Page 19

“Yeah, we don’t take kindly to being told what to do.” Her gaze finally settles on me once more as I slowly get to my feet, although I do not approach the barrier.

“He has been in extreme pain since the last time you were here,” Hor-ek tells her. “It would appear as though your presence has caused it to subside.”

De-von cocks her head. “But it’s been days since I’ve visited. What do you think that means?”

For several moments, the male says nothing. Finally, he responds. “I don’t know. Vornak has a couple ideas, although he kept them to himself until he could gather more data.”

She makes a soft huffing sound. “What now?”

The male looks directly at me, but speaks to her. “As long as he doesn’t attempt to harm you in any way, I will leave you to speak with him if you wish. When you are finished, don’t use the tunnel to exit. Come to the main door where a guard will be to escort you out of the palace. The security feed is always running.”

“Okay, thanks.”

Hor-ek studies me a moment longer before he finally turns and exits through the open doorway, leaving me alone with De-von.

She clears her throat and glances away. “So, you know my name.”

“De-von.”

The female turns her gaze my direction. “That’s me. I don’t remember ever introducing myself, but I must have. Although, you could have told me before now that you could speak. All this time, I thought you incapable because of the whole madness thing. I suppose that’s my fault for assuming.”

“De-von.”

She studies me more closely. “Wait. Is that the only thing you can say?”

Once again, I repeat her name. She blows out a harsh breath and rubs her hands up and down her face. “Apparently it is.”

I watch her in silence. She moves to her usual place of rest and slides down until she is seated on the floor. All other times, she was reluctant to meet my gaze, but now she meets it head on, and I do nothing to dissuade her. I wish for De-von’s eyes to be on me. I do not know when the sudden change happened, but it has.

She calms the chaos in my head, even though she also brings with it a pressure deep inside that persists. I do not understand it or what it means so I fight against it each time. I suspect there will come a moment when it becomes stronger than me.

“I guess I haven’t been all that sneaky by coming to visit, have I?” De-von laughs. “Should have known you wouldn’t have been left down here completely alone without anyone keeping constant surveillance on you. You know, in case, you snapped out of this state you’re in.”

While I don’t often understand the things De-von says to me, this time it is especially so. I move closer to the barrier that separates us and lower myself so I am not towering over her. Even sitting, I am much larger than her, but I am still closer than if I were standing. I enjoy being close to her. Enjoy the way it makes me feel.

I tap my claw against the transparent wall of my cage and cock my head. She stares back at me with confusion wrinkling her brow.

“Sorry, I don’t know what you’re trying to say.” She perks up. “Maybe I can teach you. Not that you’re dumb—I’m not saying that—but since this…madness took over you’re not Alik anymore, I guess.”

I cock my head. Madness? Both she and the other male have called me this name more than once, but it means nothing to me. Perhaps it is because of this madness De-von speaks of. I poke at my head with the tip of my claw and repeat her word silently. Madness. Mad-ness. Mad-ness. Madness.

“Maaaaad-nessss.”

She jerks and straightens. “Yes, madness. Do you know what that means?”

I do not.

De-von sighs. “Has no one explained to you what actually happened? Me, included? Have we all just been talking at you without actually making sure you understand what’s going on? I’m sorry, Alik. We should have done better.”

The sorrow in her voice grates. It makes my skin crawl. I hate it. She should smile and laugh instead. Those are things that make pleasure ripple over my flesh and a sweet heat to warm my belly. My cock also aches with her soft features and a primal urge threatens to take over, but I keep it tightly leashed. A task that is often difficult.

“I guess I should start sort of at the beginning,” De-von says. “You are Alik, the prince of Bohna. About six or seven moon cycles ago you made an agreement with the ruler of my planet to receive women who would become brides to unmated Bohnari males. It was a chance to find a way to stop the mating fever your males are afflicted with. Apparently, if you don’t find a mate or you don’t inhale this special powder, the mating fever hits hard enough to become uncontrollable. When that happens, the fever becomes so intense, it causes madness. A metaphorical “beast” emerges, if you will. Instinct takes over and you only want to kill and destroy things.”

De-von’s stare bores into me. “That’s what happened to you. Do you understand what I’m saying?”

For several beats I do not respond. My mind is at work processing the information she has given me. I do not feel this “madness”, but the wish to kill my prey is frequent. A burning rage runs through my veins that never ceases. When the other male looked upon De-von, I ached to strike at him and tear his eyes from his head so he could no longer see her. It feels right. Natural. Yet, she says—like the others do—that I am someone else. Alik. A prince. Not a beast.

“Alik?” she asks softly. “Do you understand what I said?”