Karac: Kaldar Warriors #1 by T.J. Yelden Read Free Book Online Page A

continuing.  “Will you get the taco shells out for me?”  He chuckled but did as I asked.  We moved around the kitchen well together.  We never ran into each other and Nathan usually anticipated anything I needed.  Surprising what 3 months of living together would do to a couple.  Not that we were a couple.   I shook my head and focused on preparing supper. 
    Just as we were setting the table with all the food, the front door opened.  I froze and Nathan leapt in front of me so whoever it was couldn’t see me. 
    “What the hell, Jesse?”  Nathan yelled.  I sighed and relaxed.  Jesse was Nathan’s older brother by two years, four years older than myself.  He was the same height as Nathan, just a little stockier and usually had some scruff going on.  You could tell they were brothers because they had the same hair and eye color, besides the tell-tale facial features. 
    Jesse discovered I was living at Nathan’s by accident when he stopped late one night and found Nathan and I watching a movie together on the couch.  Not that we were snuggling or anything.  A good two feet separated us, but Jesse still made assumptions.  We set him straight and since there was no stopping him from just popping over whenever, he did have a key after all, we both came to accept it.  Although, Nathan did ask that Jesse give us a heads up if he was stopping by, just to avoid stressful situations like the one we were currently in.  I peeked around Nathan and saw Jesse grinning as he walked toward us.
    “Oh, right.  I’m supposed to text or call.  My bad.”  He was totally unrepentant.
    “Whatever.”  Nathan rumbled.  Sighing he asked, “What do you want?”  We watched him as he grabbed another plate, cup, and silverware (all of which were courtesy of my apartment) and sat down at the table.
    “Food of course.  Ashley cooks better than I do.”  He gave me puppy dog eyes before ruining it by smirking.  I smiled at his antics. 
    “You could have asked.”  Nathan said heatedly.
    “Could have.  But you have all this food.  I wouldn’t want it to go to waste.”
    I rolled my eyes and pushed Nathan towards his seat and I followed suit.  “There is a thing called leftovers, you know.”
    “Never heard of them.”  Jesse said as he piled his tacos with toppings.  Sighing, I had to laugh internally at Jesse’s playfulness. 
    “So you stopped by just to eat all the food?”  Nathan asked as he filled his plate. 
    “Thought I’d share what I heard in town today.”  I froze, knowing that I wasn’t going to like this train of conversation.  Jesse looked at me, concern finally breaking through.  “There’s talk of the aliens courting the women who registered.  Some say a few of the women have even gone to the ships with them.”
    “What do you mean courting?”  I asked.  “I mean, there’s proof of them coming down here to take women on dates and stuff?”
    “I guess.”  He shrugged.  “The alien guys are trying to play by human etiquette.  They apparently think this will win over our women faster.”
    “Anyone we know?”  Nathan asked as he continued to eat.  I looked down at my untouched plate and started eating.  Had to keep my strength up after all, right?
    “No, most are from the bigger cities.  Higher population and all that.  Probably better odds for them.”  He sighed and added, “Some are saying that they took some against their will to the ships.”
    “That’s just rumor though, right?”  I asked nervously, looking between Nathan and Jesse. 
    “Who knows?  We can’t really trust them.  They aren’t sharing the technology they said they would simply because not enough of our women registered.”  I looked down but Jesse hurried to say, “Which is bullshit.  If they have the technology to save lives they shouldn’t withhold it.  That’s just cruel.” 
    “I agree,” Nathan said around a mouthful of food.  He swallowed before adding, “If that