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scent.”
    “You sniffed at me and I did it back.”
    He let his hand drop away. “You are not initiating sexual
contact with me?”
    “Whoa, boy.” She was stunned. “Is that what…ah…leprechauns
do to hit on each other? Is sniffing considered to be foreplay?”
    Coto scowled. “I would never strike you. You threw your pack
at me and I did not defend myself against your attack.”
    The box translated the words in a dull, emotionless tone but
Coto sounded furious and his expression reflected that. She’d insulted him or
just pissed him off by what she’d said.
    “Hit on doesn’t mean that. Hit on means flirting or
initiating sex. It’s a saying.”
    His features relaxed. “Our translator doesn’t know that. We
need to speak clearly without your sayings so there are no miscommunications.”
    “Our computer was damaged.” Holion shifted his stance,
catching her attention. “We have a smaller translator if you’d allow us to put
it inside your ear so we don’t have to use this portable unit from our
shi—stuff. It is outdated technology.” An annoyed expression crossed his
features. “With our computer not working, we had to pull these units out to
communicate if we ran in to your people.”
    Her gaze shifted to Coto. He nodded. “It is safe.”
    “You can give me an earpiece thingy.” She shrugged. It beat
them holding a box out toward her while they spoke. She was obviously going to
spend at least a little time with them until she could escape or they let her
go. She hadn’t missed Holion’s slip. She was pretty certain he’d almost said
ship. Aliens came with ships. “I guess that would be okay.”
    The redhead, Gar, lifted the bag he held, pushed a hand
inside, and then nodded to Coto before tossing a small ring-sized box at him.
Coto’s reflexes were amazing for a guy with serious injuries as he caught it
and removed a tiny object from inside.
    “Turn and tilt your head. Please pull your hair out of the
way.”
    Lynn hesitated but then did as he asked. She shoved her
blonde hair back and turned her head, warily watching Coto as he stepped
forward, his gaze turning to her exposed ear. His thumb brushed the bottom of
her earlobe as he pressed what felt like a cold bead into her ear canal.
    She gasped, her hand shooting up to cover it a second later.
Whatever it was, it moved, seeming to tunnel inward toward her brain. Pain hit
next and almost took her to her knees. She would have collapsed if Coto hadn’t
lunged, wrapping both his arms around her waist to keep her upright. A snarl
tore from his parted lips.
    “This hurts her. Why?”
    The discomfort was bad and tears filled her eyes. She
whimpered as needle-sharp agony attacked her eardrum. She opened her mouth but
the pain was too bad for her to even cry out.
    “No one told me this would harm her or I would have never
allowed it.” Coto’s voice was deep and no longer mechanical. “Make it stop now,
Gar. Help her.”
    “It is just seconds of pain. It will pass. The implant is
taking hold and it is integrating into her system.”
    Coto adjusted his hold on her and bent. He scooped her into
his arms, cradling her against his chest. He walked over to a fallen tree and
sat with her on his lap. The sharp pain inside her ear stopped as suddenly as
it had started.
    “If you allow her to be harmed again I will hurt you, Gar,”
Coto warned.
    She stared up at him as he lowered his chin. He really
looked furious as they eyed each other. “It’s better.”
    “I am sorry it hurt. I never would have allowed it if I had
known it would harm you in any way.”
    His mouth moved and there were actual words. The translator
not only worked but it was translating emotion and gave the alien a unique
voice. There was no time delay anymore either. The lip movement to sound was a
little off, assuring her he was probably still growling but she could
understand it as if he were actually speaking English.
    “Are you well now?” Coto shifted his hold on her,