Page 17 of Hooded (Gladiators of the Gryn #5)

KLYNN

Being without her was the worst torture I’ve ever experienced. And I’ve been at the hands, and stinging tentacles, of the Galactic Council’s finest.

But having Fern taken from me, having to watch as they stole her away…it is not something I ever want to see again.

Except our captors want something else. They want a mating. And other than imagining how delicious it would be to take her entirely, I can see the idea of us mating has obviously never occurred to my little Fern.

Her eyes are huge and terrified. What’s worse, there’s no water in them. Instead she is pressed hard against the cell wall, looking like she would prefer to be cooked by the forcefield than get any closer to me.

And this was the female I held in my arms not so long ago, who touched my feathers like she belonged there. My vrexing heart does its thing again and I growl under my breath.

If Fern had wings, she would have flared them.

“Fern.” I don’t know what to say.

I’ve spent the last nova-years fighting, killing, eating, and doing it all again. I don’t know what to say to this little female who is frightened into immobility.

Who believes she has no choice but to mate with me or die.

Or mate with another.

“I can guarantee you will never mate with another, not while I draw breath,” I snarl out. “You are mine, little eregri . Mine to claim, mine to mate, mine to protect.”

Fern draws in a juddering breath.

I don’t think that was the right thing to say.

“Get on with it!” A shout comes from above. “You don’t have long to do the deed, Gryn, or we’ll mate her ourselves.”

She closes her eyes, and I take my chance, caging her against the wall and placing my lips next to her ear.

“I promise you, little fury, I will not do anything you don’t want me to do. Just give the word, and I will destroy them all.”

Fern looks up at me. “How?”

“I’ll find a way.”

“They’ll just freeze us again. I’ve never come across this tech before. We can’t fight it.”

“I will.”

“, they’re going to kill us.” Her voice is high-pitched, terrified. “Or worse, they’re going to kill you and still breed with me.”

“Then I will have to breed you first,” I breathe.

There has to be a first time for everything, after all.