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I moved to grab her and hold her around her waist, but she frowned at me and sidestepped my swipe.With a grin, the vines from my back lashed out and wound around her wrists and torso, spinning her toward me until she was against my side.Ilk watched with an expression I couldn’t read as Tori cried out in anger, struggling against the grip of the vines, which I released the second I scooped her next to me with an arm around her waist.
As I knew she would, Tori didn’t give up and began beating at my chest with her palms.Still angry from the attack, she stilled for a moment as I introduced her to my brother and Ilk to her.
My feisty female was still angry.
“That’s fucking fantastic.Let mego!”she cried after the introductions.I released her with another chuckle and let her move out of my grasp.Tori lifted her spear or at least half of it—it must have been damaged in the scuffle with Ilk.Using the dull end, she prodded Ilk in the chest in what I thought was a bold move—a part of what I liked about her so much.
“What do you know about Erica?What have you done with her?”
I frowned.“Who is Erica?”
“Another human woman,” Ilk said, his expression shifting again.“The Ghaal took her in this forest.We came looking for you,” he added, looking at Tori as if this was somehow her fault.“They must have camps set up, waiting for the units before we can steer the species away.Erica is my mate, Vitri.We have to get her back.”
“Yourmate?”Tori whispered and spared a moment to glance at me.I held her gaze for as long as she would let me, remembering the feel of her under my hands and wishing to have her again.If the female—Erica—had let Ilk claim her, then maybe eventually Tori would take me as her mate.I’m certain Tori was sharing the same mental images as me as we glanced at each other, and I wondered if she knew the pleasure I could bring her.The spark that had ignited when I first touched her flared to life with hope she may one day be mine.My muscles tensed as I had to fight for control again, and I turned to Ilk as Tori asked, “What makes her your mate?”
“I claimed her.”
When Tori looked at me, her eyes widened as if realizing the implications of Ilk’s words, and I smirked.Her friend had mated with Ilk, so maybe Tori would realize the attraction between us wasn’t so crazy and give in to it rather than fighting so hard.I tried to communicate this to her without words, my fingers twitching with the need to reach out, pull her toward me, and take her right here.
The moment was shattered by a roar from Ilk.“Are you going to help or not?”
“Of course, I’ll help, then we can find the other humans.Yes?”
Tori threw her arms up.“That’s what I’ve been saying!”
I smirked, enjoying pushing her buttons.“Only because I said it first… an excellent idea.”
Tori huffed out in frustration but said nothing else.Ilk’s rage increased with every passing second, and I tried to think how I would feel if Tori were taken from me.I slapped Ilk on the back with an open palm, and his shoulders stiffened under my touch.“Can you take me to where she was abducted?”
He nodded and turned to leave.I rounded on Tori, who stopped midstep as if she were going to follow me.Unacceptable.“Go back home and wait for me.”
“Excuseme?”she cried, pressing her hands to her hips and leaning forward as if trying to intimidate me.“You’re not the boss of me.”
I closed the gap between us and bent low to grab her shoulders, lifting her off her feet so we were face to face.Her eyes widened again, but she didn’t struggle.I hoped she knew I wouldn’t hurt her, but the panic and rage seething from Ilk was difficult to ignore.He was worried about his female, Erica, as he should be if the Ghaal had her.I couldn’t stand the idea of Tori being taken as well.The thought alone shredded me inside.
I couldn’t go back to being alone now that I knew what it was to have her with me.
If she let me claim her, I’d never let her go again.
“The Ghaal are dangerous, Tori, and despite what you think of me, I care for you and your well-being.I will help save your friend, but please,go home.”
She searched my face, uncertainty, determination, then finally understanding crossed over her eyes before she nodded.When I placed her gently back on her feet and turned, I stopped when she reached out, touched my arm, and twisted my vines around her fingers to make sure she had my attention.Her hand was so warm I was flushed with thoughts of holding her still with my vines while I fucked her.
This was not the time to be having such thoughts, but with Tori, I couldn’t help it.
“Be careful,” she whispered, gripping my arm.“Okay?”
I touched her face, a gentle touch that had her eyes fluttering closed for a moment.“I will.Wait for me.”
I didn’t want to leave her, but I needed to help my brother.
Chapter Twelve
TORI
Vitri and his strange brother, who I wasn’t a fan of, were gone for hours.The asshole had basically jumped me, grabbed at my ankles when I tried to run away, and pinned me beneath him.Vitri was built, but he wasn’t made of stone like his brother apparently was.
Literal.Fucking.Stone.
