Page 59 of Chieftain
“You mean when you called me your mate?” Her laughter was slightly muffled, and I pulled away, eyeing her curiously.
"I said it out loud," I murmured, astounded. I remembered feeling it with every fiber of my soul as I reached for her—wanting to protect her as the poison Nansar shot me with sapped my strength. My heart was screaming the words, and my lips and mind, numbed with poison, were too weak to hold the vow inside.
“Oh, yeah.” She pulled back to gaze at me, impish amusement dancing in her green eyes. “A bunch of people heard you too, especially Nansar, who’s off somewhere trying to figure out how to use it to his advantage, the turd.”
Confusion raced through me as my mind recapped the moments before I fell unconscious. “But how…how are you here? I thought… I saw you in pain, clutching your chest.” My fingertips trace over her breast, stopping just above herheartbeat. I am a warrior… a chieftain. I have seen battle and bloodshed and death without fear. But I was terrified to let my fingers move the few inches it would take to feel Emmy’s heartbeat—or lack of it.
"Oh, it hurt," Emmy snorted with a playful roll of her eyes. "You didn't tell me this mate thing was painful." Her gaze centered on my face, and the amusement died from her eyes, replaced with such tenderness.
“And you’re alright?” I cupped her cheek in my palm. She felt warm and soft—healthy.
“I’m fine.” The small shoulders rose in a shrug. “Don’t get me wrong, it hurt like hell. For a moment, I seriously thought I was having a heart attack. I passed out for a minute, but when I woke up, the pain was gone.”
Reverently, as though touching the goddess herself, I moved my fingers to lie over Emmy's heartbeat. It was strong and rhythmic, stuttering minutely when my fingertips touched her skin.
Just like mine.
My face split into a smile as I placed a hand on my chest. Emmy watched, her small white teeth embedded in her lower lip. I grabbed her hands and held them under mine, one hand over her heart, the other over mine. Her green eyes widened, her mouth curving into a mimic of my smile as she realized our hearts beat in unison.
Perfect unison.
“Does this mean…” Emmy’s voice held a low tone, as though she feared speaking too loudly would destroy the bubble of happiness surrounding us.
“It means the Valana has blessed us as true mates.” I felt my heart stutter as I made the statement. I said it again. Every bit of feeling I held for her poured into just two words. "My mate."
“My mate.” Emmy's lips quivered as she spoke, a subtle tremor that electrified me.
The warmth of her body radiated as I pulled her onto my lap and encircled her in my embrace. The Valana blessed us, and Emmy fulfilled me in every way. My breath caught as she pressed her lips against mine. She tasted sweet, and combined with her touch, desire raced along my skin, going straight to my cock.
Emmy moaned, a low perfect sound of building pleasure, and I flicked my tongue into her mouth, tangling with hers. Her hands wrapped around my neck, holding me close as her fingers played in my hair.
“You know,” she murmured, rubbing her nose against mine when we broke for air. "If I had to get kidnapped by aliens… getting my twenty-something body back and finding the most wonderful, generous, sweet, sexy man isn't too bad a deal."
"I completely agree," I teased, feathering my lips against hers. I shifted, drawing her closer, not wanting anything more than to claim her sweet, soft body. Still, as our surroundings came into focus, the matter of her safety waned my desire.
We were in the pool house. They dumped me in the middle of the floor, and Emmy stayed by my side. As a prison, the location was a joke. The locks on the door would break easily. The problem was the eight or more guards I heard milling on the other side of the door and windows.
“You’ve been unconscious for about an hour,” Emmy answered my questioning gaze. “Nansar told the guards he didn’t expect you to wake up till morning. Guess you're stronger than he thought.”
“I would have expected Nansar to kill me,” I muttered, feeling a shiver run through Emmy at the idea. Aljani were not a warrior people. Their military might rely on weaponry and technology, not a thirst for violence and bloodshed. Nansar should know the Vaktaire well enough to know he should not allow me to live if he meant to harm my mate. The burgeoning bruise on her pale skin was enough to call for his death.
“He’s too chicken shit," Emmy huffed, rolling her eyes. "When Nansar tossed us in here, he told the guards he was going to contact somebody named Brukkus to do his dirty work and to keep us in here until he arrived."
“Another Kerzak,” I growled, careful to keep my voice low. “Did he say anything about how long before Brukkus arrives?”
Emmy shook her head, curls dancing around her pale face, and I couldn’t stop my fingers from capturing a few strands. “Nansar didn’t say, but I heard a couple of the guards bitching about having to stand guard all night.”
"That's my little spy." I pressed a kiss to her upturned lips. "We'll need to find a way out of here before this Brukkus arrives." I glanced toward the door. Taking on eight Aljani guards would normally be good exercise, but I felt sluggish with the drug still in my system. I wouldn't risk Emmy being harmed.
“Charick is nearby, but he didn’t want to risk springing us until we have the cover of night.”
“You talked to Charick?” I blinked at her.
Emmy grinned with adorable smugness and pointed to her ankle. “It was smart of you to hide the comm on my ankle. The guards took yours but didn’t even search me. He wants to wait until dark before he and Bartuk come for us.” Her face faltered slightly. “They haven’t found Willa yet.”
“I’m sorry, my mate.” Gods, it felt good to say that out loud. To say it and know that everything the word encompassed was mine with Emmy. My arms tightened around her waist as she snuggled against me. Nothing in my life has ever felt this right… this perfect.
“We will not leave this moon until we search every inch for your friend,” I promised her.
