“Can you hand me clothes?” The last thing she wanted was for any of them to see her naked.

He turned his head, jerking it at one of his large men. That man turned, sniffed the area, and then stormed for Brenda’s backpack that Rever had put in the corner. He bent, digging inside it, and a minute later he stormed back, tossing a shirt and a pair of pants at her. Brenda was grateful he’d chosen pants instead of one of those tunic-styled dresses since nothing went under them.

Keeping the cover in place, she awkwardly dressed under it. When she was in the clothes she pushed back the blanket. She looked around the cave again as she stood up, realizing that there was no escape. Two men were guarding the opening to the cave and the other two were now standing over her. She felt tiny compared to the tall men around her. She was caught and she knew it. Somewhere outside Rever was unaware of her predicament.

“Look,” she stared at the one in charge, a black haired, bright green-eyed man.

“Can we make a deal?”

Black eyebrows arched. “A deal?” His frown deepened.

“Just take me away and leave Rever alone. He was rescuing me if you know it or not. Please don’t arrest him. I’ll beg if you want. Just don’t hurt him. He did it for me. I made him do it.”

The man’s gaze ran over her again, his eyelids narrowing. “I believe you could convince a smart man of anything, human. I am aware of your sexual appeal.” Features hardened. “I won’t be seduced by you. I am duty bound to take you back.” Shock tore through her. “I wasn’t offering to seduce you. I wouldn’t sleep with you.” She was horrified he would think that. “Beg doesn’t mean that on Earth. It means to plead with your sense of compassion. Do you have any of that?” He shook his head. “I’m a warrior. Compassion is for fools and females.” He turned his attention on the other man. “Shackle her but be gentle. She’s fragile.” The other one gave a nod, moving behind Brenda. All she could do was tense when a large hand gripped her arm, pulling it behind her back. She knew there was no sense in her struggling, knowing these guys were too fast and strong to fight off. She turned her head, staring up at the man who pulled out a set of manacles akin to handcuffs only with thicker chains and wider wrist restraints while he hooked up her arms behind her back. His touch was gentle when he tested the manacles to make sure they weren’t too tight on her wrists.

His coloring was unusual with silvery blond hair that was pulled back in a ponytail and fell mid way down his back. His eyes were an eerie silver-blue, which set him apart just as much as his skin did. He was not as deeply tanned as the others, his coloring more of a soft golden.

The man behind her stepped away. “Now we must trap Rever without a fight. No way do we want to kill an Argis.”

The one in front of her nodded. “We’ll use her to make him come peacefully. He won’t fight knowing I am ready to kill her if he does.” Brenda fought back tears. We had only had one night together. How in the hell did these assholes find us so quickly? These men are going to arrest Rever and he’ll end up in a work camp while I’ll be returned to Volder. No…

Rever’s words echoed in her head about lying if they were caught, knowing he was willing to sacrifice himself to protect her. To make matters worse, now these assholes were using her as bait to make Rever turn himself in without a fight. She knew he would do anything to protect her, even that. Her chin rose as she turned her head to glare up at the Zorn in charge.

“Rever did not steal me. Rever is completely innocent and had no choice but to bring me here. I’m confessing right now that I’m the guilty one who stole him.” The man’s eyebrows arched again. “You stole him?” He actually threw back his head and a deep laugh rumbled out of him, looking highly amused as he stared at Brenda. “Tell me, tiny woman. How did you steal an Argis?” Taking a deep breath, she tried to calm her pounding heart. She spotted Rever’s gun-like weapon he’d had on him the night before. The guards they’d tricked at the supply building had seen it on Rever but maybe they wouldn’t remember that little fact.

“Over there by the water is the weapon I used to point at Rever when I forced him from his home,” she lied. “I told him that if I couldn’t have him that I would blow up the Drais when Volder took me there if he didn’t stay here with me. I’m human and I’m very cagey.” She raised her chin higher, glaring at the man. “We’re mean.” The one behind her laughed. “Watch out, Allot. She looks dangerous.” Allot was laughing still, his bright green gaze fixed on her and deep chuckles came from him. “You are mean?” He moved fast.

A gasp escaped from Brenda as the man’s hands gripped her waist, lifting her off her feet and held her a few feet from his body. He raised her face level to him. He still looked damn amused but he’d stopped laughing.

“I could break you without pulling a muscle. You think I would believe this confession of yours? Don’t insult my intelligence. You are pathetically weak as a human race and as a woman.”

His hold on her wasn’t painful but she didn’t think he’d really hurt her. She was supposedly Volder’s so she thought that hopefully meant Allot wouldn’t kill her. She was afraid but she tried to hide it as she continued to glare at the man.

“The bigger they are, the harder they fall.”

He cocked his head, staring at her. “I don’t understand that saying.” Brenda brought her knee up firmly and quickly. She might not have hands since they were trapped behind her back but he’d lifted her high enough and close enough to his body that her knee hit dead on between his slightly parted thighs. She watched his face as his eyes went wide and the color drained from his normally tan face. She screamed out in terror when she was thrown away from him.

The other man with the silvery eyes caught her against his chest, saving her from a nasty fall to the floor. She hit him hard enough that it caused him to stagger back a few feet to keep hold of her without letting her fall. A tiny bit of sympathy welled inside her as Allot collapsed to his knees and gripped the front of his pants. Zorn warriors didn’t wear sports cups but she bet he wished they did now. His head lowered, his black hair falling forward to obscure his face. The only sound he made was a hiss of air exhaling.