Total pages in book: 68
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
Estimated words: 62128 (not accurate)
Estimated Reading Time in minutes: 311(@200wpm)___ 249(@250wpm)___ 207(@300wpm)
I tell myself that I want to beat the hell out of Sullivan. There have been times that I thought we’d all be better off if she was dead. But I get the chance to do something, and I reach for spuds. I hate how much I care about her. I hate what my caring about her has done to me and to the crew. I don’t want to actually hurt Sullivan. That’s what’s frustrating. Anybody could just kill her. She’d snap like a fucking twig. In spite of my anger and annoyance, I have never wanted to see her actually harmed.
SMACK!
I shouldn’t be surprised when Avel’s hand meets my ass in a hard slap, and I’m not. I am, however, pained by it. The slap stings and burns and generally reignites the pain he laid down not long ago with that damn wood stick.
“That was immature. That was beneath you.”
“It was something,” I say.
“It was the last thing you’re going to do in the alpha’s house tonight. I can say that with certainty.”
Avel picks me up under his arm and carries me off into the night.
There’s a moment when he extends his wings and beats them hard to take off, a surge of power that thrills me to my core. Avel is so fucking hot, and I am his helpless captive. As the lights of Grave City diminish beneath us, I sink into his grip and hold onto him. I depend on this creature for my life, and that is never so clear as it is when we are flying. He is flying. I am being held, protected against the inexorable forces of gravity which would take me and destroy me if he let them.
The trip back to his roost is too short. I could stay in the skies with him forever. But all too soon, I am being put down in the very center of his little home and being led to the bedroom. I am ready for whatever comes next, and I am hoping it will be hot.
Once we get into the bedroom, I see that Avel is not smiling. Not even a little bit. He didn’t find my behavior amusing — or if he did, he’s good at hiding it.
He looks down at me from his great height, and I feel as small as can be as he sighs.
“I wanted you to behave. For one evening. That is all you had to do.”
I suddenly realize that he’s disappointed in me. I knew he’d probably be pissed. I knew he’d probably whip my ass. But I didn’t think he’d be disappointed. Dammit, now I feel guilty. And that guilt is circling around to anger, because fuck this, why should I care if I disappoint an alien who has captured me for no goddamn good reason?
I let myself be overwhelmed by him all the time. From practically the first day we met, I’ve been bowing and scraping for his approval. For what? For why? There’s no reason for me to be his captive. I’ve barely broken any rules on this planet at all. The only thing I tried to do was rescue Sullivan from the clutches of the alpha she’s fallen for. If that’s a crime, I’d commit it again. And again. And again.
Fuck these guys. These creatures think they own everything. It doesn’t even occur to them that they don’t have any right to imprison us.
I hate that he’s got the power to make me feel bad.
“Wrong,” I snap back, sassy as hell. “I didn’t have a single thing to do. Because I don’t owe you anything.”
Avel draws in a deep breath. “You don’t owe me anything? Raine, you owe me your very life.”
“Just because you stopped me from dying a couple times doesn’t mean you get to tell me what to do forever.”
“Actually, it does. And you know that. Get into position, Raine. You are going to be punished tonight.”
“No. I’m not.”
Avel
Her behavior is perplexing. She knows very well that I am more than capable of punishing her whether she gets into position or not. I am not surprised that she got into a fight with the captain she betrayed. Raine does not do well processing shame. Many guilty creatures do not.
Of course, I am going to discipline her anyway. I want obedience from this woman. I want to know that when I take her somewhere, particularly to the alpha’s residence, I can be assured that she will not create a chaotic scene.
“This will be less painful and more effective if you drop the attitude. With an apology, you might discover that it is all not so bad.”
She fixes me with that strong stare of hers. I am becoming very, very familiar with that appearance. “I’m not apologizing.”
“Then this will hurt very much.”
“Good. I hope it does.”