Page 15 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
“You sound almost disappointed.”
She flails her arm around and nearly knocks the tray off her lap. “I am. You’re easy to dislike knowing you killed Konek.”
“What happens when you find out I didn’t kill him? Yes, yes, I know.” I wave off her interruption. “Just for the point of this interesting conversation, let’s say I’m innocent. How will you feel about me then?”
Olivia’s lips pucker and she scrunches her nose. I shouldn’t have agreed to give her the second glass of tavese. Especially when she slurs slightly.
“I don’t know. Youareleading a rebellion against the prince, after all. Granted, I don’t know all the potilics—potlicks—politics, damn it—on Bohna.” Olivia snorts. “Bohna. Boner. Boner. Bohna. Wait, what was I talking about again?”
I press my lips together to smother my amusement. “Bohnari politics.”
“Oh, yeah. I don’t know about them, but Alik doesn’t seem like such a bad guy. He makes sure you and the other rebels get that snorty drug so you don’t go bazooka. Bazooka? Whatever. You know what I mean.”
Any amusement I feel quickly fades.“Except he doesn’t.” I shouldn’t be speaking of any of this to her, but it’s clear she already knows more than she should. Alik should take better care of who’s listening in on his conversations.
“He doesn’t what?”
I shift my attention back to Olivia. The tray tips off her lap and I snag it before it tumbles to the floor.
“Alik has everyone on Bohna believing he provides the entire planet with kanet powder. Only it’s a lie. He’s intentionallywithholding enough from us that we’re barely surviving. Already this moon cycle I’ve had to destroy two more of my people.” My heart aches at the loss. “Alik doesn’t need to go to war with us. He’ll kill us just the same.”
A soft snore comes from Olivia. Her eyes have fully shut and her mouth hangs partially open. I gently pluck the empty glass from her hand and set it on the tray before carrying it into the kitchen. I’ll have someone get it in the morning. Taking care not to wake her, I lift her into my arms and stride into the bedroom. Her breath caresses the flesh of my neck and sends a shudder of desire racing through me. The mating fever burns in my veins, growing hotter the longer I hold Olivia. I place her on the bed and she mumbles something in her sleep. For several moments I stare down at her, soaking in her beauty and wishing things were different. I cover her with a blanket, take one last look, and leave her in peace.
Chapter 7
Olivia
Is this what dying feels like? If so, I don’t recommend it. My head pounds like someone is punching my brain, and my mouth tastes like week-old garbage. Memories of last night—was it last night?—slowly return.
The kidnapping, the introduction to Mak, walking through the rebel camp and all the stares, verbally sparring with Janik, and finally the food and drink. After that, everything gets hazy. Fucking booze. I’m never drinking alcohol again.
I breathe in long and deep in hopes to ease the throbbing in my head, but all I do is inhale cinnamon and vanilla. The fabric beneath my cheek is soft. Far softer than what I slept on back on Earth, but not so different than what’s on my bed back in Preska. Except for the smell.
I lie still and take stock of my surroundings as best I can by hearing alone. There’s only silence. No other person breathing that might indicate I’m not in this bed alone. I also take inventory of my body. It feels like all my clothes are still on andthere’s no stickiness between my thighs. Not that I think Janik would have…done anything to me while I was incapacitated. I stop myself right there. Do I really believe he wouldn’t have taken advantage of my lowered inhibitions if he had the chance? To my surprise, I do. Why that is remains the question.
From the other room, a door closes, and a woman’s voice reaches me. One I recognize from last night. Janik’s mother. I stay still and try to listen.
“Keep your voice down. Olivia is still sleeping.”
That was definitely Janik.
“Did you fuck her?”
Jesus, lady. Nothing like getting straight to it, huh?
“Whether I did or not is none of your concern, Mother.”
“It is my concern. She could ruin everything you’ve worked toward. Your focus should be on the throne and taking it by any means necessary. You have toyed with Alik long enough. He’s made it perfectly clear he doesn’t see you as a threat. You’ve been nothing more than an inconvenience to him. He holds all the power. Power that belongs to you.”
Wow. I’m really starting to not like this woman.
“I appreciate all the advice you have given me, Mother, but I know what I’m doing.”
There’s a long, drawn out pause where either neither is speaking or their voices are too low for me to make out.
“Your men are growing tired of the wait,” Janik’s mom finally says. “Don’t forget what happens to you if you don’t take the throne soon. The mating fever is only going to get worse. Alreadyyou can barely control it. I won’t be able to stop them from doing what they need to. Think hard about your next step. Don’t wait until it’s too late.”
Seconds later the door closes again, which leads me to believe Janik’s mother’s gone.
