Page 24 of Fever

“He’ll live.”

Dreikx mumbles something and walks back to the gate, where he fusses with his own round thing identical to the one Sotay handles. Are those gate controls? They look like nothing more than round glass things, like crystals. Sotay looks down, teeth bared, and slams a palm over the crystal. The ground shakes, the milky fog that is the gate spins, and the prince steps in front of me.

There’s an explosion of sound. I cover my ears.

Silence.

I poke my head out from behind the prince to see that the gate has collapsed, and in its place stands Sotay with a small army of Alphas on hounds. Cheers break out, and the prince says, “Thank you. Should you ever need anything, do come to me. You may take leave to prepare your nest at any time. I need no advance notice or excuses.”

Sotay rattles out a battle cry and sprints, coming right at us. He leaps and tackles Seer. I jump away from the Alphas, ready to run into the building, but other Alphas surround the fighting duo, effectively blocking my path. Seer and Sotay lash out at each other, all claws and teeth, blood spurting from their bodies. They’re so fast and agile, I can barely make out which is which.

“Don’t be afraid,” the prince says. “This is a friendly match.”

“It doesn’t look friendly to me.”

“Their armor is down. Here.” The Prince tucks a twenty-dollar bill into my hand and lifts my arm by the elbow. “Twenty on Sotay from the Omega,” he shouts.

Sotay snaps his head up.

Seer takes advantage of the distraction and sweeps Sotay off his feet. The males shout back at the prince, waving money in their hands. Three hounds circle the patch of grass where the males fight, and all of a sudden, their hackles go up and they start fighting. Aggression smells divine, and I inhale a lungful of pheromones. A knot forms in my lower belly, and a cramp hits me so hard, I want to bend over and scream. Sweat breaks out on my forehead. Oh my God, I am going into heat. Today, tomorrow, right now maybe. I turn away. The males part for me.

The scent of their aggression tickles my nose, and I rub it. The sight of so much blood makes me nauseated, but not enough to battle the heavy knot in my belly.

“Stay, Leah Jenkins, and watch your Alpha fight,” the prince says.

I snap my head up and level him with a glare.

He widens his eyes, so my glare must be pretty good.

“No,” I say firmly, then march through the crowd. I enter the building, climbing the steps in record time. I barge inside the break room that looks more like a small cafeteria, hoping I’ll find it empty. No luck today. A Telean male stands as I shove inside.

“Good morning,” I say. “I’m Leah.” I’ve only ever met General Dreikx among the Teleans, and this isn’t him. Though both are gray with ridged markings on their chins, this one is more slender than Dreikx and wears fewer pins on his collar. He nods and walks to the inder, pours two cups, and sits with me at the table. He wears a black turtleneck space suit and two silver pins on his collar. His silver pupils narrow as he slides the drink across the table. He says something I can’t understand. I frown.

“My name,” he clarifies.

“Oh. Can you repeat, please?”

“Mike.”

I smile. “Mike I can do.”

Claws wrap around the inder cup. “I understand you have accepted Sotay’s claim.”

“Um.” I purse my lips. Sotay and I are the last thing I expected a stranger wants to discuss. “I don’t think that’s any of your business.”

“You’re wrong. That is my business.”

The way he’s looking at me makes me uncomfortable. Glancing at the door, I wiggle in the chair. He follows my gaze, then turns those creepy silver-black eyes back on me. “I will hear others coming before they can hear us. There’s no tech, so the recording isn’t working. In any case, we’re not allowed to monitor the audio in this room. Speak freely.”

“I have nothing to say. Thank you for the inder.”You creepI want to add, but don’t.

“Sit, Leah.”

“Oh, fuck you.” I step away, and he catches my wrist, his tongue darting out like a snake’s. He hisses. “I’m risking my life just by talking to you, so you will answer my questions. I am here to help you, not hurt you. Don’t you want your mother back?”

Cold sweat washes over me, and I stumble back into the chair. “How…how do you know?”

“I’m head of communications in the Stronghold. It is my job to know.”

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