A growl tore from the woman and she took a menacing step forward. “Lower your eyes to me and you call me Bratha, rude human.”

Okay, Shanna thought grimly as she lowered her eyes, hating doing it but giving a nod, fixing her attention on the Zorn woman’s boots, noticing that they resembled the ones Berrr and his men wore. Could the woman be any more butch? Shanna doubted it. She was grateful though when the woman didn’t come any closer, halting at that foot.

“What Berrr sees in you is a mystery,” the woman continued growling as she spoke.

“Humans are weak and pathetic. You are too small and useless to be of any value on my planet. I told him he should send all you off-worlders away from Zorn. My sons have poisoned our great bloodlines with your Earth weaknesses. It is all about bloodlines, it is about sacrifice, to continue to stay on top.” Shanna glanced up then, remembering what Berrr had told her. “You sacrificed for the bloodlines, didn’t you?”

The woman’s dark eyes widened, looking a little shocked at Shanna’s question. She frowned. “Berrr told you of our union?”

“He said your fathers were pack and that they wanted you and Berrr to combine your bloodlines.” Shanna hesitated, not sure how far to go without setting the woman off but wanting to find some common ground with her before Alluwn blew up in a rage. Pissing off the mean-looking woman was the last thing Shanna wanted to do. She looked tough and not someone Shanna would want to end up in a fight with. “I’m sorry that happened to you. On Earth we believe mostly in love between a man and woman who have children together. That must have been really hard on you.”

“Mostly?”

Glancing back up, Shanna gave a nod. “Some women and men get together for…power.” Shanna wasn’t sure if Alluwn would understand if she said money.

“Sometimes it’s a cultural thing like with what happened to you where two families set up the union between their children.”

Alluwn cocked her head a little. “You are fully grown. Were you bound on Earth before you were taken by force? I’m aware of how you got here and how Berrr acquired you.”

“I was bound to an unfit man who hit me,” Shanna tried to speak in words that Berrr had used so the woman understood. She knew Alluwn and she would never be friends but she didn’t want to be enemies either. The large Zorn woman scared the shit out of her, looking as tough as Berrr. “On Earth you are allowed to sever the relationship and go your own ways. We don’t need a man’s protection.” A snort came from the tall woman. “Are your men as puny as your females?” Looking up now, not glancing away, Shanna frowned. “We’re not as big as your people are for the most part. I’m shorter than an average woman and you’d be considered quite large on my planet but we aren’t a warrior race like Berrr explained to me. Women and men are generally considered equal.” Alluwn stared at her for long seconds. “You aren’t cowering from me when you should be.”

Shrugging, Shanna sighed. “You obviously wanted to see me and talk to me since you had Berrr’s men bring me here.”

“I wanted to see what Berrr found fascinating.” The woman moved, walking slowly toward Shanna, and then circled her, leaving just a few feet between them as her gaze roamed her body. “You are not what I expected. He always tends to be drawn to dark-haired females like myself with bigger bodies. He loves a muscled woman to wrestle with but he’d break your bones or harm you if he played with you.” Alluwn stopped in front of Shanna, frowning down at her. “Do not take this personal that you are a means of revenge. I am impressed with your bravery so I will be kinder than my original plan, human. I will hope that you live by the end of this.” Tensing hard, Shanna backed up, lifting her arms in a defensive stance. “What are you going to do? I’m assuming Berrr isn’t home.”

“You are correct. Berrr went to his dinner with some of his guests to discuss the wild problem and will not be home for many hours but a few of his guests were asked to stay for a special treat.” Alluwn sighed. “I hope you survive but I am not sure you will. I wanted to hand over your dead body to my bound when he returned home but I think you still breathing would be more effective. He will suffer knowing you suffer since you mean something to him.”

“Oh fuck,” Shanna backed up more, trying to mentally prepare herself for the larger woman attacking her. Her gaze flew over the woman, looking for weak spots. Knees, throat and stomach were the obvious ones since it would be hard to nail a woman in the face when she was that tall unless Shanna could kick her hard enough in the gut to get her to double over. “Please don’t do this, Bratha. You know he’ll be really pissed off and I have nothing to do with what happened between the two of you.”

“It matters none.” Alluwn let out a weird whistle sound and then five of Berrr’s men walked in the bedroom.

Dread and terror hit Shanna hard as five large Zorn warriors walked into the bedroom. She recognized one of them as the man who had come to get her at Rever’s house. He seemed to be leading the other guys.

“Who do you take orders from?” Shanna glared at him. “Berrr will kill you if you let her hurt me. Do you understand that?”

The big man frowned, his attention going to Alluwn, not looking happy. “With respect, Bratha, please do not order us to do this.” She growled. “Hyvin is not home and you will do as I say the way you are duty bound to do.”

He showed sharp teeth as he snarled something that the translator didn’t pick up.

Shanna was guessing it was a Zorn curse word. His attention locked on Shanna. “Do not fight and you won’t be severely harmed. Do you understand?” It was an inner battle to not struggle as the large man approached her to grip her.

His hand was gentle as it wrapped firmly around her arm. She stared up at him, slightly shaking, wondering where he was going to take her. Her first thought had been that Alluwn and the warriors were going to beat her. He actually looked regretful as their gazes met and then he gave her a gentle tug.

“Come with me, human.”

“Berrr is going to hurt you if I get hurt,” Shanna said softly. “You know damn well that they don’t get along and he’s a bigger threat to you than she is.”