back and claims my mouth. The kiss turns hot and ravenous, and the whole crowd cheers, but my sole focus is on my husband. And the feel of something soft rubbing my leg. When Jaxar finally releases me, breathless and giddy, I look down to see my faithful friend.
“Glad you could make it,” I whisper to Shadow.
She purrs at me before jumping into my arms. I’m quick to catch her, but even then, Jaxar has to steady me.
“You don’t own me,” I say to the dragon. She responds with a slap of the tail on my arm, and the conversation is over.
“Come, wife.” Jaxar pulls me close once more. “Let us finish this so we can move on to the consummation of our vows.”
I bite my lip and give him a sly look. “I thought you said that the Masse has to put himself last and his people first?”
“That was said by a foolish male who did not know the love of his silana.” He brings his lips to my ear, making me shiver when his fang brushes my skin. “Nothing comes before his silana because she is his heart, the only thing that keeps him alive. And I might die if I don’t have you right now.”
I brush my lips against his cheek. “Well, as the Massela of the southern tribe, I think I can make that happen.”
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Glacier
Chapter 1 - Hazel
It’s colder than a penguin’s ass in here.
I resist the urge to rub my arms, preferring to keep my hand close to the knife tucked in my belt. The spaceship is nothing I haven’t seen before, but that doesn’t make it any less dangerous. Although, this one may be more so, since the technology is pretty advanced from what I can tell.
Smart aliens are never a good thing.
I drag my gaze from the flickering lights of the keyboards and black screens in what looks like one of the engine rooms, careful to keep my steps soundless as I slink down the hallway. The lights on either side of me glow a dull orange as if too tired to be properly illuminated—I get the feeling because I am so tired…of everything.
But I can’t give up. The idea of returning empty-handed and seeing my brother’s hungry gaze is not an option. Not this time. I can’t go through the pain of watching the hope die in his eyes again. It might just kill me.
The entrance for the cargo bay comes into view, and I glance around before shimmying down the ladder. The cool metal bites into my palm, making me wince as I grip it, but the thought of food spurs me on. I can’t remember the last time I had a decent meal that consisted of more than one of the basic food groups.
I race over to the nearest storage unit, a silver box that’s sleek and smooth. It’s even colder than the ladder. I mentally brace myself, wondering what kind of provisions I’m going to find. With a small hiss, the lid lifts, and I nearly weep. Various types of foreign grains, vegetables, and fruits lie snuggled together in a kaleidoscope of nutrition. I swallow the gathering saliva in my mouth as I grab the food and shove it into the satchel slung over my bony shoulder.
My movements are hurried, frenzied by my desperation, and more than once I have to take a deep breath to still the tremors coursing through my hands. If I can make it out of here successfully, then my brother and I will have enough food to last us a long time and I won’t have to hold back tears every time his stomach rumbles. No, I’ll be able to offer him nourishment instead of empty promises.
The weight of the satchel is a comfort but also points out how weak my body is as I climb back up the ladder. And yet I feel lighter somehow, as if my recent struggles have washed away. Just a few more seconds and I’ll be free.
An icy breeze stirs the hairs on the back of my neck just as I enter the hallway. I freeze, listening so intently that my breaths sound loud and obnoxious. I don’t detect anything, but my gut screams at me to get away because there is a predator nearby. The