Chapter 7 #2
“You didn’t seem too surprised to see that cyborg.
In fact, you seemed downright suspicious when you said no one could search your quarters.
If I go in there, am I going to smell someone else’s scent?
” Natalia shuts her mouth the instant I bring up searching her cave again.
She knows I know she is hiding something, but I won’t let her off the hook.
“Let me make this clear. There is no way he could have hidden in here without someone helping him, and I think that someone is you.”
She sneers at the accusation. “Bullshit. You are too busy with that abomination omega to even know what is going on in this den. I could have a parade of men through here, and you wouldn’t notice or care.”
“No, you’re right. I really wouldn’t. You could fuck the whole ship, and it would make me happy because it would mean you’re leaving all of us alone.” I can’t hide the venom in my tone as I knock her down a few pegs. She flinches, my words obviously hitting a nerve.
Up until now, I’ve played peacekeeper, not encouraging her but also not telling her it isn’t going to happen.
I thought our actions were clear enough, but I underestimated how stubborn and delusional she is.
No more. This female has been pandered and catered to for far too long, and she needs a reality check—one I will be more than happy to deliver.
“I will never mate with you. Even if you had considered Echo as a possible mate as well, I never would have considered it. He is mine, and all you have done is try to kill him. You’re lucky I haven’t killed you out of respect for your mother,” I bellow, my anger finally getting the better of me, and lightning crackles around my body.
“I suggest you do yourself a favor and stay in your den, away from everyone else, because I promise you this, Natalia—I will no longer hold back. If it comes out that you had a part in trying to kill the Adams brothers’ granddaughter, I will see you disgraced and shunned.
You will never find a streak, and you will be an outcast. Keep your head down, and maybe, just maybe, you will find someone who will make you happy one day.
” I turn my back to her, knowing that even if she strikes at me with her lightning, I can withstand her attack, since I am stronger than she is.
I leap carefully from rock to rock until I reach the entrance of our den where Echo is waiting for me in cat form.
He stands as I approach and swipes an affectionate and reassuring tongue over my hand.
The hundreds of little spikes are flattened so he doesn’t tear the skin from my bones, but it’s still a rough texture and it tickles slightly.
I run my hand through his snow-white fur, wiping the slobber off the back of it and chuckling before gripping his mane and tugging him with me.
He follows, walking next to me as we traverse the rocky corridor into our den.
All of the dens on our level are shaped the same as dens back on Iceen, both the caves and family dwellings.
The long, narrow entrances make it harder for enemies to attack before it opens into a large, communal structure with a curtained off bedroom area and a separate bathroom.
The Adams family was adamant when bringing different species to the circus that they would be comfortable when they were not performing.
Echo and I have lots of furs and soft furnishings strewn around the area with a small kitchen off to the side.
Most of the time we don’t use it and only use the replicator, since neither of us are cooks.
We mostly prefer to catch our food in animal form when we are home, but that’s just not possible here.
I release him, and he pads over and jumps down into the sunken hole he has made into his nest, curling up and purring with contentedness.
He’s happy now that we are away from the hell beast and safe in our own space.
I lean against the cave wall, thinking about what happened.
I can’t believe that cyborg managed to hide in here without any of us knowing.
Natalia had to be involved. There is no way he would have survived in the cold temperatures without assistance.
Sure, he was bundled up in furs, but they wouldn’t have been enough.
I’m tempted to shift and go sniff around in the den he was found in.
If I pick up her scent, there’s no way she can deny her involvement, and it’s one more black mark against her.
I push off the wall and head back the way we came, but Echo growls from the bed and calls to me with a high-pitched whine that makes me turn back.
I don’t like to hear my omega in distress.
I return to his nest and climb into it with him.
He rolls onto his back and exposes his tummy for me to rub, and I chuckle.
“What’s wrong, my omega? I just want to examine the den.
I should be able to sniff out whether or not Natalia has been in there.
I want to know if she is responsible for the cyborg being in our living space.
I’m not sure what it is about the human girl that makes all the aliens on this ship so fucking crazy, but I won’t be complacent if someone is trying to hurt her.
” He bats at my hand with his paws before shifting back into his humanoid form so we can converse.
He curls up in my lap with his head resting on my thigh, his lithe body stretched out for me to admire.
I know Echo is approaching his heat. I was hoping that Natalia would be gone by the time it came around, since it is too dangerous for him to go through it with her here.
I will be lost to my desires and unable to protect us to my full ability, so it would be the perfect opportunity for her to attack.
I continue to rub my hand through his hair, and he purrs with happiness.
“I like the little Earth girl,” he whispers quietly, his voice soft and melodic, and my hand stills.
“Really? I didn’t know you’d spoken to her.”
He shakes his head. “I haven’t, but my cat likes her. He wants to roll around in her scent. She smelled delicious the other night during our performance. That’s why I tried to stop Natalia when she attacked the glass in front of her.”