Page 28 of Caged

I hadn’t realized this feeling could get deeper, but it just did.

“I’ve been thinking,” I say.

“Could be dangerous,” Alex says before peeping at me with mirth in her eyes.

“Where I’m concerned, everything is dangerous,” I rasp and delight in the shudder which runs through her fragile frame and the scent of arousal which follows. “But these thoughts are about us.”

“Oh,” Alex says.

I open my mouth to speak when the door to the room slides open, and the Remek pokes her head in.

“What the…?” She stares at my handiwork with an open mouth.

“Sylas nested,” Alex says swiftly, “for me.”

“O-kay,” the female says slowly. “There’s someone here to see you, Gryn.”

“How does anyone know I’m here?”

“I would not know, but I have not informed anyone of your whereabouts, if that’s what you’re thinking,” she replies.

I unfold myself from the nest. Alex takes hold of my arm.

“You don’t need to go.”

“It’s another one of your lot,” Ginka adds.

“A Gryn?”

“Yeah, a big dark one with about as many manners as you.” She huffs.

“Sounds like Maxym. He might have brought Blayn too.”

“Oh gods, they multiply,” the Remek mutters.

I push past her and into the rest of her small dwelling. Maxym has his back to me as he inspects something on a countertop.

“Gladiator,” I rasp.

“Sylas, you’re not dead then?” He turns to face me with an insolent smile on his face.

“Takes more than a small explosion such as the one at the dome to take me out.” I’m across to him in a stride, gripping his arm in our standard greeting. “The others?”

“Blayn has gone missing, believed to be somewhere in the dome, but they’ve yet to flush him out. He’s probably looking for some more devices. Klynn got into the beast enclosure and is sleeping off a meal to end all meals.” Maxym chuckles.

“Rych?”

“He was at the rear of the training arena when the device went off. He was completely unharmed, lucky vrexer, and has managed to get himself sent off to the Pompas for the night torecover his wits.”

I can’t help but bark a laugh at Rych’s ability to manipulate any situation to his advantage. There’s a feeling of relief they’re all accounted for, save for Blayn, but he should turn up. He usually does. If not, we can find him where the guards and clerks cannot.

“Hi?” Fingers grasp at my feathers, and I’m instantly growling at Maxym as Alex is in the same room as us both.

“Is this youreregri?” His eyes are huge as he takes her in.

I tuck Alex farther behind my wings.

“Yes.”