“You’ll answer my questions first,” she said, shooting him a glare.
Verakko tilted his head at the small human, and his mouth quirked upward despite himself. She was brave, to say the least. “I was dropped here by some pishot Strigi. Does that answer your questions?”
Her frown deepened at his tone. “How can we understand each other?”
“You were implanted with a translator, it seems.” Allowing his body to calm, he swayed her. “It would make sense to tell me where you came from. What would be the harm?”
Her irises dilated, and she swiftly replied, “I came from…” She paused and blinked at him. After a moment, she shook her head as if to clear it. “What was that?”
Verakko couldn’t stop his mouth from falling open.
She narrowed her eyes at his surprised expression. “Did you try and do something to my head?”
Never in his life had his sway been so easily rejected. He was regarded as one of the more powerful of his kind, and although his sway often didn’t hold for long stretches of time, it usually required more effort to shake off than that. He shifted in his seat, his pride injured by the tiny Earthling, and decided his weakened state was obviously the cause of his malfunctioning gift.
“How about you untie me, and then we can talk?” he offered. Breaking out of these ropes would be easy, but he suspected the only reason this human was sitting so close to him at the moment was because she assumed he’d been rendered immobile. If he revealed his strength, she’d likely run or attack, and he was not in the mood to subject his abused body to any more physical exertion at the moment.
She grinned, displaying small white teeth, and his cock gave an unwelcomed twitch of interest. “Not a chance. How do you know what humans are?”
“How about a drink of water, then? At least give me that.” Truth be told, he didn’t really need water. His people were most comfortable in the dry Dakuun desert, their bodies adapted to survive on minimal resources. What he did need was to see her more closely. The urge to leap over the fire, just to get a clear view of her eye color, was like a living entity clawing inside him.
She stared at him hard, and he could almost see her weighing his request. Her gaze strayed to a primitive wooden bowl filled with water, and she nibbled her pink lower lip. His blood heated, and his cock gave another involuntary twitch. Recently, he’d witnessed quite an odd practice from a few of the humans and their mates, and he’d not been able to get the image out of his mind since. It’d been odd and unpleasant, their mouths locked together like they were trying to inhale each other’s air. So why couldn’t he stop thinking about taking that lip between his own teeth?
Goddess help me. What’d gotten into him? He peered down at his wrists, holding his breath, then exhaled. No marks.
“Answer one of my questions first, then I’ll give you a drink of water,” she said finally.
He lifted his chin, mirroring her own stubborn posture. “Have my eyes changed? Have the irises and whites both turned completely black or possibly yellow?”
She pursed her lips.
Verakko stifled a hiss. How to get her to answer him? “It’s important. It…it’s indicative of…my health. Please.”
Her eyes widened a fraction. “No. They haven’t changed.”
“Promise to tell me if they do, and I’ll answer your questions.”
She studied him for a moment and then gave a tight nod. “How do you know what I am?” Her stoic countenance held strong, but he saw the briefest flash of fear in her eyes. What had the Insurgents done to her?
He took a deep breath to allow the bubbling snarl building in him to abate before answering. “I’ve met a few of your kind. Two, to be exact. I was with one of them, Alice, only hours ago. We released you from the facility you were being held in. Do you not recognize my voice?”
“Alice?” she shot forward before realizing it and then halted. “You know Alice?”
“You know Alice?” Verakko searched his mind for an explanation. There was no way this female could know Alice unless… He took in the sight of her weathered clothes and handcrafted supplies once more. “You’re one of the females who ran off into the forest weeks ago, aren’t you?”
She opened her mouth then closed it again.
Relief, worry, and annoyance all exploded in Verakko and, failing to contain himself, he blurted, “That was such a stupid idea. How could you have run off like that? Do you know how many people have been trying to find you? The other humans have been worried sick.”
Her head snapped back, and her cheeks flushed bright red. “Hey! You don’t get to judge me. You have no idea what I went through and no idea what I’ve been through since. So I’d appreciate it if you kept your opinions to yourself,” she spat.
She moved away before Verakko had time to decide on an apology or a retort. The humans who’d escaped with Alice two weeks ago had taken to their new lives in Tremanta relatively well. All except for the two impulsive females who’d decided they’d prefer the wilds and who hadn’t been found, until now. Like most, he’d assumed they’d perished.
Anxiety warred with relief once more. He’d been so satisfied to see that his attempts to free the humans from the rest of the facilities had been a success. Now he realized he was still in the dark as to what had happened to them. He needed to get back to civilization—and fast. If Kadion and the others hadn’t survived the attack, someone would need to report back to the Queen. Leaders around the world had to know that humans may be roaming aimlessly, looking for a safe haven.
But first he’d need to convince this stubborn female to return with him.
Muttering, she snatched the water bowl and fished a few rocks from the liquid.
“Why are there rocks in your water?” he questioned harshly, his frustration seeping into his words. How had this slip of a female managed to survive in the Sauven Forest this long?
“Another stupid idea, is it?” She slowly lifted her head and raised a delicate brow. “Do you know of a better way to purify water without a pot? I heated them in the fire, then dropped them in to boil the water. If you know of an easier way, I’m all ears.” She held his stare and waited.
Verakko clamped his mouth shut. He didn’t know of another way without tools, and he hated the smug smile that spread over her face at his silence.
She knelt in front of him, and some of his annoyance faded. Brown. Her eyes were indeed brown. And beautiful. Her scent toyed with him as well. It was buried by smoke, dirt, and blood, but he could just make out a sweetness underneath the grime.
She lifted the bowl to his mouth and waited. When he continued to stare, she cleared her throat. “Do you want the water or not?”
He drank a few sips of the warm water, not wanting to take all of the precious liquid she’d spent so long disinfecting. He licked his lips and was pleased to see her eyes tracked the movement of his tongue.
Her gaze lingered for a moment longer, then she abruptly stood and put distance between them.
He scowled. “Aren’t you going to untie me now?” he called, wiggling his hands.
“No,” she said simply, piling wood onto the fire. She moved farther away from the camp, and Verakko had to fight the instinct to break his measly bonds and drag her back to the safety of the fire. He hadn’t spent much time in forests, but he knew fire equaled safety no matter the environment.
“Where are you going?”
“To bed.” She took hold of a hanging sapling and began to climb.
“Do you always sleep in trees?” he complained, angling his neck to keep her in view, muscles taut. What if she falls?
She swung to the limb of a tree nearby, as agile as a teuy, and settled herself there, over the fire. Did she somehow know that her position high above was the last place he’d follow her? He would if he had to, of course, but his recent fall from the sky had been enough to keep him firmly planted on the ground for the next few years.
“I could come up there and get you just as easily
as if you were down here,” he bluffed.
“Not with that tender shoulder and bleeding side,” she countered. “Also, I believe the words you were looking for were thank you.”
His chest puffed. Did she really think him so weak that he couldn’t climb a few feet into the air after an injury? He flexed his side experimentally and felt fabric circling his hips. Then he realized the sleeves of his shirt had been torn and utilized as a makeshift bandage and a sling. The itch of a forming scab scraped against the fabric. His wounds were nearly mended. She must not have known his kind could heal quickly. Should he throw that piece of information in her face or allow her to sleep secure in the knowledge that he was a weak, incapacitated male?
He scowled. For tonight, he’d let her sleep, but his pride wouldn’t allow him to be viewed as an invalid for much longer. He reclined as much as his bindings would allow and glanced up to where she lay.
She stared back, watching him.
“What’s your name, human? I’m Verakko.”
She turned away, and Verakko assumed she’d decided not to answer. But then she said, “It’s Lily.”
Verakko grinned even through his foul mood. “Sleep well, Lily.”
Chapter 4
Lily cracked her eyes open, and the flush of anger and embarrassment from the night before returned. That alien, Verakko, had called her stupid. Had implied she’d been reckless. Well, what the hell did he know? She’d dragged him to safety, cleaned his wounds, and made sure he didn’t die. How had he repaid her? By being a self-important bastard.
What now, Lily? What do we do now?
No matter how badly she wanted to, she couldn’t just leave him. He didn’t even know how to get clean water on his own. He may be useful in identifying edible plants, but how much did he know about what plants were edible to humans?
Was it stupid for her to be so worried about this alien? Probably. He’d said he knew Alice, but why should she believe him? For all she knew, he could’ve been part of a group who’d recaptured Alice and then tortured information out of her. Lily tried to cling to the image of him as a villain but couldn’t. He just didn’t seem the type.
She inwardly groaned. No, she couldn’t leave him behind, but she also couldn’t free him, which meant she’d have to tow a large bound man through the forest. Emotion welled in her throat. Would she ever find Alex moving at that pace? All I can do is try.
She stretched her arms in front of her and winced. At the time, sleeping in the tree far away from that infuriating man had seemed like a grand idea. All through the night, she’d felt less and less proud of her decision. Although the limb itself was soft, lined with moss and small flowers, it was still a limb, dozens of feet from the ground. She’d barely slept a wink, worrying she’d roll in her sleep, the rope binding her to the limb would snap, and she’d tumble off the tree into the fire. It’d also been chilly so far away from said fire, and small bugs that thrived among the tree plants had nipped at her exposed flesh all night, redoubling their efforts as the fire died out.
She’d argued with herself to simply climb down, feed the fire, and sleep near the warmth of the flames, but her pride wouldn’t allow it. He’d already treated her like a child, and she had no intention of letting him see how wrong she’d been.
She lifted her head and peered down to where he slept, only…he was gone. She shot upright, almost losing her balance in the process, and scanned the ground for any sign of him.
He was nowhere in sight. Had he left? Been eaten? Was he on his way back with reinforcements even now?
Lily untied herself, scrambled over to her makeshift rope, and slid down to the forest floor. Dashing around the camp, she stuffed her meager belongings into her woven bag.
“Going somewhere?” came a deep silken voice from behind her.
She turned, keeping her legs tensed to run.
Lily had to contain her shock. He was standing a few feet away and watching her, but he looked different. His skin was no longer dark blue but a pleasing combination of teal and seafoam green. Could he change color? His sling was also gone, yet his shoulder seemed to be working perfectly.
His vivid peridot eyes traveled down her figure, leaving her skin heated in their wake. She silently scolded her traitorous body. Even last night while fuming and flushed with embarrassment, he’d elicited much the same reaction. His deep voice was smooth and velvety, and images of darkened bedrooms had manifested in her mind whenever he’d spoken. She’d only been able to shake off the continual goosebumps at hearing him when he’d begun to berate her choices.
“How did you get free?” she demanded, attempting to focus on her dislike for the arrogant man and not the way the sun highlighted light-blue streaks throughout his hair. Had he colored it that way on purpose, or was it natural?
“Without much difficulty.” He nodded toward the snapped remnants of his bindings.
He sauntered over to the cold remnants of the fire, and her insides burned with frustration. That was strong rope, dammit! And her knots had been tight. Curse her bleeding heart. If she’d just hog-tied him like she’d wanted, he may not have gotten free so easily. But no, she’d felt bad about manipulating his injured shoulder in that way.
Sitting, he pulled a bright red fruit from his pocket and tossed it to her. She fumbled, then caught it. The corners of his eyes crinkled. “I say we eat and then start heading back up the river.”
“Wha— I—” Lily’s mind stuttered along with her words. The impertinence of this guy. “Who do you think you are? I’m not going up the river. I need to head downriver.”
He frowned, his full lips pulling into a devastating pout. He spoke slowly as if she were an idiot, ratcheting her anger. “Upriver is where my people are. We’re going that way.”
Lily’s chin dropped. “I’m not going anywhere with you. I need to head downriver, so I’m going to head downriver. You can do whatever you want.”
“Why?” he demanded, slicing a piece of fruit with…a knife.
Her gaze zeroed in on the small silver blade, locking in place. He has a knife.
Lily eyed the tool covetously. She’d been making do with sharp rocks. What she wouldn’t give for a knife. It’d make everything so much easier.
He waved the blade in front of his face, recapturing her attention. “Why do you need to go downriver?”
“That’s none of your business.” She glared, not yet trusting him enough to reveal that Alex might still be alive.
Not at all cowed by her death stare, he studied her, taking another bite of fruit from the tip of his blade. Dammit, she always loved when men did that. “Fine. I’m coming with you.”
“What? Why?” Lily tried to keep the annoyance in her voice, but a small part of her rejoiced at the thought. She’d been alone for so long, and life had been difficult. And he had a knife.
“Because you’re my responsibility now.” He gestured around the forest with a superior air that made her head start to pound. “I need to make sure you don’t make any more rash decisions and get yourself killed.”
A disgruntled heat crept over her limbs. “I’ve been doing just fine, thank you very much.”
He snorted. “Oh yeah? Well, I was under the impression that there were two of you. If you’re doing so well, then where’s your friend?”
The air whooshed out of her chest, and she took a step back, as if someone had punched her in the gut. “Go. To. Hell,” she said, masking sudden tightness in her throat.
Swiping her bag from the ground, she turned and marched away. Screw him. He has no idea what he’s talking about. The balloon in her chest welled again, and a stray tear leaked down her cheek. He wasn’t right. What had happened to Alex wasn’t her fault.
Pounding footfall sounded behind her. She refused to face him and give him the satisfaction of seeing her tears.
“Hey, you forgot your…this.”
She whirled, and her heart sunk into her stomach. Her bow drill. She’d forgotten the one tool she had to make f
ire. The tool she’d spent days perfecting.
Lily wanted to shriek. She needed to get a hold of her emotions. Her parents would be so disappointed if they could see her now. Letting some man work her up into a frenzy. It was life or death out here. She couldn’t let this alien make her doubt herself.
She reached for the drill, but he hoisted it into the air and out of reach. His brows furrowed, and he scanned her face, likely seeing the evidence of her tears.
Her cheeks heated with embarrassment, and she focused on the ground. “Can I have my drill back, please?” she said, biting out the last word.
He stepped forward, crowding her, but she refused to back away. Her whole life, she’d made sure she was a self-sufficient woman. She could survive in the wild as well as she could survive in a city. She knew how to defend herself, but this situation wasn’t fair. She’d studied both Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and aikido, yet something told her if Verakko wanted to hurt her, she’d have no way of stopping him. Not in her current, malnourished state anyway. “I’m coming with you whether you like it or not. Get used to it. I won’t leave you alone out here. It wouldn’t be honorable.” He held the drill out for her, and she shoved it into her pack.
She closed her eyes and took a calming breath in and out, trying to wash away all her emotion and assess the situation.
He’d gotten free, probably could’ve gotten free last night too, but he hadn’t. A flicker of hope bloomed in her chest. If what he’d said was true, that meant there were good aliens on this planet. Ones who didn’t want to abduct women. And he was one of them. He’d claimed he was honorable, and so far he’d done nothing too concerning, other than proving himself to be a twat. It didn’t matter if she didn’t like him, though; the question was could she use him to help her find Alex and safety? Could he be trusted?
She caught his determined stare, then eyed his body, attempting to keep her perusal professional and failing. The biceps she’d uncovered last night after removing his sleeves were well defined and seemed even larger in the light of day. He was strong. Very strong. That strength would be useful for gathering firewood and carrying extra supplies. Having someone else to feed the fire at night would be helpful too. And God knew she could use a break from the bow drill. It depleted almost all of her energy reserves to start a fire each night.
Saving Verakko: The Clecanian Series Book 3 Page 5
