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She inhaled sharply, as though reminding herself of that very thing, herfeel goodvibes disappearing. “All I ask is that you let me go. Release me and I won’t hold any of this against you.”
He sighed heavily. “Sorry, no can do. Not until you’re ready to talk. The sooner you do that, the sooner you can go.”
She pulled away from his clasp on her chin and dropped her arms to her sides. “Do you really think I’m that gullible? You could kill me the moment I told you anything I know, which is nothing, by the way.”
“I have no intention of killing you, Sienna, I never have.” Whether she believed him or not was another matter. “For now, let’s pretend youdon’tknow anything about the Dronians. WhatIwant to know was the power you almost let loose against me—a power I have no doubt the Dronians know about and are afraid of...so much so they’re willing to kill you and the otherrares.”
Her eyes went wide. “You think the Dronians killed all my people because of the powers usrareshave?”
He held her stare. “It’s a possibility. Your world isn’t known for its technological advances.”
She didn’t drop her eyes when she finally conceded, “I have an ability to implode another being from the inside out. It’s come in very handy against my enemies.”
It made so much sense! Her power had been incredible! That she hadn’t sent him exploding into kingdom come had to be a good thing. She didn’t yet consider him to be her ultimate enemy.
He planned to keep it that way.
Scratch. Scratch. Scratch.
Her eyes widened as she looked over at the door. “Who is that?”
He grinned and stalked toward the offender. “That would be Bongo.” He opened the door and then closed it behind a brindle-colored dog that trotted into the room, tail wagging madly. The dog touched his nose to the floor and sniffed his way toward the egg on the floor, gobbling it then the toast up as though he was starving.
From the way Sienna pressed a hand to her stomach, she had to be regretting throwing her food away. She was probably wondering how she’d possibly escape now without any of the nutrients the food would have provided.
Gray chuckled. “You’ll have to excuse Bongo, he’s still learning not to be a street dog. He’s very...opportunistic when it comes to food.”
“Bongo is yours?” she asked faintly.
He shrugged. “Since he claimed me from the moment I shared my bagel with him, I’d say I’m his.”
She stepped over the slimy, wet marks left on the floor made from Bongo’s tongue, then sat on the edge of the bed. As though finally aware of Gray’s eyes on her, she grabbed the top sheet and wrapped it around her. But if she hoped he hadn’t noticed how her nipples had pebbled beneath his gaze, she was sadly mistaken.
She cleared her throat. “Pets seem to be a thing here on Earth. Nero even has himself a cat.”
She squeezed her eyes shut, as though realizing she’d given him information, even if it was trivial. She was clearly determined not to tell him anything. She probably didn’t think he deserved to learn a thing about her or her friends.
That she was right was like a rock sitting uncomfortably in his stomach. But he couldn’t afford to get soft and empathetic now. His world and his people were in jeopardy.
He managed to stay indifferent to her little slip of information. “I figured I’d look after Bongo while I’m still here on Earth.”
She frowned, looking oddly outraged. “Then what? Are you just going to abandon him?”
Did she seriously think the dog would be allowed on his world? So why did her words pinprick him with guilt? “I’ll find him a new home.”
As though aware they were talking about him, Bongo looked up and trotted over to his master. Gray gave him a good head scratch before the dog left him to jump onto the bed beside Sienna, where he plonked himself down and rested his head on her lap while his big brown eyes looked at her as though she was the best thing since sliced bread.
Gray laughed, secretly pleased by their quick bonding. “I think he likes you.”
She ruffled Bongo’s head, his floppy ears bouncing and his lips folding into a doggy grin. “I’m surprised. I’m not very good with animals,” she admitted. She looked up at him, and said reprovingly, “I have even worse luck with men.”
“Well Bongo sure approves,” Gray said with a raised brow. He pushed a hand through his thick, shoulder-length hair. “Perhaps the animals on Earth are more attuned to Strazanians?”
“Perhaps.”
The conversation was clearly wearing her out. With no river to sustain her, and no nutrients from food or even drink, she was fading fast. It was only lucky she’d had some sleep to rejuvenate her enough for this small exchange.
Whether she liked it or not, he’d already learned a little more about her and her friends. But he wouldn’t push her any farther. He’d save that for later.
