Her fingers clenched. She couldn’t think about him now; she could cry a river for her broken heart when she knew Emma was safe.
When she’d first seen Jenna she’d instantly thought the two of them could escape together, but Jenna was happy here—or maybe just brainwashed into thinking she was. Her friend might help her, or she might be too afraid, but either way Summer was going to get herself home.
A whole room full of people were waiting for her downstairs and she’d give almost anything to hide here in Jenna’s rooms. But if she didn’t go down soon Ar’ar would probably just come back up and get her.
She was a little surprised he hadn’t already.
Summer drew a deep breath and let go of the balcony wall. Squaring her shoulders, she turned toward the door of Jenna’s quarters, toward the guards who would be her new constant companions.
I won’t let them intimidate me. I won’t let them break me and I promise, baby, I won’t ever give up.
She was the only real parent Emma had. She had to get back before the Day of Choosing, before Sunday afternoon. Even if she had to start over, even if she had to endure the Betari enclosure again, outwit Mirak, trick Ar’ar. There would be another chance at escape, she’d make one if she had to, and this time she wouldn’t be stupid enough to trust someone like—
She gasped, instinctively throwing her arms up protectively as a blur dropped down to land in front of her.
He straightened and Summer, her hand pressed to her rapidly thumping heart, blinked up at Ke’lar.
His glowing glance went over her. “Are you all right?”
“Am I—? You scared the crap out of me!” she hissed. “Where did you even come from? And what the hell are you doing here anyway?”
“From there,” he said, indicating the balcony above.
Summer glanced up and to the right to a terrace twenty feet above her head.
“And I am here”—his fangs flashed in a grin—“to steal you.”
Eighteen
Summer stared. “What?”
“Steal you. I am taking you unlawfully from your acknowledged mate.” With a g’hir’s astonishingly quick, silent movements Ke’lar yanked the inner curtains closed, shut the balcony doors, and effortlessly placed one of the huge chairs to block them. He caught her hand, gently tugging her toward the balcony wall. “I am new to crime so you may wish to make it easy for me.”
“You’re going to help me? You really think I’m going to trust you again?” she demanded, ludicrously trying to get her hand out of his grip since as soon as she broke his hold his g’hir reflexes let him catch her fingers again. “Goddamn it, Ke’lar, stop that!”
“I am trying to save you the trouble of another escape,” he returned, catching a firm but gentle hold of her wrist this time. “After all, I cannot have you leaping from balcony to balcony.” His glance went over her. “Your dress is entirely unsuitable to the task.”
Joking? He was joking?
“You left me here!” She was so happy to see him she could throw her arms around him, so mad she could burst into tears. “You left me with Ar’ar!”
“I could not fight him,” Ke’lar said, serious now. “If I had won, my clan would insist you remain the whole moon cycle, till your Choosing Day. If I had lost, you would have to return with Ar’ar.”
“So you just took off?” she demanded with a wave toward the forest.
“I retreated so I could rescue you and return you to your homeworld.”
Summer blinked. “You have a way to get me back to Earth?”
“If you will cooperate! And if,” he growled, “we are not caught by the Betari, or my own clan, or the entire g’hir—” Ke’lar went stock-still. “His scent is on you.”
He sniffed again, more deeply this time. “His scent is all over you!” His brows rushed together. “He roused you!”
Summer’s cheeks burned. “Don’t be ridiculous.”
His face was like a thundercloud.
Hell, Jenna’s right; I am a lousy liar.
“It’s none of your business,” she mumbled, trying uselessly to pull her wrist from his grip as she decided to go on the offensive. “You’re the one that left me here with him!”
“Not my business!” he growled. “And I did not leave you at all!”
“You walked away!”
“From the dining hall! Not from you! Do you . . .” His shoulders were tense, his eyes guarded. “Do you want him?”
“No! It’s not—” She threw her free hand out in frustration. “Haven’t you ever been turned on by someone, even if you didn’t even really like them?”
“No,” he growled. His fangs bared. ”You desire him!”
“Desiring someone isn’t the same as loving them, Ke’lar! That’s the only thing that matters!”
His breath caught and he searched her face.
“What?” Her brow creased. “Why are you looking at me like that?”
“You love me?” he rumbled and his whole face softened. “You love me.”
“Hey, I didn’t say . . .” Summer trailed off because now he was grinning.
And he was right.