he was unmated. Shit. She had no idea if he was single. He’d spoken with her, and he looked like he wanted to eat her, but that was something a male would do on any planet, coupled or not. Her heart cracked.
She couldn’t stay if he was mated to someone else. Seeing him with his mate would crush Lilah. Unrequited love was the worst thing ever. Whoa, who said anything about love? She was just interested, that’s all. Even though no one had intrigued her as much as that man did. No one looked as delicious as that man did. She knew she’d dream of him every night.
She noticed that he stared at her a lot. She loved having his attention on her. When they were in the tunnel, so close together, yet not, he smelled so good, like crisp, clean air. And the fact that soldiers wore little clothing did nothing to help her libido.
She imagined her hands sliding over his well-formed pecs. Down his ripped stomach and over his thick cock. She could feel her breasts mashed against his chest, his breath on her face. She fanned her face and glanced around, hoping no one noticed. But the daydream didn’t end there.
Lilah imagined his hands running up her hips and around her back. His cock nestled at the junction of her thighs, and she could feel the wetness running down her legs. She really needed to see him again and prove to herself he was as hot as she imagined.
Mates. The thought warmed her soul. The only mate experience she had was what she saw at the tree village. She looked around. Everyone seemed to be in love with the person they stood with. Men and women worked side by side, flirting and smiling, and looking happy. Nobody in the mountain seemed even close to that.
Iridia, the Gnoleon alpha female, stopped beside her, watching the scene in the garden. “It is good you brought our new neighbors to visit. Learning new ways is always good.”
“Well, there’s another reason than purely social.” She wondered if she should share with Iridia the problems she sought to make right. “The mountain fae live very differently than you do. I think seeing your culture and how you all work together will be good for them. Right now, women are not seen as equals.”
“I see,” the alpha said. “Then it is excellent that you brought them here. We will welcome them as long as they need to stay.”
“There will be someone from the mountain men coming to talk about changing things. I don’t know when he will be here, but if your guards could refrain from killing him, that would be great.”
With a smile, Iridia bowed her head. “I will make certain of his survival.” As she stepped away, Lilah called her back.
“Iridia, what can you tell me about mates?” When the woman’s face lit up, Lilah didn’t want her to know why she was asking. “You know, what should we expect from Wren and your brother as time goes on?”
“They are the same as all other mates. They will love each other and no other for the rest of their lives.”
“So, Zee—sorry—Xenos won’t get bored and look for excitement elsewhere?”
“No. Never has that happened. In truth, when one mate goes to the spirit—” Lilah figured that meant ‘dead’—"the other often decides to retire.”
“Retire as in goes to the spirit,” she asked. Iridia tilted her head to the right, which Lilah remembered was their way of saying yes. So instead of staying alive and looking for another love, they would rather die. “No matter what their mate looks like, they stay in love?”
Iridia smiled and looked away. Crap. Lilah knew she’d give herself away with that question.
“Alpha female,” Iridia said to her. How did she know? Did one alpha recognize another? “The mating call has no eyes or ears or nose. Only a heart that knows its other half when it sees it.”
Lilah asked, “So they are perfect for each other? They will never argue or disagree?”
The leader laughed. “Oh, I did not say that. Each mate has their own will, but when it comes to respect and love, they are perfect.”
“Xenos will never break Wren’s heart?”
Iridia tilted her head again. “Never from not loving her or being faithful.”
Lilah let out a breath. “That’s good to know. Thanks.”
“You are welcome.” She smiled. “Wren is safe.”
Lilah wasn’t sure she could believe what the Gnoleon said. But the woman had no reason to lie to