A shrill sound escaped my throat as she stared into my eyes, her own dazed and frightened. Another high-pitched sound filled the air as she lifted her hand to the back of her head and glanced down. A smear of bright red blood was visible on her palm. My hearts skipped a beat. She was injured. A sound of anguish vibrated my chest followed by the heralding trumpet of my quills as they fanned out.
That was when I realized I’d just usedmy mating callon the human.
Forbidden.
Snarling, I fought against the imagery those words conjured in my head.
Shocked to find a possessive instinct rise within my body so recklessly, I froze as she relaxed and responded without hesitation. How would a human know the proper mating response? Fascinated by her reaction, I watched her bright green eyes glaze over. Her body collapsed as I darted forward and caught the attractive female in my arms, hauling her up close to my chest as my hearts pumped wildly in response.
Against my better judgement, I leaned in and inhaled her sweet but musky scent that reminded me of thenoravockbushes that used to grow along the edge of my ancestral home as a child. A sweet and decadent but also deadly fruit with rich undertones. The velvety texture was prized for its medicinal properties but was lethal when ingested raw. Only great healers knew how to handle the delicate berries without risk of serious harm.
Her limp body fit perfectly against mine as if she was created to fit my other half. I ignored the fact that her fainting had nothing to do with how she reacted to my mating display. Every curve of her frame seemed to mold into a valley of mine as if we could intersect like a precise lock and a finely carved key. One for one, no chance of completion unless the connection was exact.
Perfect.
Venya.Mate.
The word burst inside my head and I chose to forget the implication until a time when I could think on it properly. There would be hours and days to contemplate all that had transpired but now my only focus was to ensure Kerra’s safety. For the first time, I felt free to use her given name. As of this moment, I would think of her more intimately than I had previously dared. Despite the feeling that I should keep my distance, I knew I would never follow through. I was already much too interested in the human and entirely too invested. Perhaps Valtus was correct. Maybe Iwascompromised.
Relieved to find the transport had landed and was awaiting our arrival, I climbed aboard with Kerra. She remained secure in my arms as I buckled myself in and prepared for liftoff. None of these feelings I possessed mattered now.
The female was coming back to Vindar. And no one would stop me.
Chapter 7 – Kerra
My vision slowly clearedas my eyes opened and I felt my body rocking lightly in Motok’s arms. At first, I thought the movement was purposeful as he sought to comfort me, and then sudden realization dawned as we picked up speed and I felt my body become nearly weightless.
“Where am I?”
“Aboard a transport. We’re on our way to theVindicator. We’ve finally left your atmosphere.” He spoke the words as if I should have known their meaning. I didn’t.
“What’s theVindicator?”
“A class 4 Battle Cruiser,” he answered, “outfitted with several high velocity plasma torpedoes and phase cannons, a disrupter, and a cloaking tech that rivals the –”
“Wait.” I held up a hand. “Did you just say weleftthe atmosphere? As in theplanet?”
