Lainey didn’t even have time to think about that before he was hurtling off the hovercraft, his muscular body surprisingly lithe.
“Come down from there, female,” he rasped, rushing towards her. “Vrax, that is dangerous!”
“Well, hello to you too,” she muttered and immediately went on the defensive. She’d never liked people telling her what to do. “I’ve been sitting up here all afternoon. Chill out.”
“Lani,” he bit out, his tone clipped. “Come downnow!”
Ohhhh, no he didn’t, she thought, narrowing her eyes.
“Don’t tell me what to do,” she hissed, like a child. Even Lainey recognized she could be a brat sometimes, but there were some things that shereallydidn’t like.
Kirov was standing only a couple feet away now and when he made to reach for her, she swayed away, planting a hand on the ledge to steady herself.
She swore his face paled as he rasped, “Vrax! Stop.”
Lainey was scowling, but she studied him. Slowly, she began to realize that what she was reading on his face wasn’t aggression, but fear. Worry.
Behind him, Lainey spotted Vixron and Crystal hovering in the doorway, come to see what the commotion was. Again, Vixron was watching Kirov with an expression he often used with her: suspicion. But the guard didn’t move towards them.
Kirov ran a hand over one of the black horns protruding from his skull. His blue eyes were drawn and she saw his nostrils flare. “Lani,please.”
She sighed.
Figuring she could just return to her position when he left, she swung her legs around and pushed off the balcony, hopping down. She let the blankets covering her skin slide off her body, pooling on the stone terrace. But her UFO still followed, shading her face.
“There. Happy?” she asked, crossing her arms over her chest.
Kirov’s jaw ticked at her sass, but the relief on his face was evident. His shoulders sagged and he exhaled a sharp, whistling breath.
He stepped towards her, but stopped, looking over his shoulder. He saw Vixron and Crystal.
Kirov bit out something in Luxirian and Vixron jerked his head in a nod, leading Crystal back inside, the door shutting behind them.
“You’re very bossy, you know that?” she couldn’t help but note, still irritated.
Once he was sure Vixron was out of sight, Kirov moved again, stalking towards her in a way that made her breath hitch. Suddenly, he reached out, wrapping his hand around the back of her neck, tugging her closer.
Even though her eyes narrowed, her body thought that was kind of…sexy. Damn him.
“Donotneedlessly endanger yourself again,luxiva. Do you understand me?”
Lainey ignored her sudden arousal and hissed, “I’m not a child, Kirov. I was fine.”
Kirov glared at her and then he said something in Luxirian that sounded like an expletive, his frustration obvious.
Then that smoldering, intense gaze of his was back full forth and for a moment, Lainey’s mind went a bit fuzzy.
“Female,” he growled, “I know you refuse to acknowledge it, but as my mate, if you die,” he seemed to force the word out, “I die too. It is simple.”
His words sent Lainey reeling, but she pushed at his shoulders to try to make him release her. She might as well have tried to push a boulder.
“So, this is just about you, huh?” she seethed, the heat and his overbearing alpha male performance making her cranky. “And your precious life?”
“Vrax, must you fight me abouteverything?”
“Yes!” she yelled.
“Why?” he growled back, still glaring at her. His hand was tight around the back of her neck, but not tight enough to hurt. Just tight enough to let her know he wasthereand that he wouldn’t let her retreat.
