Page 16

Horek

I have no idea how long it will take for the message to reach Janik. We don’t have a specific system other than to send comms across the computer interfaces and wait for them to be intercepted. Some times they go astray. If I don’t get a reply back from him within the next few days, I’ll try again.

I turn to the Bohnari at the mainframe. “Let me know when you hear something.”

“Right away, Commander.”

I leave the palace’s communication room and head out for patrol.

My hope is, for Janik’s and the other rebels’ sake, he’s open to meeting with Alik. My cousin can’t let what happened to Konek go unpunished. He’s done his best to avoid violent retaliation against the rebels.

The implication that Alik is intentionally withholding kanet powder from them won’t leave me. It’s not possible. And yet, the rebel was so earnest in his belief.

My patrol leads me past the females’ building. As if sensing Quinn through the walls, my body temperature rises and already the heat of fire courses through my veins. My fangs throb and my skin feels too tight around my body. I don’t have to see my reflection to know my coloring has darkened and my eyes have changed shades as well. Anyone looking at me will know I’m burning up with mating fever.

I quicken my pace, needing to increase the distance between me and where Quinn resides before I do something I’ll regret. Or that she will.

Did she spend the morning with Bannik? He showed an immense amount of interest in her last night at the welcome banquet, and he was at Erik’s earlier. Was that a coincidence, or had they planned it? A rough, deep growl rumbles up from my belly, into my throat, and spills from my lips. Several Bohnari snap their heads in my direction and stare open-mouthed.

Fuck. No doubt word will spread throughout Preska about what they witnessed. It will probably raise some concerns about my possibly succumbing to the madness that resides inside me. Before more complications arise, I snag the vial of kanet powder from my pocket and take a large dose. I’m becoming as bad as Alik.

Who will lead Preska if both my cousin and I go mad? Queen Veroneek is the only living member of the royal line, much to my mother’s disappointment. I suppose the High Council will have to appoint someone. But who? I suppose it doesn’t matter since I refuse to allow myself to fall victim to the fever. I’m stronger than that and I will fight it with everything I am.

I patrol the streets, keeping my eye out for any disturbances. Several guards do the same and they nod as we pass. Against my will, my thoughts drift back to Quinn. What is it that continues to draw me to her? Is there a higher power at work? The Bohnari don’t have fated mates like the Tavikhi do, but a few have been lucky and found their heart’s fire. The one person who causes the mating fever to burn out of control and yet keeps the madness at bay.

Vornak found it with Johnna. Queen Veroneek found it with King Danik. It’s not a guarantee that all Bohnari will find their heart’s fire. In fact, they are rare. But our ancestors still managed to settle for companionship and respect with their mate, all while extinguishing the fever entirely. Most oftentimes out of necessity. But they are relationships without any true passion.

A familiar scent hits me, and I curse. Are the gods punishing me? Surely they must be. My blood has barely cooled and the sweet scent that belongs to only one female heats it again. I follow the tantalizing aroma through the streets until I come across its owner. To my surprise, Quinn is alone.

She’s seated on a bench just inside the botanical garden. Her head is tipped back and her eyes are closed. There’s an expression of pure rapture on her face that hardens my cock. Would she look like that beneath me while I thrust into her tight cunt? My fist clenches as I imagine Quinn’s hair wrapped around it so I can pull her head back the way it is now and watch her breasts rise and fall as she tries to catch her breath.

Almost as though she senses me, she tips her chin down and opens her eyes. They lock onto mine. I stride forward—neither of us looking away—and don’t stop until I am before her. I watch her throat move as she swallows. Does she wish as much as I do that it was my cock she was swallowing?

I take another step forward, spearing my thigh between hers and forcing her legs farther open as I bring myself even closer. The heat of her cunt warms the flesh beneath my pants and a second, even more intoxicating scent rises from her. A female’s pleasure has never smelled so good. I haven’t even touched her yet, either.

Quinn tips her head back again, but her eyes remain open and intently focused on me. Her mouth parts and the barest hint of her tongue is visible. I want to know if she tastes as good as she smells. Forces more powerful than me guide my movements. I bend forward at the waist and press my palms against the bench’s back support on either side of Quinn’s shoulders. My fingers clench the wood and the splintering sound from my claws piercing it is faint, as if from a distance.

Desire sparks in her gaze, surely a reflection of mine.

“What are you doing?” she whispers at last.

“Exactly what you want me to do.”

To my relief, she doesn’t attempt to deny my words. Not that I would let her. My fangs ache and throb with need. It’s so intense I want to do nothing more than bury them in the soft flesh where her neck meets her shoulder. The blood in my veins is so hot I’m surprised it doesn’t burn me to a cinder. I’m on the edge of madness and yet something—or perhaps, someone —is keeping it from wreaking havoc.

Is it possible that Quinn is my heart’s fire? It’s the only explanation I can come up with for this strong of a reaction.

“I think it is now I who should be asking you the question. What is it you’re doing to me?” I don’t even recognize my voice.

She shakes her head, but the desire burning in her gaze says otherwise. “I’m not doing anything.”

“Lies. You’ve put some sort of curse on me.”

“No, I wouldn’t.”

“There’s no other explanation. I can’t stop thinking about you. Dreaming about you. Even when you’re not around your scent lingers.” I lean in closer and inhale her sweet scent. Pleasure shoots straight through my cock.

“You’re mistaken.” Quinn’s gone breathless.

“The gods have sent you to torment me, haven’t they?”

She opens her mouth—I’m sure to argue again—but I’m done listening. I claim her lips with mine, at last getting my first decadent taste of her. The blood coursing inside my veins sizzles and burns its way through my body. I’m hot enough that it wouldn’t shock me if I burst into flames. A knowing ripples across my mind that Quinn is the only one who can put them out.

I sweep my tongue against hers and she matches each movement with her own. There’s no hesitancy. No fear. We both give and take from each other, neither of us giving up any ground. She passionately battles for control—or at least gives the appearance of it—but I’ll never yield. Nor does Quinn truly want me to. I can sense it in the way there’s something she’s holding back.

A moan tumbles from her and I move to deepen the kiss, but she rips herself away from me. Her hands go to my shoulders and the shock allows for her to push me away with little effort. Quinn jumps to her feet and stares at me with her chest heaving. Her eyes are wide and she gapes. I would chuckle in self-satisfaction, but I bite it back.

“This isn’t real.” Again, she swallows and I want to call her back to me.

“Of course it’s real.”

“No.” She rattles her head. “No, it’s not. What you’re experiencing is mating fever. It’s only because I’m female. Nothing more than that.”

I nearly laugh, but can tell she’s serious. Quinn truly believes I’m overcome by the fever and not by her. Not the insane desire she—and only she—causes. “I admit that the fever is part of it. But only a small part.”

“You can’t help yourself.”

“I have far more control than you’re giving me credit for.” I’m almost offended on her behalf. As though she couldn’t possibly be the reason I want to drag her back to my room and fuck her until she admits there’s more to this attraction than mating fever.

“Maybe, but I also know your people are afflicted with the mating fever and that’s why you need brides. Not just because you want us to give you children.” Quinn crosses her arms over her chest. “Without us, you’ll slowly go insane as the madness takes over. That’s why you did what you just did. The fever needs to be brought down. I just happened to be the closest female.”

Loud, raucous laughter bursts from my chest. “Do you truly think that what just occurred between us is because you were nearby? What if your friend—the one you were with this morning—had been the one I stumbled upon? Can you sit there, look me in the eyes, and tell me I would have behaved the same way with her as I did with you?”

Quinn glances away and briefly I think I’ve gotten through to her. “I don’t know. Maybe.”

Any bit of amusement withers. I stare, waiting for her to meet my eyes, but when she shifts her attention back to me, her gaze fixates on my chest. She won’t look any higher.

“If my excuse is the mating fever, then what’s yours?” Without waiting for an answer, I walk away.

The longer I remain, the more I want to prove to her she’s wrong and that she was more than just convenient . But I’m disappointed in Quinn and in myself. That I couldn’t control my impulse and now that I’ve had a taste of her, no one else will ever do. That the torture I’ll go through because of that single taste will haunt my dreams.