Page 26

Alik

I haven’t slept since De-von left what I am certain is almost a day ago. All I have done is pace my cell and force myself to be patient while I wait for her return. I don’t know how much time has passed, but my body hums in a way that tells me she will arrive soon. When she does, we are supposed to mate.

The pressure in my head has intensified and it’s begun to throb. Several times I could swear I hear a male’s voice yelling, but it comes from so far away and is so faint, I must be imagining it. The sound—real or not—unsettles me. I push back against the pressure, but it doesn’t ease. Not even when I hear the familiar sound of the security lock disengaging on the outer door.

It slowly opens and the pressure—and what it might mean—is completely forgotten when De-von walks in. The bright lights of the open area behind her shine around the frame of her body like she’s a goddess of the sun. Her copper-skin shimmers and the sleek fabric of the covering she wears molds to her, accentuating the inward curve of her waist and along the swelled lines of her hips.

De-von strides forward, confidence in each step she takes. She stops a short distance from the barrier of my cell.

“Hi,” she says quietly.

My eyes are drawn upward from where the fabric skims the floor to the two plush orbs of her chest and along the supple crest of her shoulders, bare aside from two narrow straps holding up the covering. De-von’s hair captures my attention last. Her curls are tight spirals and form a plush cloud around her head. The ends brush the tops of her chest and fall down her back. It shines with what appears to be some kind of oil. I want to run my fingers through those curls to know if they are as soft as they appear.

It’s only then I recognize the heat running through my veins and my hardening cock beneath my trou. When De-von shifts nervously, I also realize I have not acknowledged her greeting.

“De-von. Pret-ty.”

She ducks her head and tucks some of her hair behind her ear. I cannot take my eyes off her. Only a moment passes before she straightens. “I thought we might sit and eat together if that’s okay with you? Horek is going to bring us a couple stools and a small table to set our food on. Would that be all right?”

I do not want the scent of others—especially males—in this place where De-von and I are meant to mate, but if this will make her happy, then I will accept it. I grunt my assent.

She smiles. “I’m taking that as a yes, so if I’m wrong, you better tell me now.”

I say nothing.

“Okay, then. He should be here with everything soon. Quinn’s bringing the food and a few other items.”

What else would we need? We will eat and mate and then I will be let out of this prison that has held me for far too long. I itch to feel the sun on my flesh. To breathe in the clean air. To…the pressure inside my head mounts, and I grind my teeth against it. Nothing will come between me and my mate.

Approaching footsteps make me stiffen and a rough sound vibrates from my chest.

“Alik, look at me,” De-von says so sharply I can do nothing but as she commands.

Our eyes meet.

“No one’s going to hurt you. But if I think for a second you’re going to lose control, I’ll leave. Do you understand?”

I breathe in roughly and try to calm the burning rage that threatens to bubble out of me. When I’ve dampened it, I nod my understanding.

“Thank you. Just keep your eyes on me, okay. I promise it’s only Horek and Quinn. Neither of them mean you any harm,” she tells me. “Once they’re gone, it’s just you and me. No one else will bother us. The security feed will be cut, because I’m trusting you not to do anything that will hurt me.”

Never. I would never do anything to cause my mate pain.

Moments later the footsteps pause just outside the door. De-von glances over her shoulder. “Come on in.”

Hor-ek and a female enter carrying various items. Beside the male is a wheeled, self-moving platform of some kind that holds a small table and two stools, but my eyes focus on what’s beside it. A soft length of padding is rolled up and several blankets lie folded on top. The male and female stop near the place where the invisible door of my cage is located, and the rolling platform does the same.

In the female’s arms is a vessel filled with some type of colored liquid. Even from this distance, I am able to smell the fermented fruit. Along with it is the scent of some type of roasted meat, a root that is familiar, but I’m unable to place, as well as some yeast odor, and fresh fruit. Another fragrance—sweet—hits my nose as well. Those all must be coming from the basket Hor-ek carries.

Both of them watch me with a wary expression, although the female’s gaze shifts frequently to De-von. A crease appears between her eyes. I breathe in deeper, and that is when I smell it. A kit. Is this Hor-ek’s mate? De-von said her friend just discovered she and Hor-ek were going to have one. I stare at her stomach trying to see if she has begun to grow rounded.

“Alik,” De-von says, and I shift my gaze to her. She’s smiling. “This is one of my best friends, Quinn. She’s Horek’s heart’s fire. I’ve told you all about her.”

I grunt. My mate laughs, and I revel in the sound as she turns toward her friend. “That’s his version of yes.”

At last, her sister offers a small smile in return. “I’m glad to see you again, Alik.”

Hor-ek sets the basket down on the moving platform and places his arm around the female, tugging her gently against his side. She leans into him and their affection is obvious as she tips her head back to gaze up at his face.