Immediately, they all swarmed the brunette that had just surprised them all, each taking a turn to embrace her.A flurry of voices rose, all asking questions or making comments, none of which were actually heard.But Cecelia was smiling.And before the metal door behind her closed, Taylor spied a different alien she’d never seen before, just outside in the hallway.
He was watching Cecelia, but that wasn’t what made Taylor sharpen in awareness.It was the way he was watching her.There was no mistaking the look in his eyes.
And right before the door closed, Cecelia looked over her shoulder at him, reached out to touch him on the forearm, squeezing softly, an unspoken word.Their friend, who had been absent for over a week, smiled at this new alien, looking at him much the same way he was looking at her.
It didn’t go unnoticed by the others and slowly, they all quieted, even after the door shut and the alien was cut off from view.
It was Lainey that spoke first.“What the hell is going on?Who wasthat?”
Cecelia sighed and then a small smile touched her lips, as did a light blush.
Then she said, “I have a feeling we should all sit down first.There’s a lot I need to catch you girls up on.”
TWO
VIKAN’S MOOD WAS already soured that span because he’d dreamed of Nitav again the night before.The dreams were becoming more and more frequent, perhaps in direct correlation with his own guilty conscious.He felt like the worst sort of bastard, though he knew others wouldn’t agree.Others wouldn’t understand.
During another restless night of sleep, he dreamed of Nitav in the early days of their courtship.As mutual, young Breeding Partners, their attraction had been immediate and overwhelming.It had taken them only a few spans to become attached to one another, another few to begin their mating process, and only another few to fall in love.
It had been effortless.It had been easy and natural.
And her image kept haunting him, ten rotations after her death.
So when Vaxa’an, Prime Leader of Luxiria, stepped inside the command center that morning, Vikan was in no mood to deal with his friend’s grim expression.
Vaxa’an gave him a hard look, one that Vikan returned.In the back of his mind, he began to feel the beginnings of panic.Did he know?Did his friend and leader suspect what he had tried to keep hidden?
“Come with me,” Vaxa’an ordered as he passed him.Vikan’s jaw ticked, but he obeyed his leader.On their way to the war room, they passed the doors that housed the human females.And among them was the female that had awakened him once more.Feelings that he had not felt since Nitav, feelings he thought never to experience again overwhelmed him and he clenched his fists so hard that he felt the warm rush of blood pool into his palm.
Except this time, it was a different awakening, one he had no control over.
Once safely enclosed in the confines of the war room, Vaxa’an drove straight to his purpose when he asked, lowly, “Has your Instinct chosen one of them for you?”
Vikan’s gut clenched.
“I remain loyal to Nitav,” was what Vikan found himself replying.
“That isnotwhat I asked you,” Vaxa’an said, voice raising ever so slightly before he seemed to make a conscious effort to quiet it.Impatience lined his leader’s face.“Has your Instinct—”
“Yes,” Vikan said, cutting Vaxa’an off, knowing there was no way of getting around the matter.Delaying the truth would accomplish nothing.
Vaxa’an went quiet, his jaw pulsing.“Why did you hide this?This is…concerning.”
Vikan straightened, meeting Vaxa’an’s steady gaze.“I was there when we rescued them from the Krevorags.I had already seen her, so there was no helping my Instinct’s reaction.You wish to limit other males’ interactions with the females but I had already been exposed.It does not matter.”
“It matters,” Vaxa’an snarled, his teeth baring slightly.“I do not want the females snatched up before they have made their choice to remain here or return to their home.Your Instinct reacting to one of them is dangerous because it makesyouunpredictable.We all know it.One thing that will not be compromised while they remain here is their safety.”
“I will not act on my Instinct’s will,” Vikan told him through gritted teeth.
No matter how much I wish to, he thought, guilt and desire mingling, creating something within him that made him want to claw his chest.
Vaxa’an went silent for a moment and then reached out to clasp his shoulder.Vikan stiffened under the touch, but forced his muscles to relax.“You have not been the same since Nitav’s death.You know not what you tempt by denying yourself, Vikan.”Vaxa’an released him.“It would be hypocritical of me to order you to leave the Golden City and return to your outpost.I claimed a human mate from the Pit, after all.However, I ask, as your leader, that you leave now.Return toLopixa.I will send for you once the humans have been returned safely to their home planet.”
Everything in him rebelled and Vikan was shocked at the stray flash of rage that boiled his insides.This was Vaxa’an, his friend, his leader, his warrior brother.And all Vikan could think of was how much he wished to crush his fists into his face.
But Vikan had always been in control of himself, in control of his needs.Instead of giving into his baser desire to solve this conflict with violence, he said lowly, “You are right.It is hypocritical of you to ask me that.”
Vaxa’an straightened.“Vikan,” he warned.
