by Hope Hart
“You know I grew up in the foster care system, right?”
“You grew up with other families, yes.”
I’m getting the feeling Varian doesn’t quite understand.
“Not all of these people should be around children,” I say.
“What do you mean?”
I sigh. “Some of these people are abusive. They might hit or do… other things to children. Not all of them,” I assure him, as his face begins to darken. “But the government in this country pays people to take these children. That means that some people are more concerned about the money than they are with providing kids with a happy home.”
Varian’s eyes are burning, and I watch as his horns straighten, turning lethal-looking. I sit up warily, and curse as he leans forward and wraps his hand around my ankle, pulling me toward him.
“What the hell, Varian!” I fall to my back and widen my eyes as his furious gaze meets mine and he leans over me.
“These people hurt children?”
“Some of them. Not all of them. Some of them are genuine, caring people who want to give a child in need a good life.”
“Were you hurt, mate?”
I don’t give him shit about the ‘m’ word, because right now, he looks scary as hell.
“No.”
“Tell me the truth,” he hisses, and I push against his chest.
“I’m telling you the truth! I may not have had a fairytale childhood, but I was never hurt or abused in any way. Now stop trying to intimidate me!”
He gives me a little room, but continues to lean over me, eyes narrowed.
“Continue your story,” he orders.
I bare my teeth at him. “Move.”
I’m pissed at his high-handed ways, but the butterflies in my stomach have doubled, and my body feels uncomfortably flushed.
Varian gives me a slow smile, and I know he can tell I’m aroused.
“I’m quite comfortable,” he tells me. “Continue. Unless you would like to forfeit?”
There’s no way I want to owe the Arcav King a favor, so I simply narrow my eyes and pretend like his mouth isn’t inches from my own.
“As a foster kid, I had a few run ins with law enforcement. My brother liked to break the rules and sometimes ran away. The cops were always good to us, and I grew up wanting to make a small difference in the world.”
I shrug, conscious of the fact that this guy is an honest-to-god King. “You probably think it’s stupid.”
He frowns. “I do not. I think it must take great courage to do such a job. I am fortunate to have a warrior for a mate.” He smiles smugly and I almost laugh.
“Ahhh- there. I do not see hatred in your eyes when you look at me.”
“Only because you’re not actually here,’ I warn. “I still have no intention of going with you.”
He gives me a curt nod and holds my gaze. “I will just have to convince you differently.”
Varian leans down and kisses me, immediately deepening it and pressing his hard body into mine. I moan. For a guy who just learned to kiss, he sure got the hang of it quick. His tongue sweeps into my mouth, and I clutch at his big shoulders, head swimming.
“Wait,” I mumble, pushing at him slightly. “It’s my turn.”
He growls against my lips, and I grind against him in response. What is happening to my body right now?
Get your head back in the game, Harlow.
“Do you forfeit?”
He mumbles something, moving further down and nibbling along my neck. I arch and gasp, but grab his horns, pulling his face up.
His eyes glow like a cat’s eyes in the dark.
“I’ll forfeit,” he says, and rips my t-shirt open.
I gasp and squirm as he simply stares down at my breasts, running a gentle finger along the edge of my bra, seemingly fascinated.
“Wh-what are you doing?”
“Learning my mate,” he says, eyes still on my breasts. I blush, conscious that this old, wireless sleep bra does nothing for my boobs. Then I wonder why I care, and push against his shoulders.
It’s like trying to move a car.
“Varian,” I say warningly, and I groan as he pushes the cups of my bra down, immediately burying his head between my breasts. He pays my nipples equal attention, moving from one to the other as he kisses, sucks and nibbles until they’re hard and aching.
This needs to stop. I lean one hand down to cover my breasts and blink as a menacing sound hits my ears.
“Did you just growl at me?”
His eyes are apologetic as they meet mine, yet he simply moves my hand away, holding both of my wrists in one of his large hands while he returns his attention to my breasts.
I squirm against him, and he groans. I yelp as he pulls away suddenly, tearing open my jeans and pulling them down my legs.
“Don’t even think about it!”
I kick out at him, and he scowls, laying his large body over mine and frowning down at me.
“Am I not to seduce my mate?”
“Of course not!”
He looks shocked, and I sigh. I can’t blame him, considering the way I react to his body. He nuzzles my stomach, breath hot against my skin, and I break out in goosebumps. Why does he have to feel so good?
Without preamble, he slides his hands behind my butt, lifting me up and inhaling deeply. My skin heats, and I open my mouth to say…something, but his mouth clamps onto my clit and I shriek instead.
His mouth is warm and hot, and he pulls my underwear down, immediately returning his mouth to where I want it.
I’m no longer protesting, instead accepting that I want this. There will be time for regrets later, but for now, Varian is sliding his large finger inside me while his tongue circles my clit. I grab his horns, and he groans in response, stroking me faster.
I’m on the edge, faster than I would’ve ever imagined possible. I’m writhing against the bed, trembling, poised on something great when he stops.
“Look at me,” he says.
I open my eyes, staring into his glowing orbs. He returns his mouth to my cunt, and I stare at him as I moan. His hot gaze tells me everything I need to know. He wants me to recognize that it’s him making me feel this way. The alien I’m running from.
He crooks his fingers inside me, hitting my g-spot while stroking his tongue along my clit, and I shriek, throwing my head back as I come.
Varian moves up my body, pressing kisses along my skin as I pant beneath him, eyes closed in mortification.
I try to pull away from him, and he holds me tight.
“This can’t happen,” I say. I look away from the raging need in his eyes, guilt making me want to throw up. I feel like the world’s biggest tease, but there’s no way I can bone the Arcav King and come back from it.
Varian stares at me, and his face hardens.
“You delay the inevitable, mate,” he says, in the tone he knows pisses me off. I narrow my eyes and jerk out of his hold.
“You owe me a favor,” I say, and he nods, jaw clenching.
“I already told you I would not see you for one night.”
I shake my head. “Nope, you forfeited after agreeing to that. You owe me another favor, and I’m going to collect.”
He waves a hand as if unconcerned, and I grit my teeth. “I will give you a lifetime of favors. You will be spoiled and treated with the utmost respect as my mate.”
I notice he says nothing about love, and shove that thought away.
“You realize this can only end in tears, right?” I get off the bed and face him, hands on hips.
His face changes, lighting up with stunned disbelief, and I know that whatever he’s pleased about is unlikely to be good for me. I follow his gaze to my wrist, and feel bile in the back of my throat.
“What the hell are these?” I study the black bands around my wrists in disgust. They look like intricate black tattoos, and Varian’s expression clears as he takes in my furious face.
“They are mating bands
.” He holds out his own wrists, which are covered with similar, silver bands. “When we complete our mating, they will be exactly the same, announcing to everyone we meet that we have found our perfect match.”
I’m going to be sick.
Chapter 9
Harlow
I wake up gagging, Josh shaking me.
I stumble to the bathroom, where my stomach empties itself of its contents. The black bands taunt me as I lean on the toilet, and I hear Josh step up behind me.
“What,” he says. “Are those?”
I flush the toilet and lean against the wall, pulling down a towel and wiping my sweaty face. Josh offers me his hand and I get unsteadily to my feet, rinsing out my mouth.
“I feel like I’m going insane, Josh. He’s somehow visiting me in my dreams, and it’s so fucking realistic. I mean it must be actually happening in real time, because these weird bands appeared on my wrists right before I woke up.”
His face drains of color, and I freeze. I know that look. I’ve seen it numerous times over the years. The last time was when he realized he’d pawned our mother’s necklace.
“What did you do?” I scream, and he jumps, stumbling back from the bathroom. I follow him out, shoving him in the chest.
“Fuck, I’m sorry Harlow. I didn’t think it was a big deal.”
“How could you?” I feel my lower lip begin to tremble and firm it ruthlessly. “I always looked after you. And the one time you could’ve protected me, you sold me out.”
He looks pained. “He just wanted to talk to you. I never thought it would help him find you.”
“Yeah, you never thought. I could’ve disappeared for good, Josh.” I wave my wrist in front of his face. “You can’t tell me this isn’t going to help him somehow. If he finds me, he’ll take me to Arcavia, and you’ll never see me again. You know that right?”
He looks shocked at the thought and I throw my hands up in frustration. “What did you think would happen? How could you do this to me?”
“I… didn’t think you’d be taken away.”
“Of course I’d be taken away. He’s the King of a barbaric alien race which is holding ours under its thumb. Did you really think he’d let me keep my job and stay on Earth and he’d just visit occasionally and say hi?” I give him a disgusted look. “But that doesn’t matter as long as you have your drugs, right?”
A dull flush covers his cheekbones.“It wasn’t for drugs, I swear. I owed this guy money and he swore he was going to kneecap me. That Arcav asshole swore it would only help him talk to you.”
“What would help him?”
He reaches into his bag and pulls out a large rock. It’s a pale orange color and glows slightly when I grab it.
“How could you do this, Josh?”
I throw the rock agains the wall and watch with satisfaction as it shatters. Then I grab my toothbrush and shove it in my backpack as I head for the door.
“If mom wasn’t already dead, this would kill her.”
“Don’t leave me Harlow. Let me go with you,” Josh begs. “I’ll make this up to you I promise.”
I look away at the tears in his eyes. It’s too little, too late. I’m so hurt that it feels like I’ve been stabbed in the stomach. I can barely breathe as I stumble from the room, ignoring my brother as he calls after me. For the first time in a long time, he’s showing genuine remorse for his actions.
But it’s too little, too late.
Harlow
I drive for two hours, crying the whole time. It feels like all of the emotions I’ve been pushing down for the past week have boiled over, and I can’t stop the tears streaming down my face. My eyes are bruised and hot, and as I squint against the headlights of the oncoming cars, each light fees like a shard of glass in my brain.
How could he do it? I should’ve listened to Blake when he told me to be careful with Josh. But once again, my stupid belief, my hope, my determination to have some semblance of family has backfired horribly.
“I tried, mom,” I say out loud. “But you can’t expect me to keep going back for more, when all Josh does is let me down. Some people can’t be changed. I’ve spent my whole life trying to justify his bullshit, and time and time again, I’m the one who loses out.”
I swipe my wet cheeks with the back of my hand. “But I’m done now, you hear me? Done. I don’t want to see that traitor ever again.” My voice cracks and I wipe away more tears. I need to pull myself together.
A light on the dashboard tells me I’m low on gas. I’m not sure where the next stop is, and my instructions are in my pack, so I call Blake’s burner phone.
“You were right.”
“About what?”
“Josh betrayed me.”
“Fuck. How?”
I clear my throat, hoping Blake won’t be able to hear how emotionally devastated I am.
“He made some deal with the Arcav King. He made sure this weird stone was near me when I slept, and Varian was talking to me in my dreams.”
“That son of a bitch. Are you okay?”
“No. But I will be. Listen, the gas light is on, and I’m not entirely sure where to go next. I left the last motel in a hurry.”
Blake curses, and my stomach drops. “We’re having a slight situation.”
“What kind of situation?”
“An HAA meeting was raided last night. Members are running scared, and we may not have anyone there to help you right now. I’ve got someone on the way, but for now you need to lay low.”
“Shit.”
“I’m sorry, Black. Tell me exactly where you are now, and I’ll do everything I can at my end.”
“I’m in South Dakota. I’ll text you the exact town when I stop. Don’t worry Blake, I’ll find somewhere to hunker down while I wait.”
We hang up, and I blow out a breath. It doesn’t surprise me that I’m basically on my own. Realistically, I’ve been lucky to get this far with support. I’m probably just one more night’s drive away from Montana. If I can just find some gas, I might be able to make it there tonight—
SMASH!
My car spins in slow motion, and I clutch uselessly at the steering wheel as the world flips. I’m blinded by pain as I finally come to a stop, upside down in the middle of a road.
I’m not dead.
It’s almost surprising, and I raise a shaking hand to my head. It comes away bloody, and my stomach swims in response. The nauseating smell of gas reaches me, and I reach for the straps of my backpack, reassuring myself that it’s still on my back. It hasn’t been comfortable driving with a backpack strapped on, but now I can climb out and get moving.
High-pitched screams tell me that whoever hit me is still alive. I slowly move each limb, almost blacking out from the pain in my left wrist. My legs feel fine, and I have to hope that adrenaline isn’t masking any damage to my neck or spine.
My biggest problem right now is my seatbelt. I’m suspended from it, and my pocket knife is in my backpack but there’s no way I can reach it in this position.
“That’s why they call it a pocket knife, dummy,” I mumble. “Why the hell didn’t you put it in your pocket?”
I fumble for the buckle, and curse as I realize the pressure of my body weight won’t allow it to release. My vision swims as I knock my left wrist into the side of the door, and I take a deep breath. A sweet floral scent tells me my shower gel has exploded, and the scent wars with the worsening gas fumes. If I don’t get out of this car soon, there’s a good chance I could be barbecue.
I’m groaning as I cradle my left hand against my chest and hook my thighs around the steering wheel, pulling myself closer to the seat. I slide one hand down, and then pause. If I release the buckle, I’ll fall head first onto the roof of the car.
I need to be able to brace myself against the roof, but my left hand is useless. I shake as panic fills me. I know better than this. If I have a neck or spine injury, I could do irreparable damage.
I’ve got no choice.
I switch arms, sliding my left hand down, and a scream escapes me as I push down on the buckle. I protect my head as best I can with my right hand, but still end up crumbled against the roof of the car, which is now the floor.
A shriek from outside tells me there could be people in worse trouble than me, and I scan the car, looking for the best way out. The driver’s side is completely crumbled, so I inch toward the passenger’s side.
I jolt as a face peers at me through the window.
“We’ve got someone in here, she’s alive!”
The man leans down, face white. “You’re going to be ok,” he yells. “Cover your face if you can and I’ll break this window.”
I bury my face in my arms, lift it as soon as I hear the breaking glass. He reaches in, and together we move most of the glass out of the way so I can climb out.
He offers his hand, and I grab it gratefully, hauling myself toward him and then crawling out.
He helps me to my feet and I lean on him as I limp quickly away from the smell of gas. It was an SUV that hit me, and it’s sitting in the middle of the road, the front completely crumpled. My car is about fifty feet away, laying like a dead cockroach on the side of the road. A woman sits in the driver’s seat of the SUV, sobbing inconsolably. I guess she was the one who was screaming.
She looks up as I approach, eyes drenched.
“I’m so sorry. I was fighting with my husband and I didn’t see the stop sign until it was too late. Are you okay?”
“I’m fine.”
She scans my body, pausing at my head. “You’re bleeding. We should call an ambulance.”
I immediately stiffen, shaking my head. “No, really, I’m fine. I have someone on the way, and I’ll go to the hospital if I need to.”
She shoots me a sympathetic look. “No health insurance?”
I open my mouth, and then watch as it happens. Her eyes latch onto my face, and her own mouth drops open.
“You’re Harlow Black.”
“Excuse me?”
Her husband turns to face me, and I almost bare my teeth at him as he also stares at my face.