Page 41 of Fever

His pupils dilate and his upper lip lifts slightly, trembling. He is angry after all. “It appears a Telean male has made contact with the enemy.”

“Who?”

“Yet to be determined. I will know exactly who he is by dawn.”

“And you’re sure it’s a Telean?”

“The level of expertise in our com evasion technique speaks for itself.”

“It could be me,” I challenge.

“Unlikely. Good night.” He gets the rope and pulls the cage. “Where did you park my pod?”

“On my lawn.” Carefully, I walk around the gate toward the back of the office building.

“You don’t have a lawn.” Dreikx joins me. “It’s a public space.”

“If the grass grows in front of my house and I have to mow it, then it’s my fucking lawn.”

“You do not mow. We have machines that mow.”

“I have to remember to turn the machine on.”

“Yes, the exhilarating exercise of the brain is daunting. If only you didn’t have to think to remember.”

I laugh because Dreikx is dead serious. He doesn’t make jokes. We round the office and head for my apartment. The pod isn’t there.

“Some of your guys must’ve taken it,” I say.

“Myguys,” Dreikx says, emphasis on guys, “ask permission.”

“Well, that’s where I parked it.” I press a palm to my front door. “Let me change, and I’ll come with you.”

“Don’t you have an Omega to breed?”

“Remember that favor?”

Dreikx nods.

“My Omega situation is complicated.” I enter my apartment, and the scent of a Telean male hits my nose. I march to the bedroom and open the door. It rattles the house when it hits the wall. Leah’s nest is empty.

There was a male inside my apartment.

My Omega’s in heat, asleep in the nest, which leaves her naked in front of him. No other male enters the nest during heat. Unless they’re challenging the Alpha. The fucking coward!

Rage consumes me, and I rattle off a battle cry.

Outside, I lift my nose and close my eyes, concentrating on the scents in the air. Fingers in my mouth, I whistle for Deyo, who immediately comes running.That’s a good boy.I pat him and tell him to go inside the apartment, but he won’t. He walks to the exact spot where I parked Dreikx’s pod.

“Motherfucker!” I shout after Dreikx. “Your Telean male took the pod with my Omega.”

Dreikx returns and stands before me, blinking. “Excuse me?”

“I will rip him to pieces,” I swear to the Serpent.

Kintar, second-in-command of Arkin’s Collectors, walks over, Seer trailing behind him, still nude, hair unbound.

“What’s going on?” Kintar asks.

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