Page 30 of Mated to the Vikings

“And you’re responsible for the deaths of our visitors. Aren’t you?” Kevin snarked, limping forward as he laughed.

The same ugly laugh I’d heard so many times.

I snarled an answer for both of us, taking several long strides closer, twisting my head until I could look directly into his lying eyes.

Cassia stared incredulously, her body trembling. “You were in the forest with the others. You… I wasn’t dreaming.” Her look, a mixture of horror and confusion, was followed by a sharp cry. I could see she was trying to fathom what had occurred in the cave, perhaps her mind pushing away the fact we’d captured her. She would soon remember every detail.

“You weren’t dreaming, beautiful lady.” Brexin inched closer, brushing the tips of his fingers down her face. “We will protect you.”

“What is happening?” she asked.

Kevin bolted toward the door, attempting to escape. With a single hand, Brexin yanked him by the collar, pitching him across the room.

“We can’t have you leaving just yet,” Brexin snarled.

Boom!

Another loud crash echoed in the chamber. It was only a matter of time before the fire reached the areas below.

“You have no reason to be afraid of our kind, but we must leave,” I managed, rage forcing bile into my throat. Everything had changed, my desires and needs, my thinking patterns, hunger that had become ravenous.

A slight smile appeared on her face, the connection we shared electrifying once again. Then confusion returned, her chest rising and falling as she took gulping breaths. She reached out, touching Brexin, her mouth twisted.

“I am Erik. I will protect you.”

“Brexin,” he stated.

“Run, Cassia. This isn’t about protection. These monsters will kill you. Mistakes were made and Erik is one of them,” Kevin hissed through clenched teeth as he sneered at me. “He is a killer, vile and wretched, no different than when he was on Earth. A bastard criminal. I should have eliminated you when I had the chance. Dr. Forrester is a damn fool for sending me the dregs of society.” He lunged toward me, kicking out, his foot catching me in the gut.

Rage turned my blood into fire.

“I was right about everything,” she whispered, her hand shaking as she lifted her arm in my direction. “I fell for this. Dr. Forrester lied to me. This isn’t what was supposed to happen.”

A snarl left my lips, but Kevin’s maneuver was futile. He tried again, his body twisting as he kicked out with both legs, his training in martial arts doing him little good. I caught his ankle, flipping and tossing him with ease. I wrapped my hand around his throat, lifting him off the floor several inches. The joy I had in squeezing was far too intense, the longing to snap his neck delicious.

Brexin moved to my side, pointing the weapon at Kevin’s head. “Just say the word, brother.”

“No!” she yelled. “Don’t hurt him, either one of you. He’s not worth it.” She touched my arm and instantly the electricity flared again, roaring into every cell in my body. I swallowed hard, still able to taste her.

I snapped my head in her direction. There was such concern in her eyes, her own pain mixed with fury. Willing the anger to shut down, I dropped Kevin like a rock, roaring my frustration.

“He’s a lying pig. I will find a way to change this. I promise you,” she said with such conviction. “Release them. Save them. Please.”

“She is wise,” Brexin said, laughing. “But it would feel damn good to send him into space.”

I lifted my hand, wanting nothing more than to touch her. My fingers were only inches away, but I pulled back. “You cannot change this, Cassia. But my people can.”

“Your people?” she managed seconds before another thunderous explosion. Another series of rapid gunfire. Smoke began to fill the room, the stench almost overpowering.

“Let me find out what’s going on.” Brexin shifted the gun away, heading toward the opening.

I sensed Kevin reaching for his primitive gun. The asshole had no understanding that he was no match for the Galerians. My backhand was swift, catching him across the neck. He was pitched against the glass, groaning as he slid down the cracked surface.

Cassia crouched lower, keeping her distance. “I don’t understand any of this. We need to get them out of the cages.”

You will.

She half dragged me into the long corridor. I said nothing as I smashed the electronic locks, one after the other, freeing the creatures. As Steen stormed out of the prison, he moved into the outer room, standing over Kevin and issuing a series of growls.