Niko(Love Me Harder #2)(22)

“There are more of you?” Dee asked Niko.

“We were created in groups. Each group contained what you call siblings. They created hundreds of such groups.”





Chapter Thirteen




They had spent several hours going over a long list of possible subjects. None of them met the profile of their kidnapper.

“We have to wait for his next move.” Every head nodded when Aran spoke. They would not catch the perp with the limited knowledge they had.

Rena stood and walked over to Dee. She leaned over to hug her and whispered in her ear. Dee got up and followed her out of the room.

“Do you want to come home with me?” Rena asked.

Dee smiled and hugged her close. “You would fight them all for me.”

“Duh! You would do the same for me.” Rena nodded her head.

“I am going to stay here.” Dee replied.

“Are you sure? You don’t have to. You’re always welcome to stay with me.” Rena smiled re-extending the invitation.

“Bestie, I think there is something I should tell you.”

“What?”

“You like to scream, girl, the louder the better. That’s not really conducive to a good night’s sleep. Not for me anyway.” Dee had actually blushed when she realized her best friend and her man were getting it on. She was happy for her, but hearing someone else enjoying what you couldn’t was uncomfortable.

“Best sleep ever for me.” Rena smiled like the cat who got all of the cream.

“Too much girl. I think I will stay right here.”

“I know you’re not staying because his eyes are dreamy or because you can bounce a quarter off of his ass. You are only thinking about a good night’s sleep.”

“Eyes up. You have a man. That one is off limits until I say otherwise.”

Rena raised her hands. “I understand.”

All jokes aside, Dee asked a question in a low voice. “Do you think I am crazy?”

“No, Dee. I think you’re sane. Aran and his brothers came to earth looking for someone to love. They believe there is someone special for them. From what I have seen once committed they don’t cheat or even look at other women. Once they find the one who is their mate, there is no straying.

I know it’s a lot to take in, but believe me Dee it’s worth it. Let me repeat, you’re not crazy. I want you to think of the Rowl as medicine it will calm you down and allow you to see and judge what is happening without your emotions clouding your judgement. Here is what it won’t do, it won’t make you accept what you see or even except Niko. That is up to you.” Rena reached over and hugged Dee tight.

Aran and the rest of his brothers walked out, cutting off any response Dee might have said. They all said goodbye and she was left standing in the foyer with Niko.

“I guess we should do something.” Talk about awkward. She hated moments like these.

“Would you like another try at the VR game?”

“Yes.”

She followed him back into the game room. She had been curious about the game and now that she understood it was based on where he had come from, she was even more excited.

The set up was easier this time. Before she knew it, she was back in the game, flexing her avatar and feeling on top of the world.

“Where are you?”

He was there, but she couldn’t see him, no matter how hard she looked.

“I am here. I blended in with the surroundings, making you incapable of seeing me.”

“Stop it. I want to see what you look like.”

“You asked for it.”

She saw him appear to her right. He was tall, much taller than she had given him credit for earlier.

“This is your beast?”

He nodded his head and waited. He had two long fangs on either side of his mouth, reminding her of a picture she had seen of a saber toothed tiger. His skin was covered, in a light dusting of hair.

He stood on two feet. He was an animal. Everything in her screamed to get away. She might have run, even in this world of the unreal, if it had not been for his eyes.

These were the same eyes that had made her choose a closet as opposed to throwing herself out of a glass window. They were intelligent eyes. They were Niko’s eyes.

“Do you know who you are, even when you turn?”

“I am totally aware of who I am and what I am doing. I simply have the senses of my other form to back me up. I understand the beast and he understands the man. We work together to eliminate any threat to us. He also knows we live here on this planet. If he wants to be free and find a mate he must do it through me.”

Who had said anything about a mate? He must be speaking in general terms.

“What are we going to do in the game?”

“Identify and destroy the enemy.”