Page 58 of The Alpha

She watched him in fascination as he poured some kind of juice into their goblets as well.

Raina smiled at him. “Thank you.” She peered into her goblet, then looked at the tall man. He winked.

Pari watched Raina drink it then dab at her mouth with a napkin.

Halden took a drink of his too, then got back to the business of eating.

The tall man smiled at her as his face softened, then looked at Bondrah on the bed. “He will wake soon.” He gave Halden a serious look, turned on his heel and swept out of the room.

“Who was that?” Pari asked.

“A servant,” Halden blurted.

Raina snorted then reached for some cheese.

Pari stuffed grapes into her mouth and devoured everything else on her plate, she washed it down with the juice, which was delicious, then slowed enough to think. “What happened to you two?”

Halden sighed and looked at Raina. “We were abducted.”

Pari’s eyes widened. “Y-you were?”

“Yes, but not by the same people that abducted you.”

Pari gasped. “How did you even know about that?”

“I was part of the team that rescued you,” he said.

Her heart skipped, and without thinking, she launched herself at Halden and hugged him. “Thank you! Thank you, thank you!” She let go, scooted back to her cushion and put a hand to her mouth, tears in her eyes. When she lowered her hand, she sucked in a breath. “It was terrible…”

Raina pulled her into her arms. “It’s all right, you’re safe now.”

Pari clung to her and let the tears come. “I thought you left f-f-for Germany. I-I thought you went home.”

“Never,” Halden said. “Not without saying goodbye. In fact, we were on our way to say goodbye when we discovered…” his eyes flicked to Raina. “You were missing.”

Pari pulled away from Raina and blinked back tears. “You were?” She heard the pleased tone in her voice and hoped she didn’t sound pathetic. Pari wiped away her tears with one of the napkins on the table. “I’m sorry I’m making such a fuss. Ithought you left and… oh, never mind. You’re here now.” Pari sniffed back more tears and looked around the large room. “Where are we?”

Raina took a deep breath. “Pari, you’re… that is we, all of us, are no longer in New York. We’re far from it, in fact.”

Pari went stock still. “What?”

Halden gave her a sympathetic look. “There’s so much to explain, we don’t know where to begin. And now that I think of it, perhaps you should get some more rest before we try.”

Pari blinked a few times. She was a little dizzy. Maybe she should rest. But… She eyed them. “Who is that man?” Pari looked at Bondrah, still out cold on the bed.

“Melvale is his name,” Halden said.

“Mel-vale.” She said it slowly, trying it out. “Not Bondrah Miah?”

Raina and Halden exchanged the same look of curiosity. “Must be a Muiraran term,” Raina said.

“Must,” Halden agreed. He grabbed a few more slices of meat. “We should finish eating and drinking, then all get some rest. The last few days have been hard for all of us.”

Pari opened her eyes. Sheesh, when had she closed them? She must be more tired than she thought. “I guess… you’re right.” Her eyelids were getting heavy, and she heard herself say, “I’m… wiped.”

“Me too,” Halden said as he stretched and yawned.

Pari swayed to her right.

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