Fate. The sense was fleeting and overwhelming. She didn't know the honey-hued man before her, but she couldn't help but feel their paths were entwined.
The idea scared her. She was going home, not staying on some dead planet with some hunky stranger!
The hunky stranger spoke to Romas's oldest brother. The translator was dead and picked up none of the men's terse discussion. She tried not to stare at the man staring at her. He was the most stunning man she'd ever seen despite his crooked nose. Whatever they discussed, Romas's brother was getting more pissed; his grip on her tightened until she gave a verbal, "Let me go!"
Whether or not it translated or whether her voice was enough to alert him, all eyes fell to her before the conversation resumed. It was Romas-- the man responsible for dragging her across the universe-- who rescued her. He took her free arm and drew her away from his brother. Kiera went more than willingly, near the emergency point for reaching the bathroom. He pushed her past him and joined in the conversation. Evelyn smiled tightly from her position a couple of feet away, her attention riveted to the situation before her. Kiera looked at her arm, where a bruise was already forming from Kisolm's grip.
Whatever the men were squabbling about, it wasn't worth hurting her. Kiera looked at them all, her gaze settling on the prisoner. The thrum of warm energy coursed through her again, and she felt again her destiny was tied with his.
He still watched her. He was shorter than the seven-foot giants around him, standing right at Romas's height. His clothing was styled differently, with a dark V-neck tunic, dark pants, and a thick belt around his lower abdomen. He wore a rose gold bracelet very similar to Romas's in all but color, and soft, dark boots. He was, without a doubt, a warrior. His frame was thick beneath the snug clothing, with a tucked waist and flared upper body extending from the tucked waist to his wide, broad shoulders. His brow was low and his eyebrows dark, making his unwavering gaze even more intense.
Heat flared within her body, and her imagination painted an image of the warrior before her without the clothing. Kiera rubbed her arm with a small wince and forced herself to turn away. She wanted nothing to do with this world or its inhabitants, despite that unexpected, intimate connection with the most beautiful man she'd ever seen. She hadn't felt instant attraction to a man since high school.
She was going home, sexy alien be damned. She turned to face Evelyn but still felt him watch her. Evelyn was upset at what was being said, emotions crossing her face quickly. Her look turned to anger, then softened into concern. By the end of the conversation, she appeared relieved.