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Fine.I guess I could do that, but I still muttered under my breath, “This is bullshit.”
He ignored it, and my lip twitched into a smirk.
“Sahcor and Ilk would be experiencing the same thing, the emotional turmoil, the lust, the conflict of wanting to protect but also feeling a possessiveness they probably feel they should be able to control.It would be particularly hard for Sahcor.If Misha was tagged, that means the Ghaal had captured her at some point like they had Erica.”A deep growl rumbled through his chest, and my expression softened.“I wouldn’t be able to speak if I lost you.I’d be so angry, they’d have to stop me from killing every one of them.”
The visual of Vitri tearing through a village Godzilla-style while little green men—because I’d never seen a Ghaal—flooded my mind.I remembered how Sahcor had held himself, stomping rather than walking, his shoulders and arms tense, his hands curled into fists.He was holding back so much anger and emotion, and all of it spilled forth when Misha collapsed.
But as much as I wanted to give them extra slack for their feelings toward the women, they needed to understand that I had a bond with them too.A bond of the most fucked-up kind, forged by tragedy and insane circumstances we were all forced to deal with.
I wanted them to be safe.
No.Ineededthem to be safe.
Because if, after all of this, I made it, and they didn’t just because my pod happened to land near Vitri, I’m not sure I could bear that guilt.So, I said nothing, ground my teeth to bite back the arguments I wanted to spew forth, and allowed Vitri to take my hand and curl his fingers between mine.
We walked.We rested.We ate.
Sahcor and Misha hadn’t shown up yet.
Every time I woke during the night with Vitri’s chest rising and falling against my back, I’d squint through the swirling dust from the winds, hoping to see their outline in the moonlight.
“They’ll come soon, my mate,” Vitri muttered sleepily, drawing me closer against him, curling his large form around mine to protect me and remind me I needed to sleep.
I was worried about Samara too.Had Erica and Ilk found her?Ilk seemed certain another brother was near her and would keep her safe.But she seemed so innocent and naïve.What if a Ghaal had come across her first, and she had trusted him?
So now I was worried about Sahcor, Misha,andSamara.
And Erica and Ilk.
It felt like no one would be safe while the Ghaal were a threat.
I’d seen only a glimpse of what a Synth was like when they were losing control, and I had no doubt the damage they were capable of if that snap in control was fueled by rage rather than lust.It was painful not being able to take any action.I knew this feeling, an amplified version of when Vitri and Ilk had gone to rescue Erica from the Ghaal, and I was left to wait.I knew this feeling from watching my mother’s mind deteriorate and not being able to do a damn thing about it.Misha seemed like a tough girl in the brief and strained encounters we had.But these were extreme circumstances.
We would reach Ilk’s soon, then we’ll make a plan.
My eyes drifted closed, unable to stay awake any longer.
***
We moved through a forest of thin, white trees with feathery leaves that splayed out at the top.Along the way, Vitri stripped some bark from the tree and handed it to me to eat.It was rubbery and difficult, but I was hungry and didn’t much care at this point what we ate.I also wanted to rest somewhere where the winds weren’t blowing constantly, and Ilk’s cave sounded perfect.
I wouldn’t say that to Vitri, though.I imagine he would think I was somehow insulting his tree house.But that was far away now, and although the journey would be easy in a car, when we had to walk everywhere, distance looked a lot different.
As we broke out into a field, a creature was barreling toward us.He was the same size as Ilk and similar build, with flat features that also looked to be made of stone.But he was different—angry reds and harsh grays, giving the illusion he was made of cracked stone and streaks of fire.
He looked like a goddamn demon.
Vitri watched the approach with only a curious cock of his eyebrow.My initial urge was to hide behind Vitri, which while I’m sure he wouldn’t have minded, it seemed pointless when Vitri didn’t appear bothered by this demon giant racing toward us.
I could only assume this was the fourth brother.
Stepping in front of Vitri, I held out my hand, palm toward him, and cried out, “Stoprightthere!”
Vitri looked at me in surprise and even more shocked when the Synth skidded to a stop.His brow was furrowed, and his green eyes were blazing, matching the deep, heaving breaths and movement of his large chest.
I placed my hands on my hips.“I’ve had just about enough of being attacked by every single one of Vitri’s damn brothers.If you’re who I think you are, you can introduce yourself in a civilized manner.”
His eyes widened, not in shock but in anger, and his lip lifted into an animalistic snarl.I lowered my hands as he reached over his shoulder, and I frowned.Now he was closer and wasn’t moving so fast, I could see two pale arms wrapped around his neck.With a smooth motion, the demon-looking alien lifted a young blonde woman over his shoulder, placed her on her feet in front of me, and shoved her gently.
