Page 50 of Rebel Fates

“It feels good, and I wanted it.” I shrug. “You don’t approve?”

“You don’t understand. We could hurt you.” His hand cups my chin and lingers for a moment, then he remembers his medical instrument and scans me. He reads the findings. “I’m worried you have some sickness from being exposed to us.”

“Am I hurting you too?” I ask, feeling guilty if I unwittingly contaminated them.

“We don’t seem to have any harmful effects from your presence.” He gives me sad puppy dog eyes, and almost pats my hand, but stops himself.

“Could the sickness have been caused by something when I was with the slavers?” I ask.

“It’s possible, but not likely. You seem to be reacting toourtouch.”

When I glance down at my body, I find that I do have a more significant skin reaction where they touched me the most. But at this point, there aren’t many spots they haven’t touched or licked me.

“How are you feeling?” Rok asks, leaning into my space but without making contact. “What feels different from normal?”

“I feel hot. My skin tingles.” I blush and look away from his pale blue eyes. “I’m more aroused than I usually am. But I’ve never had this much attention either.”

“That seems unlikely. You are appealing even to my foreign sensibilities. And from what I have researched about humans, you would be regarded as attractive.”

“Uh… thanks?” I chuckle. “I’ve just never quite fit in with other humans. Personality wise.”

“I know what that feels like.” Rok hums. “We are considered outsiders among our kind, too.”

“Is that why you are traveling around together?” I ask.

“Yes, we couldn’t sit still and wait for the universe to implode. So we joined the rebellion against the forces that harmed the galaxy. We helped take down the warlords who killed our people. However, the Syndicate soon replaced that evil power vacuum and now evades what claims to be our galaxy’s law enforcement—the Consortium.” When he’s finished speaking, his body is tense with anger.

“I understand. Things like that happen on earth too.”

Rok grunts and puts his authoritative demeanor back in place, but this time with a bit more kindness. “I want you to be safe. And that means keeping you in Serrat’s room.Alone. When the danger has passed, Leva will open your door. Okay?”

“Okay.” For the first time, I truly let it sink in that they only want me to be alright. And if that means I have to hide while something goes down, I can behave.

I hope.

22

THREATS

SERRAT

As the medical officer onboard, Rok has given strict orders that Gemma is to be locked inside my larger sleeping quarters. She has agreed to stay in my room, unless we let her out. However, I still have my doubts that she will behave.

Shocked by my own behavior, I know that if she sneaks out again, I can’t account for what happens to her. She’s been warned. I can barely control my animal around her.

She seems to understand now that she is safer in there—alone. But everything in me screams I want to be in therewithher.

Fortunately, Rok stopped me from doing something we all might regret. It was the right thing to do. But my animal disagrees, adamantly.

I want to claim her.

Obviously, Zeek wants her.

And I believe, despite his misgivings, Rok wants her too.

I head to the control room and sit down in the captain’s chair. “Leva?”

She whines when I call her name. Leva hears the admonishment in my voice. She knows she caused the trouble with Gemma… no, thehuman. I need to remain detached.

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