Page 50 of Mated to the Vikings

Steen stood with Klar and Erik flanking his side. Immediately he rushed closer, all three kneeling by my side. “What happened? Did one of my guards hurt you?”

I blinked several times before I was able to focus, struggling and fighting to wipe away the vision. There had to be more to the memory. But what? What horrible thing had I blocked out?

Erik crowded beside me, taking me into his arms. “What is going on? What did those bastards do to her?”

“Nothing. They were instructed to bring her here and nothing more. Tell us what happened.” Steen’s voice was just as commanding as Dr. Forrester’s, his entire body language a reminder. But he wasn’t the asshole who’d raised me, trained me, bullied me, and punished me. He wasn’t the monster who believed he was the ultimate savior to man. He was simply…

An alien.

The nervous laugh that bubbled to the surface was completely inappropriate, but I found it difficult to stop.

“Get her onto her feet,” Klar suggested.

Erik pulled me into a standing position, but I clung to him, still shaken. “Why did you escape? What was so important that you disobeyed my orders?”

My defiance remained, the fear even more palpable. I knew that there was so much more to this story, the ugly mystery surrounding all of us. “Because I had to know whether others like you were created.”

Steen sighed, rising to his full height. “Erik is right. You disobeyed direct orders. There are reasons for them. While we have a wall surrounding us, that doesn’t mean that there aren’t various predators stalking the woods at night, including those in human form. You could have been abducted or worse.”

“Said like my caretaker,” I commented, uncertain that I wanted to be in Erik’s arms. I understood the lack of trust better than anyone. “And wasn’t I already abducted?”

This time, Steen moved closer. I expected retaliation. Instead, he brushed the backs of his fingers across my cheek. “You have no reason to fear us, no matter what you think. You are a very special young woman, already dear to Erik and soon you will be to all of us. I’m sorry that you felt the need to escape, but your disobedience can’t go unpunished.”

“Leave her alone, Steen. She’s been through enough,” Erik hissed through clenched teeth.

“And I can’t do that. I run several cities, trying to keep peace and order. Even Cassia must follow my orders and the laws of our people.” Steen twisted his hand until he was able to run his thumb across my lips, bringing his finger to his mouth.

There was something very evocative about the way he sucked on his finger, his shimmering eyes never leaving mine. I knew right then and there that he was one of my mates. I shuddered at the thought, the word he’d issued when he’d been behind his own glass cage shoving away the horrible memory from my past.

“I will take her to prepare,” Klar said, taking my hand into his. His grip was firm, but his method of handling me unexpected, calming at least some of my nerves.

“I will be with her, Steen,” Erik said, defiant as always.

“Very well and you should be.”

“Allow me to have a minute with her.”

Steen looked from Erik to me then nodded to Klar. “We will be outside.”

Erik’s eyes were full of venom. He turned toward me, gripping both arms. “What did you see after you escaped?”

I hesitated but my heart was convinced that he and I were meant to be together against the odds. “There is a warehouse-style building that they are guarding. I could swear that’s where they’re keeping the hybrids. It’s an enormous location, indicating that a large group could be held there easily. Do you know this place?”

He narrowed his eyes and darted a look at Steen. “No. I have no idea where you’re talking about. Did you see any of the hybrids?”

“No, just my gut telling me this. If they are, you know what that means. They were working with Kevin on this experiment. Maybe they need their DNA replicated just like we do.”

“That’s farfetched, but I will find out. And the vision?”

I twisted my jaw, trying to formulate words. “I was given a ticket to Earth Two like it was a tremendous gift. I’d pushed that out of my memory banks for some reason. I know now that only two thousand are going to be issued.”

“Two thousand? There are hundreds of thousands of people still left on Earth. What. The. Hell?”

“There has to be more to the memory, but I don’t know yet. He did tell me I’d have to do something for him.”

Erik shrank back, a snarl curling on his upper lip. “Something. Like come to Earth Two ahead of time to put finishing touches on his bastardized project.”

I nodded, my entire body shaking. What had Steve Forrester done to me? I’d never considered him my father, although I was certain he would have preferred I used the term. He’d provided me with food and shelter, education and clothing. There’d been no love, no caring. “That’s what I believe. Dr. Forrester was intent on keeping me locked away as I worked on the various experiments. He told me because the media attention was becoming brutal, fears increasing Earth Two wouldn’t be ready in time. I bought his bullshit.”