I’m dead and this is the afterlife.
I never expected to be so horny when dead. I want to rip off Eskar’s uniform and lick him. It’s him my gaze tracks, not Noil. Maybe it’s because Noil’s barb never had the time to dissolve into my blood stream. Or maybe I can still choose who I want as my mate, despite the heat in my blood and the desire pooling in my belly. Eskar sweeps Noil’s leg, but Noil recovers in a blink and grabs Eskar’s uniform. They move fast and fluid. Powerful leaps and kicks, their tails like whips.
Something sweet tinges the air. I sniff and immediately regret it as my belly tightens with longing. They’re sweating and it’s turning me on further. I’m trapped in an ancient mating dance.
But I don’t have to choose either.
It’s not Noil or Eskar but myself.
“You can both die.”
Chapter 12
My words dropand shatter on the ground like ice crystals. The fist in my hair eases.
Eskar lands on the ground, a smile on his face like he’s won.
Noil steps back, his lips curled in disgust. “You told her.”
“Of course I did.” Eskar stands. He keeps his gaze on Noil, but the spines on his back now lay flat. The fight is over, and nothing has been decided. There is no winner. Only losers. Everyone knows it except Noil and his followers.
Noil shakes his head. “That isn’t an option, human.”
“Leah.” I correct him. “And it is.”
“Then you can sit and watch him die…he’ll die first because he stung you first. The lust will become unbearable, and you’ll turn to me for help.”
“Never. I’d rather die.” I want this uncontrollable and distracting desire to be gone—will sex with anyone help or just Eskar?
I blink and I remember the icy embrace of the water, my lungs burning for air…then Eskar, brilliant and perfect in front of me and his lips on mine saving me. He saved me knowing what will happen to me on this planet, but giving me the chance to choose if I want him. I can’t let him die even though I’m not sure I want to be his mate.
Will being his mate, and saving him, be the wrong thing to do when he wants to die?
How long until Harding, Wraight, and I are in the same situation, changed and unable to die but unwilling to continue living?
“Very well.” Noil nods, and the cool edge of a blade touches my throat. I close my eyes, trying to be brave and calm.
Eskar cries out.
Fresh blood and brain splatters onto my cheek. The blade at my throat drops to the ground. I open my eyes and suck in a breath, sure my throat has been cut. But I’m very much alive. The man who was holding me isn’t so lucky.
Eskar drops to the ground, holding his stomach. Dark purple blood spills over his fingers. Why won’t he change to water and save himself?
Noil swings the black blade, he glimmers like ice as he stalks toward Wraight, who is on one knee, gun in his hand.
Wraight fires again, but Noil is immune in his water state.
I pick up the fallen blade. It’s cold and heavy, and more like a sword in my hand. I stand, armed like I know how to fight. I don’t know what I’m going to do, only that I need to do something before Noil kills Wraight. “Hey, are you going to kill us all?”
Noil glances at me. “If I have to.”
Eskar is bleeding. Harding is being held by Noil’s other follower. Maybe I can appeal to him, turn another Paohl on our side.
I glance at Harding’s captor. “You happily follow a murderer? A man without honor who attacks one of your own and tries to steal a mate?”
The Paohl glances at Eskar and then Noil. His commitment is wavering, but he doesn’t release Harding. “Eskar broke the rules.”
“And so has Noil. Who is in charge? Who is your captain? Get them. Before we are all dead.”
