“How do you know we still are, especially with the escape plan getting closer by the day?”
“She has a point,” Shifter cuts in.
Menace>>Shifter: You’re not helping.
Shifter>>Menace: And you’re not accepting that she’s right. Why?
Menace>>Shifter: Because if our Brothers aren’t closing them like we are, then that means open tunnels toward camp and a vulnerability I don’t see Savage accepting.
Shifter>>Menace: But we’re no longer boxing ourselves into a corner. Drillbit has to rest sometime. Sefina is smart like Leah, resourceful like Cara, and strong like Keanna and Kelta. If you don’t see the value of what you’re abusing, you’re going to put us all in danger.
Menace>>Shifter: You’re just taking her side because she gave you a gift.
Shifter>>Menace: I can hear the jealousy in your voice. And gloves aren’t a gift. The gift is the ability to touch others. Stars, you’re a dry gear sometimes.
Menace>>Shifter: You just want to touch females.
Shifter>>Menace: And you don’t? Ha!
I glower at him.
Shifter>>Menace: Don’t give me that look. I know you want Sefina as your mate. I can smell it and see it in your eyes. And don’t think I haven’t noticed the way you steal every chance to be close to her. The Iridithatium mission to Vessna? The Iron Rain battle?
Oh, crap.He’s figuring me out.
Menace>>Shifter: You’re fabricating details from situational coincidences.
“Guys.”
I tear my eyes from Shifter’s narrowed violet eyes to Sefina’s shiny black hair and the pissed-off furrow to her brows. I don’t care if she hates me and never smiles at me. Something about her eases the misery of being an outcast. She is strong enough to put up with someone like me.
I’ll never be a capable lover like Chaos or tender-hearted like Thruster or Rebel. I have no personality traits that are good for mating. Fury got lucky with Keanna.
I’m certain Sefina will never accept me, so I antagonize her to make it easier to stay close but not too close. And yet, I still get raging hard when we are in the same room or if I so much as catch a whiff of her scent. It’s different from the other females: lighter, muskier, sweeter, and damn addicting.
I don’t believe what Shifter says. I am an animal, not a Titan. I am rougher around the edges than Savage, though he is more focused, more deadly. I can never touch Sefina. She can never touch me. I don’t think I’ll be able to control the monster inside. I’m afraid I’ll hurt any female that comes too close.
I was built to destroy life, not protect it like the others. Only Morbid really understands. He doesn’t touch anyone unless he’s skinned up or he wants them dead.
Sefina hugs herself like she’s cold. “Do you have any idea how annoying it is when you talk in your heads, and we can’t hear you? It’s like you’re sharing dirty secrets right in front of me. That’s a good way to earn the distrust of humans.”
“Sorry,” Shifter apologizes. “Sometimes we just need to communicate quicker than speaking can.”
“And what did you decide?”
“That Menace will let you have your bag back. He will carry one of mine.”
I look over at him but keep my face blank.
Menace>>Shifter: We did not discuss that. You lied to her. And I won’t let her carry her gear. She is strong for a female but still fragile compared to us.
Shifter>>Menace: Tell her why you took it. Be honest. If you want an in with Fin you have to show her you respect her and what she wants. You might need to carry her bag later. I’m trying to get you back on her good side.
Menace>>Shifter: I have never been on her good side. And stop meddling in relationships like you know anything.
Shifter>>Menace: You have forgotten who I served.
Captain Nethois, a female human in charge of several recon units that specialized in Solcrue headgames.
