Page 22 of The Ozar Triad

“Let her rest. We need to make plans, and then we will rest with her. Tomorrow will be a big day for all of us,” Rujali said.

He reluctantly exited his quarters, his brothers trailing behind him. He knew they didn’t want to leave her, either. It went against every instinct in his body. Under normal circumstances, when a Trio found their mate, they didn’t leave each other’s side for a good fortnight. At least.

But the current circumstances were different. Their mate was different. Conditions weren’t optimal for them to do that. Rujali would just have to fight his instincts, make sure his brothers also did, and then he would have the space and time to persuade their mate that her place was at their sides.

* * *

Riley

It was stifling hot. In fact, Riley seemed to be surrounded by heat from her forehead to her feet. She turned to find coolness, but met another firm wall of heat.

She opened her eyes to see a landscape of hard muscle covered by silken skin. She traced a swirl of black ink with her eyes, transfixed by the intricate details. Although the markings were dark, they weren’t solid thick lines at all, but were made from a series of small, crystalline designs and patterns. Her gaze tracked the beautiful swirls and shapes that wandered over the expanse of skin until she fell into twin dark-liquid pools that stared with the utmost intensity down at her.

Rujali.

His eyes were exquisite, as was the rest of his face, brimming with power and something almost hungry.

She couldn’t help the urge that overtook her when she cupped his cheek and ran the pad of her thumb across his dark stubble. A corner of her mind registered that she could move again, but the urge to touch him was more overwhelming. She needed to run her fingers over that expanse of skin. Explore.

His long fingers encircled her wrist. She gasped. Maybe he didn’t want her stroking him.

“Sorry,” she murmured.

When she went to take her hand away, he kept her wrist in his hold.

“There is nothing to apologize for,” he said. “You may touch me whenever and however you desire. You are our mate. It is your right and I will accept whatever you will give us with joy in my heart.”

A frown pulled her brow. They’d called her their mate many times now, and she didn’t think it was the same as when she called her friend. “Mate?”

“Our destined. Our future.”

Oh, shit. “No, I’m not.” Panic seized her chest and a flush washed over her skin. She tried to tug her hand free, but Rujali held her tightly. She jerked backwards to feel another source of heat and wall of muscle stirring behind her. She glanced over her shoulder.

Setzan looked down at her, his hair ruffled from sleep, a dozy look in his eyes. Her breath caught as a delicate shudder worked through her. That fresh awake look was sexy as sin.

“Our mate does not believe us.” Rujali moved onto his elbow and the two giants peered down at her like she was breakfast after a week-long fast.

Setzan’s sensual mouth transformed into an easy grin. “I can think of a few things, nice things, that will not only persuade her, but leave her with no doubt where she belongs.”

Riley opened her mouth, her mind spinning. “I… I have to get home.”

“Luckily you don’t have to go far at all. Home is here. With us,” Rujali said.

“But you don’t understand.” Her heart pummeled in her chest. These three massive, sexy men—aliens, with horns!—didn’t seem to listen to a word she said. She had no idea what they were talking about, but her body heated and ached with the steamy looks they shared with her.

She couldn’t say it was altogether unpleasant. Or unwanted. A part of her, a deep-down part she long ago refused to acknowledge, the part that had withered and died sometime in her childhood, the part that craved affection that didn’t demand anything in return, flickered awake.

“It’s you who doesn’t understand, Little One, but you will. It is our intention to show you just how very much you are wanted,” Rujali said.

“But… but why?”

“You should question our intentions, just not when it comes to you,” Setzan said. “You are our mate, the most precious being in the universe to us. It is our way. It is a thing our species instantly knows. Tell me you don’t feel it too. A connection. A need to be with us. A knowing that we are connected on a soul level, brought to life by the gods before we were even born.”

Her frown deepened. Shedidfeel something. But how could she? She didn’t know anything about them. They were aliens, for fuck’s sake.

Maybe that was the issue. They were aliens. A far corner of her mind still reeled that she was face to face with such different beings, but she couldn’t become stuck there. If she allowed herself to sink into the shock, she didn’t know if she would ever get out again.

Yet, there was a pull in her chest she couldn’t name, a burning need to touch them, to receive them in return. To welcome them into her arms. Into her body. Her heart seemed to shift and open, creating a space that waited to be filled.

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