Alien Soldier's Baby (Scifi Alien Romance) (Zoran Warriors) Read Online Free Page B

few days – but sometimes it’s the little things that can astound you the most.
    “How long will this take?”
    Koryn shrugs. “Depends. A few hours. A few days. Want to get us something to eat?”
    “Sure thing.”
    I head inside and order the food dispenser to whip us up a nice, hearty meal. I’m not too crazy about Zoran cooking in general, and this robot’s food in particular, but the convenience of it all beats slaving away over a stove. Not that the ship has one to begin with.
    I’m already looking forward to one of Jillian’s home-cooked meals.
    A minute later I head outside carrying two plates of steaming hot meat stew. Koryn told me it’s his favorite and, seeing as he got us here safely, I think he deserves a nice meal.
    He’s standing in a beam of light, one foot resting on a tree trunk, as he stares off into the woods. The glittering light makes his purple skin take on a violet-red tone. I don’t call for him yet – I want to enjoy the sight for just a second longer.
    Maybe cuddling up next to a fire with him wouldn’t be so bad after all.

6
    Koryn
    “ T hank you ,” I say as I accept the plate.
    Kelly sits across from me on a tree stump, her legs crossed as she picks at her food.
    “Is it not to your liking?”
    “It’s okay,” she says. “Could be worse.”
    I glance at my com, but the drones haven’t found anything worthwhile yet. With the immense size of this planet, our mission could take days, weeks, even months if we’re incredibly unlucky. Fortunately we have everything we need to survive right here on our ship.
    Darkness falls, and without the sun shining down on us, the temperature drops rapidly. Kelly shivers and rubs her arms. “Do you mind if we go inside?”
    “Of course not.”
    We continue our meal inside, in silence but for the ship’s systems humming silently in the background. I turn the thermostat up a notch for Kelly’s benefit, as I know how easily humans get cold.
    “How did you meet Vinz?” she asks.
    I lean back in my chair, stretching my arms above my head. “That’s a long story.”
    “It seems we have the time.”
    “That we do. Very well.” I pause for a second. How do you tell someone a lifetime’s history in the span of a few minutes?
    “I’ve known Vinz since we were recruits, back on Minkel V. That’s where the Zoran military trains their men.”
    “What was he like when he was young?” Kelly asks as she takes a sip of kuia . I think she’s starting to take a liking to the hot stuff.
    “Brash. Reckless. Cocky.”
    Kelly raises her eyebrow at me. “That doesn’t sound like the Vinz I know.”
    “That’s because some things happened. Things that can change a man.”
    “Is that how you got your scar?”
    Unconsciously, my fingers were tracing the outline of my scar. It runs straight down my face, from my scalp to my chin, across the right side of my face.
    “I’m sorry,” Kelly says when she sees the look that must have been on my face. “I didn’t mean to pry.”
    “It’s okay,” I say. “You’re right. Do you want to hear that story?”
    She nods.
    “If we’re going to swap tales, we’ll need a proper drink as well.”
    I walk up to the food dispenser and grab two cups of cuhla , the Zoran alcoholic drink of choice. I hand one cup to Kelly and she takes a whiff. Instantly she shoots back, her face contorted.
    “Oh my god,” she says. “I can feel it burning in my nose! What the hell is this?”
    “ Cuhla ,” I say with a laugh. “A soldier’s best friend.”
    “You can’t seriously drink this, right?”
    I put the cup to my lips and take a small sip of the spicy, jet-black liquid. It heats my throat, and I can feel it sliding down, warming me from the inside. A pleasant buzz courses through my veins.
    “Take a sip,” I tell her. “You’ll like it.”
    Kelly takes a deep breath, gathering all her courage. “One sip. No more.”
    I nod. “Go on.”
    She brings the cup close, but backs away when the smell hits