GalacticInferno Read Free Page A

the situation and gather her thoughts. “Who are you?
What do you want from me?”
    Talking to someone other than Bonnie took on a surreal
quality, as if she was speaking through layers and layers of consciousness and
hearing the words from a great distance.
    His eyes flashed, the possessive need in his stare sapping
her willpower, her hatred, and making her burn all over. He lifted an
outstretched hand. “My name is Renate Mearwon. And I want you.”

Chapter Two
     
    Ally shook her head at his words, snapping out of her moment
of insanity. “You sick, murdering bastard!”
    Something shifted behind his eyes. Hurt? Guilt? Shame?
    Impossible. He and his alien friends had done nothing to
stop the virus sweeping the earth like a giant, biological tsunami.
    “I’m not yours,” she croaked, backing away a step. “And
whatever voodoo mind control you’re trying to pull on me—stop it now.”
    Renate cocked a dark brow, the gesture all too human. “Not
even a ‘thank you’ for saving your life?”
    Her breath hissed at his audacity. Yes, he’d saved her. But
his kind had taken away everyone she’d ever known, everyone she could have
known. “You don’t deny using some form of mind control?”
    “No.”
    She closed her eyes for a second, feeling weak. And all too
vulnerable. It made too much sense. She’d felt the pull toward him, experienced
the emotional transition from horrible dread and fear to unspeakable
attraction, a transition that was far and beyond anything normal or rational.
    “Just a small influence,” Renate added, voice almost gentle.
“I felt your fear. You didn’t need to be further traumatized at the very sight
of me.”
    “How is it you know English?”
    “We had much time to study Earth’s languages on the journey
here.”
    She sank to the floor, knees no longer able to support her.
Shrugging off her backpack, she slung an arm around Bonnie. “It’s like
something out of a horror movie,” she whispered starkly.
    Thunder rumbled outside, a sudden wind whooshing through the
broken window.
    Renate looked up, nostrils flaring as though he was scenting
the weather. “The storm is close.” His stare rested briefly on the dog he’d
killed before swinging back to her. “We can’t stay here.”
    We? If the alien thought for one minute she was going to
meekly follow him, obey his every command, he was sadly mistaken. The
loneliness eating at her from the inside out was far preferable to being some
alien’s puppet.
    Wasn’t it?
    A louder rumble caused Bonnie to whine. Ally stroked the
dog’s soft ears, sharing her pain. God, how nice would it be—really—just to
talk to someone else. “She hates storms. Hates thunder.” Her eyes narrowed.
“But we’re not going anywhere with you. Not going anywhere near your UFO.”
    He frowned, as though taken aback by her objections. Did his
mind control not work so well on her, then?
    “The mother ship will stay above the storm for the night. I
was simply going to suggest finding shelter in another earth building.”
    Ally rested her chin on Bonnie’s soft head. The half-eaten
human skull and the other dog’s prone body wasn’t something she wanted to be
sharing a room with for the night—she’d seen more than enough death already.
But she had a feeling this alien perceived other ravenous dogs would be
attracted to the scent of a fresh kill.
    She let out a shaky sigh, hardly able to believe she was
agreeing to his suggestion. “Okay. But after the storm, we part ways.”
    He nodded. “If that is your wish.”
    She frowned. He thinks I’ll change my mind.
    Pushing onto her feet, she discovered her still shaky legs
were reluctant to support her. She needn’t have worried. In two strides Renate
was before her. He swung her backpack on to a broad shoulder then scooped her
effortlessly into his arms.
    “Bonnie?” she croaked.
    Dear lord. Was her dog all that concerned her now?
    No. Survival mode had kicked in. She needed the distraction
of