Until he utters the only thing that could get me to stop.

“What if I could get you back to Earth? You and your companions, too.”

I turn on my heel, only to find he’s watching me with an ineffable expression on his face.

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CHAPTER THREE

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NYDO

I’ve got her.

Her stunning, delicate features are bright red, the spots the humans call freckles standing out even more than usual. Her breasts heave, and I long to see what her body looks like outside of those disgusting human clothes she insists on wearing.

Stubborn as a garwe.

My grin widens, and I inhale slowly, trying to hide my uncharacteristic nervousness. Say yes.

“What did you say?” she finally asks, smoothing her hand over her gorgeous red hair. It’s pulled into a tight bun, and my fingers itch with the need to pull it down, to undo her.

“Earth,” I manage, trying to sound casual. “Do you not wish to return to Earth?”

She narrows her eyes at me. Blatant distrust shines in her face, and I wish I could wipe our slate clean, start over.

That’s impossible, of course. What’s done is done, and the ends justify the means. Always.

“It can’t be done,” she says slowly, but her intelligent gemstone-green eyes watch me carefully.

“It can, and I could.” A half lie. Though, if I have my way, I will burn all thoughts of Earth from her mind, and she will not want to leave me.

Ever. Mine. Mate.

My hands fist at my sides, and her gaze flicks to them. I tuck them behind my back, trying to control my wild emotions. Always wild, around her.

She snorts, then sighs, her mouth twisting to the side. “And what’s in it for you? You’re just offering this out of the goodness of your heart?”

I cock an eyebrow at her, wishing she didn’t distrust me so.

Loving the way she fights me every step of the way.

Already, I am hard for her, my heart beating so fast I am surprised she cannot hear it.

“What’s in it for me? You,” I tell her, need and want racing through my body. “You will be my mate.”

She startles at this, and I inhale deeply as the perfume of her arousal heightens.

A lazy, cocky smile turns the corner of my mouth up. I have her.

She just doesn’t know it yet.

“No way,” she starts. A coarse laugh trips from her throat, irritation marring those delicate features.

I hold up a hand.

“You will pretend to be mine,” I tell her, lying. It hurts to even say it. Every cell in my body recognizes her for what she already is. Mine. I clear my throat and continue. “You will be proof that I, as the Roth King, through diplomacy—”

She interrupts me with a snort and a raised eyebrow. The sunlight catches the gold in her hair, and it’s so like firelight that I have to stop myself from touching her.

“Through diplomacy,” I continue, trying to focus, “have found a way to unite the Roth in a way the Overlord could never dream of. That through a way other than war and bloodshed, I have found my mate. I have found the one that will be the Roth queen and bear the newest fruits of our race.”

“I’m not an apple tree, you ass, and I am not bearing you anything.”

“You didn’t let me finish,” I tell her, stepping closer, unable to help myself.

Fear flickers in her eyes, and I hate it. I despise how she feels about our species. I despise that we deserve her fear and hatred, and that I deserve it most of all.

Still, I push on.

“As soon as I am king, and the Overlord is toppled through our work, I will send you and your companions back to Earth, should you choose to go.”

A vein ticks in her neck, the skin so translucent and thin there that it makes me want to hug her to me, to keep her at my side and safe so that no one else can see how delicate this creature is.

Mine.

“And I am supposed to believe you?” she asks. “That you would just let me go? Why should I?”

“Would you rather stay here?” I retort. A thought slams into me, and rage boils within. “Or is there another male? A Suevan reptile who has claimed your affections?”

She laughs, humor creasing the corners of her eyes. “Reptile? No. Not that it’s any of your business,” she hastily adds.

It is my business, I want to say. Everything about her is my business.

“Speaking of the Suevans, they’re cool with this? Us just leaving?”

“They want me and my brothers to be a distraction to the Roth Overlord,” I tell her.

Leigh’s face turns thoughtful. “You didn’t answer the question.”

“They don’t know I plan to take you.”

“And Piper and Billie,” she adds slowly. “And they’re going to have to pretend to be—” she winces, disgust plain on her face “—mated to your brothers?”

I nod. Are we truly this revolting to her?

I study her again. Not that it’s a hardship, I could stare for days and still be starved for her. She’s all fragile skin and soft curves, her arms and legs muscled from hard work, but still so, so delicate. She must find us disgusting, with our fuzzy grey hides and strange ash swirls, nothing like the human markings. I am huge compared to her, too.

I ache for a moment, imagining the feel of her body tight around me.

“How long do I have to decide?” she asks.

The question is so unexpected that I stare at her in surprise for a moment.

“One hour,” I tell her. “You will meet me with the other two humans at the furthest hangar. Do you know where that is?”

“I’m not an idiot,” she says stiffly.

I blink, uncertain how I’ve managed to offend her this time. “Then you’ll know to leave a letter saying you have come,” I pause, putting a meaningful emphasis on the word as she scowls, “with me willingly.”

“If I decide to travel with you, I have one condition,” she says slowly, her delicious scent intensifying, clouding my head. She holds a finger up.

“What?” I ask. “Have I not promised you enough?” I would give her anything. Would lie about everything to get her to go with us, to secure my throne. Convincing the Roth the humans are our future instead of enemies to be forced to heel is the only truth that matters.

“You do not touch me, or the other women, without our permission.” There’s a hunger in her eyes that has me imagining pressing her against the wall, tearing her pants off and claiming her right here.

The fire in me burns hot at the idea.

“If your scent is any indicator, you will be begging me to touch you before the day is over.” They’re the wrong words to say, but they are true ones, and I want her so badly I can nearly taste her on my tongue.

“In your dreams, asshole,” she retorts.

“Always,” I tell her. “Every night.” My voice is raw. I clear my throat, making myself smile. “See? I can pretend to be a good mate, just as you will pretend.” The lie drips from my tongue like poison.

She stares, her face blooming with pink again.

“One hour. The furthest hangar. Bring your companions and whatever else you require.”

“We’ll see,” she says slowly.

Before I can ruin the moment any more than I already have, I stalk from the building. My skin bristles with unchanneled power. Everything is more intense around her. Everything is more powerful.

I need her so badly that I think I might die if she is not by my side in the next hour.

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CHAPTER FOUR

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LEIGH

Billie and Piper fall in step at my sides. They’re silent, processing Nydo’s proposition, clearly as bewildered as I am.

“And you think he’s telling the truth? We all know they’re liars and sadists,” Billie says, her face scrunched up as she thinks.