His injury.No. I forced myself to my feet, ignoring the pain in my back. I froze.No, not this time. Fear was normal, but Mindy needed help. I refused to be passive again. I refused to watch anymore when I was able to do something to help.
Move, Bartholomew Reginald, I ordered.Now!
Mindy cried again, and I snagged the club from the ground, the weight making my arms and shoulders scream, but it didn’t touch me. All I focused on was that this alien intended to hurtmySerlotminden, then take me.
Never again. I was not getting fucking abducted again.
I swung the club like a bat and hit the alien in the back. The shock went up my arm, but I refused to focus on the pain and hit them again. Serlotminden kicked the alien off, scrambling to me.
Blue blood escaped from the alien’s wounds, but they growled at Serlotminden, who flared his wings and returned the favor. I lifted the club, unable to think or hear or process anything by the all-consuming fear that I was going to be taken once again. My shoulders shrieked, and I swore I felt a popping tear, but in my panic, I didn’t feel any pain.
I stepped in front of Mindy. “Mine, fucker. Back off.”
I tried to lift the weapon again, but my fingers gave out, and it crashed to the ground. Burning began to rip through my awareness, sending tears to my eyes and making my breath jagged.
The alien stared at me, not approaching, then glanced at Mindy. They said something in a soft rumble and held out one of their hands.
An invitation.
Serlotminden yelled in his language as his tail thrashed, nearly smacking into me, and he hooked an arm around my waist, which drew a gasp from me. He instantly released his hold.
Panting, I said, “No. I don’t want you.”
The alien grumbled, upset, though their gaze kept flicking to Serlotminden as they proffered a hand, beckoning. It was almost like they were trying to warn me away from Mindy. We took a step back, and the alien followed, tense. They weren’t going to let me go. How did I tell him I was safe? That I wanted to stay with Mindy.
An idea formed, but I didn’t think it was a good one or fair to either of us. In fact, it was an asshole move. Mindy was taken. There had to be another option, but my brain struggled to conjure one. I was in horrid pain, exhausted, and terrified. This was all I had.
“I think they’re worried you’re going to hurt me.”
“They are the one who hurt you,” Serlotminden barked. “I should shoot them.” But he hadn’t, because I truly thought he didn’t want to kill another sentient creature, which this alien definitely was. Mindy had morals. The thought hurt, and yet comforted me at the same time.
“I have an idea.”
“What?”
“Do you trust me?”
“Yes,” he replied without hesitation.
I turned around, clamped onto the back of his neck, and crushed my lips to his.
Chapter 20
If I thought I was attracted to him before...
His lips were soft on mine. So perfectly soft. I fought to keep my arms from wrapping around him, so as to not hurt him again and keep my sight trained on the threat, but I couldn’t stop my movement anymore than it was possible to stop the tide. I gathered him close and returned the kiss. He moaned into my mouth, fisting my hair. The threat of the other person disappeared. The humidity, the rotten smell, the ache in my side, and everything else faded besides the feel of Bartholomew.
I kissed his mouth open, and my tongue darted out, meeting the silk of his. I groaned and delved in as deep as possible and gripped his hips, yanking him flush to me. More. I needed more. He tasted so good. He felt so good.
Bartholomew returned my kiss with equal fervor, though his lips were clumsy and his tongue tentative. One of his hands was locked around my hair, while the other cupped my cheek. He pressed against me, like he was trying to get as close as possible, and his hips started to rock against my thigh, though I didn’t feel his hardness yet.
The kiss grew wet and desperate as I sucked on his tongue, then nibbled on his lips, tugging on the bottom one, which dragged a startled gasp from Bartholomew.Mine. Bartholomew was mine. I was never going to let him go. I’d fight anyone and give up everything to keep him.
A growl startled me; I remembered we had an audience, a very dangerous audience. Enclosing Bartholomew in my wings, I snarled at the threat. “My mate,” I said in Drakconese. “You cannot have him.”
Bartholomew shook in my arms, nose pressed into the crook of my neck. I stroked his back, even though I shouldn’t. He was hurt. How much? I didn’t know. I lifted the blaster and aimed it at the stranger. I did not wish to harm them or worse kill them, but I refused to allow this person to take my mate.
The four-armed person watched me for several moments before they took a single step back. I allowed them to slowly walk away. When they disappeared from view, I swept Bartholomew into my arms and ordered, “Hold on.”
