curled her upper lip back, and hissed at the feline. She had sharp teeth and didn’t hesitate to show them for once. “I’m not as weak as you think.”
Kit did the unexpected by suddenly grinning. “Get your ass home. I think I actually like you. Breeze is fit to be tied. Good luck with her. You better hope Ellie has arrived at the dorm to handle you instead.”
Beauty hurried through the park to the sidewalk. Carts and Jeeps passed her but she kept her head down, refused to glance at them to see if she was being stared at. It wasn’t normal for a Gift Female to walk alone. Escorts were usually assigned to them if they left the dorm. Her wearing a flag would also draw a lot of attention.
Dread made her stomach quiver when she reached the front doors and Breeze opened them. The tall Species wore an oversized T-shirt and it was obvious by her messy hair that she’d recently rolled out of bed.
“Are you all right?” Concern etched her features. “Should I take you to Medical?”
“I’m fine.” Beauty wanted to flee to her room but the canine had other ideas when she grabbed her hand, holding on to it. It made her stop to stare up at Breeze.
“Security wouldn’t tell me his name. I want it or I’m going to sniff you to find out.” Her voice deepened into a growl. “I’ll take care of him. He’ll pay for what he’s done.”
“He didn’t do anything.” Beauty hated the way everyone assumed Shadow had done something bad to her. She wiggled her hand free and crossed her arms over her chest. Worry for Shadow made her feel braver than normal. “Leave him alone. Better yet, mind your own business.”
Breeze gaped at her in astonishment. “What?”
“I appreciate your concern and the fact that you’d go after a man in retribution for whatever crime you assume he committed but leave him alone.”
“Are you running a fever? Feeling ill? Your immune system isn’t as tough as ours. Did you catch a cold?”
“No. There’s nothing wrong with me. That’s the problem. No one seems to be able to realize that. I’m not weak or stupid. I spent the night with a man who held me while I slept. That’s all he did and I’m grateful to him. Not grateful that he just held me without trying to have sex with me but that he was there at all. Shadow is wonderful.” She spun away and rushed to the stairs, longing to reach her room to get away from everyone.
Breeze caught up with her as she yanked open her apartment door and entered. She almost closed the door on the other Species before she saw her. The door was pushed open and her apartment invaded by a wary canine sporting a frown.
“Beauty? What the hell is going on?”
“Leave me alone.” She decided to retreat to her room since there was no way she could physically kick out Breeze.
The door slammed and she jumped, her head snapping around. Breeze hadn’t left but instead watched with her dark, intense gaze. “Talk to me. What has gotten into you? Why were you even outside last night? Did he come in here and get you? How did you even meet Shadow? He’s one of the newer males. He was assigned to the task force.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she hated them. “Why bother to talk? I’m a Gift Female. I know the rules.”
Breeze stalked her, moving on bare feet in a way that made her feel a little fear. She was an intimidating woman and had an odd expression on her face. She paused a few feet away.
“I can’t help you unless you tell me what is wrong.”
Beauty wiped at her tears. “You wouldn’t understand. No one does.”
“Make me. Talk. What does you being Gift have to do with this and what rules?”
She pondered speaking her mind. She didn’t see any anger on Breeze’s face though. “I’m not Halfpint or Tiny. They are terrified of men. I love both of them, they are my friends, but they need those rules to protect them. I don’t.”
Dark eyes widened and Breeze sidestepped to the couch and sat. “Go on.”
“I’m lonely. Do
Kit did the unexpected by suddenly grinning. “Get your ass home. I think I actually like you. Breeze is fit to be tied. Good luck with her. You better hope Ellie has arrived at the dorm to handle you instead.”
Beauty hurried through the park to the sidewalk. Carts and Jeeps passed her but she kept her head down, refused to glance at them to see if she was being stared at. It wasn’t normal for a Gift Female to walk alone. Escorts were usually assigned to them if they left the dorm. Her wearing a flag would also draw a lot of attention.
Dread made her stomach quiver when she reached the front doors and Breeze opened them. The tall Species wore an oversized T-shirt and it was obvious by her messy hair that she’d recently rolled out of bed.
“Are you all right?” Concern etched her features. “Should I take you to Medical?”
“I’m fine.” Beauty wanted to flee to her room but the canine had other ideas when she grabbed her hand, holding on to it. It made her stop to stare up at Breeze.
“Security wouldn’t tell me his name. I want it or I’m going to sniff you to find out.” Her voice deepened into a growl. “I’ll take care of him. He’ll pay for what he’s done.”
“He didn’t do anything.” Beauty hated the way everyone assumed Shadow had done something bad to her. She wiggled her hand free and crossed her arms over her chest. Worry for Shadow made her feel braver than normal. “Leave him alone. Better yet, mind your own business.”
Breeze gaped at her in astonishment. “What?”
“I appreciate your concern and the fact that you’d go after a man in retribution for whatever crime you assume he committed but leave him alone.”
“Are you running a fever? Feeling ill? Your immune system isn’t as tough as ours. Did you catch a cold?”
“No. There’s nothing wrong with me. That’s the problem. No one seems to be able to realize that. I’m not weak or stupid. I spent the night with a man who held me while I slept. That’s all he did and I’m grateful to him. Not grateful that he just held me without trying to have sex with me but that he was there at all. Shadow is wonderful.” She spun away and rushed to the stairs, longing to reach her room to get away from everyone.
Breeze caught up with her as she yanked open her apartment door and entered. She almost closed the door on the other Species before she saw her. The door was pushed open and her apartment invaded by a wary canine sporting a frown.
“Beauty? What the hell is going on?”
“Leave me alone.” She decided to retreat to her room since there was no way she could physically kick out Breeze.
The door slammed and she jumped, her head snapping around. Breeze hadn’t left but instead watched with her dark, intense gaze. “Talk to me. What has gotten into you? Why were you even outside last night? Did he come in here and get you? How did you even meet Shadow? He’s one of the newer males. He was assigned to the task force.”
Tears welled in her eyes and she hated them. “Why bother to talk? I’m a Gift Female. I know the rules.”
Breeze stalked her, moving on bare feet in a way that made her feel a little fear. She was an intimidating woman and had an odd expression on her face. She paused a few feet away.
“I can’t help you unless you tell me what is wrong.”
Beauty wiped at her tears. “You wouldn’t understand. No one does.”
“Make me. Talk. What does you being Gift have to do with this and what rules?”
She pondered speaking her mind. She didn’t see any anger on Breeze’s face though. “I’m not Halfpint or Tiny. They are terrified of men. I love both of them, they are my friends, but they need those rules to protect them. I don’t.”
Dark eyes widened and Breeze sidestepped to the couch and sat. “Go on.”
“I’m lonely. Do
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