed.

  I have failed her. Now she does not want to be around me.

  Perhaps, it would have been wiser to have spent the rest of the day with Hinda, after all.

  CHAPTER THREE

  Sloane

  He likes you, Sloane. You should see the way he looks at you! It’s soooo obvious.

  I’m all but snarling under my breath as I leave Exer in the Gathering Room, but I’m too pissed to look back. I keep thinking about things Layla, Ellis, and York have pointed out about Exer. How much he likes me. How it’s so obvious. Well, it’s not apparent to me, darn it! I don’t know how he feels about me. It’s obvious he feels some physical attraction, I guess. It’s not like he could hide that thing when our shoulders kept brushing against each other. I have to remember, though, he’s still Exer.

  He’s no prince. He’s not even a jester.

  I guess he’s like a brooding, moody guy in a high school movie from the 80s. Minus the horndog lurking under his pretty face.

  Sigh. I wish it weren’t this way. It would be all too easy to fall into Exer’s arms. They’re nice arms, after all, but the owner is so moody. He won’t let me in. He’s helpful, but he doesn’t want me to know what he’s up to when he’s not at the lairs. Maybe he’s lying. Maybe there is someone else. Someone more experienced like Alaska or Arizona. Someone prettier like Mia or Krista. Someone more exotic like Aoi or Rhyan. He says it’s not, and some sick part of me was happy to hear that.

  I don’t think I could stand the idea of Exer hooking up with one of the other girls.

  Still huffing and puffing toward the main entrance of the lairs, I try to imagine it. How would I handle him taking Aoi out to his secret hideout in the woods, or sneaking to the second lair to make out with Krista? Ugh, or playing all moody and sexy with Rhyan? It shouldn’t bother me so much, but it does, and when the idea of losing him truly hits me it’s like being socked right in the gut.

  He’s no prince, but I still like him. He’s grumpy, antisocial and unpleasant, but he’s also kind, hot, and intense. I can’t deny how my skin felt like it was on fire when our shoulders touched.

  Still, none of that explains why he keeps leaving.

  Where’s he going? Why can’t he talk to me about it? Do I look so untrustworthy? Is he not allowed to tell? Maybe Blythe was right, and Prince Korben does know what he’s up to and doesn’t want anyone to know. That puts me more on edge because whatever secret Exer’s hiding isn’t his alone. It’s a secret the Sidyths are keeping from us.

  They’re creating a divide while pretending that everything is hunky dory.

  Well, forget that! I’m going to figure out what secret the Sidyths are keeping from us now no matter what.

  Exer seems to be the best way to figure it out.

  I smile, cross my arms and stare out into the fields after coming to this realization. Celeste glances over her shoulder and back at me as though I’m crazy, but I don’t care. She probably thinks I’m happy to have spent time with Exer. She’s not entirely wrong. Grumpy or not. Not princely or not. I like spending time with Exer. I like feeling special that he talks to me at all.

  Even during our conversation where he would go back and forth between melting my heart and making my heart melt, I couldn’t help taking him in. Sitting so close to him, I could see definition in those arms. Sure, they’re not as big as Dolan’s, but I don’t want them to be. I like how Exer is sleek and streamlined. I like how his muscles don’t seem to weigh him down; they serve a purpose (not that I know what that specific purpose is). I love how human he looks from the front and yet, when he turns, he’s all alien. His thighs are sturdy and strong, and I’m sure that’s because he’s always walking back and forth to wherever he’s going. He has a strong jawline like a fairy tale prince, and though there’s not a hint of stubble, I’m sure he’d look incredible with a goatee or something. Something different. Sexy. Something to make him somehow more unapproachable.

  I can’t help but snicker at that.

  As if Exer could be any more unapproachable to others.

  To others. Not to me. Exer’s always been distant, but he’s always been kind.

  He says others are tiring, but not me.

  Maybe the girls are on to something.

  But that still doesn’t take away from the idea that he won’t take me with him the next time he disappears! He says he’ll tell me when he’s leaving, and that’s great, but I want more. And if Exer isn’t going to tell me what he’s up to, or rather, what the rest of the Sidyths are up to, I’ll have to take it upon myself to figure it out.

  Uncrossing my arms, I take a few steps toward Celeste and gently clasp her shoulder to get her attention.

  Glykoran’s thick, pale eyebrows rise, but otherwise, he ignores me completely. I can only imagine what he’s thinking. Not a threat, probably. Ignore.

  I smirk, and Celeste probably thinks I’ve really lost my mind.

  “What’s up?” Her deep, throaty voice always gives me chills. Like she could sing at a jazz bar or something. My attention drifts to Glykoran and then back to her.

  “Could I talk to you for a moment?”

  “Sure.”

  “In private?”

  She frowns, glancing at Glykoran, who only hisses lowly in his throat before speaking.

  “Keep a lookout for solitary dilewilers. Some have grown more curious lately. Whistle if you see anything strange on the horizon.”

  “Sure.” Celeste bobs her chin once before Glykoran flees deeper into the lairs. I try to smile at him, but he’s already gone, and Celeste brings her attention back to me. “Okay, so what’s up? What’s with all the secrecy?”

  It’s hard to figure out what’s going on with Celeste lately. She spends so much time with Glykoran, but she obviously can’t expect to be Chosen by him. He’s so much older than her and, from what I’ve heard, he has a wifey and kid back on his home planet. Still, I guess it’s nice for us girls to have friends. So many of the others on assignment weren’t so lucky to have an owner like Alino.

  “Sloane?” Celeste waves a hand in front of my face, bringing my attention back to her. “Hethdiss to Sloane? You okay?”

  “I’m fine!” I squeak. “I… uh… I wanted to talk to you about something.”

  She chuckles. “Yes, girl. I gathered that when you sent Kor away.”

  “Kor?”

  “Glykoran?” She juts a thumb over her tanned shoulder. “That mouthwatering manly piece of never going to happen? Him. So I’m alone. What did you want to talk to me about?”

  How am I supposed to word this without sounding like I’m trying to stalk Exer? Ugh, I’m stalking, aren’t I? Might as well embrace it.

  “Which direction does Exer go when he leaves the lairs?” I blurt.

  Her dark eyes widen. She blink
s a few times before she’s finally able to speak. “Exer? Leaves the lairs?”

  I nod. “Yeah. He’s always leaving for days on end, and I’m tired of it.” I try not to grow huffy. “I want to know what he’s up to, but I need to know what direction he’s heading.”

  “What does it matter where he’s going?” Celeste sounds hesitant, and I can almost feel how much she wants Glykoran or Kor to come back. “I mean, if you wanted to know, couldn’t you just… I don’t know… ask him?”

  “He won’t tell me anything.”

  She frowns. “We’re not supposed to say, Sloane. He leaves in the middle of the night and—”

  “What time?” I squeak.

  “It depends.” Celeste doesn’t need to hide her disapproval of my nosiness, but her deep sigh certainly doesn’t help my cause. “Why are you so concerned about where he’s going? He doesn’t go to the second lair if that’s what you’re worried about.” She lowers her voice. “If you guys are secretly mated, you should know Sidyths don’t generally collect harems—”

  “God, Celeste! No!”

  “Then what is it?”

  “I think the Sidyths are keeping secrets from us!” Now, I’ve caught Celeste off guard. She glances around, and thankfully there’s no one else around. I guess she feels comfortable to speak.

  “What kind of secrets?” she asks.

  “I don’t know. But I don’t like it. If the Sidyths are keeping secrets from us, I think we, the human girls, have a right to know, don’t you? If there’s others or something? And if Exer’s a part of it, I think he’ll freak out the least if he saw me spying on him, which he won’t! I’ll be secretive about it. That is if you tell me when he leaves. That way I can follow him.”

  Celeste lowers her eyes and then lifts them. She’s considering it. Why wouldn’t she? We’ve all thought about it at some point. What’s happening on Hethdiss with the Sidyths is too good to be true. Can they really just want mates? Can we stay here with them if we give them children? Will they really never hurt, rape, or return us?

  Come on, I may have had a good life so far but from what I’ve heard, Celeste certainly hasn’t, and I practically feel the wheels in her head turning at my request.

  “You won’t let him see you?” she whispers. I shake my head. “If you’re caught, you won’t tell anyone I had anything to do with this. Are we clear? I’ll deny everything. You’ll be on your own. If you piss them off, and they send you away? I’m not lifting a finger.”

  “I get it,” I insist, but the idea of losing my position does rattle me slightly. Would Prince Korben send me away if I got caught spying on Exer?

  What if there isn’t a big secret? What if things are actually this good? Do I want to fudge everything up because Exer’s sneaking off? Maybe he’s a regular guy and likes to spend time away from others to uh… relieve himself? No. I can’t trick myself. Something is going on, and Exer is most likely part of it.

  I see it in Celeste’s eyes.

  I’ve seen it in the eyes of the other girls.

  There’s more going on with this assignment than the Sidyths are telling us.

  If I have to be the one to sacrifice my security to figure out what their secrets are, better me than anyone else.

  I’ve had two good assignments already. There’s a chance my lucky streak could land me one more.

  “I won’t say a word,” I promise Celeste, hoping I don’t regret these words later.

  Her shoulders slack, and she pulls me away from the lair opening. Her voice lowers, and it only takes me a few minutes to get all the information I need.

  Super-secret stalker Sloane is officially on the case.

  My first mission begins tomorrow night.

  ***

  The next day and a half I can’t stop thinking about what the Sidyths could be hiding from us.

  Visions of Exer making out with Aoi, the workout twins or Lacey come pushing through my thoughts, and it’s difficult to look at him without asking. He seems calm the last few days, so I can’t help feeling a little relieved because he probably doesn’t know what I’m up to. Or maybe he’s so excited about leaving the lairs. He stays close to my side, but his mind wanders. What’s he thinking about? Another female? More Sidyths? Some dreaded secret too terrifying for me to comprehend?

  Ugh, I’m so antsy the night I’m supposed to follow Exer, but on a positive note, this antsiness helped me prepare.

  For one, I have to remember that super-secret stalker spy or not, there’s no way I’ll be able to track Exer in the woods without making a bunch of noise. So I borrowed a pair of Blythe’s pregnancy slippers after telling some fib about my feet getting cold at night. Then I borrowed warmer clothes from Layla. She snuck away a long-sleeved shirt and long pants from Dolan so I wouldn’t get scraped by the branches or any wildlife that might come lurking. I’m taking huge risks, and if I don’t find out what Exer’s secret is before he spots me, I could be in a lot of trouble.

  And Celeste won’t back me up. She’s helping me sneak out of the lairs, but she’s not going to admit she was part of it if I get caught.

  Every woman for herself, I suppose.

  When the time comes to leave, I get out of bed and sneak over to the lair opening where Celeste and Glykoran whisper back and forth. I see no sign of Exer, but that means he hasn’t left yet. I need to stay in the shadows. Celeste has timed everything perfectly, and though she won’t tell me why or how, she promises I’ll be able to sneak away to follow Exer without anyone else finding out.

  My breath catches when Celeste presses her hands on Glykoran’s firm, bare chest and whispers something against his collarbone. He frowns but saunters away, and Celeste turns once he’s out of sight.

  “So, you’re really going to do this,” she says quietly.

  “I have to know what they’re hiding from us.” I keep my voice low, but Celeste and I are both listening for shuffling footsteps to let us know when Exer approaches. “You can’t say you’re not curious, Celeste. You care about Glykoran—”

  “He’s going through a lot. We’re friends.” She crosses her arms under her chest.

  Under the pink moonlight beyond the cave, I can’t tell if she’s blushing or not. I say Exer’s my friend all the time, but I’m not sure I mean it anymore. Is Celeste the same? And if she was, doesn’t he have a wife and kid? Either way, her shoulders slack eventually, and she meets my eyes in the shadows.

  “It does seem a bit odd,” she admits. “Things can’t possibly be this good. This easily.”

  “I agree. So if Exer’s the best chance to find out what those secrets are, this is something I have to do! If I get caught, I’m on my own. I still have to know.”

  She shakes her head. “You’re too impulsive sometimes, Sloane. You really did have it easy before you got here, huh?” When I don’t answer, she clucks. “I guess it’s like they said. If you knew how scary these guys could be, you wouldn’t chase one of them into the woods in the middle of the night. If something happens to you, it’s going to be my fault. I should try to talk you out of this in case Exer turns on you.”

  “He wouldn’t turn on me.”

  “Oh, really? What if there’s something out there they don’t want us to know about for a reason?” Her eyes lower and my breath catches.

  She’s right. Celeste will blame herself if anything happens to me. She’s trying to be cool about it, but she’s worried. Her past with aliens is entirely different than mine. And she’s also right in that if I did have a horrible history with aliens, I wouldn’t dare do something so dumb as chase one in the woods at night. But, maybe it’s because I’m not afraid that I have to be the one to check things out.

  If I don’t do this, who will?

  “I don’t want you to blame yourself, Celeste. This is my choice. I’m a big girl, okay? If something does happen, well, maybe it’s best it happens to me.”

  Celeste’s dark eyes widen. “What the fuck? Why would you want anything bad to happen to you?”


  “It’s not like I want something bad to happen!” I hiss. I can’t have that much time left with her, so I rush my words. “I think maybe it’s best for me to go. As you said, I’ve had it good for too long.”

  She grimaces. “I didn’t mean it like that, Sloane. Come on.”

  “It’s true, though. Glykoran takes care of you. Friends or not, I see he does. You deserve that. I don’t know your past, but I’ve heard it’s not something PBS would air even in the deadest hours of the night.” She frowns, and I realize how right I am. “And the others? Layla? Blythe and Ellis? They all have guys who care about them, too.”

  “You have Exer.”

  “I don’t have him. If I did, why would he keep running off? Face it, we need to know what they’re up to. If we’re going to have any chance of moving forward, we’ve got to figure out what they’re keeping from us.”

  She falls silent, and the air grows thick and heavy as I wait for her response. Even if she has one, she’s not able to get it out on time because suddenly we hear shuffling footsteps. They’re slow, and though I’m not really a spy, I know who’s approaching.

  I duck further into the darkness as Celeste straightens and Exer appears from the inner parts of the cave with a pack slung over his massive shoulders.

  “It’s supposed to be chilly tonight,” Celeste mutters. “You going to be all right?”

  He doesn’t respond. He hardly glances and strides right past before ducking to the left. Celeste observes him for a few minutes in silence, and Glykoran still hasn’t returned. The window of opportunity is open, and I have to go through before it shuts.

  I don’t say anything else to Celeste, acting like Exer, and steal into the inky darkness.

  I hope this isn’t a huge mistake.

  ***

  I’m glad I took extra precautions because I realize pretty early on that I’m not meant to be a super-secret stalker spy. At least, not on an alien planet. My steps are loud and clumsy. Exer keeps looking behind him as though he’s already aware that someone’s following him. Does he care? Is he expecting someone? So far, he’s been alone, and somehow, someway, he hasn’t figured out I’m following him. Or if he has, he’s not bothering to point it out.