Page 6 of Carnal: The Beast Who Loved Me

I can’t explain what that was. A hunch I guess you’d say.

Some of the males growled so softly I wouldn’t have heard it if I was human. Not that I blamed them. From what I’d heard about their treatment, they had every reason to growl at me. Some just stared without making a sound.

When I looked into the face of the hybrid who would become leader in the new world, I knew, or felt, that he was different. It might have been the spark of intelligence shining from deep green eyes or the presence emanating from his body. Regardless, he was the one I chose to approach. And it ended up being a good decision.

He was standing in the middle of his cell. To the casual observer he might have appeared to be relaxed, but I could tell that every muscle and sinew was ready to pounce.

One second I was standing in the passageway between cell blocks. The next I was inside his space. That caused a look of concern, but he’d worn a collar far too long and was too wise to respond to that unexpected event by lunging at me. He didn’t even bare his impressive set of fangs. He simply watched with a quiet wariness, waiting to see what I’d do next, exactly the sort of quality that would define a capable leader.

“My name is Kellareal,” I said. “I’m not human. I just appear that way for the moment because I choose to. I’m here to make an offer.” The creature blinked once, but stood as still as a statue, watching with a keen wariness. The intelligence in his eyes was unmistakable. “Will you give me a minute of your time?”

A slight movement of his head to the side adequately conveyed that such a respectful question was far outside the bounds of what he might anticipate. He stared for a full minute before nodding once slowly.

I waved a hand at his collar so that he would make a connection between my deliberate movement and the fact that his collar disengaged and fell to the concrete floor with a loud clang. He took his eyes away from me long enough to glance down at the collar, fallen close to his feet. His eyes jerked back to me as his hand came to his throat to confirm with fingers what his brain thought to be true, that he was unfettered for the first time since he’d been a child.

“An acquaintance heard that all the hybrids, people like you, who live in this world are going to be executed tonight.” He blinked again, but did not look away. “I’d like to offer an alternative. Am I speaking to the right person? If I make a deal with you that saves your people, are you capable of enforcing the terms?”

After a few seconds, he said, “What terms?” in a voice that was decidedly gruffer than that of most men.

“Here’s my offer. I will take your kind away from this place to another world where you will be free to build a new life. In exchange, you will protect the human inhabitants of that world from their enemy - hybrids, like yourself, that terrorize them.”

He vocalized a disbelieving harrumph, but managed to do it without changing expression or moving his mouth.

“I hear the derision in your response. Which part of that is hard to swallow? Hybrids terrorizing humans? Or being transported to a world beyond the reach of your captors?”

“The idea ofprotectinghumans is… ludicrous.”

I smiled. Apparently the hybrids were either educated or exposed to vocabulary. “I see that and can’t blame you for the way you feel. But if the choice is that or death…?”

Without moving or changing his expression, the big male said, “Why should I believe anything you say?”

“We would both be taking a risk. You’d be taking a risk that I can deliver what I’m promising. I’d be taking two risks. First, that you are capable of leading your people so that your promise to me will be fulfilled. Second, that you will honor your promise.”

At that his head came up, just an inch or so, but the reaction was unmistakable. He was offended that I questioned his honor, which was entirely curious since he’d spent his entire life being treated like a dangerous animal.

“If I give my promise, I will enforce it.”

“If I accept your promise, you and your people will be free in every sense except that you will be bound to defend the human population from raids by native hybrids. To the best of your ability.”

He reached up and touched his throat where the collar had been most of his life. “My people will be freeandtogether?”

“Yes.”

“Take me first to this new world. Let me see. Then I will give my answer.”

My expression remained blank, but I was secretly pleased with that response. “We need to hurry. There are, by my count, a hundred and sixty-three of you to move before morning. And there’s only one of me.” I reached out to take his shoulder in my grip, but he flinched and swatted my hand away. “I have to touch you to transport you.”

He studied me for a couple of seconds, as if looking for treachery, then nodded. A couple of minutes later we were standing on a hill overlooking a wide valley. It was dusk, but there was enough visibility to enjoy the view and make out the shape of buildings where the human city was concentrated.

“Most of the humans were killed during the hybrid uprising. There’s no nuclear or electrical power and the roads are little more than a memory.” I looked at his profile. “You could create your own settlement here, on this hill. The native hybrids, they’re called Rautt, live on the other side of a desert.” I gestured toward the north.

“And we’d be free,” he said in a tone that was unmistakably wistful. “Able to have families.”

I looked at him. “Yes. Families.”

He looked at me. “Yes, Kellareal. I give you my promise. For this we will defend the humans. I promise.”

I nodded. “Be ready to take control of your people. By morning they will all be here looking for leadership. I will help you with supplies to house and feed your tribe until you are self-sufficient.” I looked at the number on his shirt. “What do you want to be called?”

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