“The old hunter’s hut? It is in the middle of nowhere! How could he leave you unprotected? You are—” he demanded, waving a hand toward her leg.
Her eyes flashed with fire. She grabbed her hiking pole and rose stiffly to her feet. He knew immediately that he had said the wrong thing. The ice in her eyes was enough to chill him to the bone.
“I’ll repeat your earlier words. I don’t need your help or your pity,” she retorted.
He grappled with what to say or do next when she bent and picked up her bag. She shrugged the straps over her shoulders and turned. He rounded the fire and stepped into her path when she took a step.
“Get out of my way,” she gritted out.
“You can’t leave. It is… it is dark. You will get lost.”
He almost blanched at the desperation in his voice. He had to stop her. Fear that she might get hurt was part of the problem. Fear that he would never see her again was an even larger part.
“I’ll take my chances.”
“I’m sorry. Please… sit,” he said.
“No thanks. I need to get home.”
Devon jerked and reached for her. He didn’t know who was more surprised, him or her, at the sudden movement. He silently fought with his dragon who was trying to gain control over him. Silver scales rippled up his arms, torso, neck, and cheeks as his dragon tried to emerge.
Mark her, his dragon growled.
“I’m not going to mark her,” he gritted out.
“Mark…”
Pain exploded through him a second later when she brought the hiking pole in her hand up between his legs. Stars danced in front of his eyes. He slowly sank down to his knees in front of her as she awkwardly stepped around him.
“You can keep your… your marks and your… whatever. I swear guys are all the same no matter what planet you go to,” she snapped.
Devon held his breath, hoping the pain would fade… or he would just die. He wasn’t going to be picky at the moment. Even his dragon took the hint and retreated back to the quiet spot inside him. His symbiot came up to rub against him but he shook his head.
“Go after her. Keep her…” He breathed deeply. “Keep her safe until I can get there.”
He leaned forward and rested his forehead on his arms. His moan of pain turned to a chuckle. His mate had a bit of a temper.
And she knows how to wield it, he thought, pushing off the ground.