Kríe Captivity (The Nira Chronicles Book 1) Read Free

ripped, with a mean looking skull cut—and gray eyes as sharp as razors—he wasn’t one people made a habit of messing with. Or getting on the bad side of. But Alec didn’t give a shit. He had bigger things to worry about than if soldier boy was PMSing. For fuck’s sake, Chet wasn’t the only one marooned on this fucking planet.
    Dragging a hand through his light brown hair, Alec exchanged unsettled looks with his second in command. Zaden just shook his head and turned back to logging the report. Got to get all the details down while shit was still fresh in the head. Not that they’d be read for another fucking year.
    Alec cursed under his breath and walked over to the team’s three scientists. “You guys packed up and ready to move? Once we find a place to set up camp, we can go out and do a little exploring.” He sighed and scanned their alien surroundings. “God knows we have plenty of time.”
    “Technically,” Noah pointed out, tightening his small ponytail. “One year is not plenty of time. At least not to those in the scientific community.” The American beauty, with his honey blond hair and brown eyes, was as attractive as he was intelligent. Or in other words, a hot fucking nerd. At least, that’s what the girls—and guys alike—always said.
    “Yeah,” Bailey chuckled, chocolate curls framing his face. “If anything, we’d call it not enough time.”
    Alec stared at him incredulously. By that happy gleam in his hazel eyes, he’d say Bailey didn’t mind that they were stranded. Or that it’d take twelve months on this potentially dangerous planet before any kind of rescue team came to get them.
    Shaking his head, Alec turned to Jamis. “What about you? You the only scientist here who’s still got some sense?”
    Jamis looked up with a smirk, brushing dark bangs from his eyes. “Sorry, Cap. Guess our rough little landing gave me brain damage, too.”
    Alec chuckled humorlessly and rubbed his brow. “You guys are nuts, but at least someone’s happy. Just be ready to head out in five.”
     
    * * *
     
    Right on time, less than ten minutes later, every man had every rucksack packed to go. Tromping along like the others in cargo shorts and a tank top, Alec kept steady pace with his co-pilot.
    “I activated the distress beacon,” Zaden informed him, studying the vicinity.
    With a rich tan, black hair, and equally dark eyes, the man looked right at home. And in a way he kind of was. Having spent his childhood in Central America, he regularly traversed regions much like this. In truth, this place was just like the Amazon jungle, except not only were the dense trees taller and thicker, but were solely in all dark shades. Green and purple mostly, with blossoms of orange and red. The flora looked a lot glossier, too, as if everything was covered in honey. Which would explain that wild honey scent Alec detected. A smell he’d picked up the second he stepped off their aircraft. Luckily for his team, the air was breathable. Luckier still was that the temperatures were accommodating. Hell, it was downright sultry as shit. Because, hello, they were in a fucking jungle.
    “Good,” Alec replied, stepping over a downed tree. “Hopefully it won’t take long for its signal to get picked up.”
    “Shouldn’t,” Zaden muttered, peering over his shoulder. “Got the thing running at full strength.” He looked back at Alec with a strange expression. “You feel that?”
    Alec frowned. “Feel what? I don’t feel anything.”
    “Like we’re being watched.”
    Alec tensed and shot Zaden a disquieted look. The man was famous for his wicked sixth sense. “Seriously?”
    Z gave a small nod, eyes combing more intently.
    Alec glanced around, too. “Fucking great. Not a half hour in and we’ve already got company. Getting a vibe on if it’s friendly or not?”
    “Can’t tell.”
    Abruptly, countless branches began snapping overhead.
    “Everyone down!” Chet bit out from the front of the line.