Chapter 22
22
M elvale put on his robes of office before he fully toweled himself dry. He didn’t know what to do, what to say! By the Creator, he finally had his mate, and he, of all people, was tongue tied!
He crossed the room, his robes rustling as he did. The decorative blue and silver fabric was heavier than the Sarian silk the rest of his official outfit was made from. It was almost crepe-like and was not silent.
He stood near the cushion he’d been using at the table. “Are you still hungry?” His voice almost cracked on the last word. Dash it all, the Alpha side of him had no problem communicating with her, of that, he was sure. The last thing he wanted was to appear like a buffoon in front of this beautiful creature.
Pari picked up a piece of donut and popped it into her mouth. She washed it down with what was left of her coffee all the while staring at him in awe. At least there was that. Now so long as his nerves didn’t cause his mouth to screw up, he might have a chance to talk to her without upsetting her. He had yet to tell her when they were. Something he was sure no one else had mentioned yet. If she came unglued, as Princess Shona was so fond of saying, then the Alpha side of him would rush to the surface, and he wasn’t sure he could get that side of him to behave. That part of him was liable to lop someone’s head off.
He knelt on the cushion. “Would you like more coffee?”
Pari— his Pari —stared at him. “You… you’re different.”
Melvale stilled. “Oh?” he said, trying to sound nonchalant. He made a show of examining her coffee cup. “Did you say coffee?”
“No, but I’ll take some.” She held out her cup and he filled it, then refilled his own. He let her add cream to hers first before putting some in his. Just two friends having coffee together, telling stories, yes, pretend this is that!
Melvale smiled at her as he took a sip, then watched her. She was scared, he could smell her fear. In fact, he could smell a lot of things, including the bits of her that thought he was attractive.
Okay, two points for me!
Melvale smiled again. “Can I get you anything else? Would you like to bathe?”
She swallowed hard, and her cheeks heated. The sweet scent coming off her was intoxicating. The Alpha side of him noticed, and a twinge of agitation struck, prompting him to take action. Like, take her in his arms and kiss her senseless.
Down boy!
But that side of him didn’t listen very well. Melvale’s eyes became glued to hers. They were big, blue, irresistible. There was an innocence lurking within them, but also pain. Lots and lots of pain. He didn’t dare allow his heart to feel it. Not yet. Not with the Alpha side of him trying to make it to the surface.
“You’ve been through a lot, Pari,” he said in a gentle voice. “You can get cleaned up; I can have clothes brought.” He sighed. “I can send for Raina.”
Her eyes lit up. “Yes, please!”
Melvale gave her the gentlest smile he could muster. His little Pari knew Raina and would feel more comfortable with her. Something struck him and he smiled. “Your name…”
“What about it?”
“I believe it’s Persian. Though I could be wrong. I’ll have to research it.”
“No, you don’t,” she said and looked at the table. “My mother read a lot of fantasy books. It is Persian.”
He smiled. “Fairy. It means fairy.”
She gaped at him. “How did you know that?”
“I told you; I speak many languages.” Maybe he shouldn’t have told her that, but it was already out so…
“How many?”
His eyebrows shot up.
“How many languages?” she prompted.
“At last count,” he said, his face screwing up as he thought. “One thousand and twenty-eight.”
“What?!” she screeched. “Are you kidding me?!”
Melvale shrugged. “It’s part of my job. Currently I’m learning five more.”
She gaped at him in disbelief. “No way. There is no way you can… I mean… do you really?”
“I do,” he said as gently as possible. “I’ll lay out some towels for you. When Raina comes, I will not disturb you.”
She nodded and watched him get to his feet. He went to the door leading to the outer corridor and poked his head out. The dozen guards on the other side of the door backed up and bowed.
“Alpha Melvale,” their leader said. “We are at your command.”
He sighed. “Oh, stab me, straighten up. I’m fine.”
The leader slowly straightened and looked him in the eyes. “Gray,” he called, and the others let go a collective sigh. Their leader, Delphhan, bowed again. “What do you wish?”
“Fetch Princess Raina for me. My mate wishes her company.”
“Yes, Alpha.” He signaled to one of his men who took off down the corridor.
Melvale shut his eyes tight as power began to pulse through him. “Not now,” he sang to his Alpha side. He stepped back and closed the door. “You and I are still going to have that chat.” He spun on his heel to Pari. She’d left the table and moved to the half-moon chaise lounge.
He approached slowly, taking her in. “Raina will be here shortly. While the two of you visit, I’ll see about some clothes for you.”
She looked at the Muiraran sleeping clothes she was wearing. A simple camisole and shorts. Though such things were rarely worn by most humans here, Shona was fond of them. Kwaku and Zara must have chosen them for Pari before she was brought here.
He joined her on the chaise lounge and sat. “I’m sorry you were taken. It’s my fault. I should have been able to protect you.”
She looked at him with wide eyes. “How could you have? You weren’t there when they took me.”
He wanted to scoot closer, but sensed she needed some space right now. “I was, my little Pari. I was outside.”
Her jaw went slack. “You were with those men… the ones that were fighting?”
He drew in a breath. “They were fighting me, I’m afraid. I saw you, tried to get to you. Those young men you were with were hurting you.” His eyes narrowed. “I could smell their intent.” His voice dropped in pitch on his last word, and he squeezed his eyes shut.
His eyes were still closed when she put a hand over one of his. “Thank you.”
Melvale blinked and looked at her. Pari’s voice had softened, and the sound of it warmed his entire being. Calm filled him, and even the Alpha side of him purred with satisfaction. “For what?” he whispered.
“You saved me from Jeffrey and his friends.” She swallowed hard and looked away. “They… they…”
“Shhh,” he urged. Melvale brushed her pink bangs to one side. “They cannot harm you now. No one can. You’re safe here, Kahtala Miah. My little Pari.”
She smiled. “You know, I’m not sure which I like better. Hearing you call me that or your little kitten.”
His whole chest warmed. “I shall call you both.”
She looked into his eyes and swallowed again, and he could smell her fear rising.
“What is it?” he asked. “What’s wrong?”
“N-nothing. I was… just wondering what to call you.”
He scooted closer, not caring about giving her space in that moment. “Bondrah. Or if you wish, Bondrah Melvale.”
She made a face. “But what does that mean?”
Melvale smiled. “You will know when the time is right.”
“How about Bond for short?” she asked.
A squeak of delight escaped him. “Bond? Like,” he lowered his voice. “Bond, James Bond?”
She giggled. “I guess. Either that or Rah.”
“No, definitely not that.” He wanted to cup her face with his hand, lean down and kiss her. But she wasn’t ready. His little mate wasn’t ready for a lot of things.
“Are all of you tall?” she asked, breaking into his thoughts.
Melvale lay on his side and propped himself up with an elbow. “Yes. Some are shorter, but not by much.”
“You’re… really an alien?” Her eyes were round as saucers at this point.
“Yes, Kitten.” He moved his head so she could get a better look at his ear. “Go ahead, you can touch them.”
She sucked in a shaky breath and leaned toward him. “This is so… I dunno, weird.”
“I’d say you could call it first contact, but after what we’ve been through together, it’s a little late for that.”
She let out a breathy laugh, and tentatively reached for his ear. He angled his head so she could better touch him.
Pari ran a finger along one side of his tapered ear up to the tip and patted it a few times. “Your skin is so soft,” she whispered.
He looked at her and smiled. “Is the rest of me as soft?” He held up a hand.
She looked at it and touched it with her other hand. “Yes,” came out a breathy whisper. Pari gave her attention back to his ear and continued to run a finger over it. “Is your hearing good?”
“Exceptional. I can hear your heartbeat loud and clear.”
Her finger stopped moving as she stared at him. “Can all of your kind do that?”
Melvale closed his eyes. She had no idea how sensitive his ears were. By the Creator, he had no idea! “Well, as a m-matter of fact, my h-hearing just got an upgrade.” He opened his eyes. She held his hand, while her other was still busy with his ear. If she didn’t stop soon, he wasn’t sure what would happen. This was all new to him.
“Are you the only one of your kind here?” Pari looked at him, waiting.
He repositioned himself, her hand falling away from his ear. “No, Kahtala Miah. I am surrounded by my kind.”
Her eyes went wide, just as a knock sounded on the door. Raina poked her head in. “Pari?”
Pari blinked, breaking their connection, and ran toward Raina. “There you are!” She hugged her.
Raina hugged her back, her eyes on Melvale.
He sighed, got off the chaise, and held up both palms to let her know he was calm.
Raina breathed a sigh of relief. “Pari, did you eat? Do you need anything?”
Pari made a face. “A bath.”
“You’ve seen what they call a bath, here, right?” Raina met Melvale’s gaze. “Have you informed Pari…”
“No, I have not.” He clasped his hands before him. “I can do it later. It should come from me.”
“Maybe you ought to do it now,” Raina suggested.
“What?” Pari asked.
Raina stepped away from her. “Melvale can tell you. But it’s okay. And when he’s done, I’ll tell you a little more about Halden and me.”
“Princess,” Melvale said. “Would you go to the bathing room and pull out some towels for Pari? They will be in the same area they’re kept in your quarters.”
“Certainly.” Raina headed for the arched doorway across the room.
“Wait a minute,” Pari said. “Princess?!”
Raina stopped and turned. “I did say I had things to tell you.” She kept going and disappeared into the short hall.
Pari looked up at him. “What did you need to tell me?”
“I’m going to tell you where you are. And then,” he said with a sigh. “I’m going to tell you when you are.”