Total pages in book: 60
Estimated words: 56021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 56021 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 280(@200wpm)___ 224(@250wpm)___ 187(@300wpm)
“Thank you,” I say again. “You’re very good at this.”
“It is my job to look after those in my care,” he says. “There are many, of all ages and kinds. There is no limit to those discarded by the so-called alpha of Grave City. Thorn likes to let those he considers weak fall through the cracks. This is where the cracks lead.” He spreads his arms wide. “To me.”
He talks as if he’s the good guy. But Lettie hates him for a reason. And I can’t pretend not to know what he did to her. Or what she accused him of doing.
“Why did you send Lettie and her mate into the wild?”
“Because her mate was a traitor, and the alternative was killing him. He worked for Thorn. I had to get rid of him. I decided not to kill him. I decided to give him and her a chance at happiness. They found happiness, and now they are taking their revenge.”
“When you say it that way, it almost sounds reasonable…” I bite my lower lip. Again, the idea that I am not on the right side of this battle occurs to me. Being made collateral damage will do that to you. Hearing the rationale of the enemy will also do it.
Wrath picks me up again. He does not invite me to walk, and he does not ask for permission. He simply grips me and swings me up into his arms. I am starting to believe that he is a natural protector, to the extent that when he finds someone, or something to take care of, he takes them.
He will expect loyalty. I know this because it is not the first time I have been saved by an avid rescuer. Captain Sullivan was my first. She never carried me around like a sick puppy the way Wrath is right now, but I knew from the outset what my role with her would be. I would serve her. I would admire her. And I would ensure I was never any kind of an inconvenience to her. That’s what rescuers want.
Captain Sullivan never asked for those things out loud, but I always knew she wanted them, right up until she forgot about me and I became a fixture on the ship.
Wrath will forget about me too, once I stop being something of interest. I’ll be able to escape then, if I like, though I don’t know that it will be worth it. It’s easy to stay in a comfortable little niche. Lettie evicted me from mine. I might be able to find a new one here.
Yet again, it seems to me that none of us are going to get away from our saurians. I think we’re stuck as captives on this planet. I let my head rest on Wrath’s shoulder as he carries me off to feed me, knowing that there’s no point in resisting. I may as well endear myself to him now, before he forgets about me.
Wrath
Every human we have encountered so far has been a hissing, spitting flight risk. This one practically purrs in my arms. The others are wild, but I believe this human has some chance of being domesticated in the real sense of the word.
But… and this is a significant but…
This is all a little too easy.
They sent her as a trap and she says she rejected being a trap, however, I suspect she still represents some kind of snare. I don’t know how, but I know nothing is this easy. Pretty human females do not give themselves over to monsters they just met.
I will be careful.
I will try not to become emotionally attached too quickly — though I think I may already have fallen for her. This is the problem with human women and saurians. I have seen it many times. It happened to Thorn, it happened to Shan. Once a saurian male attaches to one of these women, there’s nothing that can be done.
I thought I was immune to a human’s charm, having met several of them and sent them on their way with various members of my organization. I assumed I wasn’t interested because I was made differently, unable to feel softness for these squishy little creatures.
Perhaps I hadn’t met the right one yet. What a horrifying thought.
I settle her in my room, where there is food in abundance. The so-called snack table is kept stocked with all manner of dried fruits, dried meats, and the occasional fresh treat as well.
We have a communal kitchen, and a team of cooks provides for those who live in the underground warren. Everything is done communally down here. We share our resources, and we ensure everybody has what they need.
“These are my quarters, and they are now your quarters,” I explain to her. “Help yourself to anything you would like. I know you’re hungry.”