Page 80 of Shattered Silence

“What is it?”

“Do you know someone called Anuk?”

For a moment, Alexis’s eyes grew unfocused, and again there was that faint shimmer of green. “Oh, the blue lady? We met in a dream,” she whispered, as if in a trance. “We’re friends now.”

What the hell does that even mean?

“That’s… good…” I guess. A ripple of unease coursed down Layla’s spine, and goosebumps prickled on her arms, but she didn’t quite know why. The Tharian wasn’t an enemy… was she?

Sensing her discomfort, Enki laid his hand on the small of her back as they stepped through the unravelling black door. “Go and get her something to eat. I will stand guard outside in case she does anything stupid,” he whispered, turning and pressing her against the wall as the doors closed behind them. “I am impressed.”

“Why? I didn’t do anything special.”

“You take care of your own,” he rumbled, dropping a sneaky kiss on her lips. “Even when most of your race has shunned you.”

“You know about that?” Heat entered her cheeks as she felt a surge of that familiar crappy old emotion—shame. “How did you know?”

“I know, and I don’t care.” He kissed her again, sending delicious ripples of warmth through her body. “If that is the only thing keeping you from returning to Earth, I can fix it.”

“But there’s no way you can—”

“Layla.” His tone became stern; he spoke her name like a whipcrack, demanding her complete and undivided attention. “Don’t argue. I will make them understand. How can I allow my mate to suffer at the hands of mere humans?” His eyes glinted dangerously, promising a world of pain to anyone who dared to defy him.

Stars, he looked so fierce, and Layla loved that about him. It was at that moment that she started to believe she might actually be able to return to Earth—and live in peace.

It might not be perfect, but Earth was home, and she missed the feeling of the pure summer sun on her bare skin. If there was one thing she wished she could bottle up and bring with her into space, it was that.

Layla gave him a sly look. “And what about me? Do you see me as a mere human?”

Even though she already knew the answer to her question.

“No. You are my mate.” He kissed her again. “For me, there is no equal.”

“You’re not so bad either, Kordolian.” She poked him in the chest. “We humans have our good points too, you know.”

“I am not interested in other humans. Only you.”

Ooh. That was the thing about these Kordolians. Abbey had tried to explain it to her—that once they made up their minds they were all in—but Layla needed to witness it first hand; to live it in order to truly understand.

She was still learning so much about him, and he kept surprising her in the most thrilling of ways. All it took was a whisper, a glance, a touch, and Layla would become entranced all over again.

Seriously, when had they gone from scary alien/frightened human to this? It had happened so fast, and yet it felt so natural. Perhaps if Enki hadn’t shown her small glimpses of vulnerability behind that diamond-hard exterior of his, she wouldn’t have caved so quickly, but he was what he was.

Dangerous.

A little bit damaged.

Irresistible.

The way he’d been after the consciousness transfer—wild, haunted, savage—that image of him was imprinted on her mind forever, but she would not forcefully seek an explanation from him.

Layla knew all too well what it was like to be hounded, and maybe all that time she’d spent alone in the escape-pod had taught her a certain kind of patience.

No, she would wait until he came to her, in the same the way that he’d been so patient with her while her injuries were still healing.

And if he never mentioned another word about the whole thing ever again…

Well, maybe that was okay too.

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