Amatista

Frantic to escape, she inched away toward the shadows until her back pressed against a wall. She could’ve sworn that wall had not been there before…

A fresh wave of panic took hold as she slowly looked over her shoulder and saw that three huge, mean-looking Fohers were blocking her escape.

Her mind froze with terror. She had no wish to find out what the natives would do—kidnap her, murder her, sacrifice her to some unknown, barbaric god. So she did the cowardly thing. With no honorable notion about saving the helpless Foher in the cell, just a purely selfish one to save her own ass, she curled herself into a protective ball, her hands pulling her head between her knees. Like a good little coward. Going utterly still, foolishly hoping to render herself unnoticeable.

She was almost able to convince herself she was safe. As if somehow invisible in this very spot. Then a hand closed around her wrist and a voice scraped over her skin like sandpaper.

“You’re coming with me.”

When a scented cloth was pressed to her mouth and nose, Liana squirmed weakly against her captor—then suddenly blacked out.

Chapter Two

Kavi carried the woman’s limp body for hours. She weighed very little but still detracted from his speed as he wound his way through the towering forest trees. The other Fohers had moved swiftly, and he’d lost sight of them over an hour ago.

Kavi told himself age had nothing to do with his inability to catch up. He was a Foher in his prime. The others hadn’t had a fierce whipping. None of them had been starved. And none of them had a little inconvenience over their shoulders. Three very good reasons for Kavi’s pitiful pace.

One of the younger Fohers, Ajay, had offered to carry her, but Kavi had refused. No one was touching the woman but him. She was draped over his shoulder now, her head falling behind h

im, her arms limp.

Kavi quickened his pace, lithely stepping around the logs and rocks, knowing humans would soon follow.

The scent of forest trees and dampened earth didn’t override the sweet, drugging scent of the human. It filled him with a want of her. His pants felt tight and uncomfortable even now.

No one had ever touched him like she had. Her caresses had been innocent, awkward at first. He thought he’d go crazy anticipating the next gentle brush of her fingers. He’d prayed to the goddess Amaya the human wouldn’t stop touching him. Ever. He’d thought he’d rip the chains from the walls, so fierce had been his desire to take her in his arms, lift her skirt and fuck her.

He’d at first thought she was a common whore sent to him. But her manner had not been that of a whore. And her eyes were filled with allure and magic. Eyes the color of amethysts, deep and clear and breathtaking. He’d wanted to come in her mouth.

His speech may have been hampered, but he’d told her with his eyes. His body had been clear—he wanted her.

But she’d stopped—leaving him shaking, drugged, desperate. He’d thrashed against his bonds, his cock sensitive to the air. For a moment he was certain she’d come back to him, put her little mouth around him once again. She had left without a backward glance instead.

What had he foolishly expected? She was human. And like all humans he’d known, she’d promised utopia…and delivered an inferno.

The humans had outstayed their welcome on this planet. And it was Kavi who’d opened the doors of Oriana to them. Kavi who’d allowed their shuttles to arrive. Kavi who’d spoken to his people about peace and sharing. Kavi had learned their language. Traded with them.

The humans had betrayed Kavi and his kind.

They’d lured them with their women, with their fancy words and technological trinkets.

Fohers were primitive creatures. Superstitious by nature. Innocent to a fault. They did not understand the humans’ betrayal. The point of speaking words you did not mean. Shaking the hands of those whom you planned to kill. But now Kavi understood perfectly. And so did his kind.

Now the humans had taken a chunk of land and massacred the trees to build their compound. Living, breathing greenery had been replaced by hot, unyielding concrete. They had not learned their lesson after abusing their own planet. They were intent on doing the same here, in Oriana. Raping the virgin planet to build their dreams at the expense of nature. And they would destroy the previous inhabitants getting in their way. The Fohers.

The Fohers were unparalleled in strength. They were hunters, warriors, used to going without food for days, surviving the harshest winters and hottest days. But they’d never been faced with creatures like the humans. Creatures who relied on their minds, not their bodies, to conquer. Creatures who relied on technology and weapons. Creatures without a god.

They’d massacred entire camps of Fohers, and Kavi was certain the humans outnumbered them by now. He knew he’d been taken captive because he was among the precious few who spoke their language, and there was one thing the humans wanted to know. One thing their greed demand they find. Conquer. And own.

Amatista.

It was the one haven to which Kavi could lead his people. A place they’d once called home.

The legend was one he’d been told one too many times.

And so the lost ones may come home, their powers returned, and from that moment on, nothing will breach Amatista.

But Oriana was eight times larger than Earth and this mysterious river of sparkling purple amethysts had not been found. They were running out of time, losing more and more Fohers to the humans each day. The humans had boasted of having a map, and yet tonight the Fohers had had no luck finding it.