Page 4 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
Ryvik latches onto her arm to stop her retreat, and my vision goes dark. One moment, I’m standing in the same spot I’ve been since I set Olivia down, and the next, I’m looming over the male, now lying on the ground and groaning in pain.
“Do not touch her.” The command rumbles out of my chest, the words nearly indistinguishable.
Ryvik glances up with wide eyes, while Olivia stumbles away from me with fear etched across her face. My rage dies a swift death and my claws and fangs retract. I hadn’t realized they’d lengthened. The beast that resides in all Bohnari has never risen to the surface that quickly, despite our dwindling supply of kanet powder. Except with me and with increasing frequency.
A fact my mother and I are trying to hide.
“I won’t hurt you.” My gaze bores into Olivia. I ignore Ryvik, who slowly stands and disappears within the trees leaving me alonewith the female. I’ll apologize to him later. At this moment, she is my main concern.
She huffs out a harsh breath. “Sure could have fooled me. First you kidnap me, and now you’re acting like some crazed monster.”
I flinch at her description. It isn’t too far off. The mating fever inside me is only getting worse. I’m not sure how much longer I’ll be able to maintain control before action will have to be taken. Which is why I need to take over the throne soon. If I wait much longer, it may be too late.
“For now, you’ll be my guest.”
Olivia gapes. “Yourguest? Don’t you mean prisoner?”
“Not at all.” I give her a sweeping bow. “An honored guest who will be treated as such.”
She scoffs. “Excuse me if I don’t feel as such. Do you throw every honored guest over your shoulder like a sack of grain and take them away from the safety of their own home and their friends?”
I grin. For some reason, her anger amuses me. It’s better than the fear she showed moments ago. “Only the lucky ones.”
“God, you’re infuriating. It’s no wonder Alik plans on sending his guards in here to flush you all out. Not only did you push the blame back onto him for Konek’s murder, but you’ve ignored his efforts to talk.”
This is the second time she has accused me of murdering another Bohnari. This is also the first I am hearing of the prince wanting to speak with me. “What do you mean?”
Olivia does a rolling gesture with her eyes. “Exactly what I just said. He’s been trying to arrange some kind of meeting with you to discuss your role in Konek’s death, and you’ve refused to give him an answer.”
“How is it you think you know these things?”
“My best friend is the commander’s mate. She’s heard conversations between Horek and Alik.”
Each time Olivia says that interloper’s name, a feral rage rises up inside me. I temper the need to return to Preska and confront the false prince. I also don’t want her to see how much her words disturb me. Not only am I still reeling by the fact that this Konek died, but also that Alik has allegedly been trying to set up a parlay. This is news to me. It’s not as though I think she’s lying, but she must be mistaken. She has to be.
“Maybe I’ve just been too busy to meet with him. I have a rebellion to lead, after all.”
Olivia laughs, but I don’t like the way it sounds. “Too busy to care about, or take responsibility for, the fact that you killed someone? Why am I not surprised? You strike me as an entitled jerk who doesn’t care about anyone but himself.”
She storms off into the rainforest, where any number of dangers lie.
“You’re going the wrong way.”
Olivia pauses and glances back. “If you say it’s wrong, then it must be right.”
With that, she starts off again.
“Stubborn female.” I sigh and go after her.
With my stride being far greater than hers, it doesn’t take long before I catch up. She pointedly ignores me, not even once casting a look my way. Her steps are loud and forceful, and every so often she pushes a dangling limb out of her way with a soft, muttered curse. Still, I hear each one. All of them are directed at me, rather than the object in her path.
I divide my attention between Olivia and our surroundings, keeping my hand on the blaster I carry at my waist. She truly is going in the wrong direction.
“What happens when you discover I’ve been correct this entire time, and you’re far off course?”
“Then I’ll head in a different direction,” she says in a sharp tone that indicates my question is stupid.
A grin breaks out on my lips, and I chuckle before I can stop either of them. Olivia finally darts a glance at me with narrowed eyes.
