Page 29 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
I stroke Mak’s head, hoping to make myself feel better. “I know, but whether he intended to or not, he did.”
“While it is he who owes you the apology, please accept mine on his behalf.”
Quinn really is a lucky woman to have Horek as her husband. “I appreciate you offering one.”
“Of course.” He bows slightly.
Beneath my hand, Mak stiffens and whines quietly. Her gaze is fixed somewhere in the direction of a small grove of trees. I squint, trying to pick out what she might see, but nothing stands out. She takes a step forward, then halts.
“What do you see out there?”
“It’s Janik,” Horek replies for her.
I glance at him in question and he gestures with a chin jerk.
“He’s there. She can either see or smell him. But that’s what has her attention.”
My heart shouldn’t skip a beat, but it does. I strain my eyes harder trying to make out his form within the shadows, but if heisout there, he’s well hidden.
“Are you sure?”
Horek nods. The doors of the dormitory crash open and Quinn runs toward us, yelling my name. The shift in Mak happens in a blink. She goes from whining to attack mode. The hairs on her back and down her spine stand on end and she’s crouched in a lunge position with her teeth bared.
“Mak, no.” My tone is firmer and deeper than I’ve ever used, but I can’t let her hurt Quinn even though she’s only trying to protect me.
My best friend comes to a screeching halt and raises her hands in surrender. “Holy shit, what is that thing?”
Carefully, so as not to startle her, I stroke the phinnek’s head, whispering soothing words and sounds. “Mak, sit.”
It takes her a couple seconds, but finally she complies. I stroke her again and praise her. “That’s a good girl.”
Thankfully, Alik did prepare me. I reach into my pocket and bring out a dried berry. Apparently his pup, Beck, is a fan as well. I look up at Quinn. “Come slowly forward.”
She narrows her gaze. “I’m fine right where I am, thank you very much.”
“Okay, how about we come to you?” I offer Mak the treat and she happily takes it. With no idea if she can understand me, I try anyway. “Mak, let’s go meet Quinn. She’s my best friend so you need to be nice to her. Do you hear me?” I infuse as much seriousness as I can into my demand.
With a quick prayer, I walk forward and don’t stop until my arms are around Quinn and we’re holding each other tightly.
“I was so worried. Did he hurt you? He’s going to pay for kidnapping you.”
“Janik didn’t hurt me.”
Quinn draws back and scans my face with a crease between her brows. I glance away, unable to handle the scrutiny, because evenIheard a…tone in my words.
“Let’s go inside. Devon and Lindsey are desperate to see you as well and I promised I’d bring you upstairs as soon as you got here.” She releases me and steps over to Horek who has come to stand nearby.
I can’t help notice his hand is on his blaster and, while he’s fully aware of Quinn, he doesn’t take his eyes off Mak. Not that I blame him. He wouldn’t let anything happen to his mate and Mak, regardless of her impression of domestication, is a deadly predator.
“Thanks for bringing me back here.” Not that I expected anything less. The commander wasn’t going to trust anyone other than himself to escort me.
“Of course.” He glances in the direction where he is certain Janik had been before turning back to me. “Be careful.”
I nod. Quinn and he share a goodbye kiss and she whispers to him before he finally leaves. My guess is, he’ll go investigate the area where Janik was, but I suspect he’s gone by now.
“Let’s get you inside so you can tell us everything that happened.” Quinn loops her arm around mine and guides me into the dorm.
Mak follows and the guards manning the entrance warily monitor her every move. I don’t know how I’m going to be able to keep watch over her within the city. She’s not a pet and has been free to roam within the rainforest. Plus, she’s Janik’s companion and the rebels all know her. She was much safer back at their camp. I wish I knew why she’d chosen to come with me.
