Page 12 of Fate Unchained

He eyed her. “You’ve been pawing at me since you barged into my cave. Is that what you came for? You want a vulk’s attention? You’ve got it.” It just popped out, but he pictured her leaning over him while he’d been frozen on the floor, her touch timid, yet soft over his chest and neck, and his shaft, still at half-mast, stiffened again. What the hell was wrong with him? Glaring, he crossed his arms. “You may be the worst magicwielder I’ve ever met.”

Her cheeks flushed deep red, and her lips tightened. “I’m not a magicwielder.”

She’d confirmed his guess. “I eat magicwielders,” he said. “And when I release us, I’ll figure out what I want to do with you, too. It’s not wise to make a vulk an enemy.”

She swallowed hard, her throat flexing. “You can just kill me now. Why wait?”

He gestured at the strips of venison he’d hung yesterday. “I have enough meat. For now.”

She squeaked and scooted farther away. The honeyed vanilla scent of her arousal faded as her fear filled the cave again. He frowned. Even if she’d been thinking of another, he preferred the scent of her arousal. “Who’s Norville?” he asked. “Husband?”

His claws came out a fraction.

Her hands clenched into fists, and she staggered to her feet. “What time is it? Is it still snowing?”

“It’s going to snow a long time.” He studied her. Was the snow important? Maybe the man she smelled like would come looking for her here when the blizzard stopped. “I’m going to build the fire back up, and you’re going to tell me how you created this trap and why you’re here. You must have known you had no chance at all to catch a vulk.”

“I did catch you.”

“Not well.”

She drew her coat around her. “I think we should divide up our cage. My side. Your side.”

He shrugged. “Fine. My side has the fire, the bed, the food, and the water.” He pointed to the half of the cave closest to the door, which was just rock. “You can have that half. Enjoy.” When he walked over to the fire, he made a shooing motion with his hands as if he were trying to herd chickens. “Go on. Get.”

Her eyes narrowed, and he wondered for a split second if she would stick her tongue out at him. She didn’t. All she did was tromp to the side of the cave he’d given her and bundle her coat around her. The foul coat that smelled like a male.

“Is that Norville’s coat? Did you steal it from him?”

She looked like he’d slapped her. “Of course not. It’s my father’s.”

“Why was he traipsing around down here earlier?”

Her lips drew together, and she turned her head. She could be stubborn all she wanted, eventually she’d answer his questions.

“You were all chatty earlier when you thought I was a dumb beast.” He broke a few sticks and added them to the red embers, breathing gently over them to bring the fire back to life. “You answer my questions and tell me the truth, and I’ll consider sharing my food with you.”

She remained silent.

“Suit yourself.” He drew out one of the strips of Juri’s jerky. “This is the best jerky in all of Ulterra.” When her gaze flicked over to him, he bit off a large hunk and gave a small hum of enjoyment.

At that, her eyes widened, but she turned farther away.

He chuckled and leaned back. At least he wouldn’t be bored while he figured out how to get out of here.

6

Out of the corner of her eye, Lilah watched the vulk lie back on his bed and eat a hunk of meat. He talked. None of the books about the vulk mentioned anything about them speaking. She shouldn't have been so surprised since he looked so much like a man, but she’d expected more beast than man. His voice was low and smooth when he spoke, less growly than she’d expected.

At least he hadn’t tried to kill her so far.

She scanned the hole in the top of the cave. It was still dark, so it must be night or maybe early morning. How long had she slept? Her head was still a little muzzy. Damn, she must have hit it pretty hard. Then again, she hadn’t slept more than a couple of hours during her journey to Eroica either, which didn’t help.

With one finger, she felt around at the base of her skull. A bump the size of a chicken egg and a little bit of matted blood, but it wasn’t too bad.

She put her hands in her pockets—her lacerated pockets—and felt around. The vulk had torn both in half with his vicious claws, but he hadn’t mangled her coat. She prodded her left pocket. It had to still be in there.

There!

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