Page 18 of Captured

“I’m willing to agree with that, but I can’t let you go.”

He crossed his arms over his chest, tucking his chin and letting his eyelids lower. He’d usually take his target straight back once they were captured and rest when it was over, but between the cold, the chase, and the injuries, he was drained. And as tough as Flea acted he could tell she was just as exhausted, likely wasting more energy during her flight than she’d taken in since she escaped the Center. He needed her able to keep up once they left the relative safety of the building they were in.

Flea’s gaze had narrowed, lips pinched together.

“Why’s that? Can’t admit an omega was too much for you? No one who’s been to the lower levels here would blame you.”

Gra’ar let his eyes drift closed, shaking his head again. She was right, to a point.

“Cause I’ve never failed to bring in a target. They don’t always have a heartbeat when I bring them in, but one way or another they get to where they’re supposed to be.”

He cracked an eyelid to see how she took that statement, lips spreading as her face lost the little color it had. She kept her sour expression in place, but he figured that was enough warning to make her behave long enough for him to rest.

Closing his eye again, he leaned his head back against the door.

“Get some rest. We’ve got a long walk back to Fourth-Level, and I’m not carrying you if you get tired.”

A delicate snort reached his ears followed by sounds of shuffling. When he looked her way again she was trying to wiggle into a more comfortable position, but he knew how hard that was with her arms cuffed behind her.

That didn’t mean he was going to take them off.

Chapter Thirteen

Flea

Their conversation had gone the way she’d expected it. She didn’t really think he’d let her go, but she’d needed to feel him out to get an idea of her chances of escape. She had to admit, they didn’t look promising.

Sighing, Flea twisted her shoulders, trying to find a position that didn’t put pressure on her arms.

“Can’t you take these off? It’s not like I can get out of this room with you blocking the door. I promise to behave while you sleep.”

It was hard for her to see his face since the flare was fading, but she thought she saw his lips twitch into a smile. As irritating as his cocky smirk had been, she had to admit it was sexy.

“Not a chance, Flea. I don’t trust you not to try gutting me with a piece of debris.”

Her own lips stretched in a grin. The thought had crossed her mind, but after watching him pop his wing back into place and stitch himself together she doubted any of the splinters from the roof would phase him, no matter where she stuck it.

Letting out another sigh, she scooted herself into the corner of the room where she could brace her shoulders without crushing her arms. Her captor had closed his eyes, appearing to go to sleep, but despite the fatigue flooding her system her brain wouldn’t calm down long enough for her to drop off.

She’d been caught. Again.

She eyed the alpha leaning against the door, wondering how sound a sleeper he was. In his current position there was no way to open the door without him falling through it, and there was nothing in the room for her to climb on to get access to the hole in the roof. Without the use of her hands the only possibility was kicking the boards loose from the window, but she had no idea how high up they were and doing that would make a lot of noise.

Mentally smacking herself for being back in this position, Flea tried to form a plan to get away before they got back to the Collection Center. The soldiers who’d caught her the first time had put her straight into an armored Glider, leaving her no opportunity for escape, but her new captor didn’t appear to have transportation.

Other than his wings, though she didn’t know if he was still able to fly with the injuries he’d taken.

At least the view was better this time around.

She let her gaze linger on the massive arms crossed over his chest. The longer she looked at him the less strange he seemed, and the more appealing. She wondered if he tasted as good as he smelled. The metallic tang of his blood lingered in the air, mixing with his sweat and natural musk.

Flea’s tongue darted out to wet her lips before she caught herself. Shaking her head, her brows drew down as she frowned. She needed to focus and stay alert if she wanted any hope of escaping her fate once again, and she wasn’t going to be able to do that if she was lusting over the very man taking her back to that damned place.

Giving herself a mental kick, she leaned her head back and closed her eyes. It didn’t matter how much his scent made her tingle with awareness, or how long it had been since she’d been able to trust a male enough to sate her physical desires, he wasnotthe one to be picturing in that position.

She drifted in and out as she sat in the corner, the growing numbness in her arms and rear end making it impossible to truly sleep. Flea had no idea how long it was before the alpha stirred, his position remaining unchanged each time she opened her eyes to check on him. Eyelids heavy, she jerked awake again when a boot tapped the side of her foot.

“Wake up.”

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