Page 40 of Caged

“In the back, Gryn,” Haxrix shouts from her seat without turning around.

Alex and I exchange glances. I take her hand as it’s what she seems to like. There is a narrow corridor leading out of the control center. The first three doors do not open for us, but the final one does, sliding silently into the wall, Alex peers in.

“Oh!” she gasps.

I shove myself into the doorway to see a spacious room with a large Gryn sized bed, and, if I’m not mistaken, there is the scent of water.

It needs a few things doing to it, but as I look around, this could be a nest.

A nest for my mate.

ALEX

“You are sharing with the Gryn, aren’t you? They get irritating if they are not with their mates,” Haxrix says, not taking her eyes from the controls.

I’m still a little stunned, not only at the accommodations provided, given they were larger than I was expecting.Bigger on the inside.

Also, it’s not exactly as if Sylas and I have discussed sleeping arrangements. Last night was different. In Tatatunga, he insisted on standing guard, although I woke up in his arms and with his interest most definitely in evidence, but even so, it makes me half wonder about our liaison and what he wants from me.

Was it a mistake? Perhaps the situation, the adrenaline or whatever the Gryn equivalent is, got the better of him.

Perhaps he didn’t mean to mate with me. After all, within seconds of us seeing the accommodation, he was ushering me out, growling I should return tothe Cirmosto see what supplies she has obtained.

Gladiators as large as Sylas presumably need a lot of feeding.

“I’m not sure. I’m not sure about any of this to be entirely honest. I’ve only known Sylas for…” I think for a minute. “Abouta nova-day and a half,” I say sheepishly. “And I’ve never met a Gryn before, let alone a gladiator. I don’t really understand anything about him.”

“I don’t follow the games, but I have met Gryn before, on a space station. They were a little different to your mate though. Less”—Haxrix cocks her head on one side as she contemplates her memory, and presses a button on the console in front of her—“angry.”

I bark out a laugh. “Understatement of the nova-year.”

“Which is why I want to know if you are sharing with him. The last thing I need is a Gryn with pent-up energy.” Now she looks up at me, furry eyebrows jiggling.

I flush like I’m a flipping teenager again. Her innuendo should not be making me feel like one either—like I want to jump Sylas’ bones at every opportunity.

Because I can’t lie to myself. I want to touch his silky feathers and trace my fingers over his muscles. I’d very much like for him to touch me like he did in the stranger’s house. I’d like him to do it over and over again.

“Gak! You’ve got it as bad as he,” Haxrix says, shaking her head.

“I just met him!” I exclaim. “It doesn’t work like that for humans.”

“Seems like it does from where I’m sitting.” She huffs. “I fear for my ship even more now.”

“I’m not paying you more credits,” I retort.

Her dark lips curl into a smile. “I get a ringside seat to whatever this”—she makes a circle in the air at me—“is. That’s payment enough.”

“I hate you,” I mock growl.

“The usual reaction to my stellar personality.” Haxrix chuckles. “If you’re looking for food for your Gryn, I got a coupleof saytir-goats. They’re in the back, eating whatever they can find probably.”

I stare at her. “He doesn’t eat raw meat.” My voice comes out as a hoarse whisper due to the horror.

She holds my stare…for far too long. “Are you sure?”

I am not sure. I don’t want to be apart from Sylas, but I have to admit I know nothing at all about him.

“I’m joking.” Haxrix turns back to her console. “You can use the dehydrators to make whatever you need. I got plenty for the Gryn.”

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