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It was like being trapped under an angry gargoyle, and it wasn’t something I planned on reliving any time soon.
Adaptive, that’s what Vitri had said.And I must admit, I enjoyed the feel of his soft, leathery green skin a lot more than I had Ilk’s stony texture.To be fair, though my introduction to him had been far from ideal, I guess if he was worried about Erica, I could cut him some slack because apparently, he’dclaimedher.
Damn girl, fucking an alien within a few days.Bold.
My eyes shifted to the direction I had left Vitri, and I felt somewhat like a hypocrite.Not because I had fucked Vitri but because I had seriously considered it more than once.The guy riled me up and pissed me off, but he was also cheeky and funny, and damn if I wasn’t physically attracted to him despite our very clear differences.
Ilk said the Ghaal had taken Erica, and the thought sent chills down my spine.I’d made it back to Vitri’s home easily enough but couldn’t climb the rope to true safety.Not for lack of trying, but I got as far as hanging from my arms with my feet six inches off the ground, looking and feeling ridiculous before I gave up.So, I pressed my back against the wedge in the trees and kept what was left of my spear at the ready.I took a quick break once or twice to get a drink, but every sound that came from the forest, every chirp or broken twig, was enough to set me further on edge and return to my post.Waiting.
The revelation the other girls and I were brought here simply to be vessels for breeding stirred up a mixture of emotions in me that bundled together in a tight knot.So none of the emotions could get a clear path to being dealt with, I had to sit here and let them simmer, hoping that at some point, I would feel settled enough to work my way through all the bullshit going on in my head.
I was angry, afraid, and worried.I was lost, desolate, and a whole shit ton of other things that merged to create a ball of uncertainty that sat heavily in the pit of my stomach.
The realization I didn’t feel this way when Vitri was around bothered me.
He was stability and safety in a world I didn’t know or understand.Where around every corner was potentially something else that could harm me, or not, but the unknown was a danger in itself.The fact I didn’t know more about the potential threats was as bothersome as the threats themselves.I could protect myself, but the unknown definitely got to me.I had no desire to injure or kill a creature that didn’t deserve it, and what if, in fear, I lashed out at something that was simply going about its day?For all I knew, there were giant, terrifying-looking creatures on this planet that were peaceful as hell and cute and small creatures that would rip off my face.Vitri knew this place—he was such a part of this world, the vines were literally growing out of his fucking back.
And I absolutelyshould nothave been excited at how he wrapped those vines around me and drew me against him like some kinky bondage game of the best kind.So, I reacted the way I always do when resenting my feelings.
Anger.
Ilk had said he hadclaimedErica, and the idea cemented in my mind that his words could only translate to one thing—Erica had fucked that great hulking stone alien.I tried desperately not to judge her.Who knows what sort of connection the two of them had formed in the time they’d been together?What they’d been through?Lord knows Vitri was growing on me—pun not intended—despite my best efforts to ignore it.I liked to be challenged, and dammit, did that man—alien—challenge me.This entire situation did.But beyond his poking, prodding, and jokes was a fierce protective streak that absolutely should not turn me on.
But it fucking did.
I would have to pick Erica’s brain about her relationship with the Synth alien, if only to ease my conscience about my conflicting feelings.Because when it came to fucking Vitri, a part of me thoughtwhy the fuck not?It seemed there wouldn’t be a way to get home, and even if there were, we had immediate dangers and obstacles to stumble over first.So what if I wanted to feel good in that time, wrapped in the embrace of an alien whose vines made me think about what dirty things he could do with them?
I would talk to Erica.
Because Vitri and Ilkwouldfind her.
My stomach began to grumble, and I ignored it, scrambling to my feet before standing at attention when I heard the approach of several beings.
“Please be Vitri, please be Vitri,” I repeated under my breath, hoping he didn’t have some mega-alien hearing or something.No doubt he would give me a hard time about wanting him back near me so badly.Ha ha you missed meor some shit.
My lip twitched.Almost a smile.
Dammit, he was growing on me.
“Tori!”There was the sound of running footsteps as my name was called out.I dropped my spear and ran to meet Erica halfway, grabbing her before she came to a complete stop, wrapping my arms around her.I wasn’t usually much of a hugger, but fuck, I wassoglad she was safe from the Ghaal.
“Oh my God, girl, it is so good to hear your voice,” I said.Erica chuckled, tears streaming down her cheeks.On instinct, I ran my hands up and down her arms, maybe checking for signs of injury or to reassure myself she was real and safe.Erica seemed unharmed, and I could only hope she was okay emotionally as well as mentally.Who knows what hell the Ghaal subjected her to, even in the space of a few hours?“I mean, literally, I’ve only heard you speak once, and I’d forgotten what you sounded like.”
She laughed again, and I pulled her against me for another hug, releasing her only when my usual discomfort at the closeness of a relative stranger ebbed through.We held hands, squeezing slightly.
“Samara?”I asked, searching Erica’s face for answers about the other girls.“Misha?”
She shook her head, and my stomach sank.“I was going to ask you the same thing.Ilk and I came here first to find the nearest pod, aside from the one on the other side of the mountains.”Erica threw a glance at Ilk.Her expression was weary, but she still offered him a small smile.“Ilk says he has a brother on the other side of the mountain who would’ve gotten to that pod.”
I threw a look at Vitri, who responded with a smirk.“Lucky her.”So whoever landed near the other side of the mountain would have also found an alien man to look after her?Damn, these fucking guys were everywhere.I wondered if they were all as possessive and protective as Vitri and Ilk.According to Vitri, they were designed for breeding, so perhaps it was part of their nature to be protective over females.
Erica continued, “The other pod landed near the ocean on the other side of the Ghaal colony.”
A chill ran down my spine at the mention of the Ghaal.“Those fucking creeps,” I spat out before running my hands up and down Erica’s arms again.“Are you okay?”
“I’m okay, but I really think we need to find the others.”
“Agreed.”
