Page 98 of The Alpha

What was it about that name that made everyone react funny? And why wouldn’t anyone tell her?

She looked at Bondrah, Melvale, whatever. He still knelt before her. Was he literally waiting for her to command him? There was only one way to find out. “Bondrah?”

He raised his face to hers. His eyes held such tenderness in them she almost sank to her knees. No man had ever looked at her like that. “What is it you wish of me, Kahtala Miah, and I will give it to you.”

Her jaw dropped. Was this really happening? “I… I just want to go home.”

He bowed his head to her. “Very well.” When he raised his head, his eyes were bright blue. “I will take you now.”

“What?” Before she could comment further, he reached for her, pulled her against him, and stood with her in his arms, bridal style. “What are you doing?”

“What you command.” He strode down the long corridor, back the way they came, and turned down another.

“But, where are we going?” She wasn’t going to fight him, she didn’t know what that would do. Instead Pari let him carry her. Besides, it beat walking. The palace corridors were long!

“I seek a Time Master.” He stopped, sniffed the air, then kept going.

“Um, are you like, trying to sniff one out?”

“Yes.”

She giggled. “Really?”

He stopped, looked at her, the intensity of his eyes swallowing her up. She sensed the power within him in that moment, and almost cringed. What sort of being was this? “Maybe you should put me down?”

“It will be faster this way.” He picked up the pace. “I have you, Kahatala Miah.”

“That’s obvious but whoaaaa!”

He was off like a shot, moving so fast their surroundings blurred. What was happening?!

Pari closed her eyes, the speed too much for her, and hoped she wasn’t going to be sick.

He slowed, his gait so smooth she was barely jostled. If she hadn’t been convinced he was an alien before, she was now. He stopped before a door. It looked like most doors she’d seen. Heavy wood, tall and arched. Big enough for one of those spider cat creatures to fit through. Were there any inside?

“Who lives here?”

“A Time Master.” He closed his eyes.

“What are you doing?”

His eyes opened and he looked at her. “Summoning him.”

“Oh.” She noticed her arms were wrapped around his neck. She must have grabbed onto him just before he took off at lightning speed.

The door opened, and the big man in yellow and purple robes that served Hal, Raina, and her earlier bowed. “Alpha Melvale.” He did not straighten, and Pari noticed Melvale studying him.

“Is something wrong?” she asked.

Melvale looked at her. “He awaits my command.”

Pari blinked a few times. “Didn’t you tell me to command you back there?”

He looked at her again with the same tenderness as before. “I did.”

“So… I can command you?”

He arched a single eyebrow at her. “You can.”

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