Chapter 7

Yelzin rocked himself with his wings wrapped around his knees as he watched Irina nap. He enjoyed the way she looked at peace, that ever present anguish absent during her slumber.

When he arrived home earlier, she had already dozed off, and though he considered slipping into the nest next to her, he knew it was unwise. The worst of the urge was passing, the pain returning to a dull ache. Even so, Yelzin thought it best to be safe.

He did not regret what had happened when he fed her, and if today meant anything, he had the impression that Irina did not either. She was just so small compared to a Strinee female, and he did not wish to hurt her or scare her. If she stayed on Strine, there would be plenty of chances for tumbles in his nest .

If she stayed.

Yelzin tried to push the thought from his mind, knowing there was no use in dwelling on the matter. All he could do was show her what his life was like. He had no control over whether she left him, just like all his mates eventually did.

Not that Irina was his mate.

She had made that abundantly clear, though he was unsure how what happened last night could be construed as anything other than mating.

Irina stirred and Yelzin froze, not wanting to scare her, especially after his behavior earlier.

Telling her not to run? Perhaps it was wise, but he had not missed the flash of fear that crossed her face when he had said it. The same flash that glimmered in her eyes right now.

"You are safe, Irina. I am feeling better," he said, trying to keep his voice calm.

She was still nude, though the streaks of his blood and seed had been scrubbed clean, leaving smooth, pale skin that ignited every nerve in Yelzin's body. There were patches of dark fur in seemingly random places, only adding to the intrigue the human had over him. He averted his gaze, already sensing the prickling of desire.

No, he was stronger than this, stronger than whatever primal urge threatened to overcome him.

Irina must have sensed his discomfort, because she fumbled around the nest until she found her discarded jumpsuit and quickly dressed, putting Yelzin at ease .

"I am going to hunt. It should… help me relax," he said as he ambled over to the hut opening, peeking back to see if she was following him.

Irina narrowed her eyes, but heaved her way out of the nest and moved to Yelzin.

Pink flooded her cheeks, and he wanted to wrap his arms around her and never let go. Instead, he observed Irina, waiting for her to make the first move. Tentatively, she reached forward with her small hand, running her fingers through Yelzin's fur and scratching him behind the ear.

His body tingled as she massaged him, her touch making his fur stand on end.

Irina smiled, but he saw the pain in her eyes, creasing the space between her brows as her lip quivered.

"Hunt? Could I… watch you?"

That was the exact opposite of what Yelzin wanted. No, what he needed .

Of course, he wanted to spend every last moment with Irina, knowing she could leave him at any time. He had plans to take her to the spiral tomorrow, when he was feeling less vulnerable, and show her the beauty of Strine.

Now, he needed to get away from her, not let his impulses overtake him. Impulses which Irina seemed more than eager to ignite if the mischievous smile and gentle fingers stroking his fur meant anything. She was like a Strinee in that way, open to casual affection, but it made Yelzin's chest clench with hurt.

Because it meant nothing to her .

He needed to stay focused, knowing that any additional intimate contact would make her departure even more difficult.

Despite his desire for separation, those glimmering eyes made him weak, pliable to her wishes. He could not say no to her.

"Yes, of course you may join me, though I am afraid it will seem gruesome to you. I do not wish for you to be alarmed."

Irina laughed, and it was the most beautiful sound in the world, ringing in his ears.

"Yelzin, I drank your blood last night. I'm not sure things can get more gruesome than that."

A valid point.

"If you're sure…" he said, giving her a final chance to back out, to let him hunt without her watchful gaze.

But Irina just nodded, that sweet smile curling her lips.

He could do this, he could be strong.

Irina didn't know what she had expected.

Somehow—despite the fact that he had wings—she'd assumed Yelzin hunted on the ground.

That was not the case.

He had led her into the darkening woods; the day growing late and the shadows growing long. They walked for a short while before he stopped in front of a large tree at the edge of a small clearing.

"I need you to hold on tight," he'd said as he grabbed her ass and pulled her into the air, an action which had sent a rush of arousal straight to her core.

Irina had circled her legs around his waist and her arms around his neck, doing as she was told, her heart beating like a drum. Then, without another word, he'd crouched low and jumped into the air, fluttering his wings until he landed them delicately on a large branch.

She would have screamed if she'd had a chance, a rush of exhilaration coursing through her after the short flight.

Now, they perched on the branch, Irina clinging to the enormous trunk while Yelzin's ears pricked upwards, as if listening closely to the sounds of the forest.

It was interesting to watch him hunt. He was stock still, not moving a muscle beyond the occasional flick of his ears, his eyes wide as he scanned the forest floor.

Dusk brought the animals to life, all manner of beasts crawling and slithering across the soft dirt ground. Many were similar to earth creatures, ones she'd seen in holovideos even if they were long extinct. Slithering snakes and jumpy small mammals, one that looked almost identical to what she knew as a squirrel.

The night was peaceful, and despite the pit in her stomach from eyeing the distance to the ground, the watching and waiting was pleasant .

After a while, there was snorting and a rustling in the brush. Yelzin turned to her, a wicked grin on his fanged mouth, the look sending another jolt of lust through her. As a small, dark green pig-like creature ambled out of the bushes, he tensed for action.

A second later, Yelzin swooped down, his large wings extended, and slammed into the creature.

It squealed as he held it with strong limbs and sharp claws, and a moment later, he was sinking his fangs into the tender flesh. Irina's eyes widened, the flames at her core heightening with the sight below her.

Why the hell did this turn her on so much? This should be horrifying.

She gulped, trying to swallow, but her mouth had gone dry as Yelzin continued to feed, the animal fighting weakly, its squeals fading to grunts.

It made sense, in a way.

Even though he was a predator by nature, he was kind at heart. Nothing like the humans back on Earth, ones who'd preyed on their own young, or the young they were sworn to protect. Yelzin could do the same to her if he wanted to, could hold her down and drink from her, hurt her, but he wouldn't.

This big, beastly alien was safer than most humans.

After a short while, Yelzin released the animal, and it ran off into the brush without another noise.

"You let it go!" she shouted as Yelzin stumbled over to the base of the tree .

His mouth was slack as he tried to look up at her.

"We do not need to kill in order to feed."

Yelzin stood there for a long moment, wobbling under the tree branch. Panic tightened her chest. What was wrong with him?

"Are you going to get me down from here?" she asked, a pinch of anxiety cracking her voice.

"Yes. Just… give me a moment. I may have consumed too much. I'm… a bit dizzy."

This was alright. This was fine. Yelzin wouldn't leave her up here. He'd get her down. He just needed a moment.

Irina focused on her breath, one in and one out. Something an old friend had taught her when she was young, a friend whose fate she did not know.

In and out, over and over again.

"I'm coming up!" Yelzin yelled after a few minutes and Irina braced herself against the trunk of the tree.

Definitely not as graceful as when he'd swooped down upon his prey, but he made it without trouble.

"Are you alright?" she asked, brows furrowed as she examined his glazed eyes.

"Yes. I will be. I'm a bit… blood drunk right now. But I will be fine. I can get you down. Hold on to me."

Blood drunk ?

Irina moved her arms around his neck, grasping her forearms to link them together. His warm fur was comforting, though there was still some red coating his maw .

Any further thoughts left her mind as her stomach dropped, and a moment later, they were on the ground, both with shaky legs.

"Are you going to be able to walk home?" she asked.

He seemed barely able to keep himself upright.

"Yes, I will. Just… stay with me, Irina."

Her heart jolted, and she couldn't help but wonder if there was more than one meaning to his words. She wrapped an arm around his waist, pulling him along and supporting him as best she could.

The trip was slow, but they made it without trouble.

Yelzin slumped immediately into the nest when they arrived, and Irina waited a moment before joining him. He didn't protest when she curled up against his furry chest, just wrapped his wings around her.

"Blood frenzy, blood drunk… I'm learning so many things about the Strinee," Irina said softly after a few minutes of silence.

Yelzin laughed, though it was weaker than usual. Without its typical bark. "And I know so little about you, my sweet human."

Irina flushed, as much from the insinuation of secrecy to the name he'd called her, one he hadn't used yet. My sweet human .

Shit.

Three words that settled deep in her chest, warming her in a way she hadn't felt in a long while .

Ignore those feelings. Push them deep inside where they belong. It was just the blood drunkenness; the name meant nothing.

Say something. Anything .

"What do you want to know?"

Yelzin brushed her hair, another act that made her want to sigh with relief, though his question made her clench all of her muscles.

"Do you have offspring?"

The thought was so preposterous in her mind, but clearly not so much for a Strinee who had fathered who knows how many kids.

"No, I don't. I've never wanted them. I… had a difficult time growing up." Irina was saying too much, but the sweet way he gazed down at her with absolute attention made her continue. "It was really hard. Horrific, even. The galaxy is not a safe place for children, at least not from what I've seen."

Yelzin gulped audibly, pulling her closer to him. She'd definitely said too much, a knot of pressure in her throat threatening to choke her.

"Do you have a job?" she asked, trying to break the awkward tension of the hut.

She didn't want his pity.

Yelzin took a moment to speak. "No, I have no job. My life is quite self sufficient. Some Strinee do, ones who live in the cities and have contact with more people. We do have money, it's just not needed for those of us who live out in the wilds. Are jobs… common in Coalition space?"

Irina laughed, her stiffness easing .

"Yes, everyone has a job. Or wants one. At least in the places I know of. If you don't… well, life would be difficult for you."

"What do you do for a job?"

"I'm a… freelancer. I work with computers."

Only tell him the bare minimum. No need to get into details, to give too much like she'd already done.

"Ah, computers. Yes, I am afraid I know little about them beyond how to use my information channel."

Irina laughed again, running her hand over his tawny chest, noticing the way his muscles tensed with her touch.

"Do you like it? Out here in the forest?"

"I do. It is a peaceful life, at least when little humans don't come crashing down in my territory." Yelzin paused for a moment, tilting her chin up to meet his eyes, all the glaze from earlier gone. "Do you like it here in the forest?"

A loaded question, one she didn't know how to answer. The knot in her throat tightened, tears burning at her eyes. Why the fuck did she want to cry?

Of course, she liked it here, so different from the slums of Neo Opus and the stark sterility of the space station. Even the fact that she had no consoles to work with didn't bother her too much; the tranquility of the forest—and Yelzin's presence—calming her mind.

"It's nice. I never spent much time in nature, but Strine is very beautiful. "

Keep it focused on the planet, not the whirling emotions she experienced when she thought of the alien holding her.

"I'm glad you like it." Yelzin's voice cracked, perhaps feeling his own tumult of conflicting feelings. But it could just be the blood. "I have more to show you tomorrow."

Tomorrow .

Every day spent here wound the knot of worry in Irina's stomach even tighter. But until the plasma storms passed, there was nothing she could do. For now, she would enjoy her time with Yelzin.

"I can't wait."