Kai crossed his arms and huffed out a breath. “I’m not a prisoner either. Though I’m beginning to feel like one. ”
“No, of course not, but the chip helps Lucas keep you safe, at least in his mind. He was pretty frantic when you got lost in the woods. ”
“I wasn’t lost, I keep telling everyone. I’m not an idiot, and I was heading back home when they found me. I had a little trouble locating the trail, but that’s to be expected, surely. I’m not familiar with these woods on Lycanus 3. But I located the city and I’d started walking back when they found me. I just hurt my ankle, that’s all, and I was walking slowly. ”
“Oh, you don’t have to explain it to me. ” Ryan said. “It was Lucas who was going ballistic. ”
/> “What does this mean, going ballistic? You mean he was angry? I know. ” Kai folded his arms across his chest and got a hurt expression on his face. “He attacked me when he found me, and bit my neck. “He turned to show Ryan the healed over puncture wounds that hadn’t quite faded yet. “See what he did?”
Ryan raised his eyebrows. “Wow, he really was torn up if he tried to give you the mating bite again. Was he in his Lycan wolf?”
“Yes, it frightened me half to death. I’d never actually seen that before. I knew they shifted, of course, but to actually see it…And to see it coming after me! I admit I panicked a little. Then when we got home, it was even worse. He put me in his bed and made love to me for hours. So long, I think I passed out for a little while. ”
Ryan’s eyebrows shot up. “Ooh, nice. Fucked unconscious. It’s been a while since Blayde did that to me. ”
Kai felt the hot stain of a blush on his cheeks. “He must have gone to sleep that way because when I woke up he still had his—you know, his thing—still up inside me, and his hand was holding onto my flesh. The one between my legs,” he whispered conspiratorially.
“Your flesh? His thing? Honey, don’t you even know what to call your dick?”
Kai felt the hotness spreading over his face. “Ryan. It’s not nice to talk like that. Yes, I know the names for it—Lucas has told me, but I was brought up not to discuss such things. Besides, isn’t a cock some kind of bird? Why would you give it a name like that? And a prick is a cut and Dick is a man’s name. Aren’t they? I just don’t understand all these names you have for it. ”
Ryan laughed so hard he fell down on his back on the sofa. Kai smiled at him indulgently. “I know you’re laughing at me, but it’s true. I don’t understand. ”
“I’m sorry, Kai. I don’t mean to laugh, but what you say is true. I never thought about it like that before. It doesn’t really matter what you call it, does it? Just so long as you enjoy it. ”
“Anyway, since that night, Lucas comes to our bedroom every night to make love to me and then goes to sleep. He never sleeps in the spare bedroom anymore. ”
“You should be happy about that,” Ryan said.
“I am. Or I was until he wanted to put this chip in my arm. But I don’t understand. If he’s so angry at me for going after Merri, why does he want to love on me all the time?”
“Well, you scared him. He thought he’d lost you. You know he had the whole pack out looking for you, and he even shut down the mines—he never shuts down the mines. ”
Kai tilted his head, his mouth falling open. “He did? But he didn’t tell me any of this. Why would he do such a thing?”
Ryan smiled. “Because he’s so crazy about you, you big dummy. ” He socked Kai lightly on the arm to show him he was teasing. “Blayde said he’d never seen Lucas so upset. He was frantic when he couldn’t find you. ”
“He was?”
“Of course he was. ”
“No,” Kai said, shaking his head. “He lusts after me, but I think he doesn’t really like me. He hates the idea that my mother tried to trick him and make him think I was a female. ”
“I think you’re wrong. ” Ryan looked at him curiously. “But why did she do that, Kai? Can you tell me?”
Kai shook his head stubbornly. “No. I can’t tell anyone. I’m sorry, but if I told someone, and it got back to the wrong people, my mother’s life could be in danger. I just can’t. ”
“It’s okay. I understand. But there’s one thing I learned since I’ve been with the Balenescus and that’s the fact that they can always surprise you. Just when you think you have them all figured out, you find out that you don’t. Sometimes Blayde overreacts, for example, and blows up, but once he calms down, he can really be wonderful. They only overreact because they care so much. Lucas is a good alpha and a good person. Don’t be afraid to trust him with your secrets. ”
Kai shook his head. “He’d never understand this one. It goes against Alliance law, and you know how he is about that. ”
“In the meantime, you’re letting this secret of yours tear the two of you apart. Give him a chance, Kai. You’ll be glad you did. ”
A small device on Ryan’s wrist sounded a beeping tone, and he glanced down at it. “There’s my lord and master now,” he said with a laugh. “I guess Blayde’s got the prisoners ready for transport. We’ll be gone for a while, but think about what I said, okay?”
Kai nodded and Ryan gave him a quick hug and took off to find his mate.
* * * *