Lyrica slapped her hand over her mouth to muffle her giggle.
“I am not going anywhere until I confirm my Vesera is well,” Alden insisted.
A dark fury swept through Gabriel at hearing another male lay claim to his keeper, even if it was only as a guard worried about his charge. “She isn’t yours!” he snarled. “She’s mine to protect!”
“Sure, she is,” Harris called out in a placating tone. “Relax, buddy.”
“I thought you said he was the calm one,” Alden challenged in a snippy tone.
“He is…usually. I think this mating stuff has messed with his brain a little,” Harris said in a loud whisper.
“We can still hear you!” Gabriel snapped.
“Sorry about that.” His friend coughed to try to cover his laugh. “Alden is just freaking out because he can’t get back through the barrier.”
“I do not freak out,” the Xenon denied.
“You were totally freaking out.”
As they continued to argue, Lyrica raised her voice so they could hear her. “Don’t worry, I’m fine.”
“Then bring down the barrier and let us see for ourselves that you are well,” Alden demanded.
“Don’t give her orders!” Gabriel shot to his feet and glared at the barrier. “I swear I’m going to kill that fucker—”
“You can’t.”
“—with my bare hands.”
Lyrica slowly got up, her gaze roaming over her mate’s impressive body. He looked like a warrior as he stood there with his fists clenched and his legs braced apart. His massive body towered over her, but she didn’t feel nervous or afraid. Instead, she felt protected…and highly aroused.
When she realized she was simply standing there staring at his erection, she cleared her throat and held out her forgotten cloak to him. “While I appreciate the view, immensely so, I would rather not share it.”
Especially since there were two human two females on the other side of the barrier. She had never thought of herself as having a jealous nature, but she’d never been mated before. The thought of anyone seeing her mate’s body or actually touching him made her want to tap into the dark and dangerous side of her magical abilities.
Perhaps this mating business really was messing with their minds.
He glanced down and cursed, then he wrapped the cloak around his waist and tied it so that it rested low on his hips. Unable to help herself, she reached out and ran her hands over his bare chest. Her fingers moved lower to trace over the curves and dips of his muscular abdomen, only stopping when he put his hand over hers.
“Stop distracting me, or we’ll never get out of this magical bubble.”
She started to tell him that she wouldn’t complain about being stuck with him in there, but Alden interrupted her before she could say anything.
“Lyrica, we are waiting.”
Gabriel let out an irritated huff at the interruption. “Remind me, why can’t I kill your guard?”
He sounded so disappointed that it almost made her laugh. “Alden is not just my guard. He is like an older brother to me.” She lowered her voice and added, “And he is your friend’s soulmate.”
“He’s Harris’ mate? Damn, I guess I have to let him live then.” When he lifted her into his arms, she let out a gasp of surprise. He nuzzled her neck, then pressed his lips against the frantic beat of her pulse at the base of her throat. “Take down the bubble so we can go home where we can be alone.”
Nodding, she lifted a hand toward the barrier and whispered the words that made the protective shield surrounding them disappear. She was grateful the docking bay had been cleared of people and only Alden and Harris were waiting for them on the landing platform.
“Holy shit!” Harris’ eyes went wide, then he turned toward his mate. “He’s fucking massive! Is that going to happen to us? I thought you said we wouldn’t get that much bigger. I mean, look at him. Gabriel looks like he ate his old self. Is he even going to be able to fit through doorways?”
Gabriel let out an irritated growl. “Harris—”
“He is an anomaly. As far as I know, no other male has ever grown that large.”
“Is it because he is half D’Aire?”
“I’m standing right here!” Gabriel reminded them.
“That would be hard not to notice,” Alden deadpanned.
“Damn, Alden. Could you try not to piss off the guy who could literally smash you to pieces? I just met you and would like for you to keep breathing.”
“Trust me, mate. I am in no danger.”
Gabriel didn’t even bother responding as he turned and started walking away.
“Hey, where are you going?”
“Away from you.”
“Harsh,” Harris chuckled.
Lyrica wrapped her arms around her mate’s neck as he carried her toward the exit. She wasn’t sure where he was taking her, but she didn’t care as long as she was with him. Glancing over his shoulder, Lyrica called out, “Congratulations on your mating!”
Alden simply nodded, while Harris grinned back at her.
“Thanks! You, too! Oh, and Gabe? Watch out for doorways.”
Chapter Five
alone at last.
Gabriel felt immense relief the moment the door to his bedroom slid shut behind him and Lyrica. He bent down and gently lowered her until she was standing on her own feet in the center of the room. Backing away slowly, he pressed himself up against the closed door. He wasn’t sure if he was trying to block her from leaving or trying to stop himself from doing something he might regret.
Either way, putting a little distance between them seemed like a good idea.
He was a man who liked to thoroughly analyze a situation before he acted,
