Chapter 21
TWENTY-ONE
Jessa didn’t see Virak for the rest of the day or that night. He did not come to her room or attempt to contact her. Paeri brought her a meal, which she had no appetite for, and left as quietly as she’d arrived.
She spent the evening watching the sky turn colors, then darken through her skylight, with the hulpu curled up on her lap. Her hand moved over the soft fur. She hadn’t wanted to name the creature. Already, she was way too attached. There was no way she’d be allowed to bring her back to Earth.
If she was returning to Earth. She was so turned upside down, all she could do was replay her conversation with Madison over and over. Overwhelmed didn’t even begin to describe Jessa’s mental state.
A Virilian’s primal form, it turned out, was an expression of protection.
Some part of Virak considered Jessa his female.
Madison had explained that the fearsome—and dangerous—form emerged when a Virilian perceived a mortal threat to his home or family.
He didn’t choose it. It wasn’t random or accidental or something anyone could have expected.
More than likely, according to Madison, Virak was just as freaked out as Jessa.
Fortunately, the primal state didn’t last forever.
In a matter of days to weeks, it would fade and he would go back to being the Virak she knew.
Jessa had no idea what transpired between Virak and the prisoner. She didn’t know what the creature had said or done—other than being a Sifter, which was bad enough—to unwittingly provoke enough of Virak’s wrath to cause his primal form to emerge.
She knew the male she’d spent time with, grown to care for, and had smoking hot sex with.
She knew the soft, vulnerable smile he gave her when he asked if he’d pleased her.
She knew the male who did everything in his power to keep the people in his city secure and give the creatures he saved comfortable lives.
The sky was dark through her skylight, but Jessa rose and went to the door. She knew what she had to do and knew exactly where he was.