Exeri cocked his head, a frown slowly gathering on his features. “This is not suitable for our queen.”
“Hmm? Oh! No, really, it’s lovely. It’s just a bit smaller than I expected,” she said. “I am sure it will be… cozy.”
The alpha slanted an indecipherable look her way. Perhaps that was too much?
Simah scratched behind one ear as he scooted forward. “Our pack tends to sleep together. We did not plan for other arrangements. Now that I think of it, Frahnkee did not cohabitate with anyone. She kept a room all to herself.”
Frankie? Hayley’s eyebrows shot up.
“Of course not,” Tanji snorted as he squeezed by and flopped down on a pillow. “She did not want anyone knowing that she was female. Sharing a room with a male would have revealed it… though it was not something she could hide from us,” he said, a grin stretching across his face as if relishing the memory of the woman.
She felt her back stiffen with a sudden surge of irritation. Not that it mattered if the males had a thing for this other woman. She couldn’t care less. In fact, the more fixated they were on that, the less likely they would get attached to her and cause her any number of problems.
It was just thoughtless to mention it in front of her. That’s all.
Tanji glanced at her, his smile falling as the other three males growled, three sets of eyes narrowed on him in irritation. “Did I say something wrong?”
Hayley winced. She could kick herself! Of course they were going to notice the slightest changes in her temperament, even irrational reactions. She took a deep breath and exhaled, centering herself. Play it off, she hissed at herself. With what Hayley hoped was a convincingly sheepish grin, she shook her head.
“Don’t mind me. I’m just trying to adjust to everything,” she assured him, and by extension the rest of the pack.
It was more or less the truth.
Exeri’s glowing red eyes narrowed on her thoughtfully, his nostrils flaring as if trying to scent whether or not she was telling the truth. She tried not to hold her breath and projected enough sincerity to satisfy the alpha. It must have worked, because after a moment he nodded.
“It is an adjustment for all of us,” he said. “We have much to learn about each other. Obviously not all of us realize that it is inconsiderate to speak of a female that our queen has never met in front of her, no matter how admirable.”
The growl of disapproval in his voice was difficult to mistake as he leveled a displeased look at the other males. Although it quelled all conversation about Frankie—and Tanji directed an apologetic look her way—Hayley was all the more curious about whomever this female was that the pack had such a strong relationship with.
Time to change the subject.
“How long until we depart?”
Exeri glanced up at a lit-up panel on the wall on which she could see unfamiliar symbols. She made a mental note to add that to the list of things she needed to learn. Being able to tell time was such a rudimentary necessity she could foresee trouble without that knowledge.
“In approximately one standard hour,” he rumbled.
“Actually, that’s perfect,” she said enthusiastically as her stomach made itself known with a loud growl. She blushed at how loud the sound was and the way all ears seemed to turn toward her instantly. If it gave her a chance to get a meal, however, she was going to take it! “Do you think we can eat something? I haven’t had anything since rations very early this morning.”
Exeri’s expression immediately turned indulgent. “Of course. I will send Bilax to acquire food. I believe we could all use something to eat.”
He nodded to the large male who had to be Bilax by his white-tipped ears. Bilax grinned, his tail lashing behind him, obviously eager for something to do. She wondered, with how bored she’d been waiting on her mate to fetch her, if they had to go through a similar excruciatingly dull period.
“Is there anything that you would like?” Bilax’s deep rumble had an edge of suggestiveness to it that she was determined to ignore. Whether it was a double entendre or not, she refused to acknowledge it. Instead, she shrugged.
“I’m not sure. I’ve never eaten anything that didn’t come from Earth. Even on the starship, they just fed us stuff we’d normally eat.”
Bilax nodded. “That is understandable.” He cocked his head as he gave it some thought. “Some of the food other species eat makes humans sick… I will bring you some of Frahnkee’s favorite meals. They should be safe to eat, and you may likewise find them enjoyable.”
Great… Frankie again.
“That would be perfect, thanks,” she said. Although she felt salty as fuck at the moment, she didn’t want to appear ungrateful either.
The Arobi gave her a curious look, but a small smile twisted at the corners of his mouth and his eyes gleamed with humor. “I will return shortly,” was all he said as he whipped around and headed toward the door at a speed that she could only marvel at.
She watched him in half-horrified awe. It seemed that one moment he was there and the next she saw little more than the tip of his tail as he disappeared from sight.
Arobi could move fast! Her stomach sank with the knowledge. If she’d ever entertained the idea of being able to flee from her mate, she knew without a doubt that she would have to be sneakier with these males. Even a head start wouldn’t do her any good. She would never be able to outrun them if they spotted her trying to escape, even from a distance.
With nothing else to occupy herself, and three males still staring at her expectantly, Hayley gave another glance at the bedding. She hesitated as she scouted out the best place to sit, before finally lowering herself onto the thick cushion. It was surprisingly comfortable and thicker than she had guessed just by looking at it.
Tanji rolled onto his belly and grinned at her as his tail flicked in the air behind him. “It is better than it looks, is it not?” he asked in a loud stage-whisper, his eyes widening playfully.
Hayley felt her lips quirk despite herself. “It is pretty soft,” she agreed.
“You know what is even better?”
She shook her head, her smile widening despite her nerves as he edged closer to her until he was close enough that she could feel the intense heat radiating off his muscle-packed frame.
“It is even better when you are curled up with your family,” he murmured.
That was as effective as dousing her in cold water. She smiled through tight lips as his ears tilted toward her and his brow puckered in obvious confusion. Family had meant something to her once—before she went to prison. Reality had taught her that she couldn’t depend on anyone, least of all those who should have been the most trustworthy in her life. These males offered her family, and she would be damned if she put complete blind faith in such a thing again.
Hayley would only believe in those who earned her trust. She wouldn’t be burned again.
“I suppose I can get used to being in here for the time being,” she said, looking anywhere but at him. “Do you think… uh, Bilax… will be able to find food quick enough? The space station seemed to be busy wherever I looked.”
“Without a doubt,” Simah said as he plopped down at her other side.
Her body swayed at the impact of his weight against the mat. He yawned as his tail lazily flicked against her leg. She resisted the urge to squirm under the ticklish sensation. From the corner of her eye, she could see Exeri watching them with an unreadable expression, his attention breaking frequently as he watched for Bilax’s return. She was really going to have to work on him to get him to relax his vigilance if that was how bad he normally was.
Simah’s tail flicked her a bit harder, bringing her attention back to him as she instinctively reacted, her hand snapping out to catch his tail. She watched the way his eyes heated with undeniable interest before she shoved it away from her. Although unintentional, that definitely sent the wrong signal! The male frowned with disappointment before chuffing in amusement, his tail flicking her aga
in.
“Arobi are quick,” he explained. “Very quick,” he added with a show of his sharp fangs.
It seemed so pointed that she froze, wondering if he was suspicious and telling her in a not so subtle way that she wasn’t going anywhere. But when she scanned his features, there was nothing revealed in his easygoing expression. Nothing she could discern, anyway. Although their features were an interesting blend of canid and humanoid, she couldn’t be certain that she was reading all his cues correctly.
Tanji suddenly chuffed, his long leg stretching over her lap to kick Simah. The other male, barely swaying from the impact, laughed that same strange chuffing, half-barking laughter. He lunged over her body with dizzying speed as he attacked Tanji, the two males rolling away as they snarled playfully, their arms and legs pushing at each other as they growled and traded bites.
Hayley drew up her legs to her chest as she watched their antics. They almost seemed like big puppies. If puppies were upward of seven feet and covered with the sort of impressive muscular physique guaranteed to inspire the lusty imaginations of many a grown woman. Her eyes widened as the loose pants shifted and tightened around Tanji’s hips as he twisted, boldly outlining his long, thick package.
What was more noticeable was that he was “happy.” Both males were, in fact, evident from the erections pressing against their pants.
Her mouth dropped open. Holy shit!
She snapped her eyes away, her face heating with embarrassment, only to stare directly into Exeri’s amused gaze. He ran his tongue thoughtfully along his teeth, his glowing eyes smoldering on her like two hot coals, before cutting his eyes toward the tussling males. His long, tapered tail flicked as he regarded them, as if them rolling around on the mat were the most natural thing in the world.
For all she knew, perhaps it was.
He reached down and adjusted himself, his hand cupping the gods-blessed girth tenting his pants in such a fashion that it left absolutely nothing to the imagination. She didn’t know if it was the sight of the wrestling pack members that did it—maybe violence got them excited?—or if he was perhaps imagining her in the midst of it between them. The way his eyes strayed heatedly from his pack to her and then back again left her confused. Whatever the case, she was unable to stop the arousal that trickled through her at the sight.
Squeezing her legs together, Hayley closed her eyes and squashed whatever interest she felt as she reminded herself of her goals.
She was getting the fuck out of there. She did not sign up for this.
Fuck, what had she gotten herself into?
Chapter 6
Bilax grinned as he raced through the space station. As much as he loved the thrill of hunting the monsters of Antari Minor, nothing filled him with as much satisfaction as knowing that he was making the first step providing for their queen. Oh, it was at Exeri’s instruction—but it was his hand that would deliver sustenance to their female!
He would be first!
The competitiveness he felt toward his pack brother was natural. While enslaved by the Agraak, Arobi fell in packs with whatever males they were matched with by their owners. Few remembered that selecting one’s pack used to be a rite of passage for young males into adulthood. It was only a dim memory among their kind that none but the newest generation would enjoy. The bonds of a pack were permanent. It did not lessen his affection for his pack brothers, but it caused a lot of tension between the conflicting personalities. Because of that, while he wanted their queen to bond equally with all of them, he desired to play a particularly noteworthy part in the bonding process with her.
Satisfying her hunger and showing themselves to be ready and able providers would go a long way toward doing just that. Why would it not? Food was often a quick and effective way to endear him to someone. Surely it would work just as well on a human.
His tail whipping behind him in excitement, he dipped to the side to avoid a large Itashvanda stepping out of the very restaurant that he was about to enter. Their human team members had often eaten at the establishment when they were on leave at the space station. The large male’s massive wings flapped in surprise, blocking his progress.
“Out of the way!” Bilax snarled as he attempted to dart by only to be yanked back off his feet by a broad hand that caught his tail.
Bristling with anger, he whipped around as he skidded across the floor, his lips pulling back from his teeth, ready to tear into the fool who held onto him. He jerked back in surprise mid-lunge as recognition flooded him when the Itashvanda’s other hand closed around his neck and snapped him up into the air.
The head of security lowered his head, his dark eyes narrowing with suspicion. His crest remained flat against his head despite the press of his fingers around Bilax’s throat. A positive sign. The male was not angry—yet.
“Curious to see an Arobi rushing through my space station,” Tar-denovak growled in a low voice. “I thought I would have seen the last of your kind once your team retired. What are you doing here?”
It was no secret that his pack had not won many friends in the space station or among many citizens of the Union during their revolutions of service. While they had retired with full honors accorded to them, none of the good citizens regarded his pack with anything other than distrust. It was only on Antari Minor that they were respected and tolerated, mostly because they kept to themselves and provided a vital service for the other residents of their zone. Their reputation within the Intergalactic Union had mattered little to him over the last few revolutions, but then no one, least of all Bilax, would have thought that the pack would return to space.
He scrabbled against the hand, and the grip loosened just enough for him to speak.
“We came to do some trading for small luxuries slow to come to Antari Minor,” he ground out. Not entirely a lie. Though not his pack’s primary motivation, they had brought spectacular skins and goods that they had managed to trade for supplies to take back to their home.
The Itashvanda’s head dropped closer, his nostrils flaring as he scented him. Bilax grimaced, knowing full well that the male would smell the human on him from their casual brief contact when they had crowded into their small cabin.
“Why do you smell of a human?” Tar-denovak’s heavy brow furrowed in confusion. “It is almost familiar, but I cannot place it. What are you up to?” he rumbled with voiced menace.
Bilax growled back, unwilling to allow the male to intimidate him. Although he knew it was wise to cooperate so he could get back to the ship as soon as possible, he also knew that if he gave in too easily, it would only rouse the security guard’s suspicions further. So, he put on a show, whipping himself in the larger male’s grip with just enough strength to make it look good until he allowed himself to go slack and glower at him.
“I have a token,” he muttered resentfully in an outright lie. “It was given to me by a human in my team during my service. I keep it close to me.”
He lifted his hand and clenched it around a pendant strung on a cord around his neck, hoping that the male would not examine it too closely and discover that it was not the source of the scent. Fortunately, Tar-denovak seemed satisfied with the performance, and his hand opened, releasing Bilax. He let out a growl of surprise as he dropped. If his reflexes had been just a fraction of a second slower, he would likely have ended up in a heap on the floor, but instead Bilax landed on his feet, glaring up at the gray male towering over him.
To his surprise, Tar-denovak’s attention was no longer on him, but rather he was scouring the crowd intently, his lip curled with displeasure. This piqued Bilax’s curiosity, but he clamped down hard on it. This was the best time to bolt. He turned to make his escape.
“One moment of your time, Bilax of Entanga Pack,” the head of security rumbled to him, stopping him in his tracks just as effectively as the large hand that landed on his shoulder.
Bilax looked at him questioningly, ears tipped toward the male, dread pooling in his belly. Although the male seeme
d to be searching for other prey, Bilax would not rest easy until his pack and queen were far away from the center of the Intergalactic Union’s might. The male cut a hard gaze in his direction.
“Have you seen a lone Edoka of a peculiar shade of blue coming through here with a human female?”
Ka’sumar! The fool had done something to make the Itashvanda suspicious.
Bilax scratched the scales on his neck thoughtfully. “A lone Edoka? There are Edoka all over the space station. Only a handful wearing ambassador robes are present without their clannid, from what I can tell. None with a female. Are you certain it is an Edoka?”
Tar-denovak huffed in irritation, his hand falling away from Bilax’s shoulder, much to his relief. “It was an Edoka,” he affirmed, his brow drawing down into a glower at some invisible point in the crowd. “He retrieved a human mate from the gathering room not too long ago. He left with her in a manner not fitting for a beloved mate. I wish to make certain that she is being well cared for like he insisted. Yet now I cannot find him… and there is no record of the male in any of the station logs.”
Bilax restrained an amused chuff of laughter. Ka’sumar was an idiot to put himself on the Itashvanda’s radar, but the Edoka had known what he was doing in all other matters. He must have arrived in an unmarked shuttle and left again as soon as he acquired his credits so he could not be tracked. There were still risks, of course. If it became a legal matter with enough evidence against him, the Council could send an investigative team to Edokora to see to the female’s welfare. However, without substantial evidence, it was unlikely to happen. Tar-denovak had nothing but his suspicions to go on, and, judging by the way he was glaring, he knew it.
Arobi's Queen: A Mate Index Romance (The Mate Index Book 11) Page 4