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Chapter Twelve

PETER

I shook off the last lingering effects of my dream while my brain decided what was reality. Still smelling cinnamon, ocean, and man didn’t help. I know the testosterone smell wasn’t mine. My scent changed recently – even more than when I was in the medical laboratory. I smelled a scent like grass and trees that hung lazily in the air.

My ass muscles clenched, and I sensed the slick that was now becoming more common.

His musical voice drew out. I don’t think it was English, yet I still understood when he spoke. “Lights on.”

The soft blue illumination increased and turned whiter as I stared toward my surprise visitor. If I had to guess his age, I’d say early thirties. His dark eyebrows pinched together and wrinkled under his black hair with a purple stripe. Dark purple flecks decorated large jutting chest muscles. Like all Volardi, he had no covering on his top. The only exception was an open black robe and a dark kilt for under his waist. Beyond that brown sandals for his wide feet. An old joke about men and their foot size went through my mind.

Well, it’s true in this case.

The old me would have scurried away. I still wanted to do that, but I knew how useless that would be. Instead, I stared at the slab of carved, bronze man while my throat went dry.

The men in my old room were masculine and muscled. And yet… they weren’t like him. Maybe it was something about his alien nature or he had more masculinity?

His voice rose, “Earth Omegas can speak, can’t they?”

“Yes,” I said and winced at my subservient voice.

He put his hands to his side and stared back. “You’re so... small. Are they all like you?”

“I’m not small.” Well, I was compared to him, but I didn’t appreciate someone saying it. I already had enough reminders. “Sorry to disappoint,” I said with as much sarcasm as I could put into my voice.

He smiled thinly. “Thank the language assister. Otherwise, I would have assumed you prepared yourself for me.”

My expression must’ve looked confused because he explained. “You are in a mating pose and I can smell your scent.” His eyes half-lidded. “Most males would have succumbed.” His shoulders rose. “I will not.”

I blinked. That was good news and should have made me happy. Instead, I frown. “Why not?”

He held a grey pill and ate it. “Because I am King and have responsibilities. To be blunt, I don’t want you, Human. You’ve taken me from my island kingdom and duties. This is a waste of time for both of us.”

My hands went out. “I didn’t ask for you.”

“Nor I you, and yet here we are.”

I repeated his words with a mocking tone and hoped the ‘Language Assistor’ conveyed the meaning. Judging from his frown it did. “Well, I don’t want to be here at all,” I said. “I don’t want to be with any Volardi!” This didn’t fit my plan to play along, but the words came out. Either it was me subconsciously taking charge, or my new insides made me emotional.