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“The Moeks will not proceed if they have to hurt you or do anything surgical.The Ghaal, on the other hand…” he swallowed, rubbing his hand over his face, “… the Ghaal will do anything necessary to ensure the continuation of their race.But you…” he paused again, and I wondered what could be so difficult he couldn’t tell me, given the truth bombs he’d already dropped.“You are the species they’ve been hoping for.You’re in danger here… they want you.”
I closed my eyes for a moment, taking this all in.Being used to breed wasn’t a scenario I hadn’t considered while we were on the Moek’s ship—I’d seen horror movies and read books—but confirming out loud was something else.When I opened my eyes, Vitri was still watching me, his green eyes blazing with intensity, a brighter version of the forest that surrounded us.
“So…” I sighed out, trying to remain levelheaded enough to absorb all this information, “… where do you come into all of this?”
“My brothers and I separated, and we live around the island.When the units are dropped from the Moek ship, we try to track them down, communicate if we can, and teach the new species to survive on the planet.Sometimes we can’t communicate, so at the very least, we attempt to guide them away from the Ghaal colony by the mountains and keep as many as we can safe.We may not always succeed, and I’m starting to suspect the Ghaal are creating camps to get to the units before we do, but we will keep trying.”
“Wait, so those batshit crazy ladies with the bright red skin who attacked me…”
“They were kidnapped from their home planet and dropped here.They are wild and difficult to communicate with.They wouldn’t have killed you, but they are collectors and often try to rob new arrivals.”
“Good to know,” I muttered, drawing my arms around myself, suddenly unable to get the chill from my body.“Speaking of which, I need new clothes.”
“I can make you some.”
Lifting my head to study Vitri, he still watched me with that intense look.The scent of him washed over me as the direction of the breeze changed, and I shuddered.He still smelled amazing, and I remembered what he said about his pheromones.I’d need to remind myself not to get sucked in by him, no matter how much I wanted to touch him.He was my only stability on this planet, and now finding out that there were other aliens here who would try to find me, kidnap me again, and use me to breed made me want to vomit.My stomach churned in agreement with my fear.
“Tori,” Vitri whispered, and I pulled myself from my thoughts to look back at him.“I will keep you safe.”
“Why?”The word was barely a whisper—a single breath that shuddered as I held in the emotion that threatened to overtake me—because all this information was too much.
He looked at me like he could see right through me.“Because I know you’re in more danger than the others.Your similarities to me and the Ghaal, the way I felt when I...”he shook his head, “… they will want you.”His eyes swept my body, lingering between my legs.“I will keep you safe because you deserve better than what has happened and because…”
“Because?”I prompted.
“Because you make me happy.”
I squeezed my eyes closed again, shaking my head.“That makes no sense.You don’t even know me.”
“You’re vulnerable here, and I’ve touched your mind.Perhaps I know you better than you realize.”
I didn’t need to hear this.“I need some space.I need to think.”Vitri stood as I did, and when I went to move away, he gripped my arm and pulled me back.His skin was smooth and warm against mine, and all I wanted to do was melt into his hold.I couldn’t get the memories of how he had touched me and our shared kiss out of my mind.
But that’s not what I needed right now.
I needed to be alone, to think and sort out my thoughts.
I needed to pull myself together before I fell apart.
“Vitri, please…”
“I will let you have time but let me make you some clothes first.I promise it won’t take long.”
“I want to try and find the other girls.”
“I’ll take you back to my home, make you some clothes, and you can even bathe if you like.Then you can have some time alone to think.But know this…” Vitri drew me closer, his arm around my waist, pulling me against him so my breasts pressed against his hard stomach.“I won’t be far behind you.I know this forest.I have been here for a long time, but something is different these past cycles, and I feel the Ghaal are closer than I realize.They will know you’re here, and I will not let you from my sight.I was foolish not to come to you straightaway and walk by your side, but I won’t make the same mistake again.I will protect you, Tori.”
I shuddered at his touch and, for a moment, I allowed myself to sink into his hold before I pulled away and indicated for him to show me the way to his home.
He made me want to stay with him and forget about everything else.
But I couldn’t, without purpose and something to do, and left alone with my thoughts for too long, I feared I would lose my mind.
Chapter Ten
TORI
The journey back to Vitri’s home took hours, and I wanted to protest, but I struggled to keep my thoughts coherent.Everything Vitri had told me swirled around in my mind, and it didn’t help that he continually glanced back at me as we walked, concern etched into his features.I set my expression into stone, wanting to be unreadable to him, but even so, my eyes would mist up occasionally, and I wouldn’t be able to hide it in time before he glanced back again.He went to say something a handful of times but stopped before making a sound after I shot him a look that clearly portrayedI don’t want to talk about it.
