The Outcast by Calle J. Brookes

to arrive. Let’s go have a bit of fun gawking at the newbies.”
    “Like you were doing yesterday?”
    “I was watching out of curiosity. I didn’t know my female would be coming toward me. But I am glad she was.”
    “You are very charming, aren’t you?”
    “Of course I am.” He grinned, then surprised her by kissing her. “Aren’t you lucky the goddess picked you for me?”
    “You for me, I think.”
    “That too.”
    She laughed.
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter 10

     
     
    SHE had a beautiful laugh, did she realize that? He thought the sound of it surprised even her. He’d make a point of seeing that she laughed more often. They joined the crowd near the same dais as the day before. Only now it had been embellished even more. Marcos understood—the demon king wanted to make a point to the arrivals today, and Aureliana had most likely informed them of the type of people about to arrive.
    He led Lana through the crowd toward his sister and brother, and their mates. If they were going to build a life in this realm, she would be interacting with Auri and Aodhan and their families for centuries. It was best to get that clear very early. And to make that statement to his father. Family solidarity, and it didn’t involve the old bastard one bit.
    He nodded at his sister and sister-in-law, who still looked a bit green. “Are you feeling well, little sister?”
    “A bit of nausea. Nothing that I haven’t been told is normal.”
    His brother was worried for his mate, it was in Aodhan’s eyes. He held her close. “You’ll be an uncle again come spring, Marcos.”
    “Congratulations.” He understood his brother’s fear then. So many of the Dardaptoan females were lost in childbirth. And a good portion of the babes were lost, as well. He’d lost a couple and their child just three years earlier. No other of his mated warriors had risked it since. “You can name him after his favorite uncle, if you want.”
    “That will be Theo, most likely,” Aodhan said.
    “Come on, I’ll spoil the kid for you. Tell him all kinds of legends about his old man.”
    “Sure you will.”
    The bonds of family ties were tightening around him, weren’t they? He looked at his brother’s female again, seeing the fear in her green eyes.
     
    **
     
    The crowd let out a cry as the portkey begin to form in the midst of them. Marcos had seen portkeys many times before, and while mostly the colors were a bit pretty, he’d found nothing special about them in centuries. But he could understand where some of the younger would, and some of the females.
    His female just tightened her hand on his and stepped closer. Her instinctive quest for safety provided by him thrilled him, while also angering him that the need even existed.
    Marcos shocked the hell out of himself by grabbing her under her arms and pulling her up against his chest. He kissed her, hard, then put her back on her feet. He used a gentle finger on her chin to tilt her head back where he could see her pretty eyes. “Listen to me, and listen good. He will never hurt you again. No matter what I have to do. And no matter what you decide about the two of us, you will be safe no matter what. This I vow to you.”
    Great numbers of people began stepping through the ether. Marcos turned his female so that her back rested against his chest. He had to lean down to rest his chin on her soft red hair, but that was what he did. She smelled like vanilla, the Gaian scent reminding him strongly of their home world. Would he ever be free to take her back there again?
    Somehow he wasn’t too anxious to return. This could be a new beginning for them both. A new world they could explore together. They could build a life here, with his family surrounding them. Welcoming him, and welcoming her.
    Did she understand that she would never be truly alone again?
    The ether parted, and his cousin Nalik stepped through. Dark,