“Tell me.”
“Our last encounter with the Jetutians was ten rotations ago,” Devix murmured.
“Ten years?”
“Tev,” Devix replied.“We were at war with them, aligned with the Rev’pika.As retaliation, the Jetutians unleashed a virus into Luxiria’s atmosphere.A previously untested technology that not even our own allies have been able to replicate.”
“What happened?”
“Our males did not realize what had happened at first.It was not an attack meant for the males, but for our females,” he said, lifting his eyes.“By then, there was nothing we could do.The virus spread through our females like the Fates’ fire.It killed the majority.Only the young females survived, but we later discovered they could no longer bear young.”
“Oh my God,” Cara whispered, unable to process that kind of weapon.
“Our whole race was threatened in the matter of spans.”
“Did you…” Cara swallowed.“Did you lose someone close to you?”
Devix’s eyes connected with her own.“My mother died the first span.She was one of the first deaths.”
“Devix,” she breathed.Her heart banged in her chest.He truly did know that the grief from loss never truly got better with time.“I’m sorry.”
His hand came to stroke the strand of hair that escaped from behind her ear.He rubbed it between his fingertips as he said, “The Jetutians claimed they had a cure.They claimed they could spare the rest of our females, if we surrendered twotonnesof our crystals.There was no choice.We gave them what they wanted.”
Cara had a sick feeling in her stomach.“And there was no cure?” she whispered.
“Nix.There never was,” he said.
“Devix…”
“Perhaps it is our fault,” he murmured, turning his gaze back to her.“That you and the other humans were taken.Luxirian crystals are the only known power source capable of reaching the Fourth Quadrant, where your planet is.The Krevorags never would have had access to that kind of energy unless they received it from the Jetutians, who could only receive it from Luxirians or our allies.”
Cara sighed, her forehead dipping down a little.“It’s not anyone’s fault except for these Krevorags and Jetutians.”
“We had a part leading to your capture,” he pointed out.“Can you not see that?”
“I see it,” she murmured softly.“If you expect me to react negatively, you’re wasting your time on the wrong woman.”
Devix shook his head, huffing out a breath.“You are a strange female.If you will not be angry with me for why you are here, on this vessel, will you at least be angry with me for this?”
“Why do you want me to be angry at you so much?”
“I deserve nothing less.Instead, you let me touch you.You let me enjoy your smiles and presence and scent and voice.”He frowned.“Why?”
“Because I want to,” Cara replied, a slight tick of annoyance entering her voice.“I get it, it’s a weird situation, okay?But I’ve had my choices taken from me ever since I was captured.I…I feel something for you.Attraction, lust, comfort, whatever you want to call it.For once,Iwant to make my own choice about what I do.I don’t need to justify it.”
Devix’s jaw ticked but then he said, “Forgive me, female.I do not wish to upset you.”
“Then stop saying things that upset me,” she couldn’t help but say.
“You…” Devix started but trailed.“You are singular, Cara.”
It wasn’t the most romantic thing she’d ever heard, but it still made butterflies erupt in her stomach.She sighed, feeling some of her annoyance at him drain.
The mood was still slightly heavy, considering what they’d just discussed.She hadn’t meant for things to become so deep, but she had wanted to learn more about him, hadn’t she?
“Tell me something else about you,” she requested.“Something that doesn’t have to do with Krevorags or Jetutians…or Azatians,” she added at the last moment.
His expression was grim but then he said, “What would you like to know?”
