going to kill him if she wasn’t careful. And hellfire, she wasn’t done with appeasing her appetite!
Hinekiri pointed. “Janaya. Over there.”
Everything moved in slow motion—the approaching vehicle, Luke shooting at the Torgon, her aunt’s frenzied hand movements. Then Hinekiri slapped her hard on the side of her face. Her head jerked toward the group of Torgon. Fury galloped through her mind, pressure built and suddenly purple light shot from her eyes in a concentrated beam.
“It’s a strike,” Hinekiri roared behind her as one Torgon burned down to a pile of ash.
Beside her, Luke fired again. The projectile from his weapon caught a Torgon right between the eyes. He exploded like a hot ball fish, spraying purple gunk the distance of two bodies lined end to end.
“Yes!” Hinekiri crowed, punching her fist in the air. “Get the last one, Janaya.”
Janaya concentrated, channeling her anger at the attack. When the heat developed behind her eyes and the purple light returned she knew she’d managed it by herself without Hinekiri or Luke. She focused her eyes, shot. And missed.
“Where’d he go?” Luke demanded.
“Into hypermode back to wherever they left their ship. They never hunt alone, always in packs,” Janaya said in disgust. Ready to attack another day.
“Great.” We’re going to have purple aliens popping out of the woodwork.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Janaya said.
“What?”
Janaya froze. He hadn’t said that aloud. “Aunt?” Clear panic sizzled through her voice and she didn’t mind admitting to the emotion. How was it possible she could read his mind?
“The two of you mated last night?” Hinekiri made it a question.
Luke stared at her in silent accusation. “If you mean had sex, then yes, we did. What else aren’t you telling me? I’d rather know it all up front so I can protect the people of Sloan. I don’t want any more nasty surprises today. Two are enough.”
Hinekiri’s teasing grin smoothed out to concern on seeing Luke’s apprehension. Janaya didn’t blame him for his snappy questions. Quite frankly, she wanted to get her aunt alone. She’d commit the physical damage she constantly threatened. And then she’d turn her over to the Torgon. Hinekiri had never mentioned a word of any of the possible symptoms when she’d discovered her presence on board ship.
“I’ve never heard of a Dalconian imprinting on an Earthman before,” Hinekiri said. “I can give you a broad idea of what to expect, but then again, I might be wrong.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Luke demanded.
Janaya lifted her head to stare in the direction they’d come from. “Your father will arrive in a few minutes.”
“Quick. Before Dad arrives.”
“The bond will become stronger each time you join. Dalconians mate for life,” Hinekiri murmured.
“Okay.” Luke closed his eyes, an almost pained look skipping across his face. “We won’t have sex again. We’ll keep away from each other.”
Janaya thought of how beautiful the sex had been the previous night. How connected she’d felt to Luke. It had been nothing like servicing Santana. The thought of never feeling the slide of Luke’s mouth against her naked skin again made her want to cry.
Chapter Five
Luke’s father braked and pulled along beside them. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem,” Luke said. But although his voice remained even and controlled, Janaya read myriad emotions on his face. Irritation. Distrust. Regret.
It was the regret that stirred her answering response.
Killer jumped from the passenger seat onto Luke’s father’s lap and stuck her head out the driver’s window. “Did ya bring any food?”
“I hope you don’t mind me taking out your dog. She jumped in while I wasn’t looking and I didn’t have the heart to leave her at home.”
Janaya leaned closer to Killer and scratched her behind the ears. With a soft growl, she told Killer to protect Luke’s
Hinekiri pointed. “Janaya. Over there.”
Everything moved in slow motion—the approaching vehicle, Luke shooting at the Torgon, her aunt’s frenzied hand movements. Then Hinekiri slapped her hard on the side of her face. Her head jerked toward the group of Torgon. Fury galloped through her mind, pressure built and suddenly purple light shot from her eyes in a concentrated beam.
“It’s a strike,” Hinekiri roared behind her as one Torgon burned down to a pile of ash.
Beside her, Luke fired again. The projectile from his weapon caught a Torgon right between the eyes. He exploded like a hot ball fish, spraying purple gunk the distance of two bodies lined end to end.
“Yes!” Hinekiri crowed, punching her fist in the air. “Get the last one, Janaya.”
Janaya concentrated, channeling her anger at the attack. When the heat developed behind her eyes and the purple light returned she knew she’d managed it by herself without Hinekiri or Luke. She focused her eyes, shot. And missed.
“Where’d he go?” Luke demanded.
“Into hypermode back to wherever they left their ship. They never hunt alone, always in packs,” Janaya said in disgust. Ready to attack another day.
“Great.” We’re going to have purple aliens popping out of the woodwork.
“Not if I have anything to do with it,” Janaya said.
“What?”
Janaya froze. He hadn’t said that aloud. “Aunt?” Clear panic sizzled through her voice and she didn’t mind admitting to the emotion. How was it possible she could read his mind?
“The two of you mated last night?” Hinekiri made it a question.
Luke stared at her in silent accusation. “If you mean had sex, then yes, we did. What else aren’t you telling me? I’d rather know it all up front so I can protect the people of Sloan. I don’t want any more nasty surprises today. Two are enough.”
Hinekiri’s teasing grin smoothed out to concern on seeing Luke’s apprehension. Janaya didn’t blame him for his snappy questions. Quite frankly, she wanted to get her aunt alone. She’d commit the physical damage she constantly threatened. And then she’d turn her over to the Torgon. Hinekiri had never mentioned a word of any of the possible symptoms when she’d discovered her presence on board ship.
“I’ve never heard of a Dalconian imprinting on an Earthman before,” Hinekiri said. “I can give you a broad idea of what to expect, but then again, I might be wrong.”
“What’s the worst that can happen?” Luke demanded.
Janaya lifted her head to stare in the direction they’d come from. “Your father will arrive in a few minutes.”
“Quick. Before Dad arrives.”
“The bond will become stronger each time you join. Dalconians mate for life,” Hinekiri murmured.
“Okay.” Luke closed his eyes, an almost pained look skipping across his face. “We won’t have sex again. We’ll keep away from each other.”
Janaya thought of how beautiful the sex had been the previous night. How connected she’d felt to Luke. It had been nothing like servicing Santana. The thought of never feeling the slide of Luke’s mouth against her naked skin again made her want to cry.
Chapter Five
Luke’s father braked and pulled along beside them. “Is there a problem?”
“No problem,” Luke said. But although his voice remained even and controlled, Janaya read myriad emotions on his face. Irritation. Distrust. Regret.
It was the regret that stirred her answering response.
Killer jumped from the passenger seat onto Luke’s father’s lap and stuck her head out the driver’s window. “Did ya bring any food?”
“I hope you don’t mind me taking out your dog. She jumped in while I wasn’t looking and I didn’t have the heart to leave her at home.”
Janaya leaned closer to Killer and scratched her behind the ears. With a soft growl, she told Killer to protect Luke’s
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