“Put me down.” She squirmed, her voice firm.

Tiny.

A mere wisp.

So light in his arms he may as well have not been carrying anything. Who the fuck had done this to her? A coward for sure. Someone lacking any type of honor. He ground his teeth together as rage coursed through him. If only he could find the swine who…

She sucked in a ragged breath. “Why do you look so angry?” Her eyes were wide. Her skin suddenly pale.

“I’m angry at whoever did this to you. Am I hurting you?”

She squirmed some more. “No.” She paused, glaring up at him. “You’re not pressing on my injured hip, so no, you’re not hurting me. You don’t have to carry me though, you know? I can walk.”

“Well, I won’t hurt you. I know you can walk but I’m trying to help you.”

“I’ve never heard that one before.” Her lip did this vibrating thing and her eyes turned hazy. “Look, put me down, I can manage just fine. I don’t need you to carry me. I don’t need your help.”

“Maybe you can manage on your own and maybe you can’t. Either way, I’m carrying you down these stairs. I’ll put you down when we reach the bottom.”

“I would rather—” She growled ‒ not doing a great job of it ‒ as he began to descend. There would be no argument. This was happening. That was that. He wanted to ask who had hurt her but bit it back along with several other questions. This female wasn’t going to tell him anything. He could tell by the angle of her chin, by the way her mouth was set. Her lip had to be hurting something fierce. He could tell by her stiff posture that she was afraid and running scared.

He put her down as they reached the bottom but he held onto her suitcase. “You do need help, Kerry.” He narrowed his eyes on hers. “That is your name, right?”

“Yes! How many times do I need to tell you that I’m fine?” She used a firm tone. Or tried to. There was nothing hard or harsh about this female.

“Forgive me, but you don’t look it.”

“Who are you? Why would you even care?” Frown lines appeared on her forehead.

“My name is Cadon and quite frankly, I’m not sure why I care.” He shouldn’t. This had nothing to do with him. “Maybe it’s because you are with child.” He looked back down at the slight bump at her midsection. “Also,” his eyes locked back with hers, “it might have something to do with the fact that someone took their fists to your face. And lastly because you’re afraid.”

“I’m fine. I left the asshole who did this. I’m on my way to the police station right now to press charges against him. Not that it is any of your business, but I have a plan. For the last time, I’m going to be just fine.” Why did it sound like she was trying to convince herself more than him? Cadon wasn’t buying it. Especially when her shoulders slumped as she said it.

Everything in him screamed not to let her walk away. He was being an idiot though. He should just nod, turn and walk away. He should, but as much as he wanted to, he couldn’t do it. “Do you have a cellphone device?”

“What is it to you? You know what, forget it, give me my suitcase and I’ll be on my way.” She spoke with a firmness that wasn’t evident in her eyes. Those were still wide. They still held fear.

“Let’s go outside,” he suggested. Maybe if they were surrounded by others, she would relax some. He walked to the building entrance and held the door open for her.

The female sighed in what sounded like exasperation, but she went outside onto the busy sidewalk. “Take my number,” he blurted as she walked past him.

“I don’t want help from you. I don’t even know you.” She shook her head, reaching for her suitcase.

Cadon wanted to lift the suitcase out of her reach, instead, he placed it at her feet. “You have nothing to lose by taking my number. I have a place where you could stay. A warm bed, food. Somewhere safe.” What was he saying? He would be lambasted if the others found out he planned on bringing a human into the house. One who was pregnant with a human child. One not eligible to mate, or even clearly interested in becoming one.

“Back to the part where I don’t know you and where I said I have a plan. Thanks, but I’m fine.” She took the handle of the suitcase and began walking in the opposite direction.

Let her go.

Let her—

By all that flew and screeched, he couldn’t do it. He had to give it one more try, even if it meant having his ass fileted…slowly…if Leukos found out. Although his king was fair, he could be harsh with his punishments. The thought didn’t deter him even though it should.

“Take the number already,” he said as he fell into step next to her. “You can ignore it, delete it if you like. Just take it.”

She ignored him and kept walking.

Cadon followed. Moments later, she turned to him. “Who offers a complete stranger a place to stay, that and food, all for free? Sorry, but I don’t trust you. Nothing is for free in this world…nothing!” Her tone was harsh this time.

“Who said anything about free? I’m offering you a job in return for a room and food.” No he wasn’t. Why had he just said that?

She stopped walking, her eyes on the path ahead. “What kind of job?”

What kind of job?

Good question.

There was nothing like this in the plans. The four of them had firstly agreed to spend six weeks getting to know the humans. Then to pool their knowledge. He had been the lucky winner of this particular assignment. The one he and Leukos, only just recently, had meticulously drawn up. One that involved him in a house with five unmated males. The mission, to find them mates. There was no position for her, but maybe he could use her for real.

She made that same noise she had earlier, one that told him she thought he was full of crap, and began to walk.

“As a housekeeper,” he blurted. She was pregnant. Cleaning duties would be labor intensive. “I’ll do the heavy lifting and stuff that requires bending and serious work.”

She laughed. “You just offered me a job and then told me you would do all the heavy lifting of the position. That doesn’t sound like much of a job. It still sounds like a load of bull to me. Like you made that up on the spot.”

That’s because he had. Cadon ran a hand through his hair. “It wouldn’t just be cleaning duties, I also need someone who can cook.”

She folded her arms. “Go on.”

“You would need to cook for five of us and yourself.” Now that he thought about it, this could work out. The males only knew how to grill meat, so he’d planned on getting take-out. Good home cooking would be better for them. “There would also be some housekeeping duties. Stuff like ironing.” He planned on sending their stuff to a laundromat. If Kerry came to work for them he wouldn’t have to. “We were recently awarded a contract and my… um… colleagues will be joining me soon.”

For a second she looked like she was wavering. Then she shook her head. “Thanks, but no. I appreciate it.” She began walking, faster this time.

Let her go.

Leave it alone!

Dammit! “Take my number. You never know. I’ll keep the position open for a short while in case you change your mind.”

She made this groaning noise and her head fell back. “Fine, but I’m only doing this to get you off my back and not because I’m actually going to call.”

Great! Fantastic!

She fished in her purse and pulled out her device. “Shoot.”

He pushed a few buttons on his cellphone and handed it to her. “What’s this?” She frowned.

“My number. There it is.” He pointed to his screen. “I would rather you took it down from there. I don’t want you to get it wrong.”

She shook her head but took down his number. “Cadon, right?”

“Yes,” he nodded. He got the distinct impression that she wasn’t going to call. “Contact me if you decide you want the position, but also feel free to call if you’re in trouble. I make a good ally and I’m a male of honor.”

She frowned, looking at him like he had sprouted a nose feather. Kerry handed the cellphone back to him. “Thanks, I guess.” Then he watched her walk away. It took everything in him to stay right where he was. Not to chase after her. He stayed rooted to the spot, watching as she turned a corner up ahead.

Only then did the air go back into his lungs. The female was right. It had nothing to do with him. He needed to finish furnishing the house. There were many other preparations to be made. Five males were arriving next week.