Page 114 of Exiles on Earth
My heart soars. He expressed his desires! But I still check, “If that’s what you really want.”
“I do.” He presses his forehead to mine, briefly closing hiseyes. When he opens them again, they burn bright and fierce. “I choose you, El-len. Over and over and over again. Any life that has you in it, no matter what we’re doing in it, is the one I want.”
“And I want that too,” I say, clutching him close and breathing in his forest scent. A little dusty, yes, and laced with salt, but the smell of home.
Ilia insistson jogging with me in his arms all the way back to the car, and the starhounds trot next to us with their tongues lolling in doggy happiness. “We still have to leave as soon as we can, I’m sure I will be arrested despite being your mate if the Prif orders it directly.”
I tighten my arms around his shoulders, his pounding steps rocking me against his chest. “She really wants you gone. Any idea why?”
His lips thin. “I haven’t personally interacted with her ever. I suspect it’s because I entered the Games, and she doesn’t want clones to do that.”
I think back to Shara and Samara, silver and gold, politely but coolly moving around each other in the Prif’s office. A careful interplay, playing their own game with deadly consequences for Ilia.
“I reckon you’re right, on both counts. We need to leave.”
When we reach the hover car, Ilia finally puts me down. I bundle him in first, then the dogs.
“Straight to the launch pad, please,” I tell the driver as I slide in, grabbing water from the box in the middle. I crack open one for Ilia and pass it to him before pouring a bottle into a shimmering glass for Floss and Rex.
“My thanks.” Ilia downs it in one, throat working as he gulps and swallows. All I can see is a thin line of singed and cracked black scales across his neck, testament to how close he came to losing his life today.
As the hover car lifts, he puts the empty bottle aside and pulls me into his arms, murmuring, “I’m all yours.”
“And you’re all hurt.” I gently hover my fingers over the darkened scales on his cheekbone and forehead, probably bruises. “Are you okay?”
He lets out a small moan, and his mouth finds mine, hot and needy. Heat flashes up my chest, and I pull him closer to deepen the kiss. His lips devour mine, the intensity building. He’s almost feral, as if my concern for him turns him on.
When he pulls back a little for air, I’m left gasping, but he still cradles me close so there’s no gap between our bodies.
A pleasant shiver ripples through his scales, tinting him blush pink, and his warm eyes go liquid. “I am okay, now that I’m yours. All yours.”
“You like that?”
All he can do is nod, gazing deep into my eyes as if he’s memorizing me.
I’m totally happy to give him more, tilting his chin up gently. “I promise to take care of you. I’ll work you hard, of course, Floss will attest to that. But you’ll never want for love.”
He captures my lips again, pushing me back and down along the plush seats. His arms bracket my head as he eases over me, tense muscles pressing against my core. Stroking his lips with mine makes him hum, the tiny scales on his face snicking together as if melding to me. I part my legs to bring him closer so we’re joined as close as we can be.
For now.
Panting, Ilia breaks off, glancing outside the window. “I hate to stop, but we should be nearing the… oh, no.”
I sit bolt upright. “What is it?”
Ilia doesn’t have to answer. Robots form a perimeter around the Prif’s golden ship, legs spider-walking like malevolent crabs.
There’s no way we can get on it now.
THIRTY-EIGHT
ILIA
“Stop right here,”I order the Pranastock, leaning over the partition separating pilot from passengers.
Sweat drenches his scales. “I’ve got orders from the Prif, I can’t stop.”
If we land on the launch pad, I’ll be arrested and taken to the Euthanization Center as quickly as possible. Perhaps even euthanized on sight.
