Kal took them in and shrugged. “How else would we protect our planets?”
“Planets? There’s more than one?”
One of the other guys nodded. “We protect our solar system.”
Casting a glance over her shoulder, she captured Kal’s gaze. He’d allow himself to be captured by this creature anytime. How had he lived this long without her?
“I don’t get any of this. But, well. I’ve seen weirder,” she said to him, perhaps to everyone.
Kal pulled her in tighter. You will see soon enough.
Absently, he ran a hand down her side. How long had it been since he’d kissed her? Too long. Perhaps they could debrief the group later.
“I need to get her inside. She’s been through a lot.” It was then he realized Eadric was missing. Where had he gone now? “Where is Eadric?”
His brothers exchanged looks.
“Get off of me!”
Kal looked in the direction of the new voice.
Raising an eyebrow, he looked at Cy.
“Another one. She’s on the other side of the ship.”
Another one? He thought.
“Another witch. This one doesn’t seem to change anyone into anything. Eadric would probably be a bug under her shoe by now if she was.”
Kal expected Maddie to laugh at this, but instead he realized she was nearly asleep in his embrace, her weight against him.
“Why is she here?”
Cy hung his head. “You and Eadric sure know how to pick mates. That. Is his mate.”
Kal bristled. “My mate is not the issue.”
“Sure. Not now. But, when you met her she wasn’t exactly what we’d call willing. Let’s hope the rest of us have better luck than you two.”
He pursed his lips as they glared. “Alright. Fine. The bird thing was unfortunate. But, look how fast she came around.”
They all nodded. Jackasses would know soon enough, it didn’t matter what hell they put you through.
A swell of sand rose up. He closed his eyes and protected Maddie. “What’s going on? Sand storm? Was this on the radar?”
He heard a cough and Eadric’s yell.
“Stop with the damn sand already, witch.”
She growled at Eadric as the sand died abruptly.
“My name is Lillyanna. Let me go and I’ll stop.”
Maddie stirred.
“What’s going on?”
Kal kissed the top of her head.
“It appears that Eadric absconded with the witch from the compound.”
Maddie pulled free of his arms and looked around.
“Won’t they come looking for her?” Maddie asked.
They all looked in Eadric’s direction.
“Most likely. Nothing seems to go as planned around here. Perhaps we should continue with the mission and get out of here as quickly as possible,” said Cy.
“Out of here? Like Roswell? Or…” Maddie pointed up.
Cy nodded.
“Come, mate. You need not worry. You are safe here. Let’s get you to bed.”
Her cheeks flushed pink.
Good. Perhaps she was coming around. Resting his hand on the small of her back, he helped her move.
“You know you’re naked, right?” she asked.
A smile spread across his lips. “Very aware. Do you see a problem?”
Her steps faltered. Kal grabbed her up, lifting her in his arms.
“No.” Maddie yawned. “But, don’t your brothers get jealous?”
“Of what? We’ve trained together since we were children. Being in human form usually meant we were naked after shifting.”
She smiled and leaned her head into his chest.
“Never mind. It’s no fun to tease you. You really don’t get human humor.”
Kal growled. “I get humor just fine. What I don’t get is what you are implying?”
Her finger absently made little circles on his chest.
“Tell me that you aren’t all built like gods, you know, down there.”
He glared down, but all he saw was Maddie. What the hell was she talking about? Taking a few more steps, he stopped.
“Mate, am I not enough for you in bed?”
She jumped and glared at him.
“What? No. For crap’s sake. I just meant don’t you guys have jealousy or contests to see who’s bigger, or who’s slept with more women. I mean, seriously. I don’t want any of their mates to see you naked, that’s all.”
His shoulders relaxed. Kal hadn’t realized her question had him tensed and ready to murder one of his brothers.
“Shush, dragon boy. You’re plenty for me. I’m not sure anyone could ever come close. You’ve set a high standard.”
Her hand rested over his heart.
“This is just going to take getting used to,” she finished. Before Kal could get onto the ship, he paused at the yelling. Eadric might have one hell of a time with that one.
“Won’t one of you help me? This is kidnapping. Let me go, and I won’t tell anyone about you.”
Deo stepped up. “Eadric, tame this one.”
She gawked. “What is wrong with you? Maybe you are all just monsters like my father believes.”
The girl stopped yelling long enough to rest her eyes on Kal and Maddie.
In her moment of distraction, Eadric finally caught up to her and grabbed her wrist.
“I’m not kidnapping you. If you’d just listen, you’d understand. Don’t you feel anything?”
Maddie raised her head and whispered to Kal. “I’ve never seen her before. She seems, uh, nice?”
Kal bent his head to her ear. “Yeah. She seems like someone you’d like.”
Maddie tried to sit up in his arms. “What’s that supposed to mean?”
He pulled her closer and lowered his voice. “It means we have another woman that might give us more than we bargained for.”
“I am the only woman you will need to worry about. He can deal with her.”
Kal breathed in his mate. “You have no reason to be jealous.”
She scoffed. “Ha. Jealous. Never.”
She nestled into him. Safe. Finally. Now he could spend the rest of his life reassuring his mate that she was all he would ever want. All he would ever need. He paused as the girl, Lillyanna, shook free of Eadric.
“You, you’re the reason I’m in this mess.”
Kal shielded Maddie.
“You are in this mess thanks to fate. You should perhaps take this up with the man you refuse to talk with,” Kal said.
Lillyanna started to storm towards him, only stopping when Eadric wrapped his arms around her.
“All I had to do was keep you away from her long enough to capture you. No. You ruined everything by bringing this guy. All I had to do was protect
