“I need to hunt them,” I utter, mostly to myself.
Molly pulls away and ceases her clawing, much to my dismay. “You want to go out there and look for them anyway?”
“It is necessary,” I tell her in a solemn tone.
Her brown eyes sheen with unshed tears. “I’ll come with you.”
“No,” I growl so fiercely she jumps. “It is unsafe.”
She gapes at me. “If it’s so unsafe, then why are you going?”
“Because someone must do it, and I am the only one with the skills to do so.”
“I’m coming with you,” she snips. “When? Tonight?”
When she starts to move off the bed, I grip her wrists, pulling her close enough that our noses touch. “You’re staying here, my mate.”
She scoffs. “Absolutely not. I have skills, too. I grew up on a freakin’ farm, Draven. I know all about hunting and animals. I’m going.”
“No,” I snarl, panic rising up inside me. My lips brush against hers. They are softer and plumper than I imagined. I want to investigate them further. If only I had more time. “I beg of you.”
She puckers her lips and presses them to mine. It’s like a hug for our lips. The energy she emits zaps through my veins, invigorating my every cell. Her hands break free of my hold as they slide into my hair once more. I let out a groan of appreciation. The moment my lips part as the sound escapes, my mate surprises me.
Sweet.
Maddening.
Delicious.
Her taste slides across my forked tongue, stealing my every thought that isn’t her. My tongue lashes at hers, desperate for more of her unique flavor. I can’t help but grab her hips to pull her closer to me. Her legs settle on either side of me, and her center presses against my cock that is achingly hard, straining against my minnasuit.
“Draven,” she moans, her hips rocking like they sometimes do when she sings.
I hiss and grab her round rump with more force than I intended. She cries out and nips my bottom lip. Fire burns through my entire body as I lose my mind to the sensations she is flooding me with.
Her fingers tug at my hair, and she pulls my nog back. Brown eyes blaze with a hunger I’ve never seen on anyone before. It’s as though she wants to consume me. I try to recall what I know about mating. It was something I didn’t read for myself, but overheard Breccan speaking of not long after he started mating with Aria.
Remove the clothes.
Lick her cunt until she cries.
Make her wet with arousal, so she can take your cock.
Breccan didn’t say what happened next, but Hadrian demonstrated against the wall, making terrible noises as he pretended to rut.
I think I can figure it out.
“My mate,” I mutter, squeezing her rump. “Would you ever…would you consider…”
Taking my cock?
The words die on my tongue.
Shame creeps up along my flesh, making it burn hot.
“W-What?” she stammers. “What is it that you want from me?”
Her heated stare sears into me.
“I want to put my cock—”
Bang! Bang! Bang!
We’re jolted from the moment as someone interrupts us. She slides off my thighs with a surprised shriek. I’m already storming toward the door in the next moment.
“What is it?” I demand as I swipe my access card.
The door slides open, and Avrell storms in. His hair is messy, and his tired eyes are wild.
“I can’t do it, Draven. I can’t mimic the milk properties, even with Calix’s help on the comms. Not even Galen can figure it out.” He lets out a heavy sigh. “How am I to tell Breccan that his mortling will go to The Eternals because I cannot find a solution?”
Molly bounds up from the bed, rushing over to us. She loops her arm with mine and reaches out to touch Avrell’s shoulder with her other hand.
“Babycakes,” she coos. “We’ve got this.”
I look down at her, my brow lifted in question. She simply lifts her chin and does a one-eyed blink. Is her other eyelid broken?
“My mate and I,” she says breathlessly, “are going to hunt for a herd. How soon can we travel?”
Relief floods through Avrell at her words, and he gives me a hopeful smile. “Truly? You’re to hunt down a herd?”
I cock my nog at him, confused. Avrell is all for the protection of the females, yet here he is, willing to let my mate go out into The Graveyard to assist me in my hunt. This has me realizing the importance of this task. What is the point of impregnating the females if their young will be sent to The Eternals within days? I would never do such a horrible thing to my Molly. She’s already grieved over the loss of one life.
“My mate farmed,” I tell Avrell, confidence in my tone. I flick my gaze at Molly to make sure I said the right term. She nods her nog as she smiles. I continue, “She farmed and knows of hunts on her planet. There are beasts here similar to what she is familiar with. She is skilled with a magknife and will kill when necessary as she proved with her Kevined Randy. My mate is a valuable asset to this mission.”