Asteroid by Viola Grace Read Free Book Online Page B

so the Reeban would be forced to look up to me.”
    “Your people are smaller?” She bit her lip as one of his hands worked beneath the robe.
    “As an adult male, I would have stood even with your shoulder. When I was taken from my people, I was an adolescent and it was simply luck that caused my crash here on Zeering.”
    She sighed as he cupped a breast and thumbed her nipple softly. “What were your people like?”
    “Young. As a species, we were very young. My people did not trust strangers from the sky and we ran from them when they landed. I was foolish enough to try and confront the invaders and they captured me, taking me with them. They were running tests on me when we crashed.”
    “Were you scared?” Sebena used her hands to caress his chest and neck.
    “Petrified. I ripped the cords out of my arms and ran for it. We were quite a distance from the Reeban colony, so I was halfway up the mountainside before Zeering spoke to me.”
    “He made contact with you directly?”
    “He did. He had been desperate to make contact with the Reeban, but they were not suitable. All his energy was hovering near the surface and he seized the opportunity to take an Avatar.”
    Despite the curls of pleasure running through her, she sat up straight and leaned away from him. “He took you as Avatar by force?”
    “He asked me who I was and where I was from. I told him that my people would not have me back again and then he took me as his Avatar.”
    Sebena sighed and relaxed against him again. “Good, I didn’t want to think the worst of Zeering. Why wouldn’t your people let you come back?”
    He sighed and sat up, pulling her tight against him. “Because no good has ever come from the sky.”
    She felt his homesickness. It radiated out of him in a wave. “Have you ever tried to go back? Not to live but to visit?”
    “Zeering would not allow it. After he changed my body, he felt it would be inappropriate to show me to my family and friends. My height alone would frighten my people.”
    She looked up at him. “I like your height. It makes me feel delicate, feminine.”
    Issul blinked. “Then I am glad that the changes occurred before you met me.”
    “I think I would like you in whatever form you had, but this one does make it easier.” She smiled and caressed his cheek.
    “My face is my own and everything else was increased proportionally.”
    “Lucky me. You are truly beautiful, right down to your pointy ears.” She caressed his ears and he shuddered under her light touch.
    She leaned forward to kiss him and a knock at the door caused her to groan and lean her head on his chest instead.
    “It is the housekeeping staff.” His voice resonated in his chest.
    A panel folded open on one wall and a red light flared.
    Issul was on his feet in seconds, standing her upright and striding across the room. “I stand corrected. It isn’t housekeeping. It is Karri and she is holding a bomb.”
    I will handle this.
    Zeering took over Sebena and Issul, moving them in concert. Sebena was standing between the doors and Issul threw them open.

    Chapter Ten
    “Remain calm, Karri.”
    Tears coursed down the maid’s face as she stood with her hands locked onto the device. “I am so sorry. They didn’t give me a choice.”
    Zeering nodded Sebena’s head and reached out to touch the bomb. Power flowed into the device and the pulsing energy inside the box faded to nothing. Sebena watched her hands dexterously unclasp the links that bound Karri to the box and she carried it inside the Avatars’ chambers.
    The box quivered as the device tried to reactivate. Zeering walked the bomb to the balcony and Sebena handed the box to Issul while she powered up.
    He hurled the box over the city and Sebena watched in amazement as her arm extended and a bolt of power crackled from her hand to strike the falling bomb.
    The detonation was incredible. The energy wave coursed over them and caused panicked cries from the folk of the city.
    I