by Sabrina Kade
“We all know you are interested in the bloody-haired one,” Hujun rumbles.
My shoulders stiffen. I will not turn around. I won’t. “She has declared we are friends.”
“Is this something you want?” Prince Korben asks.
Is it? I stare at my feet, scuffing my toes against the dirt. Prince Korben and Hujun are probably worried about the same thing.
That I’m going to make the same mistake I made on the fatherland.
That I am going to pursue Sloane, and if she rejects me, I will continue pursuing her.
And if I frighten her, perhaps she will run off.
Prince Korben does not want his sphere of happiness punctured by my past or present behavior. I have been better lately, but if Sloane does not pick me, my future in his lair is questionable.
Which is why he lets me leave.
He’s not wrong to ask how I feel.
“Yes. That is something Sloane wants, and so I want it as well.”
“You feel no desire to Choose her?” Prince Korben asks.
I wince. “Not if she does not wish it so. Sloane wants us to be friends. And so, that is what I want as well.”
“Do you think you would ever want her to accompany you on one of your trips?”
I spin without thinking, surprised by Prince Korben’s words. Sloane? Going with me? The idea should bring me so much joy. I worried he would never allow me to take her because of my suppressed desire for Sloane, and the outsiders, but he’s giving me exactly what I’ve considered for so long. A chance to show Sloane Hinda and the others. A chance to show her that she should not hunt and eat animals unless necessary. I always secretly hoped one day I could take Sloane with me. It would be an excellent opportunity to bring my two favorite things together.
But, would she want to go with me?
She was so upset earlier, and I’m still not sure about why.
Slowly, I lift my head and meet Prince Korben’s eyes. Hujun’s still standing beside him, but I do my best to ignore his hulking form. Hujun is not a cruel male, but he is one who lacks warmth. He cares for his mate, his prince, and the cause for our being here. Not much else.
“I do not know if bringing Sloane would be a good idea,” I admit.
Prince Korben arches an eyebrow. “Are you worried about losing control?”
“What? No! I would never!” My scales splay further at the idea of pursuing her so aggressively. “She is not a Sidyth female. She is human. They are different.”
“They are,” Hujun agrees, nodding.
“I do not understand.” Prince Korben takes a few steps closer to me, and though I long to back away, I stand my ground. “Why do you not wish for her to come with you? If being with so many of your brothers bothers you, why not escape with the female? You are a trusted warrior, Exer. I do not doubt that you could protect her.”
“I’m not worried about protecting her, Prince Korben. I worry about…” I trail off. How am I supposed to explain this to him?
How I’m worried Sloane will hurt Hinda.
How I’m worried she will reject my offer to come.
Has she already rejected being my friend? It is all so primitive and silly, and this is why I cannot bring her. “I simply do not think it is a good idea to bring the human female beyond the safety and the comfort of the lairs.”
Hujun hisses. “If you wish for her to Choose you, you must let her know you wish to view her as more than a friend, Exer.”
“I know,” I grumble, not wanting to have this conversation with him.
What does he know? He has a mate. He has a sprog on the way. He’s well-built. He’s strong. He’s not a fast as I am, but that’s only because of the extra muscle. Hujun is a fine specimen of a male, so of course, he has no idea what I’m going through.
“I simply do not want to frighten her off as I did with Lavig. This is why I keep my distance. This is why I accept her offer to be friends. This is why I don’t want to take her to the northern region.”
Prince Korben’s frown deepens, and he uncrosses his arms as though already admitting defeat. Whatever is bothering me, he figures, he’s not going to figure it out tonight. Maybe Hujun’s sudden appearance was part of the problem, but Prince Korben also knows I keep secrets. I say little but am aware of everything.
“Hujun,” he says, turning to his guard. “Return to your mate. I will finish this conversation with Exer. Alone.”
Hujun says nothing and slaps his palm across his chest before spinning away. My shoulders relax once he is gone, and Prince Korben rakes his attention from my feet to my eyes.
“These human females are not like Lavig,” he says. “The bloody-haired one does not strike me as being anything like Lavig. You do not have to worry about over-pursuing her. She will tell you if she does not want your attention, Exer. If something seems off, the other females will certainly let my mate know. I am not saying you need to conduct yourself as though you are back at the fatherland, but you do not need to treat this human female like the cruel Sidyth female who toyed with your affections.”
I breathe loudly through my nostrils, allowing his words to wash over me.
He is right. Sloane is not like Lavig.
She can, however, reject me as Lavig did.
“I long for her,” I admit in a low voice. Prince Korben’s golden eyes widen, and he leans in closer, so I do not have to raise my voice. “She wishes that we remain friends, though, I do not understand why. I think she cares for me.” I shake my head, wishing I could say more, but I don’t know what else can be said. But then more occurs to me. “She has asked to know when I am leaving and when I return.”
“Has she asked to accompany you?”
I frown. “Yes.”
“So, why do you not ask me? Exer, why do you hesitate?”
I shake my head. Honestly, there are so many reasons, but none of them seem right. Am I really going to lose Sloane’s affections because she may be a cold-hearted warrior like Hujun? That she will hurt Hinda? That I will lose my animal friends amongst the talas? Hearing the excuses, even in my head, all my hesitation seems so silly, and yet, I will not invite her. The talas are mine. I need someplace to escape to.
“Exer, you should invite her,” Prince Korben says. “If you care for this human female, you should spend time with her. She is already your friend, as you say. She would come with you simply because of that. Even if you are not ready to try and mate her, you enjoy her presence, yes?” I nod. “That is a huge step for you, Exer. Since we arrived on Hethdiss, you barely spoke a word to anyone. But the bloody-haired one has always warmed to you. She must see some potential in you as a mate if she’s interested in spending so much time with you.”
“What if she truly wishes only to remain friends?” I blurt. I would look like a fool. All of my brothers would laugh at the male who can’t seem to read a female.
“Then that is what must be,” he says. “You will never know if you do not ask. You will never ask unless you accept the idea that she may reject you. Get over that fear, Exer. She is not Lavig.”
I grimace.
“She is not Lavig,” Prince Korben repeats.
“Y-yes,” I grumble. “I know this.”
“The bloody-haired one is not Lavig.”
“Her name is Sloane.”
“Very well. Sloane, then. Sloane is not Lavig.”
My face feels hot, and I spin from Prince Korben. This is a sign of disrespect, but his words leave me wounded and vulnerable.
Sloane is not Lavig.
“If you wish to return to the talas, you have my permission,” Prince Korben calls when I feel the urge to move away. “But I wish for you to consider everything we have spoken of. Will you do that much for me, Exer? Will you be honest with yourself if you will not be honest with me?”
I slick my tongue across my lower lip, a horrible habit I’ve picked up from spending time around Sloane and the other females. It would be so easy to spin back to Prince Korben, storm into the
Gathering Room and sweep Sloane into my arms. I could tell her that I want to Choose her as a mate, and if she rejects me, I will feel better knowing I was able to get the words out. I would have no more excuses. If she said no, I could put her down and return to my life as usual. Prince Korben would allow me to keep going to the northern region to keep a lookout for outsiders as my official excuse, but I would actually be there for the isolation.
If she would say yes, I—
My sack tightens at the idea of Sloane accepting my advances. Prince Korben says she is not like Lavig. That is true. If Sloane did reject me, she would not be cruel about it. She would still want to be friends. But if she wanted me? That would change everything. I could touch her. She would welcome my touch. I could brush my hands up and down her smooth, scaleless skin and press my mouth to hers in a human kiss. I could spread her thighs, and the scent of arousal would hit my nostrils as I lowered my mouth to her cunt. I am not entirely sure how much it would look like a Sidyth’s, but I have heard my brothers talk often enough when I am visiting Sloane to get a basic idea.
They have a nub between their pink folds. A core that makes them scream out for deities. Would Sloane call for the gods if I licked that sweet nub? Would she want to?
I have to pick up the pace as I storm toward the central lair opening and focus on my walking, otherwise, I’ll have to seek a quick break in my private lair for release. Thankfully, not many of my brothers are lurking the halls this late into the evening, and most of the human females must be with them. I don’t want to think about the reaction others will have at the sight of my cock at half-mast as I’m trying to leave.
My steps are shaky when I reach the opening, and Glykoran is alone this time. That is good because I don’t want the dark-eyed one to eye me. It is bad enough when Glykoran halts me.
“You are heading out tonight, yes?”
“I have already spoken to Prince Korben,” I say shortly, hoping he will let me go without too much conversation. I need to get away. I need to get to the talas.
Glykoran doesn’t say anything but lowers his arm as though I needed to seek permission from him, and he has graciously granted it. I don’t say another word and storm away from the lairs, enjoying the chilled air on my skin and between the scales on my back.
In the open, I can run. I run hard, and I run fast, loving the feel of the dirt between my toes and the sharp rustling of leaves as though fauders are desperate to keep up with me. Let them try. Before the exile, it was my duty to track down spies. Running for great distances is nothing I cannot handle.
Thankfully, it does not take me long until I’ve returned to my favorite clearing in the northern regions. There’s still rustling behind me, but I’m hardly surprised. Actually, I’m somewhat excited. Perhaps I will be lucky enough to see the rodurs again. If I can build some trust with them, that would be wonderful. They are majestic creatures, not seen on the fatherland. I am incredibly interested in them—
A gurgling bark breaks through my train of thought, and my eyes widen as the source of the sound appears.
“Hinda!” My voices rises at the end, and a smile breaks out onto my face when my favorite idekeiss waddles through the talas trunks, mouth open wide and red eyes gleaming. I crouch and hold out my hand, happy to see my female still remembers me. “How are you?” I ask in a soft, soothing tone so as not to frighten her. I drag my hand over her rough, pebbly skin. “I have missed you, female. You did not come to see me last visit. I thought you decided to reject me as well.”
I stiffen at my words, but of course, Hinda does not understand. She merely slobbers across my hand and attempts rising on her hind legs to assault my face with her tongue. I bat her away playfully, but the female is strong and is taller than a human on her hindlegs. I chuckle and hiss as I mock battle the beast, pushing her massive head away before she manages to settle two humongous paws on my shoulders and pushes me down.
I grunt when her massive claws start to break the skin. “Careful, Hinda!” She does not understand, of course, only playing more aggressively and excitedly. My skin will be bloody at the next suns rising, but I do not mind. Hinda is rolling about with me without a care in the world. With her, I am not worried about Prince Korben’s words or a certain bloody-haired female.
At least, I am telling myself I'm not thinking about her.
I finally manage to grab both her front paws in my hands and hold them out, rolling the massive beast onto her back. She gurgles and barks, but there is no aggression in her behavior. I am happy here. There is nothing I need other than my animals. I do not need my brothers or a mate. I need my sanctuary of peace hidden amongst the talas in the northern region with Hinda and the others.
I need nothing else. Nothing else matters.
Nothing could be worse than losing this slice of goodness—
A piercing scream breaks through the talas forcing Hinda and I to freeze.
The sound is painfully familiar.
Another scream quickly follows with wild rustling in the woods.
“Exer!” a female voice shrills, reaching my ears, and without thinking, I shove Hinda off my body to stand. Did I hear that right? A female was calling my name.
A familiar female.
“See-loan?” I shout after cupping my hands to my mouth so the sound will cover more ground. I’m still in shock. I must have been imagining—
“Exer!” the voice calls back. “Please! Help me!”
I don’t look at Hinda, breaking out into a sprint. I run without thinking toward the shrieking female.
My female.
Mine.
CHAPTER FIVE
Sloane
Whatever the hell is chasing me is fast.
I thought Exer was quick, but geez, I had no idea how quickly that alien could move. If it wasn’t for Celeste distracting Glykoran, there was no way I would have been able to catch him. One moment Exer was talking with Prince Korben and Hujun, and the next, he was sprinting into the woods. Luckily, I did some cross country and track and field in high school, so I can run, but I was barely able to keep up with Exer’s fleeting shadow. If he had looked back, I’m sure he would have spotted me, but he was so focused on running that he hadn’t paid attention to anything else.
And I, like a dumbass, paid too close attention to him.
Otherwise, I would have realized a fleet of giant, fuzzy spiders had started chasing me. If I weren’t so focused on keeping track of Exer’s retreating back, I probably would have heard them coming. Their sound alone is enough to send chills down my spine. It’s something straight out of a sci-fi movie, and when I look back, the sight is more horrifying.
I thought the gorilla lizards were scary, but these creatures are horses of a very different color.
Looking over my shoulder mid-sprint I see they have at least six legs. At least. There may be more. And they can move. Some are crawling on the ground, but a few are swinging from the trees like freaking monkeys. Their bodies are ball shaped and covered in fur, and I can’t get a good enough look to see their eyes. They want me, so I’m not about to stop and check.
I scream for Exer before I have the chance to remember I’m supposed to be spying on him. I’m too afraid not to scream. I’m terrified out of my pants because there’s no way these fuzzy spiders want to cuddle with a red headed human. I try picking up the pace of my sprint, but I’m losing steam. I can’t run this hard much longer. I’m not in that good of shape. The workout twins could probably do it, and now oddly, I have a weird appreciation for their constant training.
Ugh, but there’s no reason to think about that now.
All I hear is the shuffling, and the shrill, nails-on-a-chalkboard type screeching that escapes from them as they continue to chase.
I can’t run much longer. And though Exer called back to me, there’s no guarantee he’ll catch up, or even be able to do anything if he does.
I have to figure this out on my own. I can’t let those things catch me. I don’t know what they
want to do, but it sure as heck doesn’t feel like it will be good. I run harder, pushing my body to its absolute limit, but the rustling only grows closer.
“Exer! Please! Where are you?”
He doesn’t respond. Maybe he didn’t hear me, or maybe he’s running too hard trying to find me and can’t catch his breath. No. That’s not possible. I saw Exer running. He’s fast. Faster than anything I’ve ever seen. If he’s chasing me, he can’t be out of breath yet.
So why isn’t he answering?
“Exerrrrrrr! Pllllllllllease! Answer meeeeeeeee!” I can’t scream any longer if I want any chance to keep going. As much as it hurts me to give up on the one alien, I thought cared about me, it still strikes me like a brick to the cheek. He’s not going to save me.
Looks like the princess is going to have to save herself.
Tree branches slash across my face as I continue running, and my vision grows blurrier as I run out of steam. I can’t keep going. I can’t keep going. There’s nothing I can do. If I stop, maybe there’s a chance, a small chance the fuzzy spiders won’t do anything to me.
“Leave me alone!” I yell over my shoulder. I’m sure they don’t understand. It would be too much to ask the fuzzy spider aliens to be sentient and stop in their tracks and apologize for scaring me. Nope. They’re not stopping at all. They’re not slowing down. My lungs burn as I keep pumping my legs further and deeper into the woods. I haven’t been dropping the green seeds. If I somehow do manage to lose these guys, I’ll have no idea where I’m at and no way to figure out how to get back to the lairs without most likely getting killed in the process.
And then, the moons light breaks through the clouds, and I see something ahead of me.
A possible haven. A way to survive.
Water. A pond. Or lake. Damn, it could be an ocean, I don’t care. It’s water!
Seeing the glistening pool only fifty yards ahead, I manage to find one last second wind as the creatures keep crawling in my direction. There’s no way I’m not going to make it to this water. Not when it’s in sight. My brain scrambles. Fuzzy spiders. If they’re anything like the spiders back home, there’s no way they’re getting into the water. They can’t swim. There’s no way they can swim with those spindly daddy-long-legged legs, no matter how many they have. I almost smile as my toes break across the water and I wade in until it's up to my knees. I nearly buckle, but pant harder, standing and waiting to prepare myself if I have to run.