Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 Victoria Aveline (story read aloud TXT) 📖

dropping. Luka answered, “Our mother wasn’t Clecanian. She didn’t have as much trouble reproducing.”

Zed stepped backward out of the doorway, indicating it was time for Luka to leave.

“I’ll have Au-zed,” he began, emphasizing Zed’s full name, “collect you and bring you to me in a few days so I can take you to the reserve.”

Around his brother, Alice noticed Luka’s demeanor was much more formal. It seemed he kept his emotion on a tighter leash around others.

Does he only show a soft side with me? She inwardly cringed at the juvenile thought.

She nodded her agreement. With one final longing glance at her, Luka left.

***

“You couldn’t have waited a little longer to get me?” Luka grunted once they were out of earshot of Alice’s home.

They’d been making great progress. She may not like him very much, but she was at least willing to give him a chance to redeem himself during dinner. How much of her decision to see him again was based on his bribe to take her to the research reserve? He didn’t know, and he didn’t care. Winning her over would take time, and he’d use any tools at his disposal to acquire that time with her.

When he’d had the idea to let her visit the reserve, he’d been both overjoyed and frustrated he hadn’t thought of it sooner. A visit would make her happy and help her career. He wanted to punch the air in triumph, knowing he had something to offer that almost no other male could.

On top of the fact that it’d be of interest to her, the Huil Research Reserve was also quite romantic. He could get her away from prying eyes, and knowing that no one else would be able to access the reserve while he was there, he’d be able to relax.

“You should’ve never let the time on your pass run out. Metli was furious,” Zed replied without looking at him.

Finding that he was having trouble hanging onto his anger, he shrugged. “Still, you interrupted at precisely the wrong time.”

Reaching the long stretch of water between the main building and the exit, Zed escorted him across. “She’s agreed to see you?”

A wide grin spread over his face again. “Yes, I’ll send you the details on timing later. You can escort her, correct? I don’t trust anyone else to do it.”

“You know I will.” Zed leaned in, his expression serious. “You know, Metli asked me to retrieve you yesterday afternoon.” A small smile pulled at the corner of his mouth, and he winked before retreating back across the lake.

Chapter 15

“Alice, are you listening?” Rhaego snapped.

A few people snickered.

This morning the Queen had sent word that Rhaego would be stopping by to give whoever was interested a lesson in the Tremantian language. For what Alice assumed was about an hour, Rhaego had been patiently explaining the name and pronunciation of each letter in the Clecanian alphabet. Within that span, he’d had to get Alice’s attention five times.

Soon, she was supposed to leave with Zed to go see Luka, and she found she could concentrate on nothing else. This was important, dammit, so why couldn’t she pay attention?

“Yes, I’m sorry, Rhaego. I’m just a little distracted today.”

Lucy, who’d sat next to her, rested her chin on her hand and gazed dreamily at Rhaego. “She’s going on a date.”

“It’s not a date,” Alice quickly argued. But it was. Wasn’t it?

The more she’d thought about what Luka said, the more she started to agree with him. They did share some kind of connection. Was it possible humans still had the ghost of a mating bond somewhere deep down? She’d always known she’d felt an unusually strong connection to Luka, but she’d just assumed it was because they’d gone through something traumatic together. Looking back, however, she recalled feeling drawn to him from the very first time she’d seen him.

When people on Earth talked about soulmates, could this be what they were referring to? Some long-lost connection only certain people shared and were able to recognize. If so, how many humans had missed out on finding their mate because they were separated by a galaxy? And then, if all of that was true, who was Alice to spit in the face of fate? Had she found her honest-to-goodness soulmate?

Rhaego grunted. “I think we should just call it a day.”

Alice flinched, realizing she’d once again stopped paying attention, lost in her own thoughts.

As the six women, who’d come to the class left, Alice rushed over to Rhaego. “I’m really sorry.”

He waved dismissively and gave her a small smile. “It’s okay. I wish I had someone who made me that distracted.”

Alice had guessed as much. When she’d learned Rhaego had volunteered to teach the class, she’d wondered why. The tight shirt and combed hair he’d sported upon arrival had told her more than enough.

“A few of the women were definitely checking you out today. None of them distracting enough?” she said, grinning at the deep maroon blush spreading across his cheeks and horns.

“Jade advised me some of the females might like this clothing choice.” Rhaego smiled sheepishly. “It was nice to be looked at without fear, but I didn’t recognize a mate.”

“You could still go on a date with one of them—you never know. It took Theo a while to recognize Jade, right?”

He shrugged. “What if I become involved with a female and recognize my mate in another? Human females approach sexual relationships differently than Clecanian females do. I wouldn’t want to hurt anyone.”

Alice shook her head and wondered how she’d ever been afraid of the giant, horned softy. “Whichever female you do recognize is going to be so lucky. You’re a great guy.”

“Thanks,” he mumbled, walking her to the door.

Outside in the bright sunlight, Lucy was talking quickly to a flustered Auzed.