“Your mother has been unclaimed all this time?” he queried lightly, almost absently as he kept feeding her, but she didn’t for a moment believe he wasn’t hyper-focused on her. She also didn’t miss the fact he had her bracketed with strong thighs, his hands strong yet gentle as he dipped chunks of bread in the soup to feed to her.
She should have felt caged in and threatened to have him so close to her, but she didn’t. In fact, she wanted to touch him, to put her hand on his thigh or touch his fingers. They were long, strong, and deft, every movement graceful and efficient at the same time.
“Yes. We were both free… until the raid. And before you ask, I don’t know where she is. I don’t even know where I am. Once I got away from those others...” she shuddered at the memory. “I kept running.”
“Those others will die. All of them,” he growled, the sound harsh. It should have scared her, but it didn’t. Instead, she leaned forward for the next bite, her teeth grazing against his fingertips. His growl softened, his eyes darkening, and she couldn’t help a small smile, her expression innocent as she looked up at him.
“Dangerous games, little one,” he warned. “You will tell me about the others. Now.”
“There isn’t much to tell. I went to find water. It was a calculated risk. I thought it would be alright.” She shrugged, enjoying the way the silken blanket moved over her skin. “It wasn’t. They came on those flying bikes you ride. We all ran. Some of them got away. I didn’t. They...”
Her mouth went dry and she reached for the glass of juice, drinking it down in big gulps until she choked.
“Gently,” Rath said as he took the glass from her hand. “You’re safe.”
She was injured and alone with an alpha. Safe was the last word she would have imagined applying to this scenario, but... it felt right.
“They took us somewhere. Caged us. I was still unconscious when they started on the others... their screams woke me up. I got away.”
His hand tightened on the glass until it shattered. He kept looking at her, ignoring the blood dripping from his cut fist. “How long did you run? Which direction did you come from?” he demanded, his voice harsh and his features hardening.
The blackness of his eyes terrified her, but rather than retreat from him, instinct had her moving the tray with the food and practically crawling into his lap. Her hands smoothed over his arms, his shoulders, his chest. “It’s okay... I’m okay,” she whispered but then stopped at the weird rattle that filled the air between them.
His gaze snapped to her and she realized... it was coming from her.
“I… I don’t know. Until I was exhausted. I’ve been hiding here ever since. I hurt myself getting out of the cage. I couldn’t… I don’t…” She touched a hand to her chest. “Why did I make that sound, Rath? What was that?”
He smiled, the expression full of triumph as he pulled her closer. “It’s your parth. Your love call. It means you have accepted me as your alpha. An omega only makes that sound for her alpha. It’s the only thing that ca—” He stopped abruptly and bent his head, whispering his lips over hers. “It means you’re mine, little omega, by your own admission.”
“How can that be my admission when I didn’t even know I could make that sound?”
“Stubborn little female. You will have to take my word for it for now. You are mine.” He touched the side of her neck with his fingers. “After I have claimed you, you will bear my mark right here. It will tell every other alpha that you belong to me. My omega. Mine to protect.” His lips brushed hers for a brief moment.
“Only yours?” she whispered. “No one else?”
He watched her for a long moment, so long she leaned back a fraction. “I mean, only yours, you won’t share m—”
She didn’t get the words out before he growled, his arms tightening around her. “No!” he snarled. “You are mine and mine alone. I would kill any male who dared to touch you. Even look at you.”
She jumped, the odd sound starting in her throat again as she crowded closer, needing to soothe him and his anger. Instinct took over and she pressed herself to his chest, her head burrowed in the crook of his neck.
His hold gentled, and she felt him relax a little, his face buried in her still-damp hair. “Little one...” was all he said.
“I’m here. And I’m glad you don’t want to share me. I don’t want that, either.”
Savanna blew out a breath. “If I had to be captured. I think... I think I’m glad it was you who found me.”
5
Xarth.
He pulled her closer, folding her into the safety of his embrace, well aware that even though she’d parthed for him and admitted she was his, he couldn’t claim her as he wanted to. She was exhausted and still injured, and, he realized, practically falling asleep in his arms now that she had a belly full of food.
He sat for a while, savoring the soft weight of her slight body against him, and listened as her breathing lengthened. She was asleep. Not medicated and unconscious, but actually asleep. She’d trusted him enough to fall asleep in his arms.
He closed his eyes and rested his lips against the hair on top of her head. It was a... his chest ached with the feeling. It was the best gift anyone had ever given him. Finally, he stood with her in his arms, carrying her back to bed.
Once she was tucked in and comfortable, he should have left her to sleep. Instead, he stood at the foot of the bed for a few moments. He’d found his omega and she had accepted him. Trusted him. It still didn’t feel quite real.
It was also going to be a problem, given that the Lord Overseer had decreed that no omegas were to be taken or claimed without his express permission. He’d have to claim her first and ask for forgiveness later. Lord Tane would make an exception for him. He hadn’t raided a village to find Savannah. He’d saved her.
Now, he needed to find the ones who had taken her in the first place and make them pay. Then, he’d find Savannah’s mother. Lord Tane would see to it she had protection until she was claimed. And if he could bring in another omega, one like Savannah, then... maybe his transgression would be, if not forgiven, seen in a better light.
With a sigh, he turned from the temptation she presented, resisting the urge to slide in next to her. Instead, he dressed and strapped his weapons back on. Leaving the stronghold took a few minutes as he armed the systems behind him and then stepped out into the ruins beyond.
It didn’t take long for Rett to find him. A patch of darkness moved, Rath whirling lightly to target the movement with both blast pistols, and then his brother emerged, hands raised.
“A bit slow there, little brother. I could’ve had you there. Twice.”
“Not on your best day,” Rath holstered his weapons and grinned at his elder brother. “All quiet?”
“As a tomb.”
It took Rath’s translator a moment to work out the meaning of the slang expression. “You’re spending too much time with the humans. You even sound like one.”
Rett snorted. “That’s the idea. What’s gotten into you tonight? You’re wound tighter than a spring.”