“Hello.”
“Are you with Alice?” Verakko asked without greeting.
Luka’s hackles rose. The male who’d been making his mate laugh a few days ago was now inquiring after her. “Why?” he bit out.
“We have news and need to see her immediately. Can you bring her to the Queen’s estate now?”
“If she goes, I go.” Jealousy flared in Luka at the male’s question. Logically he knew Verakko wouldn’t have called and requested this meeting unless it was urgent, but a less understanding side of him rebelled against delivering his mate into the hands of another.
The sound of an annoyed exhalation rang out before he said, “Fine, but only if she agrees. Put her on.”
He held the communicator out to Alice.
Slowly she took it, one brow raised at his stiff posture and clenched jaw. “Hello?” she said softly.
Even with his superior hearing, he couldn’t quite make out what the male was saying.
Whatever Verakko’s response was caused Alice to break out into a grin and, subsequently, caused Luka to grimace. “Oh, hi, Verakko! How are you?”
He clenched his fists when she chuckled lightly at something the male said.
“Uh-huh.” She glanced at him, taking in his stiff posture, and listened. “Right now? Can it wait?”
Alice leaned toward him and ran a soft palm up and down his tense forearm. A rapid purr rang through him at a higher pitch than normal, indicating his internal mix of satisfaction and agitation.
“Yeah, I’m okay with him coming too,” she said, smiling at Luka.
His shoulders dropped an inch. At least she’d allow him to go with her.
“Okay, sure. See you soon.” She handed the communicator back to Luka, tsking when he issued a curt goodbye and hung up.
Chapter 20
Six well-armed men with stony expressions stood before them, staring hard at her and Luka, and, for the first time, she was appreciative of Luka’s overprotective personality.
Not able to drive the cruiser directly to the Queen, they’d stopped at the border of her property and now waited to be allowed in on foot. Luka stepped in front of Alice, partially blocking the guards’ unwavering stares.
She smiled into the dark-green fabric of his shirt and, knowing he enjoyed her touch, laid her hands against his lower back to show her gratitude. A low purr rippled through him before he quickly coughed, pushing the purr away. Grinning, she assumed he didn’t want to show a weak side of himself in front of the lethal males.
After their day in the woods yesterday, Alice had realized something. Luka may be able to turn her on whenever he wanted, using the scent of her arousal as confirmation, but she had a superpower of her own. She was confident she could make that delicious purr run through him whenever she wanted, just by touching him in the right way. It felt good. Like she had a small measure of control over his reactions as well.
Feeling more playful with Luka by the minute, she experimentally ran her hands up from his tapered waist to the large muscles of his upper back. His body stiffened, goosebumps breaking out over his exposed biceps. Hands shooting behind his back to snatch her wrists and hold them together accompanied a quickly stifled purr.
Eyes still trained on the men in front of them, he growled, “Alice” in a warning tone over his shoulder.
Stifling the impulse to rest her head against his back, knowing she’d receive another unwelcome purr, she giggled silently.
Instead, she studied the towering metal structure in front of them, wondering how long they’d need to stand here. The surface was solid and looked more like a wall than a gate, as she’d been informed. Without the guards standing in front of it, she may not have identified it as a potential entrance at all. No breaks in the smooth charcoal gray could be seen.
A slow rumble from beneath her feet had her leaning into Luka, her restrained hands blocking her from pressing herself to him fully. He squeezed on her wrists gently and then guided her to stand in front of him.
The vibration in the ground grew, making small pebbles and bits of dirt hop. Before her eyes, a slice of the tall, impenetrable wall slowly began sinking into the ground, leaving a small rectangular opening at the base, just wide enough for one person to walk through.
With an encouraging push from Luka, she dashed through the opening, not wanting to be guillotined in reverse. Turning, she saw Luka stroll through, a barely contained smirk on his face.
She waved a hand at him dismissively and began to walk down the clear dirt path leading away from the gate.
Catching up with her easily, Luka ran a knuckle down her spine, making her shiver. “I’m going to get you back for that, you know.”
“Hmm, I can only imagine how annoying it must be to not be in control of your body’s responses,” she needled.
“I love not being in control, but only with you and not in front of others.” The playful gleam in his eyes became soft and sincere.
Alice swallowed a sigh, feeling a flush creep over her cheeks. She returned her focus in front of her and simply replied, “Mmm.”
The path leading to the Queen’s home was tidy but rustic. Alice supposed they wouldn’t pave roads normally since their vehicles float, but it was still odd to be traveling toward a literal queen using a dirt path.
The surroundings were different than she expected, as well. Although not as dense as the forests of the reserve, the trees here were still numerous and wild. Ages ago, she’d gone to France on a school trip, and she recalled the land near the castles and chateaus being highly manicured.
Trying to imagine what an alien queen’s home might look like, she began to get excited.
