Page 36 of Rebirth

If she fires, it will slow me down for a few minutes, and she might get out of this chamber. My ba’clan won’t block the attack. They have no power to do so.

I wait for her to fire, to sink several projectiles within me. I wait for the pain. Crave it.

Expect it.

But it doesn’t come.

Instead, watery eyes watch me with too much intelligence. Her chest heaves as I press into her, press into her weapon, but she allows me to. Her finger not finding that trigger she obviously needs.

“Do it,” I growl.

She stares at me, lips trembling even as those eyes search mine.

“No.”

I stare down at her.

She is so close to me now, her body presses against mine and I can feel every inch of her. Every curve, every valley. She is soft, sweet, perfection.

Now I understand what keeps my brethren here. Now I see why the others yearn so much to remain. Here lies a promise of home.

A place to stay in a female’s arms.

Chest heaving, I freeze as her free hand rises, gently coming to my jaw. Her eyes widen slightly as the tentacle closest to her fingers wraps around the nearest one. But…when I expect her to startle, to pull away, she doesn’t.

She accepts as that monstrous part of me touches her flesh, and she touches me back. Touches me, even though I am braced above her in the exact stance of attack.

Behind and around us, the network pulses, wanting its prey.

But I resist.

She is mine.

The thought hits me with enough shock to clear some of my bloodlust, and I have a moment of clarity.

I have underestimated my control. Fer’ro was right. I should never have been allowed to exit the safety of that camp and with a female on my watch.

“Shoot me,” I growl.

The pain will help. The pain always helps to ground me. Remind me the monstrous parts are not all of who I am. Remind me that somewhere in there, my pure bloodline still exists.

“No,” she says again, voice shaking slightly.

“Do it.” My command chills the air, but the female beneath me doesn’t budge.

“You’re not going to attack me.”

I stare at her. Her words sound so sure. As if she believes in me more than I believe in myself.

“I want to,” I growl. I don’t know why I say it. The Vullan aren’t known for their ability to tell lies, but this goes beyond that. I watch for her reaction. Wait for the fear to overtake her. The disgust.

But still, it doesn’t take root.

“You won’t.” Her whispered challenge holds me still, and as I look down at this soft little thing pressed against me, I wonder if she realizes just what she really asks.

I lift a claw and her breath quickens. “I could rip you in two.”

“I know you can.”

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