Do nights on Vialea last forever?

It seemed so. The darkness seemed to stretch on and on. When Rhea blinked awake, it was to find the windows still blanketed in black. She remained curled on her side, breathing in the heated scent of the male who usually claimed the massive bed. The one who also usually wore the tunic she’d slipped into due to the lack of other options since, well… who the hell knew where her stolen cases ended up.

She rubbed her cheek on the pillow, reveling in his scent, and realized there wasn’t any anger consuming her. Not like last night. Now she was simply left with… disappointment.

Disappointment and something more. Something left over from her dreams when thoughts of Erudan invaded her mind. Thoughts of his touch, his taste, the feel of him when he settled between her thighs and…

With a growl, she flopped to her back and glared at the ceiling. If it were left up to the stupid alien, she’d never enjoy his touch. Never. Ever. And that made her… sad.

Though, sad was a poor description for her emotions. It didn’t touch on the pain, heartache, and anxiety coursing through her veins.

Rhea rolled to her other side, gaze still focused on nothing, eyes still fighting to catch sight of anything in the utter black in the room. Still she got nothing. She also accepted that sleeping wasn’t going to happen. She could go to the food preparation area and grab a snack or a drink…

She sat up, feet dangling over the edge of the bed. The only problem in her plan was the lack of light. The last thing she needed was to bash her shins against a coffee table.

Did Erudan’s dwelling even have coffee tables?

She couldn’t remember. Last night her attention had been wholly on him as he’d led her around his living space. She hadn’t bothered looking at furniture or decorations. Her eyes had stayed on the sexy Vian.

But Rhea knew enough about men to draw a few conclusions. Erudan was male—a warrior—and most military guys on Earth who lived alone weren’t big fans of cute coffee tables and decorations. If she moved slowly—carefully—she bet she could make it to his kitchen.

Maybe.

Screw that. Rhea straightened her spine, she would get herself a snack. Period.

She slid from the bed, bare soles coming into contact with the cool, wood floor. She silently padded across the room, hands outstretched as she headed for the exit. Her fingers caressed the smooth panel, sliding across the hard, polished surface until she came to a handle. A single tug had the door silently swinging toward her.

She ventured out of the room and stopped just outside the doorjamb, listening for any other sounds in the dwelling. The slow, rhythmic huff of Erudan’s breathing reached her. She’d known she was quiet, but his ongoing sleep reaffirmed her belief. Now she just had to make it across the dwelling without making a sound.

Sure, him waking would make her task easier, but it’d also open her up to the chance of hearing him explain—again—that he didn’t want a mate. She’d gotten it the first dozen times he’d told her.

Although, maybe if she flashed some skin…

Rhea pondered the merits of seduction—thoughts of rubbing all over him like a cat until he was overcome by her charms and mated her. He’d be hers then. He’d also probably hate her for seducing him until he gave in.

Who’d have thought she’d have to almost trick a guy into banging her?

Odd alien.

She reached the kitchen and discovered a small globe that gave off a soft glow sitting on the counter. Huh. An alien night light. Convenient.

She went to the big rectangular device that resembled an Earth refrigerator and stared at the handleless surface. Bending at the waist, she squinted and caressed the smooth material. No seams, not hint of a button to open—

A soft click reached her, the sound forcing her to freeze in place and listen a little more closely. Near silent footsteps came next, as if someone tried to sneak through the dwelling. She straightened and glared toward the center of the dwelling. Erudan? Was he trying to sneak out just to avoid her?

Dear god, did he hate her that much?

Staying just as quiet, she tiptoed to the entrance to the kitchen and peered around the corner, looking toward the central area. She scanned the space, spying a long lump on what she would call a couch. She recognized the dark hair and size of the body as her mate—er, Erudan.

Another movement snared her attention, this large person gradually making their way across the dwelling and… toward the couch.

An intruder! Heading toward her mate! Or rather, where she would have been if Erudan hadn’t insisted she take his bed.

Who would want to come after her, though? The moment the question formed, the answer burst forward, and fear settled like dense instacake in her belly.

There were only two people who would have followed her across six galaxies. Scratch that—one person—her father. The other wasn’t a person at all. No one could ever claim that the Department of Population employed anyone with a sense of caring or humanity. Then she acknowledged that Papa didn’t really fit the bill of a person either. He cared, all right. About himself.

Whoever the intruder was, there was no missing the fact that he drew closer and closer to her mate while Rhea just stood there gaping like an idiot when she could be helping. Right, she straightened her back. She could help. She’d gotten herself across six galaxies. She could defend her mate—whether he acknowledged her or not—from an attack.

She retreated and grabbed a Vian-sized knife from the block on the counter. She grabbed the massive hilt with both hands and returned to her place. She crouched just out of sight and waited for her chance to strike.

Rhea also silently hoped that Erudan would wake, realize the danger, and kick the intruder’s ass himself. The drive to protect her mate pumped through her veins, urging her to protect the large alien, but… But her hands were damp, fear and worry making sweat bead on her skin. The liquid made gripping the knife even more difficult and she tightened her grasp.

She wouldn’t fail Erudan. She wouldn’t.

And she’d only have one shot.

She took one calming breath, slowly in and slowly out, before she settled on a plan of attack. It was pretty simple, really—surprise. Surprise the creep and hopefully distract him long enough for Erudan to save her ass.

Fuck. While Rhea had wasted time panicking and worrying, the intruder had moved even closer to her mate. He leaned over Erudan, arm outstretched, and she decided now was the time to act.

Rhea sprang around the corner and charged the stranger. She held the knife in front of her like a javelin and hoped she’d be able to stab the guy at least once before he disarmed her.