Page 50 of Caged By the Ruthless Thief

“He mated you.”

“He did.” I stand with my shoulders back and my stomach taut. I’ve faced plenty of male professors who don’t like women in the sciences. His scorn for me is nothing new.

“And your other mates don’t know about it, do they?”

I pause. I don’t want to look to Eros for confirmation. “What happens in a pod is only for the pod to know about.”

Michio’s smirk is the same as Eros’s.

When I turn to Eros, he’s not smirking; he’s outright smiling. “She’s right, pods don’t share.”

“Except they seemed to do it with you all the time, didn’t they, brother?”

Eros’s smile disappears. “Are you going to help me or not?”

“I’ll help you.” But the way he says it leaves a chill down my arm. Michio sits on the circular sofa, his arm resting on the back. He crosses his ankle over the opposing knee. His hand is on his block, his fingers flying faster than a freshman texting in class. “I’m the governor of Zaffiro, but I also have an office in Athens. I wasn’t there last week, but I have a colleague who was, our cousin.”

Eros is pacing. “Daimon? Your big idea is Daimon Petrakis?”

I look between Eros and Michio. They’re not alike at all. Eros is dangerous like Nico, but he’s wound a lot tighter. He’s skittish. It’s no surprise to me that he’s invited—used to be invited—into a lot of pod beds. He’s handsome, skilled, and fun. Guys like Michio, however, are handsome and dangerous. But unlike Eros, I’m not drawn to Michio at all. Why do I have no doubt that however he helps us is going to come back and haunt me?

There’s a whirling outside. It’s the first noise from outside the dome I’ve picked up on. Eros double-checks that I’m out of view and pulls the side of the tight curtain back. “They’re taking away the shark.”

My heart pangs for the big guy. I know he’s confused too. “How is Daimon going to help?” I need to get back to the apartment. I need to touch my mates, my other mates. I glance from Eros to Michio.

“He’s going to lie,” Michio says. “The feed is full of how you’re missing. We say you were in Athens with him.”

I nod. “For a society based on science, rituals, and laws, there’s a heck of a lot of lying going on.”

“You said she was smart, but she’s perceptive too.”

Eros glares at his brother. “No.”

“What?” Michio drops his block on his leg.

“We don’t need your help. Forget I asked.” His hands are tense at his sides.

“You need me, Eros,” Michio says.

“You might be right, but I’m not... No.”

Michio laughs. “What are you afraid of, little brother? You think I want to join you in your pod?” Michio raises his eyebrows at me. His devious smirk is back. And while I find it intoxicating in Eros, in Michio it’s not. “I don’t want to spend the rest of my life looking at your naked ass either, brother. Relax.”

Eros crosses his arms over his chest and looks at me. “I’m not looking for any more pod mates. The ones I have seem to have enough difficulty staying out of trouble.”

Michio laughs and slaps his leg. “Yes, well, at least you chose wisely, brother. I was afraid you’d end up with that possessive Vitrom guppy. Do you want my help or not? I’m busy. I have a ball to attend.” Michio saysballlike it’s a death sentence.

Eros glances at me, and I incline my head. This is up to him. Any way we plan it out, it’s going to have consequences for us moving forward. So many consequences.

“Yes. Where is Daimon now?” Eros leans forward.

“He’s just gone back to Athens. But he traveled back at the right time. It will buy you time to find a safe spot for your mate.”

“He’s a courier now?” Eros asks like being a courier is beneath Daimon.

“Don’t worry about what Daimon is doing, only that he is willing to help.”

“And how do I say I found him and he brought me back?” I ask.

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