Laurann Dohner: Valiant

“Back off,” Breeze growled deeper. “She’s with me.”

Tammy nervously stared at the three men. She realized that the room had gone deadly silent. There had to be at least thirty New Species but none of them spoke.

She didn’t recognize a single face as she glanced around.

Tammy’s gaze slid back to the man who’d been the most aggressive.

“Is there a problem?” Tammy frowned at him.

“She’s human.” He flashed sharp teeth at Tammy, taking another step closer.

Breeze kept in his path, putting her hands out. “She’s a human who lives here with one of our males. She belongs to him and he will beat you to a pulp if you so much as breathe wrong at her. Justice North invited her to live with us. She’s one of us despite being human. I realize, as a Primate, your sense of smell isn’t that strong but she belongs to him.”

The man growled again and so did the two men behind him. Tammy sensed danger. She took a deep breath, trying to calm her fear. Valiant always told her his kind could smell it. She lifted her chin.

“Calm down. I’m not the enemy.” She was proud her voice came out strong and didn’t shake as badly as her hands started to.

“What is going on?” 927 suddenly spoke. He had silently strode up behind both women.

Tammy started, glanced at him, and smiled, feeling a little relief at seeing him there. “My guess is they don’t like me.”

927 snarled, glaring at the males. He stomped forward to stand next to Breeze. She looked uneasy when she glanced at the new male and her body tensed more.

927 didn’t spare her a glance. He continued to defiantly stare at the three men.

“She’s the reason you are free. Dr. Zenlelt kidnapped her and her mate tracked her to me. She isn’t like the humans we have known, 861. Back off. She is family to us.” 927 glanced around the room, meeting every man’s curious gaze, and his voice rose. “She is family and a friend.”

“Humans will never be family,” 861 growled. “It offends me to look at her.”

“Get over it,” Breeze snarled. “She isn’t going anywhere. She lives here too. So does another human woman who is a mate to one of us. Smell her. She belongs to one of our own.”

861 moved closer to Breeze and inhaled. He frowned and moved closer. She backed up to keep him from touching Tammy. The man inhaled again and stepped back. “I do not like this.”

“You do not have to. She is here and no harm will come to her. Where is your gratitude? We would still be locked up inside our cells if not for her mate’s love for her and our people helping him find her. Show respect,”

927 demanded in a harsh tone.

861 snarled back. “Never for humans.”

Breeze softly cursed and reached back. Her fingers fisted the front of the sweater Tammy wore and pushed, moving Tammy toward the elevator. The pounding of booted feet drew everyone’s attention as more New Species wearing the NSO black uniforms rushed into the lobby. They quickly assessed the two men circling each other and Tammy saw what they saw—the men were going to fight. 927 would protect and defend her.

“It’s the primate in the red,” Breeze called out loudly.

“He came after Valiant’s mate.”

The man in the red, 861, lunged for 927, and the fight was on. The New Species officers rushed forward, pushing everyone out of the way. In seconds they had grabbed 861 and restrained him flat on the floor.

Tammy relaxed. Breeze’s hold on the sweater eased and she turned her head, studying Tammy.

“Are you all right?”

“I’m fine. What was that about?”

927 approached. His hand was gashed from where he’d hit the other man in the face. A sharp tooth had cut his skin. He stopped a few feet back. “I apologize. These men are from the same place where I was locked up. They do not trust or like humans. When he calms I will speak to him rationally.”

“It’s all right.” Tammy sighed. “I guess I can understand that.” Her gaze dropped to his hand. “Do you want me to clean that up and bandage it?”

One of the New Species officers approached. “We’ll let him calm down and have a talk with him.” He glanced at Tammy. “Are you unharmed?”

“I’m fine.”

He inhaled. “Just frightened.” He turned and met 927’s gaze. “Thank you for defending her until we were able to take him down. Let me take you to medical and they will care for your injury.”

927 agreed. “Of course.” He flashed Tammy a smile.

“I apologize. I will talk to all of them. You will be safe from harm. It would not hurt if Valiant spoke to them as well. He will intimidate them if I don’t.”

Breeze laughed. “He’s good at that. I’m Breeze. Thank you for the backup there.”

927 studied her carefully and smiled. “I’m 927. It is a pleasure to meet you.”

Breeze’s smile widened. “You are a charmer. You’re also new. Come look for me if you need any help settling in.”

“I will.”

The officer smiled. “Let’s go to medical, hero.”

Breeze gripped Tammy’s hand and led her out of the lobby to where a white van waited. One of the New Species officers sat behind the wheel to drive them.

Breeze turned to Tammy the second they were inside and the door closed.

“You know that male? He’s gorgeous and did you see those dark eyes?” Breeze fanned her face. “I need to change my pants. I’m that wet. When he picks a name it should be something as sexy hot as he is.”

Tammy grinned. “You like him, I take it?”

“I think I’m definitely in lust. Do you think he is attracted to tall women?”

“He looked interested in you to me.”

“He did? I will make a point of finding him later after I get some sleep. I wish to be well rested when I seek him out.”

In minutes they reached the helicopter pad. The helicopter had just landed and was already being refueled. The side door opened when the van pulled up and women began to climb out. Tammy stayed with the van at Breeze’s side to welcome the new women. She hoped none of them would attack her. Tammy had never considered that anyone would hate her on sight or want to hurt her. 861 sure had.

“Wow,” Tammy whispered, spotting the flaming-red hair of the woman who climbed out of the helicopter first. “She’s the smallest New Species I’ve ever seen and what do you think she was mixed with to get that hair color? It looks as if someone set her hair on fire with something really bright. It’s gorgeous.”

Breeze laughed. “She’s one of yours. I would say she’s mixed with a hair dye. That can’t be natural.”

“Maybe the black pants and black shirt just makes her hair more striking.” Tammy shrugged.

Breeze smiled and shrugged too. “We could ask her.”

“No!” Tammy laughed. “Never ask a woman if her hair color is real or her age. Human women get all pissy about it.”

“Really?” Breeze let it sink in. “I’ll try to remember that.”

The redhead approached. She nodded and stopped by Breeze. She lowered her gaze and her head. She waited a few seconds before glancing up.

“I am Jessie Dupree. I wanted to personally escort your females here. I’m the human representative for the United States Government, a part of your human task force that handles search and retrievals of your lost females. I ask your permission to escort them to their new homes and stay to help with their integration into your society. They trust me.” Her gaze flickered to Tammy and took her in at a sweeping glance. The woman frowned slightly. “I don’t know you. Who brought you in?”

Tammy blinked at her. “Valiant did.”

Breeze chuckled. “You think she’s New Species, do you not, Jessie Dupree? She is not a recovered Gift Species. She is a human mate to one of our males. Her name is Tammy Shasta.”