Page 36 of Their Marked Mate

“I need to get going,” Natalie concluded. “Wish me luck.”

“You don’t need it, but good luck.”

“I programmed one of the hummingbirds to record the encounter. Will is going to pull me out if the eagles aren’t willing to talk.”

William Megoni was captain of the Azrithal. He was nice enough and seemed to be a competent commander, but only Natalie knew him well enough to call him Will.

They left the officers’ dining hall together but got off the lift on different decks. Avery made her way to the hold turned volunteer dormitory hoping to watch the first contact encounter between Natalie and the raptor shifters. All the volunteers knew who Avery was, but few tried to engage her. Most resented authority and Avery represented the worst offender on the planet, the United States government.

The large open room had been divided into two sections. Multi-level bunks made up one end of the room while the other contained tables and chairs for meals and socializing. Fallon sat with a small group of women waiting for the show to begin. A large section of the hull had been transformed into a video display.

Avery knew nothing about Fallon’s background, but she appeared to be of Middle Eastern descent, maybe Indian. Ebony hair hung past her shoulders in relaxed waves. Surrounded by thick dark lashes, her light brown eyes appeared gold in certain lights. Though not classically beautiful, her features were striking and memorable.

“Here we go,” Fallon said as the wall display flickered to life. Hummingbirds hovered at the edge of a forest presenting the scene from multiple angles. Deep male voices rumbled in the distance, but the spybots faced the other direction.

“It won’t be a threat next time. You have one week to deliver my third of the females.”

Avery sucked in a breath. That was Alex, the lupine village alpha. She’d spent enough time spying on the wolves to recognize his voice. But why was he threatening the eagles?

The next few exchanges were too muffled to make out, then Avery heard, “Elias wanted blood. Alex just wants females.” Avery didn’t recognize the voice, but it was likely one of the eagle brothers.

A subtle flash of light preceded Natalie’s appearance as she was transported down to the planet.

“Well, he can’t have ours,” a different male insisted. “So, what’s our next move?”

“That’s a very good question, Raphael,” Natalie said as she walked out of the forest.

Damn, the woman knew how to make an entrance. Avery couldn’t hold back a smile.

One of the hummingbirds flew along beside her, rotating slowly until it faced the males. They were tall and leanly muscled. Two stepped forward at the same time. They had similar features, so Avery concluded that they were Raphael and Gabriel, coleaders of Eagle Village.

“I’m in a unique position to give you an unexpected option,” Natalie was saying.

“Who the fuck are you?” The one who spoke had lighter hair, but Avery wasn’t sure if he was Gabriel or Raphael.

Natalie held out her hand and whistled an intricate tune. “Come to me.” One of the spybots flew in a semicircle, agilely landing on the palm of her hand. “I believe you’ve already met my eyes and ears.”

The dark-haired brother lunged for Natalie and her guards surrounded her in an instant.

“Fight, fight, fight!” one of the volunteers chanted playfully.

“Hush,” Fallon urged. “I want to hear this.”

The others obliged her just in time for Natalie to speak again.

“My name is Natalie Morgan and I’m here to assist you.” Her laugh sounded forced, an understandable reaction to the highly volatile situation. “That might seem hard to believe, but it’s the truth. Lower your weapons,” she told her guards. “They’re not going to hurt me. Are you, gentlemen?”

“They’re welcome to hurt me,” the smartass said in a stage whisper. “Damn, those men are fine.”

“Where did you come from?” the dark-haired brother asked. His expression was semi-hostile.

“Earth, originally. The ship is in orbit above this village as of a few moments ago.”

The blond brother brightened, hope widening his eyes. “You have a spaceship, here and now?”

Natalie released an audible sigh as she shook her head. “We both know you can’t leave the planet, but I have a proposal that should please you. Give me fifteen minutes of your time and I promise I’ll make it worth your while.”

“A pleasing proposal?” Fallon grumbled. “Is that really what we’ve become?”