Page 39 of Hooded

“Klynn.” I rush forward, but he puts out a hand, claws fully sheathed.

“Please,” he pleads. “Don’t come any closer.”

I ignore him, taking the hand and pulling myself down next to him. He stinks of blood.

“What happened?” I ask, studying him as best I can in the lack of light. “Why is it dark in here?”

“There was…meat,” Klynn says, agony within his voice. “I ate. I should not have eaten, but I was weak. I have failed you, my mate.”

“This is…not your blood?” I query, a tremble in my voice I can’t control.

“No.” He hangs his head. “They gave me meat to make me look more fearsome.”

“Well, you do have such rugged good looks, hardly anyone would take you for a dangerous warrior,” I say, attempting to keep my temper under control. “Why meat?” I run my hand down the side of his face. “Why did they give you something to eat when we get rations?”

“Fresh…” Klynn groans. “I haven’t had fresh meat in too long.”

It makes sense. He is a huge predator, after all.

“In the dome…it was kept from us. Sometimes I got to it anyway,” he murmurs. “Sometimes I couldn’t help myself.”

“But the Tormelek—they don’t know about this?”

Klynn shakes his head, still avoiding my gaze. “Until now,” he adds.

“I don’t think they know anything, other than they struck lucky when they took my ship,” I growl.

Klynn sits up a little straighter, his clawed hand under my chin. “My fierce little warrior.”

“I’m pregnant,” I blurt out.

His hand falls away for an instant before it’s back and I’m firmly in his grip.

“You are with young? My young?”

I nod, as far as his hand will let me. “Narlix says I am. She also wants to help us escape, if she can come too.”

Klynn grumbles under his breath, but his bright eyes don’t leave mine.

“I am to be Lord Halfen’s champion on Kelion. He displayed me to his cronies in order they should wager on me to win,” he says, finally. “It was the reason I was given the…meat.” He yawns.

“Do you know when?”

“Three nova-days.” Klynn smacks his lips sleepily.

“We’re going through a nebula in a few nova-hours. Narlix says it should disrupt the ship’s systems enough we may be able to take advantage and leave.”

Klynn struggles, one wing rowing at the air as he pushes himself into a more upright sitting position and blinks a number of times as if clearing his head.

“Do you trust her?” he asks.

“No, I don’t trust anyone, but if what she says is true about the nebula, we’ll know soon enough.”

Klynn traces a hand through my hair.

“I want…” He clears his throat. “I want to show you how I feel about the youngling in your belly, but I’m…sticky.”

Dark eyes study my face.

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