As the doors shut behind them, Cecelia gave a sigh of relief as the cooler air enveloped her.It was still warm.The Luxirians seemed to like their heat, probably due to the scale-y nature of their skin, but it was significantly better than the outside.She put her hand on the metal wall for a moment to catch her breath.As she did so, she was aware of movement and voices on the other end of the hall.
There were two Luxirians approaching, their heavy footsteps echoing around the empty, darkened space.Both were incredibly tall.The Luxirian on the left had dark black horns and even darker hair that was loose, hanging down to the middle of his back.He wore a tunic, made of the same material of the shirt she was wearing, and he had golden bands around his biceps.
But the one on the right…
As they came into view, she could seehimbetter.Just as tall as the one on the left, he had the same granite black horns, but with a thread of silver running from the tips to the widened base.His hair was braided down his back and she could see the ends swishing behind him with every powerful step he took.Unlike his companion, he was shirtless.Hardened pecs and chiseled abdomen muscles popped underneath the lighting, his skin glimmering a faint blue.His nipples were hard with a metal bar running through them, which she guessed was common among Luxirians since she’d seen her fair share of pierced nipples since arriving.And he had scars…a multitude of them crossing his skin like lashes, some looking deeper than others.
Cecelia was so shocked that she actually heard herself gasp.The hallway seemed to grow even quieter and it seemed like her entirebeingcompletely focused in on the Luxirian male.The world slowed as her heart rate increased to an alarming speed.
What…what in the world is happening? she wondered, in a daze, unable to keep her gaze off the alien male…who was just somale.
It was then that she discovered his eyes were a glowing, electric blue.And she only knew that because she found them focused on her.
Cecelia grew lightheaded, the command center around her beginning to sway.Still, she could not look away.
And that was when everything went dark.
THREE
“Vrax!” Vaxa’an cursed loudly as they watched the small human female begin to fall in the halls of the command center.
Rixavox, still in partial disbelief, still hearing his hot blood rushing in his ears at the sight of the female, rushed forward quickly, pushing past Privanax who turned to see what was happening, and snatched her up before she could fall to the unforgiving mountain floor.The moment his arms clasped around her, he almost hissed as his Instinct awakened fully.
The feeling was shocking, alarming…right.It was like a roar.It was like roaring when he’d lived his entire life in silence.
Focus, he demanded of himself, trying to push back the new, strange feelings his Instinct evoked when all it was telling him was to protect her and to get her away from the males around her, even though he’d known them almost his entire life span.Vrax, he trusted Vaxa’an with his life and knew that no threat would come from the Prime Leader to his female because he had a female mate of his own.
Rixavox gazed down at the soft human, cradled in his arms.Her eyes were closed, but he knew they were the shade of the mountains of the northern lands, a sharp gray.Her skin was alarmingly damp, her lips and cheeks flushed with blood, yet she seemed pale.Fragile.She weighed nothing and that concerned him.
Still, he’d never seen a female so mesmerizing in his entire life.Without taking his gaze off her, he demanded of Privanax, “What is wrong with her?”
“Put her down, put her down,” the older healer commanded.Even though his whole being rebelled at the thought, he knew that he couldn’t get in the way of his female’s health.He did as Privanax requested, reluctantly, but stayed close as the healer knelt by her side.The tunic she’d been given rode up her thighs and Rixavox jerked it back down, even though the sight of her smooth thighs made him grit his teeth as desire rode himhard.
He hadn’t expected his body to react that much, that soon.He’d heard stories of Luxirians’ Instincts awakening to their mates, but to experience it was something completely different.His body went rigid with lust so intense it made his head spin, his cock growing rock hard beneath his leg coverings, his ridges swelling, preparing.He hoped that the lighting in the hall shielded his desire from view, especially from Vaxa’an, who had just made it clear at the council meeting that the human females were not to be interacted with unless absolutely necessary, in case an Instinctwouldbe awakened.
This was exactly what his Prime Leader hadn’t wanted.
Vrax, he thought again.Fates, have mercy on me.
But he had more pressing problems than the wrath of his leader and close friend.
“Is this the female you spoke to me about?” Vaxa’an asked Privanax, also kneeling down by her side, next to Rixavox.“The sick one?”
“Tev,” Privanax said, running his hand over her slick forehead.
Rixavox’s gut clenched at the sight of another male touching her.To distract himself, he bit out sharply, “Sick?With what?”
“Hellixaxava,” Privanax replied.“A human variation.”
Rixavox relaxed, but only slightly.She didn’t look well.And humans were more fragile than Luxirians, weren’t they?Would her body be able to fight off the disease, even with the help of their advanced medicines?
Panic clawed at his chest.No, he couldn’t lose her.Not when he’d just found her.
“You will treat her?”
“Tev,” Privanax replied, glancing up at Vaxa’an.“I was coming to speak with you about it.”
“Help her first,” Vaxa’an said, waving his hand down at the female’s limp form.
