Choosing Theo: The Clecanian Series Book 1 Victoria Aveline (the giving tree read aloud TXT) 📖

her request. She held her breath. His hands traveled up her thighs, and his eyes bore into hers.

This is a test. She had to pretend like she didn’t hate his touch.

When his hands disappeared under her dress and settled on her hips, she closed her eyes, letting her head fall back.

Picture Theo. Picture Theo. She thought back to the night she’d ridden him on the couch.

Xoris’ hand moved to cup her sex, and she imagined it was Theo’s instead. She was able to make herself slightly aroused by recalling his mouth on her sex.

She knew the exact moment Xoris smelled her arousal. His hands were gone from her and he was pulling at her restraints, releasing her.

***

Theo looked around from the top of the hill he’d just climbed. Before him to the left was an open field illuminated by moonlight. In the distance he could see the trees of the forest. The terrain to his right was filled with rocky outcroppings and foliage.

“Which direction do you think she came from?” Rhaego said, finally appearing behind him. Zikas hadn’t been wrong. Theo was much faster now.

His Jade was smart. The field may have seemed like an easier trek, but if she were running from someone, his instincts said she would’ve wanted to hide. If she came from the right, the boulders and bushes would’ve given her that option.

He pointed solemnly in that direction. “I’m going to run ahead. Can you follow my trail if you fall behind?”

Rhaego chuckled. “When I fall behind,” he corrected. “You have a mate now. You’re much too fast for me to keep up with.”

Theo nodded and set off.

Locate the target.

Theo ran faster than he ever had, leaping over towering boulders with ease. He could see the edge of the forest ahead.

Suddenly he felt sick. He stopped, clutching at his stomach. He took another step but faltered when a sharp pain shot through him. He stepped back, and the pain eased somewhat.

Was this mating bond telling him he was headed the wrong way? He turned in place slowly, until the feeling in his gut disappeared. Tentatively he took a step in the new direction. No pain. He continued forward at a trot. Still no pain.

He grinned and dashed forward at full speed, changing course here and there when he felt ill.

He bellowed to the sky. He could find her! He was going to be able to get to his mate!

An evil thought crept in. What if I’m too late? What if she can’t forgive me for not getting to her in time?

He pushed those thoughts away.

Locate the target. Locate the target. Locate the target.

Chapter 37

When Jade was free from the chair, Xoris grabbed her arm, leading her through the back door. They entered a large open room with long tables. There were trays scattered here and there, and she realized this must be some kind of cafeteria.

How sick can you be? she thought as she surveyed the mundane-looking cafeteria. Abduct, rape and impregnate women from all over the universe and then come eat lunch. Just sick.

Nedas was seated at a table a few feet away, and he shot up when he saw them. “What are you doing with her?”

“That’s none of your business,” Xoris said to Nedas in a condescending tone.

Nedas bristled and approached them slowly. “You said I could have her after you were done. You’ve never taken one out this way before.” He scowled at her, and Jade moved behind Xoris, pretending she trusted him to protect her.

Xoris released her arm, allowing it. His chest puffed up with pride.

Idiot, she thought. The two males continued to argue, and Jade took the opportunity to look around for anything she could use as a weapon. She found none.

“You will obey my orders, Nedas!” Xoris barked. In a calmer voice, he added, “If you do, then I’ll make sure the next human brought here is all yours.”

Nedas crossed his arms but said nothing more. Taking his silence as agreement, he grabbed Jade’s arm once again and worked his way through the cafeteria.

A knife! On a table just in front of her, there lay a tray with an empty plate, fork, and knife.

How to get to it?

Jade heard a snarl from behind her. She turned to see Nedas running full speed at them. He barreled into Xoris just as he spun to face Nedas. Xoris hadn’t let go of Jade when he was knocked down. She felt a sickening pop in her shoulder, and her vision blurred before he finally released her. Pain shot up her arm when she tried to move it, and she realized it was dislocated.

Jade scrambled back in horror, watching the two males fight. Nedas was on top of Xoris. Bashing his head into the white tile floor.

Jade came to her senses when she saw blood. She leapt forward, grabbing the knife, and then bolted back in the direction of the spiral escalator.

She reached the door that led to the exam room and glanced back. Fear stabbed at her when she saw Nedas running toward her, dark intent in his eyes.

She willed her feet to keep moving through the exam room and down the hallway. Pain lanced through her shoulder with every jarring step.

She sensed Nedas at her back even before he lunged for her. She screamed in pain when his heavy body landed on top of hers. He rolled her over, and she took the opportunity to sink her knife deep into his gut and twist.

Bellowing angrily, he clutched her injured shoulder. Jade shrieked in agony, releasing the knife.

Nedas tore the blade from his stomach and threw it over his shoulder. “Stupid human! You’ll never leave here!”

She tried to use her good arm to gouge his eyes. He slammed his fist into the side of her face. She felt the bones in her cheek give way. Her head lolled, and her consciousness wavered. She fought to stay awake, to keep fighting, but she couldn’t get her body to respond to her.

Her