Page 24 of Mated to the Vikings

But there was more.

I heard them. I felt them, their fingers brushing along my skin and face, touching. Caressing.

Owning.

You will be ours…

One of them took a defiant whiff, as if he gathered a scent of sex. He cocked his head, dragging his tongue across his lips. There was a rebellious look in his eyes, not exactly anger but aggravation.

“I’m staying,” I told her. “I want to spend some time alone. Can they communicate?”

“You can’t do that!” Rowena insisted. “I don’t think they’re ready.”

“Can. They. Communicate?” I asked again, whipping my head in her direction.

She hesitated. “Yes, they can. Unfortunately, they don’t do so very often. The transformation is painful and after that, they just… Well, they seem to forget who and what they are.”

I just bet they did or maybe they were fooling the horrible scientists. “Perfect. I am staying. They can’t hurt me. They’re caged animals, for fuck’s sake. Leave me alone if you need to. I’ll be just fine and I’ll simply perform my duties as given on the parameters for this mission.” I might as well start being political myself.

Rowena huffed, her hand positioned near the panel. “If I leave you in here, there’s no way out from this side until you are released. Do you understand that?”

“Fine by me. They won’t hurt me.”

“You have no idea what they’re capable of.”

I heard her gruff exclamation as she walked out, and the click of the door made me jump. I was in way over my head with this, but the draw to the creatures was extraordinary. I stood in the line of sight of all three. I purposely looked into each of their eyes, trying to make a connection. They were more than curious, remaining close to the glass.

“I’m Dr. Bloom, but you can call me Cassia.” My voice echoed. “I’m not going to hurt you. I’m here to get to know you.”

The blond hissed, jerking his head up as he clenched his hands. Every muscle strained, veins in his neck popping. Issuing a keening howl, he slammed his fist against the glass.

“Shit! Don’t do that.” To my credit, I didn’t budge but my heart was racing, thumping into my ears. “I said, I’m not going to hurt you. Are you one of the volunteers I’ve heard about?”

The blond opened his mouth, ready to answer when the obvious leader growled, shutting him down.

“O-kay. It’s going to work like that, huh?” I turned to the second. His skin was like burnished glass, light copper. The eyes themselves were entirely different than those of humans, having what appeared to be two sets of irises, the color the most vivid blue flecked with green and gold, purple and silver. He seemed to be more defiant than the other two, his gaze having never left me. The third was even more powerful in stature, his eyes almost iridescent in color. His hair was shorter, but the long beard and mustache hid the majority of his face. What I could see were marks, stripes covering his arms and legs. A whip. The poor creature had been whipped.

“Are you in charge of your species?”

The leader cocked his head, studying me, his gaze piercing.

“Look, I am sorry about the fact you were lied to, taken away from your home, and used as a guinea pig. I will help you in any way I can. That is my solemn promise to you. No one will ever hurt you again.”

There was no reason for me to be so drawn to them, but I was, my heart breaking for the abuse they must have endured.

“Damn it. I wish you’d talk to me. I have a terrible feeling they’re going to shut me down.” I groaned and paced the floor.

My heart raced. What if the creatures outside had been instructed to kill us? Jesus.

Another tapping sound, obviously trying to draw my attention. I looked from one to the others, hoping for any kind of response.

Nothing.

What surprised me the most was a calmness that seemed to filter across the beasts. All three had even breathing, but there was absolute recognition. I could swear by it.

I inched closer until I stood in front of the leader’s cage. There was no reason for them to trust me, just as I’d learned I couldn’t trust the doctors in this place. I placed my hand on the glass, spreading my fingers.

The leader continued to study my actions, curling his upper lip as his gaze shifted down to my breasts then back to look me directly in the eyes. Very slowly he lifted his arm, planting his palm on the other side of the glass.