Another growl escapes his mouth, and I watch as his teeth lengthen and sharpen before he shakes his head and they shrink back to normal. “He’s a warlock and not just any warlock. He’s the crown prince.”
“Yeah, and?”
“Warlocks are psychic feeders. They feed off of strong emotion. It’s how they power themselves up. Warlocks as strong as Xavier have harems of feeders who they siphon emotions off of, usually through sex. I was worried he was doing that to you.”So he’s a magical emotion-eating vampire? Also something to probably keep in my head. They should just let me define what all these species are. It’d be so much less complicated. Maybe that’s why William was upset when he thought Xavier was doing something to me. Okay, Lila, stop talking to yourself and listen to what he’s saying.
“Feeders can become addicted to the feel of it. It can feel fucking amazing, but they can also inspire terror in their feeders too. Different emotions taste differently, and you don’t know what his favoriteflavoris.” He’s looking away by the time he explains that part, not meeting my eyes. Right, so itwasjealousy. He’s obviously fed Xavier in the past and didn't want me replacing him.
I wonder if Xavier has a harem? He must if he’s as powerful as they say he is. Does he keep them on board the ship here or back up at the mothership? So many questions I want to ask, but I’m thinking Dylan might not be the best person for that right now. Maybe I’ll ask Eric later. He seems like he would be pretty cool with any questions I have.
“Well, okay. No, I’m pretty sure that's not what was happening. He didn't show any interest in me other than curiosity in the fact that I seem to be more human than Skarrian.”
“Make sure you stay away from him. You don’t need to form any more ridiculous attachments,” he snaps at me before turning to walk away.
“Excuse me, what the fuck do you mean bythat?” It’s my turn to grab him and demand an answer, though I don't have the intimidating eyebrows or smoke to go with how grumpy I’m now feeling.
“Your attraction to Caspian, of course. I saw a mark on his shoulder during the act, and when I grilled him about it after the show, he admitted it appeared after he had tried to scare you off. Why him? Lila, that is going to end in nothing but heartbreak. Caspian would never be interested in someone like you. He couldn't be.”And that’s my last nerve for the night.
Hurt like nothing I’ve ever felt slams into my chest, and I flinch involuntarily. Shit, I thought this guy was my friend. A tear escapes despite me not wanting to expose myself right now. “Fuck you, Dylan.”
Dylan's features soften, and he grabs hold of me again, pulling me closer and wiping away the hot trail from my cheek. “Lila, he’s an alien with very specific breeding needs. Yes, he has a human form, and yes, you can have sex with him in that form, but if he wants kids, he needs someone who can take the eggs he lays. I know that you’ve been trying so hard to be open-minded about everything, but you were raised human. There are some things that might just push you over the edge. Are you really saying you’re willing to accept his ovipositor?”
Oh… well, wow! That escalated quickly. “His what?’ I ask tentatively, but I’m pretty sure I know what it is. I’ve watched hentai.
“The ovipositor is another tentacle-like appendage that comes into play during breeding time. It’s a thick tube which enters the woman and then forces eggs into her womb to be incubated until they're ready to be born.”
Huh, I wonder if they’re baby krakens or born in humanoid form. But I don’t think Dylan would be receptive to that question either. Another for Eric then. Hah, can’t wait to ask him that one.
“I mean, I hadn't been planning to start a family with him the minute we had sex. Eric told me Skarrians had five chances before any kind of bond would be sealed. I’m sure all of those things would have come up in conversation eventually.”
Dylan's mouth drops open in surprise. “You’re not freaked out? Most women avoid him because they know what he needs, and nobody is willing to risk accidentally sealing the bond.” I guess even alien women can be super shallow even though they have their own weird “extras.” Maybe that’s why Caspian comes off as such a dick. I’d probably be pretty cranky too if I thought every woman I talked to was just biding her time until she rejected me.
“It’s not like you can accidentally seal it. What, were they worried they were going to slip and fall on his alien dick the last time?”
Dylan sighs, relaxing a little bit now that I’m not freaking out and in need of some kind of therapy. “No, but his breed of alien has a rut. When they find a mate they’re compatible with, sometimes something takes over and they are unable to control the frenzy. Even though the bond takes five times for Skarrians, it can be overridden with strong enough feelings. Really, his rut can override any species’ breeding ‘rules,’ which makes a lot of women see him as a risky option. It’s like fate steps in, making a decision when it decides it knows best. But you don't have to worry. Caspian’s mark would have to show up on you too, or you wouldn’t be able to even trigger his beast’s rut.” He chuckles like it’s hard to believe it would.
Damn, another hit to my self-esteem. Before I can say anything, the control room opens and William pops his head out. “Oh good! Lila, I was just coming to look for you. The ship scan said you weren't outside anymore. I’m going to run through the shutdown procedure with you.” He catches sight of Dylan, his head tilting as his brow rises.
“What are you doing here? Get back to the final parade.” He shoos him away, and before I turn to enter the control room, I stop and lift my shirt up around my neck. William’s eyes bulge out of his head, and I snort.
“Just because you’re not attracted to me, Dylan, doesn't mean other people aren’t.” Glancing at the reflective wall behind me, I can see Caspian and Link’s marks, and next to it is the new one I’d felt form earlier when Xavier’s mist enveloped me the first time. I was so distracted by the coldness of the mist that I hadn’t recognized the burning for what it was. He must have liked what he’d seen and felt.
Dylan's face just about matches William’s when he catches sight of the three marks. Quickly dropping my shirt, I escape into the control room before he can say anything else. I guess I misjudged him. Not the kind of friend I thought he’d be. Oh well, I’ll have to call Susie and tell her about the three hot guys who are interested in me. Leaving out all the alien deets, of course. Imagine telling her about Caspian and his ovipositor... She’d absolutely lose her shit. Susie isn’t the most vanilla person on the planet, but there’s a big difference between how adventurous the two of us are.
Me, I’ve got to admit I’m super fucking curious. I’ve watched anime tentacle porn before, and it definitely lit some kind of fire in me. Freaked out is the exact opposite of how I feel right now; honestly, Caspian’s personality is much more of a deterrent than his egg-laying tentacle.
Wonder how krakens feel about ball gags?
William and John take me down to the area behind the arena where they hold the animals while waiting for the final parade. It’s apparently also where they store those creepy animatronics that they keep on hand to stave off any rabid PETA investigators. As we exit the elevator, a deafening roar thunders around the space, shaking some nearby equipment. I feel the sound deep in my stomach, and that primal part of me that knows I’m prey to whatever that was shivers in its shoes.
“Holy fuck! What was that?” But I don't need John and William to answer me because once we step out of the elevator the answer becomes very clear. A giant cage in front of me contains something out of a movie. Something that I never thought I would come face to face with, not even in my wildest dreams. A real life flesh and blood Tyrannosaurus Rex. Exactly like something out ofJurassic Parkexcept for the color. Unlike the movie, this T-Rex is blood red, with black dorsal stripes. It looks like a preschooler was being rebellious during coloring time.
John and William step up to the cage, gesturing for me to follow. I warily eye the thickness of the cage bars as I follow them, albeit much slower, and my mind is even more blown when we get to the cage. The T-Rex turns, spying us, but instead of lunging with an aggressive show of teeth, he starts to thump his tail up and down and make little snuffling sounds as his big ass fucking head comes down to our level.
“Hey, Viggy, have you been a good boy today?” My eyes practically bug out of my head when John reaches in and strokes the giant beast’s head, cooing at him like a baby.
“Of course he has been. We trained him perfectly.” The haughty voice comes from behind the dinosaur right before Fiona steps up next to him, one hand on his leg and what looks like a cattle prod in her other hand. “And how many times do I have to tell you not to call him that ridiculous nickname? His name is Vigolash.”
When she says that name, it’s almost like Viggy flinches away from her, the ferocious beast shrinking in on itself. “Oh, does that mean something?” I ask her, trying to draw her attention away from the animal.
