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“Gehj? Agrel?” She called out to her mates, praying that they heard her plea despite being nothing more than a thread of sound squeezed from her throat. When there was no immediate response, she directed her plea to the creature stalking patiently toward her as she continued to back away from it. “Please,” she whispered. “Please, don’t.”

It studied her, its heading cock for a moment as it briefly fell silent. She stumbled and fell to the ground. As if seeing a moment of weakness to attack, it emerged from the brush, the morning light making its fur look even darker, like a stain of a shadow against the world with four bright, piercing eyes burning at her. But instead of attacking, it stood, its body a dark shadow and yet distinct in the early morning light as it rose to stand like a man. Fear constricted her throat, and her eyes grew wide as clarity slammed through her. She knew exactly what it was—the one thing she had feared.

Ragoru.

A scream ripped painfully from her throat, and she whirled away, sprinting toward the wagon, which swayed as it moved farther and farther away from her. All at once, it stopped, and a bright light rose over its top as the Atlavans ascended over the top of the wagon, fire burning from their wings. Their wings beat the air, propelling them forward. Her eyes followed themas she ran frantically forward. They cut through the air at a shocking speed but then did not drop to her side, instead they soared over her head, their bodies angling at the last minute to dive toward the Ragoru that was rapidly gaining on her. Delilah spun around, her steps wobbling as she broke from her sprint, and watched wide-eyed as the outright attacked the massive male nearly twice their size. She waited for him to swipe and to attempt to knock one of them out of the air. Her throat constricted with worry but, to her surprise, the Ragoru dropped low, scrambling out of the way of their assault as he withdrew to a safe distance.

“Wait… wait!” the male roared, his clear, precise words ringing out with such surprise that she frowned with confusion.

“What?” The word fell from her lips in shock and was echoed by her mates as they dropped to the ground a short distance in front of her, forming a very confused barrier of flames, wings, and merciless claws.

That… that didn’t sound like a murderous beast attempting to kidnap her or tear her apart. Her brows drew together as she studied the panting male and slowly walked forward to join her mates. Their heads turned toward her and she wondered if they would resist her stepping between them as she approached the flaming wall of their wings. To her surprise, they drew back their wings, opening the way for her as their gazes returned to the Ragoru warily watching them. Something about the whole thing was off. Even the panicked shout sounded off—like from a frightened child.

“What do you mean ‘wait?’” she called out to him. “It didn’t look like you were waiting to attack me.”

“Attack you? I didn’t attack you.” The male’s ears flattened, and he shook his head, shrinking into himself. “There was a large spotted predator creeping toward you. I… I meant to save you,” he added weakly, his eyes turning to the bushes helplessly.“It… it is gone, but I did not know you had males with you.” He shifted in place, suddenly looking every inch as young and uncertain as he sounded despite his size.

She squinted at him but set a hand on Agrel’s arm, feeling the tension that was wound tightly through his body, easing slightly beneath her palm. She glanced over at Gehj and the male nodded, his flames dying as his wings snapped behind him. Walking out the direction that the Ragoru indicated, he peered down at the ground for a long moment, his crests rising. Nodding to himself, he returned to her side and peered down at her.

“He is speaking the truth. There was something there that appears as if it were following you.” His mouth downturned, his brows dipping. “What were you doing out here alone, anyway?”

“Can we not get distracted here,” she muttered at him from between her teeth. “If you must know, I had to pee.” Her gaze shifted back to the Ragoru eyeing them nervously. “What is your name?”

“Zemb,” the male replied, his voice shaking.

She smiled reassuring. “How old are you, Zemb?”

“Fi… fifteen summers,” he replied.

Blessed Mother, he was practically a baby. He glanced around helplessly, and she wondered if he was looking for an escape route. Poor kid. This… this was the monster that Zack had been so insistent needed to be destroyed. He was very much like any teen boy she’d known, just with a bit extra added to his appearance.

Gehj sighed, his wings relaxing, and he exchanged a look with Agrel, whose flames went out as he curled one wing possessively around her.

“Sure, why not?” Agrel huffed, but there was no malice in it, and Gehj smiled as his head turned back to the Ragoru.

“We are very thankful that you saved our mate,” he said, his voice pitched in a low, kindly note. “If you had declined to help, there is little doubt a clever predator would have brought her down before we noticed that she was in need of help. You did very well and have our thanks.”

The male’s ears tipped toward him, his expression brightening. “I do?”

Agrel trilled in amusement at her side and waved a wing toward him as he gently turned her back toward the wagon. “Come. We were just about to stop for morning meal, are you hungry?”

Zemb nodded eagerly, forgetting his reluctance as he bounded toward them with juvenile enthusiasm. It was only once he was up close that Delilah saw how thin and lanky he was, despite the fur. He was definitely at that awkward developmental stage—it seemed that even aliens experienced it. His bright eyes turned to her as if sensing her regard and his ears twisted to the side in obvious embarrassment, his eyes dropping.

“I apologize that I frightened you, female.”

“Delilah,” she replied, and promptly nodded to her males. “These are my mates, Agrel and Gehj.”

“Just two?” he asked with open curiosity, and Agrel frowned at him.

“An ahaku pair is all an Atlavan’s mate needs,” he replied.

“Oh, of course,” Zemb replied cheerfully, not even noticing the chilling in Agrel’s demeanor. “Ragoru females normally mate with a triad of males, but I have heard that it is done, though my family does not agree with it. They said two mates is an insult to the female.”

“And where is your family?” Gehj gently inquired before Agrel could implode into a blazing ball of fury, and Zemb’s expression fell.

“They are with the dark father now. A hunter killed them. He has been pursuing me for many nights, but I keep getting away.” He sniffed the air curiously. “What are we going to eat?”

“All stomach—he is definitely a juvenile,” Agrel commented wryly, and Gehj chuckled.