Coto's Captive
Page 7

He snarled. “Speak now,” the box demanded.
“Um…I left him in a tree where he’d be safe. He’s hurt.”
Something made a crashing noise behind her and she spun, expecting a coyote or a mountain lion to come at her. Instead it was the man she’d left in the tree. He had a name now. Coto.
He stumbled, fisting the handle of a jagged dagger in one hand. He came forward, unsteady on his feet, and growled low. He no longer wore just the Speedos. He’d put on leather pants and his boots.
“You found me,” the box translated.
“Yes, Coto. We got your message and converged together to seek you out.”
“Did you find Vhon?” Coto came closer, his gaze trailing down Lynn’s body, then he looked back at the four men. “Report.”
One of the other men stepped forward. “Not yet. We stopped to seek you out.” He glared at Lynn. “She stated you were injured.”
“Did the woman do that to you?” A longhaired redhead stepped forward and revealed his sharp fangs as he snarled at Lynn.
She actually backed up and bumped into Coto.
He hooked one arm around her waist. “No. It was four creatures that bit into me. I was attacked after picking up Vhon’s trail.” Coto turned his bright-blue gaze back on Lynn. “You left me to get help?”
Lynn still had a hard time speaking so she just gave a curt nod. Coto frowned, maybe not believing her. He looked away to stare at Holion. “We will set up camp.”
“There is an inhabited dwelling close by. It would be safer to travel farther.”
Coto growled. “No. She said he is blind. He won’t see us. It is safe for us to camp here. I need to be treated. We will resume our search at first light. More of the biting creatures are in the area.”
Holion didn’t seem pleased with that order. He glared at Lynn, snarling. “And what of her? She’s a danger.”
“Tell her why we are here.” Coto pointed his dagger at the redhead. “You do it, Gar. Show her the proof. She must think we are strange.”
The redhead reached inside his pocket and withdrew a folded but laminated paper. He had bright green eyes that Lynn couldn’t look away from as he slowly approached her. “We are Leprechauns from Ireland. See? That is why you might think we are different from you. We have traveled here to go camping and find our friend. He is lost in the woods.” He held out the paper.
Lynn had to lock her knees. Are they kidding? Leprechauns? Her mind was struggling to make sense of it. She stared at the man and stayed totally mute. One of the guys frowned at her, inching closer to Holion.
“She does not seem convinced.”
“Here.” Gar shoved the paper at her.
Lynn looked down. It was an ad she’d seen posted in town some months before. It was for an Irish pub celebrating St. Patrick’s Day. It had probably been ripped down and the wind had carried it into the woods. A picture of a cartoon character grinned at her from the center of it, stating the leprechauns had come all the way from Ireland. He had long red hair, sported a green outfit, and held a pint of ale.
She lifted her chin, staring at Gar in utter shock.
He touched his red hair. “See? It is a bad image but that is what we are. Some of us have other colors of hair.” He paused. “Ireland is far. We are not wearing our native garments since we are on vacation. That must be the reason for your confusion.”
They think I’m an idiot. They expect me to believe that bullshit.
Finally, it all sank in.
They’re aliens. They have to be. It would explain their slightly weird faces, the way they growl-spoke their words, and their translator was something right out of a science fiction movie.
Aliens. Oh god.
“We like beer and bring good luck.” Gar pointed at a few lines at the bottom of the ad. “It states it right here. Leprechauns. Say something, woman.”
She swallowed hard, terrified. They obviously didn’t want her to know the truth. They might kill her if she didn’t play along. “You’re much taller and bigger than I imagined.”
“We are,” Coto said, drawing her attention.
He held her against his body and she was too terrified to move away. “I’ve never met your kind in person before. So you’re here to go camping, huh?”
Coto lowered his chin, gazing at her through thick eyelashes with those utterly beautiful bright blue eyes of his. “Yes, and we lost our friend. He might not be alone. Have you seen others like us?”
There are more of them in the woods? What is this, an alien convention in Hicksville? She shook her head. “I can honestly say that you are the only ones I’ve seen.”
“We need to deal with this situation.” The blond one finally spoke.
Lynn instantly got his meaning when she caught him glaring at her. He didn’t look happy. Were they going to kill her because she’d seen them? They are freakin’ aliens. She was certain about that. It was tempting to make a run for it but they were fit and Coto still held her. They’d run her into the ground in no time, even if she managed to break free of his grip around her waist. She needed to make herself useful long enough to find a way to escape.
“I know these woods really well. You said you’re here to go camping and look for your friend. I could be your tour guide. I’m a great tracker.” She peered up at Coto. “That’s how I found you.”
“Good.” He glanced at the other aliens. “She is under my protection. Set up camp here. We search for Vhon at first light.”
“We don’t need her,” Gar rasped.
“You take orders from me,” Coto snarled. “No one touches the woman.” He pointed the tip of his blade at the redhead. “She helped me when I was injured. We are men with honor. Don’t forget that, despite where we are.”
“Yes, Coto.” Gar backed away. “We will set up camp.”
Coto was protecting her. Lynn was grateful enough to glance up at him. He met her gaze.
“We will not harm you. There is nothing to fear. You are a woman alone without protection, but we are civilized.”
“Okay,” she got out. She had a feeling that was going to be a word she used often around these guys, since she had no idea what else to say.
He gave a sharp nod. “No one will bed you.”
Her eyes widened and she knew her mouth dropped open. “Excuse me?”