Esania spun at the sound of voices.

“What?” She did a double take, shocked to see a Vradhu standing beside Imril in the doorway.

She recognized him. A little shorter than the others, thick, muscular build, the distinctive patterns on his face…

“Hey, it’s Vanu.” Reclining on the bed, Sara gave him a lazy half-wave, not appearing in the least bit surprised.

How does she do that? Appear so relaxed like that?

Esania felt anything but relaxed.

Vanu stared at them, an expression of shock crossing his proud features. “Tass tu?”

Are you okay?

“Tu,” Sara assured him. That was about the extent of their Vradhu.

Imril and Vanu exchanged a pointed look.

“Imril,” Esania said slowly, walking toward them, taking care to stay just outside Imril’s radius, which was about a meter, give or take. “Why is Vanu here?”

“He came to check that I have kept my word; that you and Sara are unharmed. Vradhu don’t trust Drakhin.”

“Clearly.”

Imril turned to Vanu, raising his eyebrows expectantly. They exchanged words in rapid-fire Vradhu, until at last Vanu seemed satisfied.

Imril nodded and signaled to Vanu with an imperious wave of his hand. He turned to Esania, looking decidedly… Overlordly. “The Vradhu and the humans have agreed to come to the eyrie.”

As if to say: see? I told you so.

Relief flooded through her, and even his Drakhin smugness wasn’t able to irritate her. “Thank you,” she sighed.

Soon, she would see her girls again, along with the fierce mercenary women who had saved them from a terrible fate on Mars.

Imril regarded her with a look that was full of warmth and possessiveness and hunger. She was suddenly tempted to move closer, to feel his inexorable pull, to let him draw on her energy, but she held back, acutely aware that Vanu and Sara were staring at them intently.

Vanu and Sara even exchanged a look.

Imril ignored them. “These Vradhu are cut off from their pack. They know they won’t last long without my help. It was only a matter of time.”

“How did you know?”

One corner of Imril’s mouth quirked, his expression softening. “I’ve been around long enough to get a feel for these things.” How old was he again? She didn’t care anymore. Stars, when he looked at her like that… “They were looking for you, you know. These humans are stubborn… but then again I already knew that. Vanu tells me that despite their warnings, the females were planning to actually fight me to get the two of you back, but on foot, there is only so much they can do.” He chuckled softly. “There is no need for them to fight. They know you are mine. All they need to do is accept it. All you need to do is accept it.”

She heard a deep intake of breath from Sara.

Vanu wore an expression of pure bemusement.

Esania opened her mouth, a sharp rebuke on the tip of her tongue. But then she thought of what he had done.

He’d taken care of them. He’d refrained from taking Sara’s vir. He’d helped her locate the Vradhu, and somehow, he’d convinced the proud warriors to accept his protection.

You are mine.

She felt it too. She didn’t want to fight him anymore.

Imril smiled then, and it was the most glorious thing she’d ever seen. His face transformed, his golden gaze softening, his pale skin shimmering, his sensual lips parting to reveal glittering teeth.

He was breathtaking.

And she wanted him to kiss her again.

Esania took a deep breath and stepped closer, entering the invisible ring that surrounded him. As she crossed over into his vortex, he let out a soft, shuddering sigh.

He looked like a creature out of some mythical Earth tale— ancient, otherworldly, perfect—and she could hardly believe he was real, but when she stepped into his radius, his hard, glittering exterior slipped, just a little.

That was the effect she had on him.

She didn’t know how, but she just did.

And she didn’t know why, but somehow, this just felt right.

“Dude,” she thought she heard Sara whisper in Earthian, “just go for it.”

As if she had her own personal cheer squad.

Imril didn’t give any sign that he’d heard. His was completely absorbed in her. “Satisfied?” He seemed immensely pleased with himself.

Esania basked in his good mood, feeling triumphant that she’d secured a route to safety for her people. “For now.”

But what made her feel even more ecstatic was the fact that he’d kept his word. He hadn’t lied to her. He’d gone to great lengths to prove his integrity to her, even though he had more pressing issues to deal with. “You know, you’re not as terrible as the legends make you out to be.”

“No, I’m not.” Imril reached out and stroked the side of her face. For once, he wasn’t wearing his armor, and his bare fingers gently coaxed the energy out of her. “These so-called legends make me seem tame. Really, I can be much worse.”

There was a strange sort of defiance in his confession, as if he were daring her to see the darkness inside him and accept it.

Right now, she couldn’t care less about his past.

A delicious shiver rippled over her as he drank her in with his touch and caressed her with his gaze.

She could feel it. It was pleasurable. She wanted more.

Science couldn’t explain this.

Sara was staring.

Vanu was staring. The poor guy looked absolutely scandalized.

Esania didn’t care. Let them stare.

“But for you, I’m nothing like the legends.” His voice was deep, mesmerizing, smooth as silk; hinting at a part of him that wasn’t quite of this Universe.

Not quite mortal.

Months ago, even weeks ago, she wouldn’t have entertained such a thought, but now she was certain of it.

There were things in this Universe that couldn’t be explained, and Imril was one of them.

Slowly, he broke the trance, turning to Vanu, his eyes glowing like embers. He said something to the Vradhu in harsh, clipped tones, and the warrior nodded, looking a little bit awestruck.

Then he left without another word, disappearing down the long corridor.

“I’m, uh, going to give you two some privacy.” Sara rose up off the bed and slipped out of the room.

Esania barely noticed her go.