Page 44 of Mated to the Vikings

After thirty minutes, I headed back to the locked room, not at all surprised to find her awake, her arms surrounding her knees and her back nestled against the stone wall. She didn’t bother looking at me when I walked in. “What is this place? Who are these people?”

“The truth? This is the only place that now matters.” The snarl I emitted was deep and dangerous.

“Why?”

“I already told you. You belong to us. This is our city, our world. Now yours.”

“Our?” she laughed, lifting her gaze in my direction. “Who are you, Erik? You don’t belong here or with them. You’re very human, or at least you were.”

“They call this Galerius after their own planet.”

Her eyes opened wide. “They colonized this planet just like Earth is trying to do. That makes perfect sense.”

Nodding, I kept my distance, giving her space. “They have no way off the planet and no one is looking for them.”

“How sad but also interesting. There are very few women that I’ve seen, which means an all-male-dominated race.” Laughing, she dropped her head into her arms, grumbling under her breath.

“They’ve made do with harsh circumstances and a treacherous environment. Yes, the males are in control, very much like Earth.”

Cassia slid to the edge of the bed. “The similarities are quite frankly terrifying.”

“We may be monsters to you, Cassia, but I assure you, the Galerians are far more intelligent. You came here with the others to see a show. Well, you got what you came for and much more.”

“Don’t say that to me. You’re not a beast, neither are the others, and certainly not like what Dr. Fields tried to force me to believe. I wish I could tell you I knew more about what’s going on, but I don’t. I’m just as much a victim as you are. I might be able to gather some answers if you allow me to go back to the facility.”

A slow rumble pooled in the pit of my stomach. “Steen will never allow that.”

“Why? Doesn’t he want answers? There are more of you, creations designed by a fucking madman of a scientist on Earth. Do you honestly think he will stop there? If I know him, this is merely the beginning of some grand plan. And those scientists who were murdered in cold blood, they traveled with me, all specialists in their fields. They didn’t buy the slick bullshit delivered in savvy fashion by the government. I know about the others. They exist and they are here in this place. I might be the only human left alive on this planet.”

“A few survived, yes.” Her words were heartfelt and I had to agree with her.

“A few? Oh, no. There were two, maybe three dozen at least. I might have been out of it a good portion of the time when I was dragged to this place, but I saw them. So many of them.” Her lower lip trembled. “They were so confused, hurt and… They were pitiful. They need protection from arriving shuttles.”

“Yes, anyone of our kind who survived was brought here. I’m not privy to every decision Steen makes, but if they exist, will be well taken care of.” I hadn’t seen them since our arrival, nor had I asked any questions.

But I would.

“Why did this clan kill the people from the shuttle? Why?” She was still so rebellious, as angry as I was.

“Do you not understand what has been done to these people? When the humans first arrived, the clan was curious, even trying to strike up a friendship.”

“Is that what Steen told you?”

“That is what I witnessed. I arrived on the first shuttle after the facility had been built.”

“So you do remember more than you’re letting on,” she snarked.

I was taken aback by her vehemence. “I remember bits and pieces, but my arrival, yes. The snowstorm was almost as treacherous, true animals hiding in the forests, starving for food. We were treated like criminals, nothing different than on Earth. I remember seeing several members of the clan. They came to talk to Kevin and the others. Soon after, we heard about abductions, the clans targeted. That began the war.”

She closed her eyes. “There’s nothing left to believe in. Not Earth. Not humanity. Nothing.”

“There is a decent life here.” For the first time, I almost believed.

An overwhelming need for her became all-consuming. Yanking her to her feet, I wrapped my hand around her neck, dragging her against my chest. Her breasts were crushed, her breathing coming in short pants. “I belong nowhere, Cassia. I’m no one who matters any longer.”

“You matter to them, these creatures,” she managed, her hand wrapping around my shirt. “Tell me about them.”

“They are simple people who want exactly everything you and I wanted on Earth. Love. Happiness. Security.”