Page 30 of Sloane

Maybe our ways don't make much sense to Essa and the way she was raised culturally, but to me, this is how things are—how they're meant to be. I wouldn't tell her that she's not allowed concubines, even though she has yet to find anyone willing. She won't tell me that my culture is wrong, just like I won't say it to her.

My eyes fall to where Jovi's passed out with Sloane in his arms, knowing if I wanted, they would both do whatever I asked of them. The idea of making Jovi claim her is tempting, though. How easily I could get him to pierce her skin with his teeth if I only ask.

I walk over to the two, softly stroking each of their cheeks and loving that they both nuzzle closer to me for comfort, protection, and everything they instinctually know I can give them. Not that Jovi needs protection. He's just as large and skilled a male as me. But he's mine, just as Sloane will be.

"If I wanted, I could have him claim her right now." I turn to Essa, my gaze turning hard as I lean over the two sleeping forms. I press a kiss to Sloane's temple and then move my lips to Jovi'sbefore placing another. "Two words, and he'd obey. It would only take two words to make her ours."

"Alik." Essa's eyes go wide as she takes a step closer to me. I wonder how deranged I look if she seems so worried that I might do it. No, even I can feel myself succumbing to the need of my base instincts. The part of me growling to claim Sloane. Mark her and make sure everyone knows she is mated, bonded, and cherished. "Alik, step away from them."

I lower my head, my lips close to Jovi's ear. I rub a hand over his chest to wake him just enough to listen to me.

"What?" Jovi's voice is raspy with sleep.

I smile at Essa, watching as the panic in her face turns to absolute dread. "If you do this—"

"Do what?" Jovi's sleepy, so he's not really following, but he can sense that something's wrong. He turns to face me, and his body stiffens. "How long has he been gone?"

Am I gone? I don't feel like it. I feel better than I have in so long, and this plan—the plan where I have Jovi claim Sloane first so that we both can—is the best idea I've ever come up with.

I rub at my wrists, a strange burning sensation bubbling up underneath my pelt, irritating me. It's not the first time it's happened, and I'm wondering if I'm allergic to something on board. Whatever, it's a worry for another time when I'm not about to get everything I want.

"It just happened," Essa says, making sure not to move from where she's standing. "He wants to make you claim her."

Jovi's eyes widen, and then they crinkle in the corners as he laughs and throws his head back against the sofa. Sloane stirs, but she doesn't wake. Her face nuzzles deeper into Jovi's side as she falls back into her slumber.

"He won't." Jovi relaxes and closes his eyes, too. I'd feel some sort of anger if I wasn't already filled with it. Jovi cracks hismiddle eye, looking at me as he tries to suppress his laugh. "You really want me to claim her first? You want my seconds, Alik?"

His words wash over the idiotic part of me that demands I be first. The stupid part of me that thinks I deserve to be first in all things because I'm in charge of this pairing, and letting Jovi claim her first is bringing my ability to lead into question. Logically, I know I'm being ridiculous, but logic isn't here right now.

I use the moment of clarity to force myself away from Sloane and Jovi while I still can. I push away from the couch, stumbling over my own feet as I make my way back to the recliner.

"I'm going to tell her you called her your seconds," Essa says, her arms crossing over her chest after she puts her dagger back. "I'm sure she'll love that."

"You know I didn't mean it like that." Jovi doesn't even open his eyes to speak with Essa. "Alik and his territorial ass needed a reason to snap out of it. I gave him one. If anything, blame him for not wanting her to be my seconds. He's the one you should be mad at."

Essa looks between the three of us, plenty of thoughts running through her head, but she doesn't voice any of them. No, instead, she walks over to where Jovi and Sloane are lying and readjusts the blanket. I growl at her. Not that she cares. She wiggles her little finger at me and then grabs a second blanket that she throws at me. I narrow my eyes on her, but she just smiles.

"You two need to figure your shit out," Essa says as she goes to leave the living room. "Keep acting like this, and you're going to scare her off."

I wiggle my little finger back at her right as she leaves. I debate for a moment if we could scare off Sloane if we're too demanding—if we need her too much. I come to the conclusion that no, we won't. I think there's a part of her that wants us as much as wewant her. If there's even a small possibility she wants to be with us, I'm going to pursue her in whatever way she needs.

I stare at Jovi and Sloane. Their breathing evens out, and their bodies relax again. I throw the blanket Essa gave me over my body and turn the lights off in the living room. We might regret sleeping out here when we wake up with stiff muscles, but it'll be worth it to be in the same room as Sloane all night.

thirteen

Sloane

"What do you call this game again?" Essa asks as she slips into the booth seat across from me at the dining table.

So far, I've convinced Essa, Phial, Holoth, and Jovi to play various party games with me in the evenings after we've all eaten to kill some time. I call it 'Crew Bonding time with Sloane,' and they're forced into it. Not that they have anything better to do anyway.

Not to mention, I pick only the best party games. The ones that have been around for generations. I'm pretty sure the people of yesteryear were playing these back before the invasion, and that's how you know they're good. They've withstood the test of time.

We've played spin the bottle, which we had to modify because no one except for me was willing to kiss anyone. Then we played truth or dare, which they were all much more receptive to. We'veplayed flip cup and beer pong without any alcohol, which ended up not being as fun—who would've ever thought?

I always invite Alik to come hang out with us, too, but he's very much into giving me singular grunts and one-word answers to everything. I'm pretty sure it's a side effect of all the new rules they've given me about being with them, but it's his own fault because they're his rules. Those aren't important right now, though. No, right now, we're playing a new game.

"Never have I ever." I clap my hands together as I say it and take stock of our little group.

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