Page 21 of Captured

He straightened, one hand moving to adjust his erection as he gave a light tug on Flea’s cuffs.

“Let’s go.”

The first few steps he took were slow to give her time to adjust to his guidance, but soon she was following behind and he was able to pick up his pace. It wasn’t as fast as he’d usually go but the female had shorter legs and no wings to help balance.

The oddity of humans caught his attention for a moment. They lacked wings like many species, but there was so much more they were missing. No tail for balance, fur for warmth, claws or horns for defense. Crappy vision that was worse in the dark, and even their hearing wasn’t close to what would be considered good. Their entire body was soft and vulnerable, even their skulls being inadequate in many situations. Scientists had pondered for years how they’d become the superior species on their planet.

But he had to admit there was something alluring about the little female. The delicateness of her pale features. Her defiance despite her inherent softness.

He cast a glance back at her, taking the chance to study her once again. He’d watched her most of the time they’d rested, feigning sleep when she stirred. The sharpness in her features relaxed when she slept, the worry and anger fading away. Her high cheekbones and pert nose gave her an ethereal beauty that held his attention far longer than it should have.

Something scraped under his boot, drawing his attention back to the stairs ahead of him. Blind and shoeless, Flea already struggled, but he was doing his best to lead her down a clear path.

It seemed to take forever for them to reach the bottom floor, their spiral descent crawling by in agonizing slowness. He tensed at every sound, body preparing for attack at each turn. It didn’t matter that he couldn’t see or scent anyone else in the building, he was too familiar with dangerous missions to let down his guard, especially with a helpless female to protect.

He’d been worried that getting out of the building would be an issue, but once they reached the bottom the main entrance was obvious. It may have been boarded up in the past, but someone had taken care of that, the glass doors nothing more than gaping holes looking out on a deserted walkway in front of them.

They stopped in the entry, Gra’ar testing the air for any sign that there were others nearby. It was hard to tell with the lack of breeze and stagnant scents, but with no sign or sound of motion, he had to hope it was clear.

Casting his gaze back again, he watched Flea looking around. There was slightly more light outside the building with a few of the overhead bulbs still working, but the world was left in gloomy shades of grey. Even her pale blue eyes seemed dark, the color leeched away, and for a moment he wanted to light a flare just to see the rosy hue on her skin when she exerted herself or grew angry. He was curious about the swirling markings on her arm, wanting to inspect them and see what she’d chosen to adorn herself with.

Pulling his attention away from her, Gra’ar dragged his eyes up, looking for the level support. He knew they’d been nearing one when they fell through, and he needed to find it to get them back up to Fourth, but the height of the nearby buildings blocked his view. Normally he could have flown up to check, but a shuffle of his wings told him the joint and muscles were still sore, plus he’d risk ripping the tear open again.

His gaze narrowed as they dropped to the little female once again. She knew the area better than he did, but she had no reason to help. He couldn’t ask her and risk her leading them deeper into the warren of streets around them. Seventh-Level had less openings to the levels below since Gliders hadn’t been used as much back when it was Top-Level, so there were more narrow alleys for her to travel if she got away.

Trying to spot a place with a clearer view, he pulled Flea out onto the sidewalk, turning in the direction he thought they’d been heading before they fell. It was hard to tell with no open sky to guide him, but it was all he could do.

Flea followed along in silence, but he could tell it didn’t mean she’d given up. Her head swiveled, checking out everything around them as if she was looking for something familiar. Considering she seemed to know the level above fairly well despite coming from lower ones, he had to assume she would know at least parts of this one as well.

They had to walk a few blocks before they reached an area with lower buildings, but he still couldn’t spot the support. Turning in a circle, he didn’t miss the little smirk on Flea’s face and the calculating gleam in her eye.

“If you’re looking for the support to get back up to the other levels, you’re going the wrong direction.”

His brow raised as he dropped his gaze to meet hers.

“If you think I’m going to believe you, you’re mistaken. Why would you help me take you back when you would clearly rather live in squalor?”

One slim shoulder raised and dropped back down, Flea’s hands opening palm up as if to show her innocence.

“You’ve caught me, and I clearly can’t get away. You haven’t given me food or water so I have to assume you have none, so it’s in my best interest to help you get me somewhere where I can be properly provided for. Obviously not all alphas know how to care for an omega.”

Gra’ar’s eyes narrowed, his pride taking a blow. He usually didn’t care if his prisoners went hungry or thirsty while he transported them, but this was different. This was a female, an omega, and he already knew she’d been running on little before he found her.

Reaching into a pocket, he pulled out a ration bar. Releasing his hold on her cuffs he tossed it at her before pulling out another for himself. Flea caught hers against her chest, both hands clutching the packet before holding it out to look at it. Her nose wrinkled but she ripped into it without complaint, small teeth flashing as she tore off a corner to chew.

Gra’ar made another slow turn, studying the underside of the level above in the hopes of finding some clue as to where the support would be.

“The older supports are always directly above the ones below, and the heavier buildings are built near them to avoid straining the less-supported space between. Which means the taller buildings are closer to the supports, and you’ve been moving toward the lower areas to try to see over them.”

Her words were mumbled between nibbles on the bar. As bland and tough as he knew the rations to be, she was making short work of the one he’d given her. What she said seemed logical, but he knew she had to have a reason of her own for getting there if she was telling the truth.

Watching her lick the crumbs from her fingers when she finished her meal, he took a single bite of the bar he still held before offering it to her. Lips pressed into a thin line, she met his gaze for a moment before looking away and taking it. Even if she was no longer hungry, she knew enough about survival not to turn away food, and the rations helped control thirst as well.

He had to swallow the urge to purr at the female accepting food from him. The need to provide was instinctive, made more imperative by the subtle changes in her scent. He had to remember that she wasn’t the only one running out of time.

“That’s the last of the bars, so if you’re not being truthful, you really will be wandering around down here without food or water until I find it. And it may be too late by then.”

Covering her lips with her fingers, she nodded and shrugged, eyes widening like she had no reason to lie. He wondered if Flea had even noticed what was happening to her body yet, or if she still thought she had a chance of escaping her biology. Even if she managed to evade him, her scent would draw in every male who caught her trail. She’d be dead or bonded in days.

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