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  880 couldn’t sleep but Alli finally did. Her breathing changed and her body softened against him. The scent of her drove him a little insane and his dick hardened painfully after he relaxed. He had maintained an iron control over his body to hide how strongly she affected him. It had been difficult to keep his responses in check but he hadn’t wanted to spook her into calling out for help.

  He lifted his hand to finger the soft, light strands of her hair. It didn’t feel the same as his or 46’s. Alli’s pale hair fascinated him. It was so light and the texture too soft. He brought some of it up to his nose. She smelled like food and he wanted to eat her. Just the thought of burying his face between her thighs made him struggle to remain still.

  He eased his arm out from under her head when he knew he couldn’t take being close to her anymore. It was torture. She didn’t stir and he rolled away, getting to his feet. He paced the confines of the room and his gaze kept straying to her form. The urge to take her was growing stronger by the minute.

  He opened the door and stepped out into the hallway. The male down the hall was reading a book and his head jerked up to stare at him. 880 approached him quickly.

  “I need to run now.”

  Surprise registered on the other male’s features. “I need to make some calls and—”

  “I’m going to mount her if I don’t run right now. Do you know Alli? She’s human and small. I need to run.” He hated the way he snarled the words but he had promised not to cause her harm.

  The other male closed his book and dropped it to the floor. “I understand. Come on. I can’t take you outside without permission but I think I know what will help.”

  “What?”

  “If you can’t fuck, you should enjoy fighting.” The male grinned. “I’ve been there. You should learn anyway. We’ll go to the roof. Come on.”

  He opened the elevator and 880 stepped inside. He eyed the other male, a match physically to himself. “What are you called?”

  “Moon.” He paused. “That’s the first thing I saw when they brought me out of Mercile. It was beautiful hanging there so high in the sky. I knew then my life was forever changed.”

  The elevator opened and they were at the roof. There was an extended porch roof over it to shield it from the weather. Moon led him out onto the flat surface, which had three-foot walls around the perimeter of the building. The male pointed up.

  “Look. It’s not a full moon but isn’t it beautiful? It’s a beacon of hope and light to those lost in the darkness.” He gazed at 880. “That’s why I took that for a name.”

  880 felt his chest tighten. “You chose well.”

  The male stripped out of his chest coverings and sat down, tearing at his boots. “I hate these things. The entire uniform sucks but we’re required to wear them. Give me one more minute to get comfortable. I’ll teach you basic fight skills. That will rid you of some of your excess energy. I’ve seen Dr. Alli and I get why you’re on edge.”

  He didn’t know what to say.

  “You know that some of us are mated to humans, don’t you?” Moon removed his weapons, dropping them on his discarded shirt and vest. “They aren’t like our females. They’re all soft and smaller.” He rose to his feet and walked to the center of the large area. “You had a mate from what I heard. I’m sorry for her loss.”

  “I didn’t know some of our kind had mated humans.” He was surprised. “That works out fine?”

  “Yes.”

  “They murdered my mate in front of me.”

  Moon’s mouth tightened into a grim line of anger and it flashed in his gaze. “Fucking Mercile. I know the rage you must feel. I didn’t have a mate but there was a female once I cared about. They did something to her, pumped her full of some experimental drug. It killed her. They didn’t care.” He took a deep breath. “Do you still want to fight or talk?”

  880 debated and sat down. “Talk to me.”

  Moon sat a few feet away. “What do you want to know?”

  “How do we mate with females who are so fragile?”

  “The doctor is under your skin, isn’t she? They are very different from our females. Softer and not aggressive.”

  “She struck me.”

  Moon frowned. “Why?”

  “I made her angry.”

  “How did you respond?”

  “I didn’t harm her or cause her pain. I soothed her temper by stroking her body until she wasn’t confrontational anymore. That’s why I want to mount her. They smell so good when they are aroused.”

  The male he faced smiled. “Yeah. I know.” He licked his lips. “Damn tasty too. They have not learned control over their bodies either. They respond without restraint.” Moon chuckled. “Their males don’t appreciate their bodies the way we do. Did you feel inside her?”

  A growl burst from him. “She’s too small to accommodate me.”

  “Go very slow and be gentle. They stretch and she’ll be able to take you. I’ve been there a few times with human females. Just be aware of your strength. Restraint is the key word. I’ve never shared sex with one as small as her but some of our males have mated human females who are her size.”

  “I was told the humans who murdered my mate are being held captive. I want at them. How do I do that?”

  Moon sighed. “I hear you and I understand. You’re never going to get access to them. They aren’t being held here by the NSO. Humans have them locked up in what they call a private prison system some miles away. They are contained inside small cages with a toilet and sink. They have no freedom. They suffer there for their crimes against us. They are separated from everything they held dear and aren’t going to be freed. I visited there once when it opened. It’s as bad as we were subjected to but in different ways.”

  “What differences?”

  “Open cages with bars where they can see each other. They have no privacy. We had that at least. But they aren’t chained to the walls constantly. Their cages are smaller than the rooms we were held in. The humans who guard them are just as cruel from what I understand. They are suffering.” Moon paused. “Death would be too swift a punishment. They will never be released and will have to survive a long time with those living conditions. Do you understand?”

  “I still want to kill them.”

  “I know and sympathize.”

  880 lifted his head to stare at the sky. “Do you ever get accustomed to this?”

  Moon looked up. “No. It takes my breath away every time. Freedom is a wonderful thing. Try to enjoy it and let go of the past.”

  880 softly growled. “I can’t.”

  The other male met his gaze and held it. “You have a female in your room. This is a new life. Holding on to the past means you can never be open to having a future. It took me months to come to terms with that. To embrace it. Give yourself a chance to know peace.”

  “What will happen to me when they allow me to leave this building?”

  “You’ll be shown to the men’s dorm. That’s what it is called despite us being ‘males’. The humans built this place as a military base but gave it to us instead. You’ll have a private home inside it and live with other males in the large building. We’ll find something you like to do so you can become a part of our community. You’ll live, 880. You’ll flourish and survive with your own kind. It’s what we do and we’re good at it.” His gaze drifted to his discarded items. “They’ll make you wear the uniform while on duty.” He chuckled. “You’ll hate the footwear but you’ll adjust.” He looked back at him. “You need a new name. It will be the final step in gaining your freedom. Mercile gave you a number. Take that away from them too.”

  “I don’t know what to call myself.”

  The male slowly climbed to his feet and offered his hand. “Come with me. There are these neat electronic things called computers. They have dictionaries inside them and we’ll discuss how you feel and see yourself. I’m sure we can find something that will fit.”

  880 clasped his hand and was pulled