Page 33 of Venomous Heart
“This is no breach of diplomacy. This is a matter of life or death for an Eok.” Khal spoke again, his voice confident and full of authority. Arlen’s heart filled with pride as he saw the warrior his younger brother was becoming. “Commander Arlen is son to Enlon, Chief of the Erynian tribe. This would mean war.”
At the word, the Mantrilla soldiers moved, clicking their mandibles furiously. The Eoks moved in a fluid, well-practiced motion, their talons shooting out, ready to answer violence with violence. From the corner of his eye, Arlen saw Ava bend over the still unconscious body of the female who had given birth only a few days before. Shouts erupted among the humans and Arlen knew that soon, panic would follow.
Her mandibles clicked with wrath as Prime Councilor Aav bristled at the words, but a trilling sound made her soldiers stop dead in their tracks.
“The unity of the Ring is my first and only concern.” It was a blatant lie, but Arlen wasn’t going to contradict her. “If the claiming of the female is that important to you then I look forward to attending the ceremony tonight.”
With that, Prime Councilor Aav turned, her claws digging into the dirt as she led her soldiers back to the light transport that would bring her back to her ship, whose monstrous proportions dominated the sky like an impending storm.
Without saying another word, Khal stepped forward and picked up the unconscious woman from the ground, then walked back inside the medical facility. A young-looking human man broke out from the ranks and ran after the woman.
“What did you do?”
Arlen turned toward the owner of the small voice, still crouched on the ground. Purple eyes reflected the harsh sunlight and pearls of sweat covered the opalescent, almost translucent skin. Ava’s round mouth was open in an expression of shock and disbelief.
I made you mine, Ava. Nothing can stop this now, not even me.
Mating Venom flowed freely inside his mouth, through his veins. It would not stop, would not abate from now on. He had no choice. In reality, he never had.
His body had chosen for him, and he would claim this female. Claim her and hold her so close, he would never let her go.
“I claimed you as mate.” Arlen almost hissed at the outraged expression on her face as he said the words. Because he wouldn’t back down now. He would tear up the fabric of the Ring itself to take her.
And nothing would prevent it now, not even Ava.
Ava widened her mouth to speak, but shut it again as her gaze followed the flight of Prime Councilor Aav’s transport. When those purple eyes settled back on him, he knew this was meant to be.
“I saved your life, Ava. It belongs to me now.”
10
Ava
“It’s not fair.” Uril pouted, standing by the large window looking down at the crowd gathering outside in the garden. “Why do I have to stay inside?”
Ava exchanged an exasperated look with Edmila as Uril turned his back on them.
“For the hundredth time, it’s not safe.” Ava spoke evenly, although her patience was wearing thin. “We just can’t risk you being out there.”
Uril turned around, facing them with an all-too typical teenage attitude.
“And for the hundredth time, if it’s not safe for me,” Uril made a quotation mark in the air when he said the wordsafe, “then how come it’s safe for you?”
Ava exhaled forcefully, controlling her exasperation in the face of Uril’s unusual pigheadedness.
“Doctor Ava has a lot to do right now,” Edmila intervened. The girl had stayed with Ava after the disastrous scene with Prime Councilor Aav, reassuring her that the new doctor, Dr. Yrakan, was taking great care of Christie and her baby. Ava still didn’t relent in her stance that he should never have allowed Prime Councilor Aav to force them outside in the first place, but after witnessing for herself the terror the Mantrilla could provoke, she at least understood.
Uril turned toward the window again, still sulking. Edmila bit her lower lip as she kept working on Ava’s flaming red hair, plaiting the top portion in a long braid, then wrapping the whole thing around Ava’s head while allowing the full length of the lower portion to tumble freely. The style showed off Ava’s pointed ears—ears Ava always did her best to conceal. Yet, she had to give it to Edmila, this way of wearing her hair showed off her slender neck and the beauty of her large purple eyes.
It exposed everything that made her what she was. Not entirely human, but not entirely Avonie either.
She locked gazes with Edmila in the mirror as the girl finished her work. They hadn’t spoken in front of Uril, hadn’t told him anything of the scene down in the courtyard. Somehow the boy had slept through it all, safe in the confines of the mansion.
Safe under guards provided by Arlen.
“You look wonderful.” Edmila tried to smile but it didn’t reach her eyes. She knew none of this was Ava’s choice.
“Maybe I could just sneak out on the balcony, watch from there.”
