Chapter Six

 

Alice curled up in a miserable ball. Her head thumped painfully, and her vision had gone blurry again. The familiar tightening band around her head told her she was in for a doozy of a migraine. The only thing that would help her now was darkness, quiet, and some powerful pain killers.

“Alice?” The low voice was filled with kindness. Racar. She hunched in on herself further, even though the movement caused her to whimper in pain. “Where do you hurt?”

“Please, go away.”

She didn’t want anyone to see her. Even the healer. Thank heavens he’d made everyone else leave. He’d roared at them until they’d left. Even Jaxan and Rich.

Oh, sugar. She couldn’t believe she’d vomited in front of them all. And not just a little vomit. It had gone on and on. She’d coated Jaxan’s footwear. Although that was his own fault since he’d moved closer.

Except, he’d moved closer to help me.

He’d placed his arm across her chest to support her as she leaned over the side of the bed, holding back her hair with his other hand. She’d never had someone do that for her. Hold her while she vomited. It was sweet and so embarrassing.

Here was this gorgeous, sexy guy wanting to claim her. And she’d vomited on him.

She’d come here to find a mate. She’d researched Zerconians. She knew their culture, their language, but none of that had prepared her for meeting them face-to-face. She’d thought she’d have time to settle in, get to meet a few of them, catch up with her cousins.

She hadn’t expected to be claimed so quickly. It felt surreal. Maybe this was some weird kind of dream? Maybe she’d wake up and find herself back in her bedroom in her parents’ house with her mother waking her up at the crack of dawn so they could start their chores before her father got up a few hours later.

“Alice, I am not leaving until I have made certain you are well.”

“There’s nothing you can do,” she told him in a quiet voice, even talking hurt. Everything hurt. “It’s a migraine. Just have to wait it out. If you could keep the room dark and keep everything quiet, I would appreciate it.”

“Migraine?”

“Um, a really bad headache. Lights and loud noises make it worse. I feel sick.”

“It is brought on by stress? Illness?”

“Yeah, both.”

Immediately, the room was completely darkened, and she sighed with relief. A cool cloth was placed over her closed eyes.

“Thank you.”

“I shall mix up a pain inhibitor for you. I will return.” He squeezed her hand, and she snatched it away as little prickles of pain ran across his skin.

“My apologies,” he told her. “In the early stages of a mating, another’s touch can bring pain. Once the mating is complete, that will change. I will get that pain inhibitor.”

What? It hurt to have someone touch her? What was going on here? Was she really Jaxan’s mate?

“Please open your mouth and swallow the inhibitor,” Racar told her. She jolted, not having heard him return and moaned as her head throbbed sickeningly.

“I did not mean to frighten you.” She could hear the regret in his voice.

“It’s okay. I seem to be a bit jumpy.”

“You were kidnapped and shot. It is understandable.”

“Yeah, I guess it is.” She opened her mouth and swallowed the sweet liquid he placed in her mouth. Immediately, she felt drowsy. “You drugged me.”

“You need your sleep. Rest.”

She didn’t appreciate being sedated without her consent and she’d tell him just that. As soon as she had a small nap.

***

Jaxan stared down at his mate. Even for a human female, she appeared to be tiny. He was certain he could easily span her waist with his hands. She was fine-boned, delicate.

It was obvious that she was fragile. Racar told him that she had vomited due to a pain in her head. He’d panicked for a moment, worried something was truly wrong with her. But Rich had explained that she’d suffered from something called migraines all her life. They were brought on by stress or lack of sleep or illness.

Racar had allowed him back into her room, as long as he remained quiet and still and allowed her to rest. The room was very dark, apparently for her comfort. The ship had landed on Zerconia over an hour ago, but Racar did not wish her to be moved until she had rested.

Jaxan would do whatever was necessary to ensure her health. So he waited patiently.

“From now on, little one, I will care for you. You are my greatest gift, and it is my privilege to see to your care.”

“Huh? Who’s that? Why can’t I see?” Panic filled her voice, and he immediately removed the cloth covering her eyes.

“Alice, it is Jaxan. Lay still while I get Racar.”

“Jaxan? Am I still dreaming then?”

“Dreaming?”

She sighed. “I’m going to wake up soon and be back home, aren’t I?”

Her voice was soft, almost slurred, as though she wasn’t quite awake. He brushed her hair back from her face, and she made a small murmur of pleasure. He couldn’t resist leaning down to kiss her gently.

“Do you miss your home, little one? Your parents?” Rich had said that her parents had not treated her well, but that did not mean she did not miss them.

“Miss them? No. They never loved me. I tried to love them. Especially, my mother. But it’s hard to love someone who does nothing to help herself or to help me. She could have left him. Rich would have helped her. She could have taken me away with her. But she stayed. Year after year she put up with him degrading her, and she let him degrade me. She should have protected me, right? A mother should protect her child. I’ll protect my children.”

She sounded so fierce. He had no doubt that she would protect any child of hers. It filled him with pride, even as he vowed that he would protect both of them. Alice and any child, if they were so blessed as to have one.

“He hurt you.” Anger filled him. He curled his hands into fists.

“Not physically. Oh, he spanked me. Gave me the occasional slap on the face. There were plenty of punishments. Kneeling for hours on end. When I was smaller, he’d lock me in a closet for hours.” She shuddered. “I hate small spaces.”

The note of panic in her voice had him pulling her close. If he could banish those bad memories, he would.

“Shh,” he told her, running his hand up and down her arm. “You don’t have to tell me anymore.”

“It was mainly verbal. He liked to put us down. Sometimes I wondered what I’d done that made him hate me so.”

“You did not do anything. It was not your fault.” He shook with fury on her behalf.

She gave a half-laugh. “But it was, don’t you see? It was my fault for not being a boy. I didn’t have a penis. Oh, I can’t believe I just said that. Penis, penis, penis.” She giggled, and he grew worried that she was suffering adverse effects from everything that had happened to her.

“And my mother’s fault for not being able to have more children. He couldn’t divorce her. Divorce was a sin. So he punished her. Punished her for not being able to have more children. For not giving him little penises to build his penis-dominant empire. Oh, if he could hear me now, I’d so get my mouth washed out with soap.”

His concern for her grew, and he stood just as the door to her room opened and Annabel stepped in.

“Is she okay?” Annabel asked in concern.

“Penis. Penis. Penis. Shit.” She giggled.

“I am not sure.”

“I think it’s the drugs,” Annabel explained, grinning as Alice continued to half-sing the word penis. “Drugs can sometimes make people a little loopy. She’s going to be so embarrassed if she realizes what she’s saying.”

Relief filled him.

“Can I speak to you for a moment?” she gestured him over to the door. He squeezed Alice’s hand, although she didn’t seem to notice, she was staring at the ceiling singing to herself, then walked over to Annabel.

“I came to warn you that Rich has gone to Dex,” Annabel told him quietly. “He’s going to petition to have your mating claim overridden.”

“What? He cannot do that.” No one could override a mating. But even knowing that his claim was secure, he felt a tiny tendril of worry.

She shrugged. “Well, he’s going to give it a good go. Thought you’d better get over there.”

He stared over at Alice, torn. Annabel touched his arm. “I’ll look after her. It’ll take a while for the effects of the drugs to wear off, and it might do her good to have someone to talk to about all of this. It can be a bit weird to find yourself mated to someone you don’t even know.”

Jaxan nodded, even though he did not fully understand. He had been waiting for his mate all his life. All he felt was elation. Relief. Need.

“You will contact me if she needs me,” he ordered.

Annabel winked at him. “You got it, big fella. Go kick my brother’s ass.”

***

Alice took in her surroundings. She felt awful. There was a horrible taste in her mouth, her head ached, and her eyes were scratchy and dry.

“Hey, how you doing?”

She turned towards the voice. “Annabel?”

“I’ll put these drops in your eyes so you can see.”

The drops immediately soothed her itchy eyes. She closed them then opened them again with a sigh of relief. “That’s better. Can I have a drink? I have a horrible taste in my mouth.”

“That’ll be from the puking,” Annabel said cheerfully. She held a straw to her mouth, and Alice drank greedily.

Puked? She’d puked. Suddenly, it all rushed back. Jaxan claiming she was his. Rich losing it. Her vomiting. Racar drugging her. Another memory came to her, it was fuzzy, but had she…

“Was I just talking to Jaxan about penises?” Please tell me it wasn’t so. Please.

“Yep, you certainly did. Although when I got here, it was more like you were singing a song about them.”

“Oh, sugar.”

“Your asshole dad isn’t around anymore. You can say fuck like a normal person. If anyone has the right to swear right now, it’s you.”

She groaned, placing her hands over her face. “I feel awful.” She could barely move her limbs, they felt weighted down, her head still ached, and her stomach felt hungry and ill all at the same time. And she’d talked to Jaxan while still half under the influence of whatever Racar had given her.

What must he think of her now?

“Where did he go?” Had he run the other way? She couldn’t blame him. She was a real catch. If having to sing to help her pee and puking all over him hadn’t turned him off, she was certain her insane family and drugged-up craziness would have him running a mile.

“He’s off trying to defend his claim on you.”

“What?” She gaped at Annabel.

“Rich, in his infinite stupidity and out of love for you, has decided that you’ve been taken advantage of. He’s gone to Dex, who is the Emperor of Zerconia.  He’s a nice guy, you’ll like him. Anyway, where was I? Oh yeah, Rich is trying to get him to take it back.”

“To get who to take what back?” she asked, confused.

“Jaxan to take back his claim on you.”

“Can he do that? Take it back?” The speed at which this was all happening had taken her aback. But she’d just been kidnapped and shot, was it any wonder she wanted to catch her breath? None of this meant she didn’t want to be mated with Jaxan. She’d just like to get to know him a little better.

And here she’d been worried no one would want to mate her.

 “Nah. Pretty certain you’re stuck with that guy for life. But Rich wants his five minutes of moaning. Well, knowing Rich it’ll probably be more like a lifetime of moaning. Are you scared?” Annabel reached over and clasped her hand. “About being here? About having a mate?”

She didn’t want her cousin thinking badly of her, especially when Annabel was so strong and independent. Annabel would never lie weakly in bed while others decided her fate. “Yes.”

Her cousin squeezed her hand. “You’d be a fool not to be. I was scared too.”

“You were?” she asked, amazed.

“Yeah. I’ve never admitted that to anyone. But my feelings for Macon were confusing as hell. How could I be tied to a man who pissed me off so much? And he didn’t like me any better to begin with. But now, I couldn’t imagine my life without him. Well, some days I can. He still pisses me off. Daily. But I know no one will ever love me like he does. He is always there for me, no questions asked. He’s loyal and loving and irritating and annoying, and he is my world.”

“Did you come here on a transporter as well?” She was surprised, it wasn’t something she thought Annabel would sign up for.

“Yes, but not to find a mate. Rich sent me here to spy on the Zerconians. He thought there was something weird going on, that High-Councillor Duncan was hiding something. Unfortunately, the Zerconians discovered what I was doing. Things got a bit messy after that.”

She had a feeling there was a lot Annabel wasn’t saying.

“Could you tell me some more about the Zerconians and this mating stuff?”

“Hmm, might be easier to tell me what you know already.”

“Okay. I know that the Zerconian race is dying out. They’re long-lived. They need mates for their race to survive and they can’t mate with just anyone. They only recently discovered they can mate with humans.” She thought about everything she’d discovered. “I know that their eyes change color with strong emotions. I know that they mate for life.”

“That’s a good start. They’re very loyal. And protective. Too protective at times. If they don’t find their mates, the mating fever takes over, and many kill themselves. Zerconians can usually tell who their mate is through touch. Although it takes more than that for some. Each mating is different, but I think it depends on how open they are to mating. Macon didn’t want to mate a human, so he fought the knowledge that I was his mate. Jaxan seems much more open to the idea.”

“He could tell we were mates after he touched me.”

“Yes. And what the Earth Council is holding back, is that once a Zerconian finds his or her mate, that’s it. They have to complete the mating.”

“What happens if they don’t?” And what did she mean by complete the mating?

“Then the women become horny as hell, and the men grow aggressive. Also, another’s touch can become painful.”

“Horny?” she squeaked out.

“Yes. To complete the mating, you need to fuck,” Annabel said baldly. “Oh, there’s a ceremony too, but mostly it’s about the sex. Once you’re mated, you become bonded with your mate. You can sense their emotions, their wellbeing.”

To say this was overwhelming was an understatement.

“So basically, I have no choice?”

Annabel sighed. “You can see why we’re a bit pissed that no one is telling women this before they come here. We’re trying to find out why the Earth Council is holding information back. The Zerconians don’t like that anymore than we do. They thought everyone coming here was fully informed. Imagine how much harder it is for them to meet their mate then have their mate reject them? It’s like waving a cure in front of a dying man’s eyes.”

She guessed so.

“My father wanted to marry me to Angus.”

“I heard. And you didn’t want to marry this Angus?”

“He’s seventy-three.”

“What?” Annabel gaped at her.

“He uses a cane to walk. Although I don’t think he actually needs it. He just liked to carry it around so he can use it on anyone he believes needs punishment. I saw him use it on his youngest daughter once. He caught her laughing with her friends when she was supposed to be doing her chores.” Alice shuddered at the memory. “He’s awful.”

“Thank God you didn’t marry him,” Annabel said fiercely. She squeezed Alice’s hand. “Even if you weren’t mated to Jaxan, I wouldn’t let that happen. Neither would Rich.”

“I know. But I’ve been dependent on others all my life. I’m twenty-three, and I’ve never been kissed beyond a peck on the cheek. Never been on a real date. Never done anything normal. I want a life of my own. I was looking forward to getting here. To meeting the Zerconians. To maybe finding my mate. Perhaps not this quickly, but this is what I wanted.” She sighed. “Rich is against this mating.”

Annabel rolled her eyes. “It’s good for Rich’s ego, living here. He doesn’t get his way constantly.”

“Annabel, can you help me with something?”

“Sure, what?”

“Take me to Jaxan. I think I deserve a say in what’s going on.”

Annabel’s eyes gleamed. “Thought you’d never ask.”

***

Racar had only agreed to let her leave if he went with her and she used a hover chair. She wasn’t too impressed at the idea of the hover chair, but she still felt weak, and she needed her energy for what was to come.

So Racar directed the hover chair, while Annabel walked beside her, pointing out things as they passed them. It was so warm here. Zerconia had two suns, and the heat pretty much took her breath away. Zerconia was beautiful, the air clean and unpolluted. Everyone they passed looked happy and healthy, and all of them called out greetings to Annabel and Racar.

Alice gradually relaxed. A small part of her had been worried that moving here was a mistake. She’d never admitted it to herself, or she might have chickened out and never have gotten on that transporter. Moving so far away from everything she knew was terrifying to a girl who’d never been out of Ohio before. But Alice had been determined to look at this as an adventure.

And it wasn’t as though she was on her own. She had Rich and Annabel. And now, apparently, Jaxan. Nerves butterflied and she took a deep breath as Racar directed the chair into a large, white building. It dwarfed all the other buildings, standing out majestically against the bright sky.

“This is the palace. Not really a palace like on Earth. But this is where the Emperor and Empress live,” Annabel explained.

“The Empress is human?”

“Zoey, yeah. You’ll like her. She’s a little crazy.”

Crazy? That seemed a strange thing to say.

“And here she comes.”

Alice looked up at Annabel’s words to see a petite, blonde-haired woman walking quickly towards them. She swung her arms back and forth, her hair swung where it was pulled back into a pony tail, and she’d put a black band around her forehead. Something was tied to her front, it wasn’t until she grew closer that Alice realized it was a baby.

The woman waved cheerfully. “Annabel! Racar! Oh, is this your cousin?” The woman didn’t stop. Instead she started to walk circles around them.

“This is Alice,” Annabel introduced her. “Alice, Empress Zoey.”

“Call me Zoey,” she said cheerfully waving her hand. “This is Elodie.” She pointed down at the baby strapped to her chest. The baby gurgled and swung her legs out before stuffing a fist in her mouth and chewing.

“What are you doing, Zoey?” Annabel asked.

“Power-walking. I’ve got to do ten thousand steps a day. Only I slept in this morning. Then I had some of those calla cakes for breakfast, and now I figure I probably need to do twenty thousand steps.” She stopped and started to do squats.

Alice watched her, wondering where she got her energy from.

“I heard you were shot, Alice, and then you weren’t feeling well. Are you feeling better now?

“Yes, thank you,” Alice said, slightly intimidated. She’d never met an Empress before.

“So where are you guys off to?” Zoey asked.

“Rich is trying to get Jaxan’s mating claim on Alice broken. He’s speaking with Dex now,” Annabel explained.

“He’s what? Now, this I have to see.” Zoey stepped up and down on the spot, her bent arms swinging. “Follow me!” She turned and walked off at a swift pace. Suddenly, she turned and walked backward. “Annabel, I just remembered. Are you going to start those self-defense classes soon?”

Annabel frowned. “Macon said he would talk to Dex about them, but he hasn’t done it yet.”

Zoey snorted. “He’s putting it off because he doesn’t want us women hurting ourselves. Pfft, don’t you worry, I’ll get Dex’s permission. You set things up. Alice, you’ll join in, right?”

Alice stared up at them both in confusion.

“Zoey wants me to teach the women here how to defend themselves. I’m going to run classes, but we need Dex’s permission first.”

“Leave it to me,” Zoey said cheerfully. She stopped in front of a door, puffing slightly. Two Zerconian males stood guard on either side of the door.

“Empress,” one of them said with a nod.

“Que,” Zoey said breathlessly. “Tell Dex we’re here with Alice. Damn, how long have we been exercising for, Elodie?” She glanced down at the band on her wrist then shook it. “This can’t be right, five minutes? I’m sure it’s been more like fifty.”

Elodie just gurgled.

Que opened the door and escorted them into an empty room. He immediately moved across the room and opened another door.

Alice turned to look at Racar. “I can walk from here.”

He frowned, but nodded, lowering the chair. “I will wait out here. Call me if you have need.”

“Thank you. For everything.”

She walked into the room, her legs trembling, more out of nervousness than anything else. Across the room stood an attractive man with blond hair. He had an air of confidence that drew your attention to him. His gaze immediately went to Zoey, his eyes warming.

In the middle of the room, his arms crossed over his chest and thunder filling his face, stood Rich. She turned, searching out Jaxan. He moved away from the wall where he’d been leaning. Her breath caught, his presence like a sucker-punch to her stomach.

“What do you do here, Zoey?” blond-haired man asked. She assumed he was the Emperor.

“Oh, I’m here for moral support. Girl power.” Zoey fist pumped the air.

Annabel snorted.

“Girl power?” he asked. “What does that mean?”

“It means my girl Alice, here, needs some moral support. She’s been kidnapped, injured, and discovered she’s got a mate in a short space of time. She needs me.”

Alice blinked at the Empress but didn’t object. She actually appreciated having the other woman here even though they’d met less than five minutes ago. There was something about Zoey that put you immediately at ease. Plus, she was a good distraction from the tension in the room.

The blond man sighed. “You do not know her.”

“She’s female. She’s human. And she’s mated to one of you big fellas. That makes her one of mine.” Zoey turned to wink at her and Alice smiled back. “Alice, this is my mate, Dex. He’s also the Emperor of Zerconia. But don’t let him intimidate you, he’s really just a big teddy bear underneath.”

“Zoey,” Dex said in a low rumble.

Oh yes, he totally looked like a teddy bear right now. A big, ferocious, growly teddy bear. Alice swallowed heavily. Someone stepped up beside her, and she glanced up in surprise to find Jaxan standing there.

“Do not be afraid,” he murmured. “No one will harm you.”

“I’m not scared.” Not much, anyway.

He squeezed her shoulder and longing shivered across her body, pooling between her legs. Oh. Wow.

Dex turned to Alice, studying her. She straightened her shoulders, wishing she’d taken more time to clean herself up. These guys were all so perfect looking. How was that even possible?

Did he find her lacking? Why was he staring at her so intently?

“She is very small. Are you certain she is fully grown?” Dex looked over her shoulder at Jaxan.

“Dex! Jesus.” Zoey shook her head.

“I’m twenty-three,” she told him with a frown.

“I said something wrong?” He looked genuinely confused.

“You didn’t say anything right, that’s for sure. You should never comment on a woman’s size,” Zoey lectured.

Alice folded her arms over her chest, feeling self-conscious as everyone stared at her. “I’m an adult.”

“Who has been kept secluded all of her life,” Rich said. “This is the first time she’s ever left her home. She has no experience of the outside world. She might as well be a child, she is so naïve, and you said yourself she is tiny. She is too small and delicate to be mated to one of you overgrown apes.”

Small? Delicate?

She glared at Rich. “I’ve been doing hard, physical work my whole life. I am not delicate.” She straightened her shoulders, throwing her head back proudly. She turned to Dex. “I might be small, but I’m no child. And yeah, this is the first time I’ve left home, but I’m not stupid.”

“You tell ’em,” Zoey muttered. She glared at Rich. “Alice proved that she’s smart and good under pressure when the Coizils kidnapped them. Without her, all those women might have been killed. You don’t want her to mate Jaxan, but you can’t stop a mating, and if you try, you’ll just cause your cousin pain.”

Dex nodded. “My mate is correct. There are laws that protect mating claims. Jaxan has claimed Alice as his mate. That bond comes before all others. To deny the mating would cause issues for both of them. Jaxan would become aggressive and violent. Alice would have a great need for her mate to join with her. I rule that the mating claim remain in place. Jaxan, congratulations.”

“This is idiotic!” Rich yelled. “I’ll take her away. I’ll hide her where you won’t find her.”

Suddenly, she found herself staring at Jaxan’s back.

“You will not touch my mate,” he roared. “Do you hear me?”

“I think they heard you on the next planet,” Annabel muttered, rubbing her hand over her ear.

Alice stumbled a few steps back, almost frightened by the change in him. He’d seemed so quiet. Calm. Up until Rich threatened to take her away from him.

“She is mine.” He turned to look at her, and her breath caught as she saw his eyes flash red. She’d read about how the Zerconians eyes could change color with strong emotions, but seeing it was kind of shocking.

“You cannot just claim her. I brought her here. I can take her away.”

Alice frowned at Rich’s words. She understood that he was just looking out for her, but he had it all wrong.

“Hey! Don’t you think you’re all forgetting something here?” Zoey asked.

“What, my own?” Dex asked, his body tense as he stared at Jaxan then Rich.

“None of you have thought to ask Alice what she wants. Typical idiotic males. Alice, what do you want to do?”

Alice stared at them all. Her mouth was dry, her palms sweating. She didn’t want to disappoint Rich. He’d done so much for her. He’d always been there for her. The only one in her family who actually cared what she wanted. Alice had been taught that her opinion didn’t matter. She was supposed to be faithful, obedient, and submissive.

And she’d hated it. She’d longed for the freedom to think for herself. To make her own decisions. To have a husband who cared about her, about what she thought, what she wanted.

So speak up, Alice. Tell them what you want.

They were all staring at her. Her breath came in quick pants. What was she supposed to do? She couldn’t please everybody.

Then please yourself. What do you want?

“Alice?” Jaxan turned to look down at her.

She turned to look at Jaxan. His face was blank, but there was something in his eyes that called to her. Longing? Desperation? Fear?

“What is it you want?”

You came here for a mate. This is what you wanted.

He needs you. He wants you.

But this was happening too quickly. She didn’t know him. The last thing she wanted was to end up in a worse situation than she’d come from. This was important. She had to get this right. Everything weighed down on her, making it hard for her to breathe.

“I-I,” she licked her lips, “this is happening quickly, and I’m not ready—”

“See, I told you. Alice, come with me.” Rich walked over to her and Jaxan took a step to her side.

Her gaze remained on Jaxan, though. She could almost sense his despair, even though he didn’t say anything, didn’t move to stop her.

Rich tried to pull her away, but she stepped back with a shake of her head. “I love you, Rich. You’ve always been there for me, and I don’t want to make you mad. But I’ve spent my whole life doing what other people tell me. Sure, I’ve had my share of small rebellions, but mostly I’ve been a doormat.”

“You are not a doormat,” he muttered angrily.

“Not anymore.” She straightened her shoulders. She looked up at Jaxan. “I don’t know you. But I’d like to. I’m not ready for anything more, but if you want to take me on a date, I’ll say yes.”

“A date?” He frowned briefly. “This is a human courtship, yes?”

“You got it,” Zoey told him. “Dating is something humans do to build up a relationship, get to know each other better. You could take her for dinner, a walk, talk to her, show her you’re not a crazy, knife-wielding psycho who’s going to lock her up in the basement with all your other pretties.”

“What?” Alice gaped at Zoey.

“He’s not,” the other woman told her. That was really reassuring. Not. “You may not have much time to get to know each other before the mating heat takes over, though.”

Alice blushed a little.

“I don’t like it.” Rich crossed his arms over his chest.

Alice reached over and squeezed his arm. “I know. But this is my life. For once I get to decide what to do with it, and you have to let me. Right?”

He grumbled a little then nodded. “Fine. So long as he understands that if he does anything to hurt you, I’ll kill him. Very, very slowly. That’ll take care of any damn mating heat.”

Annabel sighed. “You know, it’d be nice just to go a few hours without a death threat.”