Page 28 of Taming the Alien Outlaw
I watch closely for any tells, but everyone in the room appears surprised by the news.
“Who told you such a thing?” My mother asks.
“Were any of you also aware that during the explosion of the mines on the evening the queen held the welcome banquet for the human brides, someonewas, in fact, killed? Yet, when I brought it up a short time later, I was told it was a lie the princemade up in order to make us look like murderers.” I ignore her question.
Orvak sputters. “Where are you hearing these fabrications?”
“It doesn’t matter.”
Someone pounds on the door. My annoyance builds. Whoever it is knows not to interrupt us. I yank open the offending barrier and glare at the person on the other side.
“What?” I gnash my teeth, but at the sight of Covak, my stomach lurches.
“I’m sorry, sir, but the female…”
“What happened?” Heated embers flare to life in my chest.
“I went to take her a data pad like you asked, but when I knocked, she didn’t answer. Bannik was able to let me in and…she’s gone. I’ve searched the entire camp and no one has seen her.”
“You’re sure?”
“Yes.”
Without hesitation, I push past him and race to my dwelling, slamming the door open upon my arrival. The food trays are on the counter and both plates are bare. Olivia’s scent still lingers in the air. The bedroom is as equally empty as the rest of the house. Same with the hygiene room where the stunning Bohnari dress she’d been wearing when I took her remains folded on the counter. Which means wherever she went, I don’t believe it was planned.
If she tried to make her way back to Preska, any number of dangers await her. She could get lost farther within the depthsof the rainforest or come across one of the many predators that roam it. I grab the dress. Outside, I call for Mak. My mother approaches, her stride brisk and her face twisted in anger.
“Did I not tell you this female would be a distraction?”
I’m not in the right headspace to deal with her at the moment. My control is hanging on by a thread and I worry any small thing is going to set it off. I call for Mak again, but she doesn’t come, which isn’t normal. Yes, she’s independent and doesn’t consider me her master, but she still listens when I beckon her. Which means, she’s beyond hearing distance.
“Janik, cease ignoring me.” My mother grabs my arm and for the first time in my life, I push her against the wall of my home and bare my teeth in her face.
“Do not touch me.” Realization at what I’ve done strikes, and I release her just as quickly, stumbling backwards. “I beg your forgiveness.”
The fear I’ve never before seen in her gaze doesn’t fade, and she pushes the hair off her face with a trembling hand. “You’re losing control.”
I am. Except when I was with Olivia. She was able to calm the beast inside. “I’ll fix this.”
Her pitying gaze is almost more than I can stand. “It may be too late.”
Refusing to accept that, I pivot and make my way out of the camp toward Preska. I don’t know if that’s where Olivia went, but something tells me my missing phinnek is with her. That at least eases some of my concern. Mak will make sure no harm comes to her. On silent feet, I race toward the city, slowing onlywhen I get close. I divert my path and head toward the small section of crumbling wall hidden within a grouping of bushes behind a narrow building. I discovered the entry point nearly six moon cycles ago and have used it to smuggle various items out of Preska as well as myself into the city.
It isn’t until I’ve skirted my way around several buildings that I realize I still hold Olivia’s dress, and I forgot the cloak I normally wear to conceal my identity. There is a small cadre of Jintiri priests who live within the city, which is who I stole the cloak from. While my horns add some height to me, it’s easy enough to blend in so long as no one looks too closely. Since I can’t worry about that now, I make sure to remain within the shadows offered by the towering buildings and the vast number of trees that fill Preska.
I avoid the area of the city where the guard’s barracks are located and instead, head for the dormitory where the females reside. As always there are two guards stationed at the entrance and one on each corner of the large block where the building is located. I locate a copse of trees that offer me a view of the entrance and settle in to wait.
If Olivia made it to Preska, the first place she’ll be directed to go is the palace to speak with both the prince and the commander, perhaps also the queen. What will she tell them? There were no secrets she could have learned in the short time she was in our camp. Except the fact I’d been struck hard with mating fever this morning and only she’d been able to rein in the monster that dwells inside.
The sun moves slowly across the sky and with it my worry grows when she doesn’t appear. What if I’m wrong and she is still lost within the rainforest? Or what if she met with danger and lies injured somewhere waiting for help to arrive? Scenarios runthrough my mind, each one worse than the next until my breaths come faster and my skin itches with an uncontrollable need to scratch it. I’m holding on by a tether until the breeze shifts and with it comes the familiar fragrance of Olivia. The burning flames flicking within my veins heat slightly at the scent of her. I straighten from my hiding spot and search her out. Moments later, I breathe easier because there she is, still wearing my clothes. At her side is Mak.
Chapter 13
Olivia
Fatigue makes my feet and the rest of my limbs heavy as Horek escorts Mak and me back to the dormitory after a far-too long interrogation. I probably shouldn’t think of it that way, but there were times during the prince’s questioning where it almost felt like I was being treated like the bad guy.
“Alik did not intend to make it sound as if you were the criminal,” Horek says, almost like he can read my mind.
