Page 89 of Victoria's Discovery

That tentative, almost shy nudge melted her heart. Not wanting to push the animal’s obviously fragile trust too far, but also physically unable to help herself, Victoria reached out and lightly brushed her fingers over Tesha’s mane.

It was softer than she’d anticipated, like a kitten’s fur.

Voice soft, she cooed, “Look there. She’s not prickly. She’s sweet and cuddly and beautiful.”

Lifting her head, Tesha met her gaze again, an odd mix of what looked like shyness and arrogance flashing through her eyes.

And she’s almost as expressive as Snitch.

“Mmm, yes, as cuddly as a razor-toothedhalaqur.”

He sounded pensive, and when she looked at him, he was gazing back and forth between her and the lupka, his brow furrowed thoughtfully.

“What?”

Tesha moved away, having met her limit of interaction, so Victoria turned to stare up at Vi’kail, back to being nervous now that she had nothing else to focus on.

They were so close, close enough she could feel his body heat, warming her despite the chilly night air. Close enough she could smell him. Sweat and leather, spice and warm fur. Not a combination she thought she’d normally like, but on him it worked. Really damn well. So well, in fact, she was tempted to climb him like a tree and bury her nose in the crook of his neck. She wouldn’t, of course. She’d made progress during her time on the planet, but she didn’t think she’d ever bethatbold.

“Lupka and fírlarks share some similarities. Lupka don’ bond quite as readily or as deeply as Snitch’s kind, but they do form attachments to others. Deeper than friendships but not as intense as a fírlark’s. I believe you’ve just been tagged by Tesha there.”

“Really?” But she’d felt that, hadn’t she?

An image of her walking through the complex with Snitch on her shoulder and a horse-sized alien wolf at her side popped into her head.

“Uhh, does that mean she’s going to want to stay with me the majority of the time like Snitch?”

Would she fit on her bed? What about potty training? Snitch used the toilet like a little gentleman, but would Tesha be able to do that? Would she need to schedule potty breaks?

He smirked. “No, though wouldn’t that be a sight?”

Victoria blew out a relieved breath. “So, what determines who they bond with?”

“Ah, that relies on who you ask. Some believe it’s purely based on pheromones or genetic markers. Others believe it has to do with a matchin’ of souls.”

“What do you believe?”

Victoria held her breath. Why his answer felt so important, she didn’t know, but it did.

“I metLuna’eva—” He gestured toward the alpha of the pack. “—shortly after arrivin’ on Kardesh. I was wanderin’, lost, when I saw her.” His gaze went distant, his deep, smoky voice, taking on a pensive tone. “I knew little of lupka then but of their ferocity and aggression. And still, I approached her, not thinkin’ of the danger.” He chuckled and shook his head, cocking a wry brow. “I’ve been known to bend to recklessness, but I’ve not a desire for such a painful death as what she could’ve dealt me. So, I believe it’s both, perhaps. I felt the tug on my spirit, and we were of a distance that pheromones wouldn’t’ve played much part, but I can’t say they have no effect.”

Victoria nodded, but inside she melted a little. So the uber masculine, badass ex-soldier was hiding a softie under his cynical, brooding exterior.

Damn if that didn’t make him even sexier.

Victoria pulled in a quiet, bracing breath. It was now or never. She’d been delaying, but if she didn’t buck up soon, she’d lose her nerve.

“Vi’kail… ”

He must’ve heard the nervousness she couldn’t hide because his gaze became sharp.

She opened her mouth to continue, but now that the time had come, words seemed to abandon her. How did you ask someone you’re falling in love with, someone who’d repeatedly pushed you away or shut you out, if they shared your feelings?

The longer she hesitated, the faster she could see the wheels turning behind his eyes. Did he know what she was going to ask?

“We should go inside. It’s gettin’ late.”

Victoria felt like he’d just sucked the air out of her lungs. She was left blinking, stunned, as he turned away.

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