The Quarry Master - Amanda Milo Page 0,114

a mountain—the green ‘roof’ is a mountain slope. Vines snake down either side of a charmingly shaped door. It isn’t round. It isn’t rectangular. It’s irregular but beautifully carved, fitting to the craggy cutout of rock that serves as the entrance to this hole in the mountainside.

It’s an adorable rock hobbit house—but built for tall people (or aliens, I guess).

“Where are we?” I ask.

“This cave belongs to my sire and dam.”

I almost fall off the wagon I whip around to face him so fast.

Looking grumpily alarmed, Bash warns, “Careful, Isla. I don’t want you falling and hurting yourself.”

I shake his arm like a crazy person. “Seriously?!”

Bash frowns down at me in his customary Bash-scowl. It makes the scales on his face all tight, and I wonder if Rakhii get wrinkles. All this time, I’ve been pegging him at forties or fifties, but for all I know, he’s just a glowering twenty-one. “Isla. You should know by now I’m always serious.”

“You brought me to meet your parents!” Wow, I’ve been sweating like crazy at work and I didn’t get the chance to so much as brush my hair, let alone shower first. This’ll be an introduction to remember. “How old are you?”

Some of Bash’s scowl disappears as surprise raises his pinched brows. And nope, he still looks at least a scaly day over forty. “The inside of your mind must be a terrifying place.”

I flap my hand. “Never mind! You seriously brought me here so you can introduce me to your parents?” I hiss-whisper in excitement.

He eyes me for a beat. “We are here to retrieve my blanket. We’ll speak a few words we’re bound to say for ceremony’s sake—and yes, I have brought you here to meet my sire and dam,” he finally answers, almost dismissively... Except that he’s all tense, like he’s waiting for me to object or some craziness.

His ears pin and he jerks back when I screech, “FREAKING YES!” I shimmy in place to celebrate. “Finally! You’ve abducted me!”

The alien beside me gives me a look like I’m the strange one out of the two of us. With a shake of his horns, he hops off the wagon. He comes around to my side to haul me down. When my feet hit the ground, I’m all but vibrating. I shout in thrilled happiness, “You abducted me: you LIKE me! You really like me!”

Bash looks confused. “Are you daft?” He shakes out his ears and ties the Narwari team to a hitching post conveniently located in front of the cottage. He makes sure there’s water in the trough in front of their faces and then he takes my hand. He doesn’t have to drag me with him towards the alien home that is our destination. I am so looking forward to this.

He stops us at a scratchy mat that sits before ten cutely-arranged chunks of stone that are sunk into the ground, forming a path up to the front door. He uses the mat to scrape his three-toed feet, so I use it to scrape my shoes.

“Will your family understand me?” So far, everyone I’ve met here has had a translator. But we’ve gone further into the planetside than I think any human has gone before.

“All citizens received automatic upgrades as your language downloads became available.”

I squeeze his fingers. “I’m excited. Your forehead is extra wrinkly. That doesn’t normally happen when people are happy. You look… thoughtful? Worried? Determined?”

Turning to face me, still holding my hand, he declares, “If you take one more step with me, you can consider us bonded.”

My heart is dancing.

His eyes narrow on me like maybe he can hear it. “You had better know I am already bonded to you. But if you move forward, I’ll consider it your declaration that you feel the same permanent feelings of attraction for me.”

I’ve never had anyone want me back before, not like I wanted them. And this? Bash is going over the top with wanting me—and I adore him even more. I hop in place. “Consider me Gorilla-glued to you. I’m in this for the serious haul.”

Almost aggressively, Bash’s arms steal around my back, wrapping me up in the nicest hug I’ve ever been trapped in. “I rarely know what you are saying, but I don’t care.”

“Tight,” I wheeze, but I’m not complaining.

Which is good, because Bash’s nose is buried in my hair where he growls what sounds like, “Get used to this, female.”

Without us even knocking, the door to the cottage opens. I should probably

readonlinefreenovel.com Copyright 2016 - 2024