“It will be okay.” There was this gentleness in his voice, and she found herself believing him implicitly. It seemed out of character, given his intimidating appearance, and if she had seen him from the auction block, she would have assumed he was an evil man wanting to hurt her. How wrong she would’ve been, and she knew that without a doubt, even if she really didn’t know him or his brothers.
Before she knew what was happening, Brawn had her in his arms. A small noise left her at the suddenness of the action, but when he pressed her close to his chest, warmth that had nothing to do with the heat of this planet or the fact that his body temperature was higher than hers, slammed into her.
Brawn glanced down at her, and she felt her heart pick up speed. Thorque and Lukin were on either side of him, and although their focus was on the terrain in front of them, she could feel how tense they were, as if it was her own emotions. The planet of Hades was scorching hot, far more uncomfortable than the temperature inside the ship.
She swore she could feel the heat from the lakes of lava below them, and the burning red sun above her, and the heat from Brawn’s body penetrating her skin as if he had gotten hotter. She was scared, and she’d be stupid not to be. But Minka wasn’t afraid of these three demon-looking alien males, and she didn’t know if that was foolish of her, or if her instincts just told her they wouldn’t harm her.
Minka relied on her feelings this far, and they helped her stay alive.
They were strong and powerful, and she felt so weak and fragile in comparison. Even being in Brawn’s arms right now had her feeling like some delicate doll. His hands were on her waist, and his large, long fingers spanned all the way to her belly button. She had gained weight in the short window of time she had been with them, and it was strange being full and having some meat on her bones.
For as long as she could remember, she had been hungry, thin, and bony, never having enough food to go around. But whatever nutrients Thorque had given her helped her pack on the pounds, and she was feeling strong and healthy now. She had curves, a rounded belly, and thicker thighs. Was this how she was supposed to look when not starving?
The wind that moved across their bodies brought even more heat. Smoke filled the air in a hazy kind of atmosphere.
“The heat is too much for her,” Lukin said, his voice clear, his expression no longer showing her that he was on some kind of mind-altering substance. He glanced at her, his black gaze determined but also somewhat gentle.
It was strange to feel this sensation inside her when she looked at each of them. She didn’t know them, yet she felt this connection, this need that moved through her. Maybe it was because they saved her from death and a life that was slowly killing her?
And then the sound of Brawn’s wings emerging, and of the wind increasing as he flapped them, had her glancing at the other two brothers. They too had dark inked-on wings that covered their backs, and right before her eyes, those black wings emerged from their red flesh in massive, inky deadliness.
They were tipped with claws, and the wingspan itself was monstrously large. And then Lukin and Thorque were airborne, moving high above them and looking like fallen angels.
“Ready, little human mate?” Brawn asked and looked down at her.
She stared at him, got lost in the dark gaze he held her in, and knew she had to have faith that things would be okay. “Not really.” She smiled for the first time since forever, and when he grinned, his fangs flashed bright white at her. He was so damn frightening, but she felt arousal moving through her at the same time.
And then he was in the air and flying behind his brothers. She closed her eyes, so afraid that she gripped his bicep and felt the sweat pool even thicker on her flesh.
“Open your eyes, Minka,” he said in his deep, steady voice.
As if the sound urged her to have the courage to open her eyes, she did just that. She looked at Brawn first, but he was focused in front of him. Then she turned her head and took in everything. They were high enough that the tops of the jagged mountains were just feet below them. He curled his claws deeper into her skin, not breaking the flesh but keeping her close to his body, and for that she was thankful.
Maybe it was a reminder that any sudden movement could bring her death.