She stared at him, and her expression was one of understanding, even if she didn’t respond right away. “Yes, I understand what you’re saying.”
“Tell us who hurt you.” Genet stepped beside Erak. His brother’s fists were clenched tight at his sides.
She licked her lips, and he couldn’t control his groin tightening at the sight. “I don’t understand why you care.” She looked at all of them, and it was apparent she was honestly surprised they wanted to know.
“We want to know so we can make sure it never happens again.” Genet spoke between gritted teeth.
It took her a moment to answer, but when she did, her voice was strained. “It doesn’t matter. Not anymore.” An emotion he couldn’t place laced her voice. “I’m pretty sure I killed the male who hurt me.”
ChapterFourteen
LUNA
The only thing Luna could do was stare at Erak.
Oh, she remembered all three of them very well but never had she felt such intensity radiate from another being. Erak’s words not only held firm, but he made them sound like what he said was law.
He was royalty, the eldest and next in line for the throne of his people, so she had no doubts he got what he wanted when he wanted.
And what he wanted was her. All three of them did. They also wanted to know who had harmed her, but she didn’t see the point in it now. Maximo was dead, of that she was sure. She had told them, and all three of them just stared at her.
The silence stretched on and on, and she shifted on her feet. The last thing she remembered seeing was his blood seeping from his throat and making a grotesque pool around his head.
She’d run away from imprisonment, but what Erak was saying was that she wastheirmate, and she knew what that meant to any species.
An undeniable bond. They’d keep her as theirs. Forever.
If she knew anything, it was that when a male found their female they were possessive and territorial, and she could look into all three of their faces and see that was how they felt toward her. No, she couldn’t be anyone’s mate.
She wanted her own life, and that meant wherever they landed she would disembark this ship and find her own way in the world. She didn’t need a male and didn’t even know these three males.
They were the biggest, most powerful beings she’d come across, and they were right in front of her, telling her everything she didn’t want to hear.
“You killed the male who did this to you?” Erak lifted his hand and gestured to her. She nodded because her throat was suddenly so tight and dry.
He stared at her, his violet eyes so piercing she couldn’t seem to hold his gaze for long. A muscle under his jaw ticked, as if he was angry at her words.
“Good.”
That certainly wasn’t what she expected him to say. He took another step closer. The smirk he gave her was one of arrogance. It was a look that had her insides tightening.
She could only imagine what his thoughts were. He may set her blood on fire with just a look, as did Genet and Raimi, but she couldn’t be theirs ever. And that was exactly what his expression spoke of.
“Fallina.” His gaze dipped down to her lips, and she couldn’t help but lick them.
This wasn’t her, to melt for a male with just a look, to want Erak’s hands on her when she should be running away from the possessive gleam in his eyes.
“You’re so strong yet so fragile.” Erak’s voice was low, his eyes still on her mouth. “You’re ours, Luna.”
She looked over at Raimi and Genet, and at least, they had the decency to look wary, like they knew Erak was going too far. “I am not a possession.”
One of his dark eyebrows arched at the last part. She meant to sound fierce, but her voice had come out soft and submissive.
“I never claimed you to be a possession. I told you… you’re our mate, and that is not something we take lightly.” He let his gaze travel up and down her body. “We tended to you because it was our desire, need, and duty as your mates to care for you, and we couldn’t have done it any other way.” He took a determined step toward her. “We will watch over you, care for you, and treat you like the treasure you are.” He lifted his hand and brushed the very tip of his finger along her bare shoulder.
Electricity raced through her veins at that very gentle touch. “Luna, tell me what I want to hear. Surrender this one thing to me, and I promise you, we all do, that everything will be okay. Just give us what we want, what we gave, little one.”
She couldn’t hear past the pounding in her ears. “And what is it you want?”