I wanted to punch his teeth out. How could I ever have felt sorry for the arrogant, unfeeling Dreki.
“If you hadn’t noticed, there are no humans around. They’re all locked away by the Draco, so who the fuck are you protecting, huh? You fucked up, and then you abandoned the race you created. You left us in the Outlands and retreated. What the hell did you expect would happen? Of course the Skins fear you; all they have to go on is Draco propaganda. You allowed the Bloods to control the narrative. That’s on you. Me? I’m here because I want to help you stop the fuckers, I want to liberate my people, and yes, I want to save my father’s life. Those are my goals, and I don’t give a fuck what you think about them. So take your judgmental ass and get the fuck out of my warehouse so I can work.”
I strode past him and stood at the door, arms crossed, hands itching to hit something.
Vesper kept his back to me for a long beat, and then he moved so fast there was no time to evade. I was shoved back against the wall, and then his hands were planted on either side of me, arms pinning me in.
His dark gaze was all-consuming, intense, and saturated with rage. Heat radiated off him like a precariously contained furnace. And then his gaze fell to my mouth and the heat in his eyes intensified. My heartbeat fluttered, pulse thudded, body in a tailspin of confusion because what the fuck?
Desire rolled through me in an unwanted wave of need. His nostrils flared, his chest rumbled, and then his mouth was on mine, crushing, punishing, bruising. My brain short-circuited as my body went into an overdrive of sensation, and before I could think, I was kissing him back, lost in the slant of his mouth against mine and the rasp of his tongue along mine. Fire devoured my blood, killing all sense, and then he was torn off me and common sense came back online.
Dante stood between me and Vesper.
“You go too far, Vesper.” His tone was barely restrained fury.
I rolled my lips into my mouth, pressing down to punish them for their treachery.
What the fuck just happened?
“Why?” Vesper drawled. “Because I kissed your pet, or because she kissed me back?”
Dante’s shoulders tensed.
Vesper licked his lips, his eyes unreadable, the dark rage from a moment ago gone. “Keep your pet in check, or the next time she mouths off to me, I’ll show her what else her mouth should be used for.”
The heat of indignation filled my chest. I strode past Dante and shoved Vesper. Hard.
He was immovable, like a rock, like a pillar. He smiled, a slow, wicked smile filled with smug satisfaction, before casually backing away and striding from the warehouse.
Dante looked calm and composed, but his white-knuckled fists told a different story.
Silence reigned for a long beat.
“I need to leave,” Dante said. “Vesper was right, I do have a prior commitment. But I’ll be back as soon as I can.”
He walked out of the warehouse.
I made a sound of exasperation. “Fuck. What the fuck?”
Helgi shrugged. “Testosterone.”
I didn’t need this. I wasn’t in a relationship with anyone. I could kiss or not kiss anyone I wanted.
Dammit.
I exited the warehouse, past the Dreki guards standing outside, and caught up with Dante.
“Is everything all right?” Dante looked down at me with concern.
My stomach clenched. “Dante, that kiss. I don’t even fucking know what happened. I don’t even like Vesper.”
Dante’s smile was wry. “I know you don’t, but feelings are complicated, and Vesper has a way of getting under people’s skin. There’s obviously an attraction between you, whether you like it or not.”
“Yeah, well, it can fuck off. I prefer to save my kisses for people I actually like.”
He leaned in. “I’ll hold you to that.”
The knots in my stomach melted away. Since when had I started caring so much what a male thought about me? This was dangerous ground.
“Is all well?” Lorance approached us. “I just passed Lord Vesper. He looked…agitated.”
Dante smiled thinly. “Lorance, will you please stay with Anya and show everyone back to the fortress when she’s finished here?”
Lorance beamed at me. “It would be my pleasure.”
* * *
This was a disaster. Five intelligent, attentive Dreki, and not a single one was able to load a gun. They dropped the weapons or dropped the bullets. Got the gun jammed and then got my instructions muddled up. Every. Single. Time.
I noted the tremor in their hands, the strange buzz that surrounded them every time they picked up a piece of tech, even if it was broken.
This wasn’t ineptitude. This was something mystical.
The frustration was beginning to show in the curl of lips and the snap of brows.
I clapped my hands together. “How about you guys take a break. Go get some food and we can try again in an hour.”
There were no arguments.
Lorance approached. “I apologize. Dreki are not the best of pupils.”
“They’re trying hard. I don’t think effort is an issue.”
“You’re correct. Magick and technology do not mix. Like oil and water. I have explained this to Lord Dante, but he believes with effort we can overcome the barrier.”
An optimist, then. It’s what drew me to him. “We’ll try again in a while. Why don’t you take a break too?”
He inclined his head. “I shall fetch us all some food.”
“Actually…” Bran and Nile joined us. “If you can take us back to the fortress, that would be great,” Bran said. “We need to get ready for our journey tomorrow.” He looked at me. “We’re no use here, Anya, but we can be of some use out there.”
“I know. Fuck it. I’m going to miss you guys.” I pulled him in for a quick hug. “Go rest and gather supplies. I’ll see you later. Maybe I can find some ale for a proper goodbye.”
“Or
