Arrazyl growled softly. “We will speak after this.”
“These are already festering,” the physician continued to fuss over my hands. I couldn’t look, I’d felt the oozing.
When my hands were numbed and wrapped, and my arm was wrapped, Arrazyl stepped forward. Jaron hopped off the bed he was sitting on. Their gazes clashed and they glared at each other.
I wiggled off the bed since I didn’t want to push with my hands and interrupted their standoff. I loved my brother, but he was smarter than to challenge someone larger with claws and fangs and a propensity for violence.
“I’d like to hear what you have to say.” And I desperately hoped it was a reflection of how tenderly he’d just treated me.Had he rethought his decision? Or maybe there was more to the whole situation than I knew. Hehadsaid he hadn’t wanted us hurt.
“Come.” He strode to the doorway.
“Jac—” Jaron reached out as if to stop me.
I walked over to him and gripped his hand. “We aren’t in a good position here. If there’s an opportunity that he’ll listen, I need to take it.”
“I don’t want you alone with him.”
“Do we have a choice? Did we ever?” I lowered my voice even more. “They consider us prisoners of war, Jaron. And after what just happened, even if we could escape again, it’s obvious that we wouldn’t make it out there. I want to find a way for us to live. Let me see if he can be reasoned with.” I was tired and didn’t know what to even say, but I had to try.
As I stepped away the physician quickly busied himself with fussing over Tatiana. I'd spoken quietly, but their hearing was superb and I wondered if he’d caught what I’d said.
Arrazyl waited, the planes of his rippling abs and powerful thighs under his form fitting clothes highlighted by the light coming in. He was breathtaking and terrifying.
I went to him.
His gaze came down to me, and his face softened. Butterflies tickled my stomach at the tender look and I was entirely too aware of his body when he wrapped an arm around my waist, tugging me flush against him before propelling us out the door with his wings and taking off. It was very unlike the last time we flew together, when he’d spun me around, away from him, and I’d had nothing to hold on to as I watched the ground race by below us.
I wasn’t certain where I thought he was going to take me, but it wasn’t the very top of the cliff.
He set me down and I looked around in wonder. It was beautiful up here. I’d thought it would be like the barren parts of the cliff where the lush vegetation didn’t touch, but trimmed foliage and massive red tinged trees with vines swirling around their trunks surrounded me. In the trees there were arched alcoves cut out.
“This is where I come to think and rest.”
I turned to him, gazing up into his face earnestly. “Why did you bring me here?”
“Sit with me.” He led me to a tree and wrapped his hands around my waist, lifting me as though I weighed nothing and setting me into the lowest alcove. He hopped up and settled in next to me, stretching his wings out and around us.
The warm feeling of intimacy as his wing tucked me close to his side made me want to press into him and tell him that we didn’t have to be enemies. That we could live in peace with each other.
I didn’t.
We gazed out at the vibrant jungle around us in silence for a long time.
Finally, he spoke. “The captain lied. I had no plans to execute you.” His claws scraped against the wood. “I can’t imagine what you think of us, but the practice of executions to start off festivals ended multiple decades ago. We don’t celebrate death like our ancestors did.” He met my gaze, and I saw the truth in his emerald eyes.
Tentatively, I reached up and stroked my fingertips across his cheekbone before cupping his cheek. His horizontal pupils flickered as his gaze roved my face. I stretched up, putting my other hand on his powerful shoulder as I pressed a soft kiss to his lips. He didn’t respond, didn’t move.
I pulled away, worried my relief had made me do something foolish. I didn’t want him to think less of me. To change his mindabout how he felt toward us. “I’m sorry, that was inappropriate. I’m just so relieved and after everything I—”
His growl interrupted me and my lips parted in a soft gasp as he slid his arm around me, holding me in place as he dipped his head and stroked his lips across mine. His warmth enveloped me and he nibbled on my lower lip, his fang nicking it just enough to send sizzles of pleasure through me. I moaned, and he took advantage, sliding his tongue into my mouth. I pressed forward, swiping my tongue around the sensitive parts of his mouth, and he met my pressure with his own.
Careful of my injuries, I ran my hands over his shoulders and chest, enjoying the feel of his raw power. He cupped my ass and lifted me, bringing me to him. I spread my legs wide to straddle him as he positioned me tightly against him. His hard cock pressed into me and I rocked against him, pleasure rippling through me at the light contact. He groaned and ran his hands over my ass, sending throbs of pleasure to my clit when his fingers dipped and stroked along the seam of my pants between my legs with just enough pressure to tease me. He caught my tongue and sucked it, making wet heat coat my entrance.
The snap of a branch rang through the area, and we jerked apart. Panting, I slid off him as he shifted to see better.
“I’ll be right back.” He hopped down from the alcove and disappeared.
A hand to my lips, I stared at the spot he’d disappeared. What had I been thinking? I still felt his hands on me, the caress of his tongue against mine. The kiss had meant to be a thank you. I’d been so relieved I hadn’t thought.
