Page 68 of An Alien for the Future

The crowd of Kari males parts like a sea as Arnak pushes through, his powerful frame easily clearing a path. Murmurs of confusion and concern ripple through the gathering, but I barely hear them. My focus is entirely on Arnak, and the palpable sense of urgency radiating from him.

As he reaches the base of the platform, I can see the tension in every line of his body. Something is very, very wrong.

“Arnak?” Do I even dare to ask?

He takes a deep breath, his eyes darting around the room as if searching for any immediate threat. When he speaks, his words send a shockwave through me.

“It’s Tovan. His rut has begun.”

The words hang in the air and the world slows down. I can only blink.

“His core-rhythm,” Arnak continues. “It’s singing for you, kahlesta.”

The room erupts into chaos. Kari males start shouting, some in outrage, others in confusion. I can barely make out individual words over the din.

Xarion steps forward, his voice cutting through the noise. For a dude that looks like a soft thing, his voice is commanding. “Silence!” He turns to Arnak. “Explain. Quickly.”

Arnak’s eyes never leave mine. “I was with Tovan when it happened. Early this dawn, it started. His eyes glazed over, and he started trembling. I’ve seen ruts before, but this…this is different. More intense.” He pauses, taking a breath before he continues. “He told me to lock him in and wait. To give you a choice. If you chose another Kari then…”

I glance over at Catherine, who’s standing near the edge of the platform. Our eyes meet, and I can see the recognition in her gaze. A small, knowing smile plays on her lips.

“That big, noble idiot,” I mutter, shaking my head. The words come out fond and exasperated in equal measure.

Catherine’s smile widens, and she nods in understanding. Of course, she does. Varek had done the same thing, putting her choice above his own needs and desires. It seems Kari males have a penchant for self-sacrificing gestures when it comes to matters of the heart.

I turn back to Arnak, my voice steadier now. “He was going to lock himself away? Give me a choice?” The idea of Tovan suffering alone, fighting against his rut while I stood here oblivious, makes my heart ache.

Arnak nods solemnly. “He was adamant about it. Said you deserved to make your decision without any…influence.”

I snort, my gaze shifting to the sea of men before me. Who would have thought. Maybe the universe isn’t so much of a bitch but a fairy godmother after all. Dangling candy and actually making me eat without demanding my sacrifice for the pleasure.

“Where is he?” I’m already helping myself down from the dais. “Where’s Tovan?”

“Surely, you cannot let the female leave without proper proof of this…bond,Saffion,” a voice snaps. The one who speaks comes to block my path. “Tovan Kamesh has lied before.”

I can tell, even from the corner of my eye, that Xarion has had enough. He stands tall about to answer, but I know the brute that spoke. The same stranger that had come to my home.

I walk right up to him and he has the sense to flinch. “Listen here, you sanctimoniousprick.” I jab a finger at him. “You came to my home, uninvited and unwelcome. You tried to intimidate me, to make me doubt myself. Well, guess what? It didn’t work then, and it sure as hell isn’t going to work now. So unless you want to find out just how creative I can get with more than juststew, I suggest you shut your mouth and step…aside. The only thing I need right now is for you to get the hell out of my way before I show you exactly what thisfemalecan do.”

Murmurs go through the crowd. In the back, I hear Eleanor clapping. Turning back to Arnak, I open my mouth to tell him to take me to my man when there’s another crash at the entrance of the building.

Xarion exclaims beside me. “I thought you said you locked him up!”

Arnak’s expression tightens. “I did. I didn’t say it worked.”

My breath catches in my throat as I turn around.

Tovan.

He stands there, silhouetted against the light from the rising sun, his massive frame filling the entire doorway. His chest heaves with each breath, and even from this distance, I can see the wild, almost feral look in his eyes. His gaze sweeps the room, and I can see the moment he spots me. His entire body goes rigid, every muscle tensing.

“Donna,” he growls, his voice so low and rough that it sends shivers down my spine.

Then he takes a step into the room, and all hell breaks loose.

The Kari males nearest to him immediately move to intercept, whether out of a sense of protection for me or competition, I’m not sure. But Tovan reacts with explosiveviolence. He roars, a primal sound that seems to shake the very foundations of the building, and launches himself at the closest male.

The fight is brutal and swift. Tovan moves with a speed and strength I’ve never seen before. Not even when he was fighting the stranger at my home. He throws one Kari across the room as if he weighs nothing, then grapples with another, both of them crashing to the floor in a tangle of limbs.

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