Alien's Bride Book Three Read Online Free Page B

wanted to go there.   But now?   What’s the fucking point?”   She clutched the grass while breaking into sobs.  
    Rolf-Tem nudged her butt with his toe.   “Alright.   Let’s move along.”
    I snarled at him.   “Give her a minute!”  
    He lifted his nose and took a few steps away to join Whore.   The two commenced with their idle chatter:   “Is any of this vegetation edible?”   “The humans’ stomachs are too delicate, but their animals can eat it and they can eat the animals.”   Etc.  
    I surveyed the landscape.   I couldn’t see the overpasses this time.   We were in wild pasture.   A few young trees were scattered among clean-cut stumps that had moss and mushrooms growing on them.   There was a dirt road ahead of us fighting encroaching crab grass.   It led to what looked like an army base about 30 yards away.   Hundreds of long domed barracks were spread out before us, probably filling up a square mile.  
    Elentinus moved beside me and touched my arm.   I looked at him, but his gaze remained fixed on the scene.
    “What do you expect to see today, Maritza?”
    I turned away.   The question put some dread in my stomach.   I took a deep breath and said, “A slave labor camp.   Hopefully one that’s not as bad as a Nazi concentration camp.”
    “I’m not familiar with your reference.”   He still didn’t look at me.   “What if it is as bad as what you fear?”
    It couldn’t have been, but the mere suggestion made me furious.   “Then you have to fix it.”
    He made no response.   The conversation made my shoulders tense.   If he was worried about me seeing this then there must have been something to worry about.   It couldn’t be that bad, could it?   Not on Elentinus’ watch.
    We heard a girl’s voice.   All our heads darted towards the source in unison.   We couldn’t see anyone past a huge mass of blackberry brambles.
    Elentinus zipped past me toward it.   “No one’s supposed to be out this far.”
    I gathered up Inga and followed.   The Defenders whirred along with us.   One of them plowed ahead to trample open a path.  
    “Don’t move, humans!” the Defender said through a booming speaker.
    I heard several women scream.  
    We ran through the break.   There were seven girls:   most teenaged, two adults, and one elderly.   They wore plain green frocks and bandanas.   Each had a large tote bag loaded with berries (though one was spilled on the ground).   They stood clustered with wide eyes fixed on us.   One of them was eating berries out of her bag.
    Past them I saw two Defenders who hadn’t come out of the ship.   They rolled forward.
    “Lord Elentinus,” one of them said, “the women are out here with our permission.”
    I heard a piston.   The Defender who’d plowed ahead was pulling a little cannon back into one of his compartments.  
    Elentinus approached them.   We timidly followed behind.
    “That is fine,” he said in English.   “I apologize for startling you.”
    Everyone relaxed.
    “Sokay,” said the younger of the two adults.
    “No prob,” said the old woman.
    “You smashed a shit-ton of blackberries, though,” said the shortest girl.   She looked Hispanic.
    “Would you shut up, Jules?” a teen with a blue streak dyed in her hair said, “These are the falacking aliens.”
    “I’m just sayin.”
    The girls turned toward Jules, who appeared to be the youngest, and scolded her.   She ignored them and held out her tote.
    “You want some blackberries?”
    I got a surge of joy that almost broke me into tears.   There’s no way this was a Nazi level concentration camp.
    I went to her.   “I’ll try some.”
    “Who the Hell are you?” a lanky brunette with a dark tan said.
    “I’m…”   I looked back at Elentinus who gave me a Dak-Hiliah nod.   “I’m Lord Elentinus’ wife.”
    A few of them gasped.  
    One pointed her thumb at Inga.   “Are you the other one’s wife?”
    “What the fuck are