“Welcome back,” he whispered, then all the color drained from his face. “Oh shit.” He staggered to the nearest piece of furniture—luckily it was a couch—and collapsed across its surface with a loud groan.
She looked around with some confusion, torn between worry and elation. She stood in the middle of a cabin, but this one was not only intact, it was in perfect condition. With lodge-style furnishings and charming splashes of color mixed in with the earth-tone upholstery, it looked like guest accommodations at some high-end wilderness retreat. “Where are we?”
“My cabin. Stargazer Ranch.” His voice rasped, raw and exhausted.
She glanced toward the door. Should she let the others know they’d returned? A violent shiver reminded her that she had more pressing concerns. They were both soaked and well on their way to hypothermia.
Moving to the couch, she touched Vox’s arm. “Can you sit up? We need to get you out of those clothes.”
“You first.”
If he’d been more alert, she would have suspected an ulterior motive. However, he looked even worse than she felt. “This will just take a second.” She pulled on his arm, helping him sit. Then he raised both arms, barely, and she peeled his soaked shirt off over his head. By the time she found a throw to cover him with, he’d collapsed back across the couch. “Vox, how do I help you? What do you need?”
“You, dry and warm.”
She hadn’t even realized she was still shivering, but his focus pleased her. “All right. I’ll be right back.” She draped the throw over his torso then dashed into the adjoining bedroom. The closet was filled with strange leather pants and embroidered tunics, so she searched the nearby dresser. The second drawer down held neatly folded T-shirts, so she quickly unlaced her boots and tugged off the soggy footwear. Her cargo pants and T-shirt followed, and finally her underwear. She snatched the first T-shirt off the stack and pulled it on over her chilly body, then hurried back into the living room.
He opened his eyes as she neared the couch. “Your jeans need to come off too,” she insisted.
“Are you trying to take advantage of me?” The playful line was ruined by a violent shiver.
“Maybe later. Right now I’d like to make sure you don’t die.” She shifted the throw to cover his lap then reached beneath and unfastened his jeans. “Lift your hips and I’ll do the rest.”
“This is so humiliating.”
She tugged off his boots while he wrestled with his pride, then reached under the blanket and grabbed the waistband of his jeans. Reluctantly lifting his hips, he allowed her to rid him of his jeans. He wore no underwear, so she was glad she’d moved the blanket. “Does that feel any better?” The occasional shiver still shook her body, but getting out of her wet clothes had definitely helped.
He nodded as his eyes drifted shut.
“Can I make you something hot to drink? Coffee or tea?” She motioned toward the tiny kitchen tucked in the far corner of the living room.
“Help me to bed.” With obvious effort, he pushed up against the couch and sat. “Need. Sleep.”
“All right.” Touching a full-dressed Vox had been disconcerting enough. Now he was gloriously naked. And she did mean gloriously. Every inch of his exposed body was shaped by defined muscle and she didn’t dare imagine what the blanket hid. He was simply masculine perfection, strong and imposing. Or he would be as soon as his strength returned.
She leaned down and drew his arm across her shoulders, helping him up off the sofa. He was seriously wobbly, but put very little weight on her. That was encouraging, or he was too damn stubborn to let her know he was dangerously weak.
Together they walked into the bedroom, and she quickly pulled back the bedding. He hadn’t bothered holding on to the throw, so he really was naked now. She kept her gaze on his face as she led him to the bed. “Here you go. Rest well and I’ll—”
His arms closed around her and he tumbled to the bed, taking her with him. “I need…you.”
She tensed and tugged against his restraining arms, ready to give him a piece of her mind. But his slow, steady breathing, and the sudden weight of his arm across her waist, warned that the tirade would have been wasted. He was out cold.
With a resigned sigh, she pulled the covers up over them and accepted the inevitable. She didn’t quite understand his reason for wanting her near, but she was honestly too tired to care. As soon as she stopped struggling, he relaxed and the heat off his body gradually increased until she felt sleepy and secure. She rolled to her side and rested her head on his shoulder. It felt oddly natural to be by his side, so she closed her eyes and went to sleep.
Chapter Four
Vox stirred several hours later, immediately aware of the female plastered against his side. Emily, his mate, the other half of his soul. She had yet to accept the role, of course, and it would be his pleasure to convince her. The day just past had been one calamity after another. Still, the only thing he’d change was her injury. Knowing she’d been harmed because of him was a bitter pill to swallow. Even so, the challenges they’d faced had been enlightening. Emily was intelligent and brave, much stronger than she looked, and competent. He’d had the privilege of seeing her in her natural environment and it helped him understand her true nature. On the surface she seemed a bit skittish, socially awkward and unsure. But beneath that uncertainty was a core of steel. She was worthy to one day be a regional queen of Bilarri.
The thought sent dread and frustration spiraling through his being. He might find her worthy. His father would not. Only a female from one of the “great” families would be acceptable to his father. There were twenty-three such families scattered among the four regions of Bilarri, and Vox knew he was expected to look to those families for his mate. And he’d tried. For more than two years he’d honestly tried. He’d done extensive research on each female who was old enough for bonding and prioritized them according to their interests and activities. Then he met with each female, all forty-seven of them. But he’d felt no connection, no metaphysical attraction to any of them. Bilarrians didn’t feel “the pull”, an unavoidable demand to breed, like Rodytes did, but they could sense genetic compatibility in potential partners. A genetically compatible female was a bit more intriguing, more attractive than any other female. Whether one acted upon that attraction was a choice for Bilarrians rather than an overwhelming compulsion.
He looked down at Emily and tenderness flooded his soul. He’d never met a female who affected him this powerfully. She might be human, but her DNA was more compatible with his than any of the daughters of Bilarri’s great families. His father would simply have to learn to accept it.
And so would Emily.
The thought dragged a sigh from his chest. He brushed her hair back from her face, his fingertips lingering against her velvety skin. He needed to find out who or what had hurt Emily so badly that she’d given up on love. It could take months for her to open up enough to tell him herself. Meanwhile, the emotional injury was affecting every decision she made.
Would Lexie tell him? He didn’t know the reporter well, but it had been obvious that she’d recognized the attraction pulsing between Emily and him. And Lexie hadn’t seemed opposed to the idea. In fact, her suggestions had assisted him, creating opportunities for him to be alone with Emily.
Vox eased his arm out from under Emily’s neck and carefully crawled off the side of the bed. She barely moved, which suited his purposes perfectly. Rachel and Lexie didn’t yet know he and Emily had returned, so it was likely they’d be up already organizing the search efforts. Rather than taking time to shower, he sent a cleansing pulse along the length of his body and then dressed in traditional Bilarrian garb, braided synth-leather pants, knee-high boots, and an embroidered tunic.
Pausing only long enough to ensure that Emily still slept soundly, he hurried up to the main house and knocked on the glass door.
“When did you get back?” Rachel called as she slid the large door open.
She swept him
into a quick, maternal hug before he could answer, then turned and closed the door.
“Where’s Emily?” Lexie hurried across the living room, Kaden on her heels.
“Emily is still asleep. We returned very early this morning.”
“Still asleep where?” Lexie put both hands on her hips and glared at him. “Did she spend the night in your cabin?”
He chuckled. Her protectiveness was understandable. She was obviously very fond of her cousin. “I have every intention of claiming her. Does that alleviate your concerns?”
Her brows arched nearly to her hairline and she glanced at her mate before responding. “I thought Rodytes moved fast. Has Emily agreed to be courted?”
“Not yet,” he admitted.
“Does she know you intend to claim her?” Rachel joined in, looking nearly as concerned as Lexie.
Kaden hung back a step, silently taking it all in.
“She is aware of my interest and has informed me that she has no use for romance of any kind.”
Sadness crept into Lexie’s eyes, softening her expression. “And she means it. She hasn’t been romantically involved with anyone for years, hasn’t even come close.”
“Do you know why?”
She heaved an audible sigh and relaxed her shoulders. “It’s not my story to tell.”
He’d expected this. “She won’t tell me. It’s obvious she won’t make herself that vulnerable.” When Lexie didn’t immediately respond, he added, “I have genuine feelings for her, Lexie. This isn’t a passing flirtation.”
“I understand that. I’m just not sure I can help you.”
“There’s fresh coffee and doughnuts. Help yourselves.” Rachel waved them on toward the kitchen. “I have calls to make. Half of Tandori Tribe is headed this way.”
“Thank you,” he called as she walked away.
She waved, acknowledging the comment, but kept on walking.
Lexie and Kaden moved into the kitchen. Vox followed them. He didn’t want Emily to wake up alone, but this opportunity might never come again. “Is there anything you can tell me without breaking her confidence?”
Kaden filled mugs for him and Lexie, then took them to the kitchen table. There was a large dining room table in the other room, which was where Rachel tended to take her guests. This meeting, however, was informal so she’d chosen a more intimate setting. Vox took one of the ceramic mugs off the tray beside the coffeemaker and filled it before joining the couple at the table. He’d developed a taste for coffee during an extended mission on Earth some years before and was looking forward to reacquainting himself with the morning standard. A box of doughnuts and small paper plates were waiting for them there. He was too distracted to be hungry.
“I don’t think Emily even knows I know about what happened, but she’d be furious if she found out I told you.” Lexie blew on her coffee, then took a sip. “It’s really sad and extremely personal.”
“How did you find out?” Vox asked her.
“My sisters and I were raised by our grandmother, who is also Emily’s grandmother. I overheard Emily’s mother talking to her mother.”
“The woman with whom you lived?”
“Exactly.”
He nodded, sorting through the familial connections. “Then Emily has never told anyone?”
Lexie shook her head. “She’s close to Larry and Stan, but I can’t see her sharing something this painful with them.”
“She doesn’t have any other friends, no one in whom she can confide?”
Again Lexie shook her head, but clearly the subject was upsetting her. Kaden reached over and rubbed her back, his dark gaze solidly fixed on his mate.
“She intentionally isolates herself from everyone,” Lexie continued. “She claims to like it that way, but it’s hard to believe. She used to be so outgoing, so bubbly. She was the one who got me into trouble most of the time. Now she’s so serious, so reserved. This is one of the reasons I wanted to recruit her. I was hoping to rekindle some sort of interest in life.”
Vox took several sips of coffee before he spoke again. “Can we speak in general terms? Was the injury physical or emotional? Did the situation involve intentional abuse?”
Lexie looked at Kaden, but he just said, “I’m not getting in the middle of this, love. Help him or don’t. It’s entirely up to you.”
Vox smiled. Wise decision. “I want to help her, but I’m not sure how. Can you at least tell me what to avoid. Are there situations or emotional triggers that will send her running back to Africa?”
“Oh screw it. I’ve seen the way she looks at you. She’ll forgive me—eventually.” She set down her mug and scooted closer to the table. “You have to promise me two things before I’ll do this.”
“Anything.”
Kaden laughed. “He’s got it bad.”
Lexie smiled at her mate before stating her conditions. “First, you can’t push her too far too fast. That will shut her down faster than anything.”
“I already figured that out, and agree to the condition.”
“You’re not going to like the second one,” she warned.
“What is it?”
“You can’t claim her until you tell her who you are. All of it.”
Indignation lifted his chin and narrowed his eyes. “I would never even consider claiming her until she was fully aware of the sort of life we’d lead.”
Unmoved by his annoyance, Lexie didn’t back down. “I know you’re royalty. Unless that means something very different on Bilarri than it does here, that sort of life comes with a complete lack of privacy and extremely strict expectations.”
He forced his muscles to relax. They were on the same side, both trying to help Emily. “It is the same on Bilarri.”
“Then she has to know everything before you claim her. Even if she’s head over heels in love with the man, she has to accept the lifestyle.”
“I agree,” he said stiffly. “As I said, I would never claim her without explaining all the baggage that comes along with being my mate.”
“You’ll make her a princess, someday a queen,” Kaden pointed out. “Most females wouldn’t consider that baggage.”
“Emily will,” Lexie insisted. “Trust me, she will. She’s the least materialistic and most private person I’ve ever known. His position isn’t an asset in this case, it’s a liability.”
Vox didn’t want to think about the final hurdle. He had too much to accomplish before they got anywhere near that point. “I’ve agreed to your conditions. Please explain what happened to her.”
Lexie handed her mug to Kaden. “Could you get me some more, please?”
“Of course.” He pushed back his chair and stood. “Would it be easier if I let you two have the room? There’s really no reason for me to know about Emily’s secrets.”
After a brief hesitation, Lexie nodded. “It would feel less gossipy if I only tell Vox.”
“Not a problem.” Kaden refilled the mug, returned it to Lexie, then left the room.
Silence fell tense and awkward as Lexie paused to sip her coffee. Vox was scrambling for a way to break the tension when she said, “Kaden is vouching for you. He assured me that you’re honorable and would never do anything to hurt Emily. You better not screw this up, or you’ll deal with both of us.”
“She’s my mate,” he stressed. “You are bonded with a Rodyte. You understand what that means.”
Her brows arched, though not as high this time. “I know what it means to a Rodyte. You’re Bilarrian.”
“Bilarrians mate for life, just like Rodytes. The courting process might be somewhat different, but the result is the same. I will treasure Emily, once she entrusts me with her heart.”
“If she decides to trust you at all. The result is still very much to be determined.”
He dipped his head once, refusing to reinforce her pessimism with words.
Finally, with obvious reluctance, Lexie began her explanation. “Emily fell hard for this jerk named Matthew wh
en she was seventeen. He was older and… No, I really need to go back farther if you’re going to understand. Emily’s mom, Olivia, got pregnant while she was still in high school. She’d just turned seventeen when Emily was born.”
“Was the father also in high school?”
“Aunt Olivia was pretty wild in those days. If she knows who the father is, she’s not saying. She’s the only parent Emily has ever known. Anyway, Aunt Olivia moved out of her parents’ house when Emily was a few months old and got an apartment. She was a good mother, worked really hard to make sure Emily had everything she needed, but her attitude about men was harsh to say the least. Emily grew up hearing that men were useless parasites that only had one use for women. She was taught to be suspicious of anyone who happened to be male.”
“Does Emily still share this attitude? She didn’t seem to yesterday.” Such bitterness was hard to hide.
“With Emily it’s more complicated than utter disdain. Let me explain the rest and you’ll see why.”
Vox nodded, already dreading what Lexie was about to reveal.
“Emily graduated early and was waiting tables when she met Matthew. She talked about nothing else, thought about nothing else. He was gorgeous and talented, ambitious and romantic. They were going to get married, have a bunch of perfect kids, and live happily ever after. Despite her mother’s bitterness, Emily turned into a romantic overnight. Matthew was her everything.”
Vox wrapped his fingers around his mug to keep from clenching his fists. “Was he equally devoted to her?” The story ended badly, so he knew the answer.
“He seemed to be—in the beginning. He had a place of his own and a good job. He spent all his free time with Emily, so no one was surprised when he asked her to move in with him. They’d only been together for a few months, but they’d been inseparable and seemed to get along incredibly well.”
Giving up any pretense at calm, Vox fisted his hands as his phitons started to burn. “He did not offer marriage, simply cohabitation?” Did the man have no honor?
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