Page 72 of Bred By Sor'en

“That’s sad.” I sniffle.

He removes his hands, looking up as if that hadn’t occurred to him, but when he makes to move away from me, I capture his wrist with my small hands. It takes both of mine to hold even one of his. “Please…” My words trail off because what can I say? How can I ask him to spare Sor’en in the face of what happened? I can’t.

Prince Ravian sees it the moment I realize it too. “These people are monsters. I can offer you and the child safe passage, but know that it will be hated wherever it goes.”

I sniffle, finally letting go of him as an idea pops into my head. “Let me show you, let me show you that they are not what they’ve been made out to be. Please.” A painfully warm pang fills my heart, it’s the same words Sor’en spoke to me all those kintics ago in the dark halls of Vortara.

He huffs. “Most do not know we possess that ability.”

I offer him a sad smirk. “My mom loved learning about other species.”

“Impelling one's mind is… quite uncouth, improper among my people. Barbaric.” He lays heavy emphasis on the C.

“I get the impression you rarely care what’s proper among your people.”

His wings flutter with amusement as he chuckles, his features lightening and his eyes coming to life for too short a moment. For the first time, my pulse slows enough to realize how truly stunning Kalzaits are as a species. Ethereal even, like fae from the Old Earth stories mom would tell me at night. Up until I actually saw a Kalzait in person, and they started giving me nightmares instead, and she stopped.

I lie my hands on my belly. “But it won’t affect my baby?”

His wings flutter with some kind of emotion he quickly schools, but judging by his tone, I would almost assume he was offended. “Of course not.”

“I thought you wanted to kill us,” I offer, trying to ease my nerves.

“I am still debating it.”

I almost laugh at that, but all I can manage is a small smile. Because I am suddenly quite sure I am in no danger at all with this male.

“I cannot let him go, human.”

My lip wobbles. “All I’m asking for is a chance. Justlook, Xyreliths are good people. Maybe after you see that, then you’ll be in a place where you can hear him. His side of things.”

Ravian eyes me sideways at that. “He has refused to give a side.”

I huff, the sound breaking off into a sob. “Because he is a self-sacrificing fool. Look, if you get the truth and you decide to free him—"

“We wanted a chance before, now we ask for freedom,” he quips irritably.

“I want my mate returned to me, and our people left alone. I’m not asking for reclassification, just protection.”

He glares. “I have no authority to offer an entire planet protected status, nor will I likely feel inclined to after I watch your mate murder my brother.”

I pause for a second, realizing his slip. He's already decided to impel Sor’en too. I do my best not to let the small victory show on my face. “But your father does. There are these… flowers that grow here. Perhaps they are medically significant. It would be worth his while.”

I know what I’m offering, that I have no right to, the sheer insanity of it, but anything has to be better than hiding in the domes.

The male scoffs. “And you think he listens to me?”

“I think you’re far more clever than you let on,prince.”

He heaves a sigh, resting his spiked elbow on a raised knee. “I stand to gain nothing from this, and as I have mentioned, I am suffering horribly from a hangover.”

“You stand to gain a clear conscience, a medically significant flower, perhaps even one strong enough to clear your headache.”

He barks out a light. “Lie back, human.”

My pulse thuds rapidly in my head as his tail wraps around his own leg. If the stories are true, there is a microscopic, barbed stinger sheathed inside. I hope to never find out as he settles himself beside me, and I shock us both by offering him my trembling hand.

Then he shocks mostly himself when he takes it, willing to lend me a moment of comfort despite who I am and what I’m here for.