Page 10 of Devil’s Night (Vinduthi Captured Mates #7)

SARGON

I held Nicole close as the aftershocks of her orgasm faded. Her skin glistened with a light sheen of sweat, and I breathed in the intoxicating scent of her desire mixed with my own musk. It was a heady aroma that stirred something deep within me.

At that moment, everything became clear. She was my mate - the one whose very existence made my blood sing with a fierce, possessive hunger. Every part of me yearned to claim her fully, to make her mine in every sense of the word.

But I couldn’t.

As much as it pained me, I knew our union could never truly last. I was a Vinduthi bounty hunter trapped out of my own time, while she was a human female from the year 2024. Even if we found a way to escape this twisted maze, I would eventually have to return to my era where her kind were regarded as little more than lowly vermin.

The thought of subjecting her to such indignity, of stripping away her vibrant spirit, was unacceptable. She deserved better than the cruel fate that awaited humans in my world.

Nicole stirred in my embrace, her hazel eyes finding mine with a look of unguarded vulnerability. “Don’t you want to… you know… do more?” she asked hesitantly.

Forcing a smile, I brushed a stray lock of auburn hair from her face. “I’ll save my treat for later,” I replied, my voice rougher than intended. “For now, we need to focus on finding our way out of here.”

As I carefully helped redress her, my thoughts raced with possibilities on how to let her go once we escaped this nightmarish realm. It would be agony to walk away from her, but it was the only merciful choice.

“Blindly wandering isn’t going to work,” I said once she was decent again. “We need a better plan.”

Nicole glanced around the dimly lit chamber, her eyes settling on the shattered remains of one of the constructs I’d destroyed earlier. “How do those things keep finding us?” she wondered aloud, crossing over to examine the debris.

“They must have some sort of control chip guiding them,” I surmised, joining her. Upon further inspection, I could see the remnants of intricate circuitry amidst the shattered bones and tarnished metal.

“Which means they can navigate this maze without getting lost,” Nicole realized, her voice taking on an excited edge.

I felt a swell of pride at her quick deduction. “Brilliant,” I murmured, already sifting through the pieces in search of an intact control chip.

Nicole watched me work for a few moments before joining the search, carefully picking through the wreckage and passing me anything that looked promising. I marveled at her bravery and intelligence as we worked in silent tandem.

At last, after what felt like an eternity of meticulous reassembly, I managed to salvage enough components to construct a working control chip. Pausing, I studied Nicole’s features - the determined set of her jaw, the focused wrinkle of her brow, the slight upturn of her nose dusted with faint freckles. She was captivating.

“I think I have enough charge left in my plasma blade to reverse the tracking on this chip,” I said, snapping myself from my reverie.

True to my word, I recalibrated the intricate circuitry with practiced ease, redirecting the chip’s homing signal. From the fragments, I then assembled a small form, then held up the small construct I’d assembled, studying it with a critical eye.

It was a bit taller than my palm, vaguely reptilian in shape with spindly limbs and a skull-like head. Flecks of exposed wiring and metallic joints gave it an unsettling, otherworldly appearance.

Turning it over in my hands, I felt a twinge of unease. Would Nicole be frightened by this macabre little creation? For all her bravery, she was still a soft, delicate human easily unsettled by the harsh realities I took for granted.

The thought of her recoiling in terror from something I’d made caused an unexpected pang in my chest. I pushed the feeling aside, steeling my resolve. This was no time for such weakness. The construct was a tool, nothing more - a means to an end that could guide us to our escape.

“Nicole,” I called out, turning to face her. She looked up at me with those captivating hazel eyes, full of curiosity and trust. It simultaneously warmed and pained me. “I’ve fashioned a way to help us navigate, but you may find its appearance disturbing.”

I revealed the small figure, holding it out for her inspection. Her brows knit together as she studied it, plump lips pursing. I braced myself for her inevitable look of horror and disgust.

Instead, to my surprise, a bright smile broke across her face. “Oh, it’s so cute!” she exclaimed, bouncing on the balls of her feet. “In a creepy, kinda freaky way. Like a little skeletal action figure!”

Cute? Of all the words I expected her to use, that hadn’t even crossed my mind. I blinked at her, nonplussed by her delighted reaction. “You aren’t repulsed by it?”

Nicole laughed, the sound like windchimes on a warm summer breeze. “Why would I be? It’s just a tiny robot made from leftover scraps. I think it’s brilliant how you were able to put it together.”

Her enthusiasm was infectious, coaxing an unbidden smile to my lips. Of course she would find ingenuity and practicality endearing, rather than focus on outward appearances. It was one of the many traits I’d come to admire about this remarkable human female.

“Here, let me see it,” she said, holding out her hands.

I passed her the construct, unable to resist brushing my fingertips against her soft skin as I did so. A shudder ran through me, that now-familiar spark of desire igniting low in my abdomen. Gritting my teeth, I forced the feeling down.

Nicole cradled the creation tenderly, examining it from all angles with rapt fascination. “You did an amazing job putting this together from just scraps. The articulation and detail is really impressive.” She beamed up at me, pride and admiration shining in her eyes. “You’re a true craftsman, .”

Her praise warmed me. I couldn’t explain it. No, I couldn’t allow myself to dwell on it. Clearing my throat, I gestured for her to hand the construct back to me. “While aesthetically pleasing is not its primary function, I’m gratified you find it appealing.”

With a soft touch, I activated the creature, watching as it stirred to life. Joints whirred as its thin limbs extended, gears clicking into place as it oriented itself. Twin pinpricks of red light flickered in the empty sockets of its skull, giving it an eerie semblance of sight.

“This one will lead us through the maze,” I explained. “We need only follow where it goes.”

The construct turned, joints rearticulating with a faint metallic rasp. It began scuttling forward in a peculiar, stilted gait. I motioned for Nicole to join me as I fell into step behind it.

“Incredible,” she murmured, falling into pace beside me. Our hands brushed together, and I felt her fingers tentatively entwine with mine. The simple gesture sparked an eruption of warmth that spread through my entire body.

I risked a furtive look at her, committing every curve and angle of her lovely face to memory. Even streaked with dust and sweat, she was the most beautiful creature I’d ever laid eyes upon. An ache blossomed in my chest - one of longing, but also dread.

Because no matter where this path led, I knew our journey together would have to end. And when it did, it would shatter me in a way no weapon ever could.