Cyprian was so frustrated with the way Riley misunderstood what she heard. He had to talk to her. Cyprian desperately needed to make her understand she was his mate, not some random female, then apologize for bonding her without asking. But he refused to yell it through a locked door, or have someone else relay the information to his bonded.
“It’s between us,” Cyprian insisted.
When June returned with Sundara, Cyprian attempted to follow the females into Riley’s room.
“I think you’ve done quite enough this morning. She just woke up for Pete’s sake. I don’t care what you have to talk about. If Riley wants to talk, she’ll come find you,” June informed Cyprian, as she barred him from the room.
Cyprian repressed the growl vibrating in his chest.
“Come on. Let the females calm Riley. We have much to discuss. Before long, the guests will start arriving for the festivities,” Kagan encouraged.
Cyprian stared at the closed door. He still wanted to break it down. His fists clenched and unclenched at his sides. But the image of a pack of females screaming, then beating him senseless held him at bay.
“You certainly have a way with human females,” Tytus commented, not knowing the truth of his relationship with Riley.
“Clearly,” Cyprian snarled as he stalked down the hall. “I need some fresh air.”
Riley
Riley had gone from being ecstatic that Cyprian survived the blast on Distraho, to wanting to murder him. She wasn’t sure which hurt more, thinking he died, or learning everything was a farce.
“This is what you get for assuming. You make an ass out of you and me,” Riley mimicked the annoying phrase her brother often used.
Riley cursed herself for assuming Cyprian was single. She wondered how much of what they shared was total b.s.
Speck followed Riley into the bathroom, his fur trembling in agitation. He was responding to her intense emotions. Riley had to be careful not to step on him as he frantically wound around her ankles.
“Well at least I’ve got you,” Riley sobbed.
She pulled off her robe then looked in the mirror. Her eyes were bloodshot and swollen, her nose runny.
“Real attractive. I wouldn’t want you either,” Riley spoke to her reflection.
Riley peeled off the bandage on her neck and stared at Cyprian’s bite mark. It was going to scar. Then she’d have a constant reminder of him. It was a depressing thought.
Riley stepped into the shower not caring that it was cold, as she scrubbed her skin. Her lips tipped up in amusement when Speck joined her, frolicking in the downpour at her feet. She appreciated the momentary distraction.
“You look as pathetic as I do.” Speck wilted to nothing under the spray. “Don’t wash down the drain.”
When Riley shut off the water and pulled her sorry pruney ass out of the shower, she heard a knock.
“Riley, are you okay?” June asked through the bathroom door.
No.
“Please say something, so I know you didn’t fall,” June entreated.
“Give me a minute please,” Riley called out as she wrapped a towel around her chest and dried her hair.
She cast a wane smile at Speck as he shook himself dry, his red hair frizzing out. Riley plucked him off the floor, and stroked him to calm her nerves.
“Hey Riley,” June said through the door. “Cyprian’s an ass. He’s not really fond of humans, so whatever he did, just let it roll off your shoulders.”
“That doesn’t really help,” Riley choked on a sob.
“Please, tell me what happened.”
Riley unlocked the door and opened it a crack.
“Instead of just auctioning me off, there was a competition.” Riley’s voice wavered as she relayed the horrific event. “I was locked in a maze of tunnels, deep in the asteroid, and hunted. To win me, the contestants had to either fuck or kill me.”
“Oh, my god,” June gasped.
June reached in, and grabbed Riley’s arm to console her. Riley smiled at June in appreciation. She took a deep breath then continued.
“A nasty worm reached me first. It wanted to stab me, and fill me full of some freaky larva, like a scene from the Alien movies.” Riley shivered as she recalled the eerily adoring way the Ubi called her Host. “I fended it off till Cyprian arrived and killed it. Then Cyprian claimed me.”
Except he didn’t claim me.
“Oh, wow, so you and the general,” June said in surprise.
“Yeah, and not just the one time,” Riley hiccupped. “I heard him telling that man,” she paused and shook her head.
“What? Tell me,” June asked with a catch in her voice.
“Cyprian said he did what had to be done. It was all part of his stupid mission. I really thought he was into me, but I was wrong,” Riley sobbed.