Chapter 4

CHAPTER FOUR

G rabon's muscles tensed as he tore through the net. The Elvar scattered, their wings a blur of iridescent colors as they fled. He stood to his full height, his gaze sweeping the clearing until it landed on her.

She stood in the center of the clearing, her long red hair aflame in the dappled sunlight, her eyes wide and dark. Time came to a halt as their eyes met. Something primal stirred within him, a recognition so deep it shook him to his core. Mine.

The thought blazed through his mind with startling intensity. His heart pounded fiercely, every instinct screaming at him to claim her, to protect her and make her his. But as quickly as the feeling arose, dismay followed it.

Human . She was human.

His jaw clenched, conflicting emotions warring within him. He'd seen firsthand the power human females could exert over males. Athtar had fallen for one, a scholar far too clever for his comfort. He'd ended up liking her, somewhat reluctantly, but he never forgot how dangerous she could be.

He had the uneasy feeling that this little human with her fiery hair and determined stance, could be even more dangerous. While he couldn't deny her beauty or the pull he felt towards her, wariness crept in. She radiated intelligence and strength. Dangerous qualities in a potential mate. She could easily manipulate him, cloud his judgment, make him forget his mission.

Yet he couldn't tear his gaze away from her. She stood her ground, chin lifted defiantly, even though he could see her hands trembling. His wings twitched, longing to wrap around her, to shield her from harm. He ruthlessly quashed the impulse. No matter how alluring she might be, he was here for a reason.

Once his initial fury at being caught in the net eased, his warrior instincts had kicked in, assessing the situation. The trap, while effective, wasn't meant to harm him. Once he relaxed, the net loosened and he realized he could free himself quite easily as long as he used a slow steady pressure rather than a quick jerk. Curiosity replaced anger, his instincts suggesting an opportunity to discover more about what was happening on the Western Isles. So instead of freeing himself, he waited, muscles coiled, ready to spring into action if needed.

When the Elvar approached, he tensed, expecting hostility. Instead, their demeanor surprised him. There were no weapons drawn, no threatening gestures, just a wary caution. The change in atmosphere caught him off guard. These weren't the actions of rebels. Something else was at play here, and he itched to unravel the mystery.

One of the Elvar, a youth with wings like shimmering opals, approached him hesitantly.

"Please, warrior, come with us."

When he nodded, the youth bent down and freed his feet, although he left the rest of the net in place. As they led him through the lush forest, he found himself drinking in the surroundings. The air hummed with life, so different from the sterile spaceships where he'd spent so much of his life. Vibrant flowers and towering trees created a sense of tranquility and for a moment he found himself relaxing, his usual hyper-vigilance easing as they traveled deeper into the verdant paradise.

His curiosity increased as he watched the Elvar flutter around him. They seemed so … fragile. He knew he could overpower them easily, and yet they'd managed to ensnare him. His respect for their cunning grew.

A village emerged from the forest, a tapestry of colorful fabrics and curved wooden structures that seemed to blend seamlessly into the trees. Despite that he noted the subtle defenses woven into the architecture, the clever use of natural barriers to protect the inhabitants. These Elvar were more resourceful than he'd given them credit for, but he'd had enough of his captivity. He'd freed himself from the net and stepped forward before he spotted the human female.

Tearing his gaze away from her, he looked around at the Elvar.

"What is going on?" he demanded, his voice a low growl. "Why did you bring me here?"

The Elvar male who had led the capture party fluttered nervously, wings twitching.

"We … we thought you were here to assist the Farlain, warrior," he admitted, his voice barely above a whisper.

His jaw clenched. They had captured him based on mere suspicion? He took a deep breath, reminding himself of their apparent peaceful nature.

"I was merely exploring the islands," he stated firmly. He didn't explain his mission, didn't mention Cronan or the rebellion. Not yet.

The Elvar's eyes flickered, a mix of relief and uncertainty.

"We apologize for the misunderstanding," he said, his voice laced with a gentle courtesy that grated on Grabon's nerves.

His gaze shifted back to the human female, curiosity mingling with suspicion. She stood out among the delicate Elvar like a flame in the darkness.

"And you," he growled, "Why are you here?"

His nostrils flared as he caught her scent - a mix of fear, determination, and an underlying sweetness that was uniquely her. It stirred something deep within him, a feeling he quickly pushed aside. He needed answers, not a distraction.

The human's gaze didn't waver. She crossed her arms, meeting his gaze with an intensity that surprised him.

"That's none of your business."

The edge to her voice intrigued him. She sounded both defensive and defiant and he took a step closer, towering over her.

"Is that so, little human?" he demanded, his voice low and demanding.

Her scent changed, a faint flush appearing on her skin. Arousal? Surely not. She glared at him for a moment longer, then her expression changed.

"How do you know I'm human? Does that mean there are others here?"

He hesitated. He couldn't explain that the new king had discovered a human female in the palace without revealing the coup that had replaced the previous king. He took refuge in another truth instead.

"My former captain is mated to one."

The glare returned.

"Did he steal her too?"

"He most certainly did not," he snapped, irritated by the implication. Did she think he would have permitted such a thing? "She used his ship to escape from her original captors."

He could almost see the scheme forming in her mind as his voice softened and he took another step closer.

"Is that what happened to you, little human?"

Her eyes dropped and her mouth quivered.

"Yes."

"Tell me what happened," he demanded as a surge of fury swept over him, but the older Elvar female who had been standing next to her interceded.

"I believe it would be better to discuss this over a cup of tea. Or perhaps a glass of ale," she added, smiling up at him.

He grudgingly recognized that she didn't seem in the least intimidated by his size or the fact that he'd escaped their net so easily. He looked around at the Elvar filling the clearing and gave an abrupt nod.

"All right. As long as this isn't another trick."

The Elvar's tinkling laugh reached his ears and he felt some of the tension drain from his body.

"I promise you, warrior, this is no trick."

"My name is Grabon, not warrior."

"And I am Maeve. This is Vera," she added, putting an affectionate hand on his little human's arm.

Vera. He decided it suited her as he followed the two females to a structure that appeared to be some sort of communal hall. Vera didn't look to see if he was following but by the stiffness in her posture, he suspected that she was fully aware of the fact that he was behind her. He found himself studying her as they walked, fascinated by the slender body beneath a too-small Elvar dress that left a good portion of her pale, curvy legs bare. The long rope of red hair hanging down her back was equally fascinating. He could easily imagine wrapping it around his hand as he pulled her close, feeling her soft skin against his as he -

His teeth clenched and he forced his thoughts away from such enticing images. This wasn't the time and definitely not the female.

As they entered the large, high-ceilinged structure with windows that circled the upper level, Maeve looked back at him and he had the sudden uneasy feeling that she knew exactly what he'd been thinking.

"I'm afraid that this is the only building that is tall enough for you. Other than Vera's nest, of course."

Pink flushed Vera's cheeks but Maeve ignored it, leading the way to an ornate stove at the far end of the room and putting a kettle on to boil. Then she drew a large mug of ale from an adjoining barrel - or at least it looked large in her hand. When she handed it to him, he realized that it wasn't much larger than a child's cup.

"Perhaps I should just give you the barrel," Maeve said dryly, but he shook his head.

"This is fine. Now stop avoiding the subject and tell me how you ended up here, Vera."

A large selection of colorful cushions were arranged on the floor in front of the stove. Vera sighed and sank down on them, then reluctantly gestured for him to join her.

"It's not that complicated. I was in my office working when an alien appeared. He waved some kind of ray at me and the next thing I knew, I was here."

Despite her attempt to sound casual, her hands were shaking.

"Describe the one who took you," he demanded.

"Tall, thin, grey. A pointed face with large, black eyes. We have stories about aliens that look like him," she added. "So maybe it wasn't the first time he, or someone like him, had been to Earth."

Fuck. He was pretty sure she was describing an Alnuk. They were traders who usually worked alone - fast, efficient, and ruthless. If they had taken not only Vera but Cronan's female, he suspected there was more to the abductions than just a casual search for females.

"And then?" he asked softly.

"I don't know. All I know was that I woke up here and Lord Dekell was giving him money for me. Then Dekell tried … He tried …"

Fury coursed through him, hot and fierce, as her voice trembled. His protective instincts, long dormant, roared to life.

"I'm going to kill that bastard."

"I … Umm, I kind of already did that."

"What?"

As she described her fight with Dekell, a grudging admiration took root beneath his anger. His little human, so small and seemingly defenseless, had fought back. She'd survived. Perhaps it proved that she was as dangerous as he suspected, but he found himself thankful rather than wary. The alternative didn't bear thinking about.

Her story also explained the original distress call, along with the increased guard activity at the stronghold. No doubt they thought that someone had attacked Dekell. He didn't know enough about the situation here to know if there was someone else to take on the leadership role.

"Can you take me back? To Earth, I mean," she asked, interrupting his thoughts. "Not now," she added, exchanging a quick look with Maeve as the older female handed her a cup of tea. "But eventually."

He suddenly wished he'd taken Maeve up on her offer of the barrel of ale.

"Your planet is considered a pre-spaceflight planet. Any contact with it is forbidden," he said reluctantly, and she frowned at him.

"That didn't stop the person who took me."

"No, but that doesn't change the law. To the best of my knowledge, no human has ever been returned to your planet."

She folded her arms across her chest and glared at him. The position brought her pretty little breasts into greater prominence and he quickly looked away as his body reacted to the enticing sight.

"I'm not so sure about that. Why would we have stories about the grey aliens if someone hadn't seen them? People even claim to have been abducted and returned."

"The Alnuk are driven purely by profit. If such a thing occurred, it was because someone was paying them. But it would still be illegal."

Not that all of his previous activities had been strictly legal either, but there was no point telling her that.

"Even for another human?" she countered, her chin lifting as her eyes flashed at him. "I need to go home. There are people who will miss me."

People? Did she mean a male?

"Who?" he growled, irritated by the thought.

"My students. My advisor."

Students? Fuck, she was a scholar, just like Athtar's mate. Which means she's even more unsuitable for me , he told himself, ignoring the hollow feeling at the thought.

"And your family?"

She shook her head, picking up her cup and staring down into it.

"I haven't spoken to my mother in years. And the uncle who raised me, he … he doesn't remember me anymore. He has a kind of disease that sometimes comes with aging. It affected his brain and his memories."

"I'm sorry," he said quietly and impulsively covered her free hand with his.

An electric shock raced through his body from that single touch. Mine.

She stared at his hand as if she'd felt it too, but then she yanked her hand away, pulling back into the cushion. He bit back a protest as she took a shaky sip of her tea.

"Don't be. I hate talking about my personal life. Anyway, what about you? Why are you here? You aren't from Farlain, are you?"

"No. My planet is called Dhalgroll. It is primarily a water planet, populated with small islands."

"Like here? It must have been nice growing up there."

"Nice is not the word I would have chosen," he said dryly, the pain of his memories flaring inside him. "And no, it is not like here. It is cold, rocky, and frequently stormy. I… left at a young age. I bartered my way onto a spaceship."

"What did you barter?"

"A fighting contract." He shrugged. "It was the only skill I had at the time."

He pushed the memories aside with the ease of long practice and changed the subject. "Why didn't you want to leave right away, even before I told you that you couldn't return to your planet?"

She gave Maeve another of those quick meaningful looks and he had to fight back the urge to demand that she share her secrets with him. Instead he waited as patiently as possible until the older female nodded and Vera turned back to him with a cheerful smile.

"I promised to stay so that I can help the Elvar drive the Farlain off of their islands."

This delicate race was planning a rebellion? A rebellion they couldn't possibly win? He frowned at her.

"Why?"

His frown deepened as she explained the way the Elvar had been victimized by not only Lord Dekell but by previous Farlain lords. He was sure Cronan would never permit such behavior but after such a long history of abuse, he doubted that his word alone would convince the Elvar.

As he listened to her speaking so passionately about the oppression the Elvar faced, his interest in her increased, along with his respect. Here was a female who, despite being thrust into a dangerous and unfamiliar world, wanted to stand up for those who needed her help. This wasn't just bravery born of desperation; it was a fundamental part of who she was.

Even before she finished speaking he'd decided to remain in the village. With Lord Dekell already dead, there was no immediate threat to Cronan's rule. He would stay, at least until the Farlain ship arrived. He told himself it was to gather more information for Cronan, to ensure the islands' loyalty. But deep down, he knew it was more than that. He was not yet willing to leave this beautiful, passionate female.