True Read online

  “We don’t allow reporters into Homeland or Reservation. It’s a security risk for anyone to know the layout of our streets and buildings in case someone wants to attack. The air above NSO land is a no-fly zone. It’s also law that they can’t climb trees and use telescopes to peer over our walls and take photos or videos. All press conferences are held outside the walls.”

  “Aren’t they like twenty feet high?”

  “Thirty in most places.”

  “That’s pretty tall.”

  He tugged on her hand, leading her through the broken door into the hallway. Flame smiled at both of them but kept silent and out of the way. Jeanie walked a little slow so he adjusted his stride for her shorter one. Talking seemed to distract her so he continued to share information she might find interesting.

  “We don’t allow them to photograph our females either.”

  “I knew that. I just don’t know why.”

  “All males who have been photographed or attended press conferences have gotten death threats and hate mail. We don’t wish our females to be subjected to that.”

  “That makes sense.”

  She followed him inside the elevator and smiled as the doors closed. Her demeanor changed once they reached the main floor though. Males in the large community room stopped watching the big-screen television to fix their attention on her instead of the game.

  “It’s fine,” he rasped, gripped her around the waist and used his body to shield her from many of the stares. He glared around the room as he tugged her toward the main doors.

  One of the males stood. “True? A moment?”

  The primate had a history of disliking humans. True stopped, steering Jeanie behind him to keep her far from the male. “What do you want?”

  The male growled. “I don’t like her here. It offends me that she’s under the same roof. Are you returning her to the humans? That’s where she belongs instead of down the hall from where I sleep.”

  “Back off,” he warned. “She’s with me and that’s where she will remain. Sit down, 861.”

  The male puffed out his chest and clenched his fists. “She’s our enemy.”

  “Not mine.”

  “She’s dangerous and a threat.”

  True snorted. “You should go speak to one of those head-shrink doctors they made us see after we were freed if you’re afraid of a female. That or you should ask Fury for more training since you think you are incapable of defending yourself from someone so small.”

  861 hissed. “I see the appeal in mounting her but send her back to her cell afterward. You should always put your toys away when you’re done playing with them.”

  True pushed Jeanie farther behind him and released her to free his hands. The male appeared ready to attack and he hoped he would, wanting to make him bleed for the insulting words. He glanced around to see if there were any other threats. A few of the males who’d been released from a Colorado facility had stood as well but they stayed back. They were known to really dislike all humans, the treatment they’d suffered while in captivity making them bitter. Book got to his feet and reached down, lifting one of the lamps from the table. One good jerk and he pulled the cord from the wall.

  “I’m ordering you males to go to your rooms,” Book demanded with a soft growl. “The female is here with Darkness’ permission. You don’t want to piss him off.” He paused. “True and I would be the least of your worries.”

  True was glad the male wasn’t ready to attack. It still worried him that the others might decide to fight. One of them could possibly get around him and Book to go after Jeanie.

  861 refused to back down. “I don’t want her here.”

  “Perhaps you should go do better things with your time than harass a helpless human.” Book moved closer to True, putting his body between the males and Jeanie too. “Do that now. You don’t want to go after another human the way you once did. Breeze and our females haven’t exactly let you forget that, have they? It’s no surprise you’d attempt to insult him for actually having a female in his bed.”

  “Human lover,” 861 snarled.

  “I love all females,” Book snarled back. “Jealous you can’t mount one? It shows.” He smirked, almost daring them to advance.

  “There’s going to be a fight if my keen hearing isn’t just picking up a television show.” A new male entered the community room from the hallway. “And it’s about a female. It’s rude to insult one.”

  True glanced at Query, identifying the male as one from Drackwood. The male rounded the couches and glanced behind True, obviously spotting Jeanie. He appeared stunned before his lips twisted into a grimace as he studied 861 and his two companions.

  “He brought a human under our roof,” one of them spat. “She’s our enemy. The only thing they are good for is mounting and tossing into a cage afterward.”

  Query lengthened his stride, got behind the three males and grabbed the one who’d just spoken by the back of his neck. He leaned in close, putting his lips next to his ear.

  “I’ll rip off your dick,” he threatened. “Then I’ll feed it to you and watch you choke to death if you even think again of touching that female. Do you understand me?”

  His words shocked them all. He gave the male a rough shake and released him, baring his teeth.

  “You better run. You know I have a temper.”

  The three males glanced at each other, obviously frightened, and scrambled toward the stairs, taking them two at a time. True relaxed and glanced back at Jeanie. She’d paled but didn’t seem too afraid. He sniffed, finding her scent not overly sweet. He held Query’s stare, then glanced at Book.

  “Thank you.”

  Query shrugged. “Those three are nuisances. Our females snubbing them tends to only make them more cranky.”

  True wasn’t sure what that meant and it must have shown in his expression.

  Book grinned, setting the lamp on a table. “861 once tried to attack Valiant’s mate. Breeze didn’t take that too kindly since she likes her and the females avoid sharing sex with those three. They are filled with hatred.” He sobered. “They’ve refused to take names and my guess is it helps them keep hold of their bitterness.” He jerked his head toward Jeanie. “And you’ve brought her home. Watch them. Understand? I wouldn’t put it past them to do something foolish. They are okay to hang with but would I want them anywhere near a human I cared about? Hell no.”

  True clenched his teeth. “You think they might come after her in my home?”

  “Not after this,” Query whispered, craning his neck to get another look at Jeanie.

  True stepped forward and glared at the male. “What are you looking at?”

  Book cleared his throat. “I’ll have a chat with them to make certain they understand how stupid going after your human would be. Darkness will also be informed of their behavior. Where are you taking her?” He crossed his arms over his chest. “Don’t tell me you stood up to everyone just to back down now by returning her to Tim’s custody.”

  “Never. She needs clothes.”

  “Okay.” Book turned away. “I’m going to go upstairs and have that chat with them and find Darkness to fill him in.”

  True faced Jeanie and hated to see the pained look in her eyes. “It’s okay.”

  “I knew leaving your apartment wasn’t such a good idea.”

  He took her hand. “Not all Species have come to terms with the past. Don’t allow them to frighten you. They wouldn’t dare harm you.” I’ll kill them if they try, he silently swore.

  “Shiver,” Query rasped. “I hoped it might be you when I heard the rumors of a human from Drackwood. I couldn’t understand why one of our males would protect any of them otherwise.”

  True spun, snarling out a warning. He didn’t like the way the male had advanced or the obvious interest he showed in her.

  Jeanie peeked around True and spotted 716. She’d tended the man after a severe beating he’d taken for refusing to fight with another New Species. The as