Page 29 of Hope Forged
“Their birthrate of females is dwindling, and fewer males are finding their truemates. Without these unions, the males die.”
Her steps faltered. “Do they hope I’m a truemate?”
Illan scowled. “I do not know. Let us pray that is not possible.”
She blinked. “Why? Am I not worthy of being a mate?” Anger bubbled up and over, taking control of her tongue. “You think me objectionable?” Pain lashed her insides, worse than when she’d fallen from the chagla tree.
He growled and yanked her into his quarters, staring at her while the door swished closed. The tension in the air sizzled, forcing her to meet his gaze head-on. Those incredible lashes, the potent fire in his eyes, all sparked a blaze inside her. Shecouldn’t fathom why she wanted to hit him or why she craved his touch. Both desires surged like the cresting of a wave.
“No, that is not what I meant.” His quiet tone belied the fury in his expression. “Wealtered Etterians genetically many centuries ago. Their Ethera can only be triggered by their mates, which had become far too few. But they have found compatibility with the humans. Nor does their salvation lie within other species besides humans. Whether a Durn female can be their truemate has not yet been discovered.”
“Oh,” she whispered, heat burning her cheeks. “How would I know if I did…”
“He will kneel. His eye color will change to the blue of his birth.” Illan released a shuddering breath and closed his eyes for a second. “He will tell you,” he said, meeting her gaze once more. “My hope is that you find your truemate in a Durn.”
Her eyes widened. “When you said we’re rare?”
“Indeed,” he said. “Statistically, the probables are slim.”
“Is the Ethera the same for us?” she asked, inching closer to him; somehow, she needed the warmth pouring off him, the spiciness of his scent, his overpowering yet comforting presence. She’d have to trawl through her emotions when she had a quiet moment. None of them was logical. She hadn’t known this male for long.
He studied her. “Your father would have taught you the Durn way.”
Her brow pinched when she frowned at him. “Everything I do is the Durn way,” she snapped. “You speak in riddles…” She gasped. “You don’t know.” Turning away, she fell into pacing. “Elorach, we’ll have to wait for my father to explain.”
His lips twitched, then he grinned. “I do know.”
She faced him, then stomped her foot, relishing the thickness of the boot heel when it thomp-thomped on the metallic floor. “So, what’s it then?”
“It is not my place to say.” He opened the door and marched through it, leaving her glaring at his broad shoulders.
She wrestled with her anger, trying to rein it in.
“Come, let us find a dagger and a blaster for you,” he called.
She swallowed a curse and rushed after him, wondering if he used the promise of weapons to change the subject.
Chapter Nine
Illan’semotionswereillogical.He knew this, and yet, he couldn’t control his reactions. Ziamee touching Brac had his thoughts reeling, and his vision tainted red with anger. The hope in her voice that a male might find her attractive had skewered his heart.
No one better claim you, he wanted to roar. Thankfully, he had the presence of mind to bite his tongue. All she wanted was someone to love her, no doubt, even though she couldn’t put that longing into words. Her parents had failed to explain any of this. He fully expected her not to know where children came from, how important the continuation of the Durn people was, and her part in it.
The urge to hold her again made his fingers twitch. The way she burrowed into his embrace, the nuzzling of her cheek against his chest, how she’d trusted him… No, this was madness. He shouldn’t find her innocence appealing, not when he admired confidence. Quin had conquered a crewed Yithian slave ship andbeat the odds, taking control as if she’d been born to it. But… He hadn’t needed to earn her trust when they’d been mind-fused.
Doing so to Ziamee would have expedited everything. She’d be beside him now with conviction, instead of arguing or misunderstanding him.
Think her objectionable?
She had no idea how untrue that was. As evident by her constantly disrobing, exposing her beautiful body to his attentive gaze.
He did ache for her. Far too intensely and too quickly for his liking. Again, he missed Iddan’s quiet presence. Not that Iddan could advise Illan in this matter. They’d been mind-fused when they’d met Cyndy. Illan had tried to distance himself from their heart palpitations, intimate thoughts, teasing words, knowing smiles, heated glances, and eager touches.
He shook his head, fighting for clarity.
When Ziamee joined him, bringing the scents of the lake, sunlight, and soil, he pressed the panel to access the blasters. He withdrew one, keeping his gaze on her face. Her eyes widened, and a tremulous smile crawled across her features.
“The buttons and colors change the blaster’s function.’ He tapped the closest one. She crowded him, studying the weapon in his hand. “Yellow to stun. If you click and hold, it changes the intensity, depending on the size of the target. Red for kill, blue unlocks anything electronic, and white will trigger the weapon’s self-destruction.” He offered it to her, ensuring the stun was set to default.
