Chapter 30
30
M elvale stared at Pari, horrified. “You want to do what?”
“I want to go home.”
He reeled away. He couldn’t lose her, not when he’d just found her! But… didn’t he just tell her he’d take her back while they were visiting Irene and the others? Or was it he told her that she didn’t have to stay? Sometimes he didn’t know which part of him was talking!
“An old man said I could get a ride?”
He turned back to her. “What old man?”
“His name was Wilfred.” She paced before the large chaise lounge in his living quarters. He wondered at her sudden compliance to return here. Now he knew what prompted it. “What exactly did Wilfred tell you?”
She blinked a few times. “So… you do know him.”
“Of course, we’re friends. Just like I’m friends with his wife, Irene and…”
“That kindly old man is married to that crabby woman? The one that hit you over the head with a cast iron ladle?”
He caught the disbelief in her voice and sighed. “Trust me, she grows on you. And she’s very loyal and protective. They all are.” He went to the chaise and sank onto it. To think that not hours ago he’d woken up beside her and all was right with the world.
“So, can you take me?” she prompted, eyes downcast.
“I’m afraid I don’t have that ability. But I know who does.” He ran a hand down his face. “You must know that it is extremely dangerous for you to leave here.” He scooted to the edge of the chaise. “To leave me.”
She raised her face to his, her eyes holding a desperate look. “But my uncles. I have to know they’re alright.” Pari sat beside him. Melvale closed his eyes at the blissful sensation her closeness brought to every fiber of his being. “What if that mad doctor tries to take them? What if he wants to trade them for us?”
He gazed at her, looking so small beside him, and unable to help himself, put an arm around her. “I won’t let that happen. I’ll send someone to keep an eye on them.”
“No!” She jumped up to stand before him. “They’re looking for your race. Dr. Charles told me himself. He wants to enslave all of you and breed an army!”
He gaped at her. “Well, that’s not very sporting of him, is it?” Melvale stood and paced. “So, that’s his plan…”
“He knows about your people, Bondrah…”
He spun to her, the Alpha rising at the name. “Kahtala Miah.” Melvale swallowed hard. “What else did he say?”
“He… he knows you’re alien, and he wanted to experiment on you, cut you up to see what makes you tick. Find your weaknesses.” She gulped and her lower lip wobbled. “He was going to kill you!”
He closed the distance between them and pulled her into his arms. She’d been through a lot in a very short time, so outbursts of this sort were to be expected. The thought didn’t make him feel any better or do anything to calm the Alpha inside him. His chest tightened and he emitted a low growl. “He will be dealt with.” His voice was low, guttural.
She looked up at him and tried to back out of his arms. “Your eyes are blue.”
“Maybe that’s a good thing.” His voice was still low, and he thought to squeeze his eyes shut to quell the power pushing for release. But could the other side of him track down this doctor? Wouldn’t it be better if he struck first?
Now that idea intrigued him.
“Why are you smiling?” Pari asked.
Melvale moved his hands to her shoulders. “Because I’ve a plan forming in my head. Come, Kitten. Let’s go pay someone a visit.” He let her go and started for the door.
She trotted after him. That too made him smile. “Who are we going to see?”
“An acquaintance. I’ll have him watch over your uncles and do some snooping.” He reached the door and turned to Pari in time to see her toss her hands in the air.
“But Dr. Charles might capture him!”
He took in her expression and sighed. It was a mix of exasperation and fear. Melvale drew closer and ran the back of one finger down her cheek. “Do not worry yourself, Kahtala Miah. I’ll not let anything happen to you or anyone else. This doctor, whomever he is, must be stopped. He is a threat not only to my race, but yours. And I have a strong feeling I know where he comes from.”
She looked into his eyes. “Where?”
“I’ll explain later. First let’s make sure your uncles are safe, hmm?”
She nodded in relief and stood still before him. Melvale bent his head to hers, and kissed her hair. “You are safe, little one. That is the most important thing to me.” He looked into her eyes. They were misting with tears. She had to be exhausted emotionally and mentally by now. “We will do this one thing, then you must rest.”
A single tear slid down her face. “But I … I want to go home.”
He pulled her close. “I know. And I will go with you. But we cannot stay there long. If we do, we risk capture again, do you understand?”
She nodded against his chest. “Yes.”
Melvale fought the urge to tighten his hold, but he didn’t want to scare her. He still needed to win her, and if taking her home for a brief time would do that, then he was willing to take the risk.
They left his quarters and headed for one of the small palace kitchens that was nearby. He had no idea where Q was wandering, but it didn’t matter. The kitchen Shaveer oversaw wasn’t far, and he figured Pari and himself could use the walk.
She said little as they went, and he left her to her thoughts. He’d make sure Pari rested before they headed out, and of course he should get permission from King Jaireth. If the king said no, then he’d have to try to persuade him. He’d done it before.
Oh, wait. He didn’t have to do any persuading if he let the Alpha side of him take over… but should he do such a thing? Melvale wasn’t sure…
“Where are we going?” Pari finally asked.
He gave her a tender look. “A wonderful little place. A palace kitchen.”
Her face screwed up in confusion. “What?” She trotted now and then to keep up with his long strides and he slowed his pace.
“One of many,” he said. “This one just happens to be the closest to my quarters. Shaveer, the head cook, is a friend.”
“You’re going to use a palace cook to protect my uncles?”
An amused chuckle escaped him. “No, Kitten. But no doubt the person I’m seeking will be there. He can’t help himself. And Shaveer is one of the few people in the palace that will put up with him.
“Who is it?” she asked, voice laced with curiosity.
“Archer.” He smiled at her. “I have things I need to explain to you, but first I want you to promise me something.”
She stopped. “What?”
Melvale turned to her and saw the hint of suspicion in her eyes. “Promise you’ll rest. I hate seeing you like this.”
She stared at him a moment. “Do I look that bad?”
He took a step toward her, closing the distance between them. “Of course not. But I sense the weariness within you, and I don’t like it.”
Pari gaped at him. “You sense it?”
He nodded. “I can sense all sorts of things about you.”
Her eyes grew round. “Like what?”
He smiled. “I can smell your tears, I know when you’re scared, happy, sad…”
Her eyes grew wider. “How?”
He shrugged. “I just do.”
She paced back and forth in front of him a few times then stopped. “I… I want to introduce you to my uncles.”
“I’d love to meet them.” He gave her a tender smile. “And you can show me around a little.”
She smiled in return. It was unhindered and he could feel joy emanating from her. “I’d like that. You’ll love Brooklyn.” She smiled again and one of her hands moved toward his before she pulled it back. Was she about to take it?
Melvale smiled and motioned her to start walking. She did, and he scanned the corridor for any signs of danger. He knew there was no one lurking in the shadows. This was home. Why then did the Alpha side of him suddenly go on alert?
They rounded a corner, and his great Aunt Timmohn was just coming out of the kitchen. Without thought, Melvale grabbed Pari and shoved her behind him.
“Alpha,” his great aunt breathed in Muiraran, with no small amount of reverence. “How good it is to see you up and about.” She looked him up and down appreciatively then frowned and looked at the kitchen she’d just left. “You’re hungry? Why did you not summon a servant to bring you food?”
Melvale stared at her and fought the urge to bare his teeth. Calm down! He told the other side of him. She’s a relative!
“Alpha Melvale?” his aunt hedged.
“I’m looking for Archer,” he said in English for Pari’s benefit. He noticed his voice dropped lower than normal. Had his eyes gone blue again? He’d better start carrying a small mirror with him.
Melvale felt movement and realized he still had Pari tucked behind him. He took her by the hand and slowly pulled her out into the open but kept her next to him.
Great Aunt Timmohn’s eyes lit up. “There she is,” his great aunt said in English. Her eyes raked over Pari like she was some prized horse. “Well, I suppose she’ll do.” Her eyes flicked to the kitchen and back. “If it’s that half-breed you seek, he’s in there stuffing his face. What do you want with him?”
His Alpha side growled at her before Melvale could stop it.
Pari looked up at him. “Bondrah?”
Great Aunt Timmohn gasped. “Bondrah?!”
Pari looked at her and side-stepped closer to him. “Yes, that’s his name, isn’t it? One of them anyway.”
Great Aunt Timmohn looked down her nose at her. “It is the name, child. And is not to be spoken lightly.”
“But what does it mean?” Pari asked.
His aunt smiled. “You mean you don’t know?”
Both sides of Melvale sensed something deep within his aunt that was out of place. He hissed at her and stepped in front of Pari protectively.
His great aunt laughed. “You’ll not take that stance with me.”
That did it. Melvale’s fangs descended, and he roared at her. Pari let out a yelp of surprise behind him, and he snaked an arm behind him and pulled her close. He didn’t want her to bolt.
“Mind yourself!” his aunt commanded.
Melvale laughed, a deep, guttural sound. “You try to command me?”
Great Aunt Timmohn’s eyes grew wide. Melvale was vaguely aware of the claws extending from the tips of his fingers as his right hand came up to strike.
“Bondrah Miah?” came a small voice behind him.
Melvale’s hearts responded and he turned without thinking. “Kahtala Miah.” He knew his Alpha side was in control, and didn’t try to pull him back. Curiosity had him, and Melvale wanted to see what would happen. He hoped Great Aunt Timmohn had the good sense to skedaddle.
“Bondrah…” Pari looked up at him with her big blue eyes. “Don’t hurt her.”
He cocked his head. “She… is not right. She could harm you.”
Pari put a hand on his left forearm, looked at his clawed hands, and gulped. “Is that any reason to hit her?”
He pulled his upper lip back from his teeth and his fangs retracted. “You would protect her?”
Pari blinked a few times. “I don’t understand what she’s done.”
His eyebrows shot up. “I see.” He cocked his head and cupped one side of her face with his hand. The claws were gone. “Pari. My little one.” He got down on one knee before her. “I am yours to command.”
Great Aunt Timmohn gasped, turned on her heel, and hurried down the corridor as fast as she could go.