Page 30 of Monstrous Heat
KROKTL
My whole worldexploded in a raging ball of fury.
Blood. I smelled my mate’s blood on the air.
Someone. Had FUCKING TOUCHED. My. Fucking. MATE.
Nose high, I tasted the air, focusing on the sweet flavor of her blood that shouldn’t be there. I smelled humans. At least five or six. I screamed out a battle cry that silenced the jungle in a five-mile radius.
Motherfuckers. Will. Die!
I tore through the jungle, following that tantalizing hint of her blood. It only took me a few minutes to realize the trail led back to her group’s camp. One of her own people had hurt her? Taken her? I’d fucking end them for betraying her trust.
Breathing hard, I tried to get a grip on the beast’s fury. The last thing she’d want to see was her new lover ripping the limbs and heads off her supposed friends and eating them whole. Besides, I didn’t want to be seen unless I had no other choice. The camp that’d been nearly empty a few hours ago now buzzed with jeeps and people. Soldiers. Would they use armed men for a rescue mission?
We would, but I didn’t know much about human military tactics. Crouched in good cover, I scanned all the vehicles and tents, taking an assessment of their weaponry. Rifles. Nothing heavy. Nothing up to penetrating my armored hide.
I found the tent where she lay. They’d tied her arms behind her back. A large contusion swelled on her left temple. I’d have to monitor it and make sure she didn’t experience a brain bleed.
Fucking hell. I might have to contact Snryx. If she needed anything more than basic medical assistance, I wouldn’t have a choice. I’d do anything to save her.
Even if it cost me my life.
17
NATALIE
Groggy and fuzzy, I woke up in my tent. My head ached like I had a bad hangover. Had Tomas brought out the mystery jug again? I’d learned my lesson the first night. I didn’t remember drinking.
Blinking bleary eyes, I tried to remember. I didn’t think I should be here, though this was definitely my tent. The same scent of mildew. The familiar watermark stain down the side that looked like a face. There was its eye. Strong, full lips. Hint of hair curling along the neck. No, that wasn’t quite right. Leaves. Not hair.
Kroktl didn’t have hair.
I jolted wide awake. Everything came pouring back. The men coming to the hut. One of them must have hit me. Had I managed to call Kroktl before I passed out? I couldn’t remember.
I couldn’t move. My hands were numb, my arms heavy. It took me a moment to understand why. My hands were tied behind my back. It took me forever to roll up on one side and heave myself upright, wincing at the pain in my head.
“Kroktl,” I rasped out, choking on my dry mouth. My tongue felt like a wad of cotton. No way he heard that, but I couldn’t get any louder until I had a drink of water.
What if he thought I’d run from him? Abandoned him?
I was back here at camp. Would he even think to come here and look for me? Sure, he claimed he’d be able to follow my scent, but if he came here and saw me back with my people, he might assume that I’d come here willingly.
“Stop it,”I told myself firmly.“Stop panicking.”
He would find me. With his super-soldier senses, he’d know that I was hurt or at least held against my will. He’d take one look at the goose egg that was probably swollen on my forehead and know exactly what had happened.
He’s not going to leave me here.
“Ah,” Dr. Snyder said as he ducked into the tent. “You’re awake. Good. I was worried about you.”
“Yeah right,” I muttered.
Old Natalie would have bitten her tongue, afraid of ruining her future career. New Natalie didn’t give a rat’s ass what this asshole thought. I didn’t have any proof, but I sure had my suspicions about what had upset him last night, and it had nothing to do with me getting lost in the jungle.
He sat down on the camp stool beside the cot with a heavy sigh, as if I’d just failed his final exam. Twirling his favorite wanna-be Indiana Jones hat, he couldn’t even meet my gaze. “Well, Miss Whit, you’ve certainly caused me a considerable amount of trouble.”
I didn’t even try to stifle a sarcastic laugh.Good.“How’s that?”
