Page 33 of Tornn's Mate
“I thought thousands of Darrvasons called this ship home,” I say as we round a corner and travel down yet another empty corridor. “Where is everyone?”
“These are the royal corridors of theHaxxal, passageways that were originally intended for the emperor’s use only. After Emperor Radakk’s great-great grandfather was repeatedly targeted for assassination, he ordered theHaxxalto be constructed with corridors that were solely for his use. Emperor Radakk, however, has granted the use of his royal corridors to a small number of trusted officers, crew members, and advisors.”
Mild annoyance fills me and it’s a struggle not to yank my hand from Tornn’s grasp and give him a dirty look. He’d promised to take me on daily walks outside his corridor, but the virtually empty royal corridors feel like a loophole. But I quickly remind myself that this is a good first step in gaining more freedom, and perhaps in a few weeks he’ll permit me the free roam I’ve been longing for.
I clear my throat. “Has anyone ever attempted to assassinate Admiral Radakk?”
“Only once. An advisor who held a grudge against the emperor attacked him on the bridge one day in full view of our highest-ranking officers. Before anyone could intervene, Emperor Radakk snapped the disloyal advisor’s neck.”
Thalia. I suddenly think of her and wonder how she’s faring. I hope the neck-snapping emperor isn’t being a complete monster to her. If only I could speak with her… I stifle a sigh. I would like to speak with the other human women too, but according to Tornn, none of them have been permitted to leave their respective mate’s quarters yet.
I think my mate is over-the-top possessive, but it would seem many of his comrades are worse.
Tornn guides me down another corridor, and I’m surprised to see two males headed our way. They pause briefly and say, “Kreullsha,” which I recently learned meansAdmiralin Darrvason. They each give a faint nod before rushing past us. Not for the first time since we’d started taking daily walks, I’m miffed that the passersby completely failed to acknowledge my existence.
“Why won’t they talk to me?” I ask. “Whenever we pass a male in the corridor, they won’t even look me in the eye, let alone greet me. And why won’t you introduce me to any of them? If I’m to spend my life among your people, I think I should start learning names and at least…” My voice trails off when he shoots me a scandalized look.
He slows his steps and emits a low growl. “It would not be proper for unmated males to speak with you this early in our mating union. To talk to you or look you in the eye would be considered a great sign of disrespect to both of us. By ignoring you, they have shown that they have no intention of taking what belongs to me.”
“So, when exactly will they start to acknowledge me?” I’ve never considered myself attention seeking, but being ignored is a shitty feeling, even though apparently the males hadn’t meant to cause any offense.
“Unmated males must wait for an invitation to acknowledge a female who belongs to another male. The invitation must come from me, and it’s tradition for three moon cycles to pass before an invitation is issued.” He squeezes my hand and resumes his normal pace, and I gladly match his steps.
“An invitation? How does that work exactly?”
“An introduction serves as an invitation,” he explains. “Once I greet them and tell them your name, they will be free to acknowledge you in passing and even hold short, respectful conversations with you as long as I am nearby.”
“Three moon cycles?” I suppress the dramatic huff that really wants to escape my lips. “Where I come from, it’s considered rude not to greet someone you pass in the corridors—male or female—unless of course the corridor is super crowded, then it’s not expected at all, unless you see a person you consider a dear friend. What ifIwere to say ‘hello’ to the males next time we pass them in the corridors and initiate a conversation? Cultural differences aside, it might be nice to—”
His sudden growl cuts me off. As we near a familiar corridor that I’m pretty sure leads back to his quarters, he growls again and tightens his grip on my hand. “No. We will hold to tradition. Furthermore, you will refrain from blatant acts of disobedience, little female, or suffer my wrath.” He aims a particularly stern glare my way.
A tingle races across my bottom cheeks, and heat simultaneously ignites in my core. Dammit. Why do his threats of punishment never fail to excite me?
Perhaps it’s his extra deep voice that rumbles through me whenever he’s being high-handed, or maybe it’s the way his purple eyes glimmer as he gives me a scolding look.
When Tornn’s nostrils flare and he takes a sudden, rapid inhale, I curse my traitorous body as well as his heightened senses.
He guides me into his quarters and the door zips shut behind us. My stomach flutters when he pins me against the wall and lowers his face, looking me directly in the eye.
Anticipation curls through my insides, and steady pulses of warmth affect my center. I press my thighs tightly together, attempting to assuage the growing ache while also hoping to hide the scent of my building arousal. My heart pounds faster.
“Females are not supposed to question their mates,” he says in an overly exasperated tone. “Females are supposed to obey without question and trust that their mate knows what’s best for them.” He clutches my upper arms and I think he wants to shake me. But he closes his eyes, takes a deep breath, then exhales slowly and refrains from getting rough with me. “You vex me, Ellie.”
“Maybe you ought to return me for an alternate.”
He tightens his grip on me. “No.” He snarls. “Even if my people didn’t mate for life, I could not fathom returning you. I could not fathom being parted from you for a single day.”
Before I draw my next breath, he grasps my face and kisses me soundly, sweeping his tongue into my mouth with a feral growl that sends heated tingles straight to my clit.
I shudder against him and run my hands along his sculpted chest as he deepens the kiss.
The blissful ache between my thighs grows stronger, and I undulate my hips, hoping to press my center against his, but with him bent down so far to kiss me, it’s just not possible for our bodies to line up that way.
He pulls back and releases a dark chuckle, then tosses the fabric of my skirt upward and reaches up my gown. He cups my pussy and gives it a firm squeeze.
“Sweet, unruly little female.” He kisses me again.
Chapter19
