Page 74 of Fallen from the Stars

Dracchus grunted in response, and a moment later, the doorwhooshedclosed.

Vasil’s hearts thumped, and his muscles were stiff with tension. He turned back toward the bathroom only after Dracchus had exited the room and the door was shut. For kraken, nudity had never been an issue — it was simply their natural state of being. Clothing could be a hindrance in water, and the usefulness of their innate camouflage far outweighed any benefits a piece of clothing could offer. Despite that, the thought of another male seeing his mate bared was unacceptable to Vasil. He’d not realized her lack of inhibition regarding her body could be problematic until now; she was forhimonly, andhecared about who saw her even if she did not.

Theo had already climbed into the shower stall and closed the glass door. She turned on the water and moaned in pleasure as it cascaded over her chest. Billowing steam filled the air, fogging the glass and, frustratingly, hindering his view of her.

He moved into the bathroom, hoping to see more, but the steam was too obscuring. It reduced Theo to a blurred image, hands on the wall beneath the shower nozzle and head bowed to let the spray run over her hair and body.

“Oh, this isgood.” She moaned again; her throaty sounds were similar to those she sometimes made during sex.

Vasil’s blood heated, but he allowed himself to move no closer to Theo. He was exhausted — he’d spent two days traveling between the pod and the Facility without rest, leaving his muscles rubbery and uncertain. More importantly,shewas exhausted. She’d been leaning on him rather heavily after they entered the Facility, and he knew she’d pushed her body to its limits well before their arrival.

Caring for his mate went well beyond their couplings; she needed food, water, and rest.

He forced himself out of the bathroom, casting a last glance over his shoulder at her indistinct figure before turning his attention to more pressing matters.

A table with a pair of chairs stood against one wall in the main room, and Larkin had left a tray with fresh fruit, cheese, and several strips of smoked fish atop it. He would have to thank her and Dracchus for their thoughtfulness later.

He took one of the glasses from the table and filled it with cold water at the bathroom sink. If Theo noticed him enter again, she made no indication; she remained in the same position she’d been in when he left, hands pressed to the wall. The ventilation system had kicked on, sucking most of the steam out of the air through an opening on the ceiling.

After placing the glass of water beside the food tray, he went to the upright box of drawers — he believed the human term wasdresser— and checked its contents. Clothing of varying colors and materials, all neatly packed and folded, filled the drawers. He hoped Theo would be happy having something to wear other than form-fitting body suits, even ifhepreferred to see all her delectable curves accentuated as often as possible.

Now that he thought about it more, perhaps it would be best if she wore baggy, ill-fitting clothing whenever there was a chance of anyone else seeing her.

No…she is beautiful, and everyone will know it. She should not be hidden.

“I am being a jealous male,” he muttered as he turned away from the dresser.

“There’s nothing wrong with a little jealousy,” Kane said softly through an unseen speaker. “It means you will fight all the harder to protect her. So long as you keep in mind that she is not athingfor you to possess, I don’t see a problem.”

Vasil frowned, unable to keep himself from glancing up in search of the source of Kane’s voice. For as long as he could remember, only the Computer had spoken through the Facility in such a fashion. There had been ghosts —holograms— summoned from time to time, all of which spoke with their own voices, but they were always isolated things, so real and immediate that it almost seemed as though they could be touched. Kane was disembodied and seemed to permeate the whole place. Did he see all, hear all?

“I know she is not athing,” Vasil replied. “We have chosen each other, given ourselves over to each other. Sheismine as much as I am hers.” He moved to the foot of the bed and spread his tentacles, easing himself down.

Kane did not immediately respond; the only sound in the room was that of running water from the shower — a steady spray accompanied by heavier splatters as it ran off Theo’s body and hit the floor.

“Will she be safe here, kraken?” Kane asked.

“Why do you ask with that tone?”

“I have seen surveillance footage I find somewhat alarming.”

“I do not know some of those words,” Vasil said, furrowing his brow.

“Images captured by cameras in this facility. I’ve seen much of what’s happened here between humans and kraken.”

“That was from long ago,” Vasil said. “She is safe.”

“Some of it was not that long ago — about two years, to be exact. That’s hardly a long time. It took place only a few corridors away from here. I’m sure you remember, as you were there.”

Vasil’s mind flashed back to the battle against Neo and the exiled kraken who’d come back to murder the humans; the hallway had already been a bloody mess by the time Vasil arrived, and he’d added more blood to it. “It was a long time ago for us. We have moved on since then. I will not be dishonest and tell you everything is perfect, but the hatred our people held for humans has passed. I fought to defend the humans who’d come to live with us.”

“I only want her safe.”

“Her safety is the main reason I brought her here, Kane.”

The computer made a sighing sound. “I know you would not knowingly place Theo in danger. I just…worry for her.”

The flow of water ceased, and Vasil listened as the shower door opened. Theo’s feet padded across the floor. She emerged from the bathroom a few moments later, skin pinkened by the hot water and damp hair loose around her shoulders, clad only in a towel.

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