Even though she was confused, she hated the thought that Terre knew what had just happened. That he’d shared in that.
This was hers. And Benjamin’s. Even though the moment had obviously not meant anything to him. Tears pricked her eyes, and she belatedly wondered if the device in her head would short-circuit from the water.
Probably not. Unfortunately.
“There now. Don’t do that.” Benjamin looked up, his gaze darkening.
She shoved emotion away as she’d learned to do through the years. The tears disappeared.
He watched her like a bird of prey, emotions crossing his rugged face that she could not decipher. Then his face softened. “Are you all right?”
The tears threatened again. But she would not discuss this with the Kurjans listening. “I am fine.” She had to change the subject. “There seems to be a nice path along the river. Do you walk it often?”
His gaze became shielded. “Sometimes. Do you want to scout the path?”
Scout? What an odd expression. “I like to walk.” If she asked too many questions, she’d raise his suspicions. If she didn’t ask any, the Kurjans would be angry, and Terre had threatened to harm her girls. She did not know how to proceed. She was not a spy, for goodness’ sake. Her orange juice sparkled in the sun, looking delicious, and she lifted the plain jar that served as a glass. How quaint.
“You could mate anybody now, Karma.” Benjamin drank some of his coffee, and his throat moved as he swallowed. Even that looked strong and dangerous. “Thank God you don’t have to mate another one of those pale, wimpy, limp-dicked Kurjans again, right?”
She coughed on the juice, setting it down and wiping her mouth. There was no way to answer that insult to the Kurjan males. “I had not thought about it,” she lied. There was no question Terre planned to mate her when she returned. She’d hoped to grab her girls and run first, but the opportunity had never arisen. It was as if he knew she wanted to go, even though she’d always been polite around him. “I did not think the virus would work.”
Benjamin waved a hand. “But now that it has, you’re lucky. I can’t imagine how awful it was for you with a loser Kurjan. I’ve heard their dicks are like miniature hot dogs. How sad for their females.”
Her mouth dropped open. She reached for her toast, an inappropriate amusement teasing a smile from her. The insult would have Terre furious, but that wasn’t her fault. The statement also wasn’t true, but she was not going to discuss such matters with Benjamin. “What else do the rumors say about the Kurjans?” Surely Terre would want to know that.
Benjamin put more eggs on his plate. “No dicks, sucky lovers, shitty fighters. I’m sure you already knew that. Oh, and the Cyst are really the leaders of the nation. Dayne and his dumbass brother are just figureheads.”
Her stomach rolled over. That was not true. She had to at least look as if she was trying to correct him. “The Cyst are a good fighting force as well as the spiritual leaders of the Kurjan nation. But Dayne and Terre lead everyone.” Dayne did, anyway. Terre was his right-hand male.
Benjamin laughed, the sound arrogant. “That’s funny. Dayne and Terre. I heard that Dayne is obsessed with becoming a Cyst, and that Terre prefers to be told what to do by females. That he’s a sub who likes to be treated like a puppy.” Benjamin held up a hand when she gasped. “I make no judgments. If a guy wants to be led around by a leash and have his ass beaten with a crop, it’s his deal. Right?”
Leash? Crop? “What in the world are you talking about?” she whispered.
Benjamin nudged her plate closer to her. “Eat up. You’re going to need your energy.” Then he resumed eating. “I think it’s called puppy play or something like that. Obviously you’re not caught up on current kink, but that’s okay. I mean, you don’t have any interest in leading a wimpy male around on a leash, do you?”
She could only shake her head.
Benjamin exhaled. “That’s good. I also heard that he likes real dogs to, well, you know. Do him.”
Had Benjamin lost his mind? “I have never heard of such a thing,” she whispered. Though she did not know Terre’s proclivities, he did not seem interested in animals. In fact, he was all too interested in her. “I do not believe your research is accurate, Benjamin.”
He just shrugged. “It doesn’t matter, right? It’s not like you’re going back to them.” He smiled, flashing his teeth.
“Right,” she said, looking back at her breakfast. She’d lost her appetite. Again.
Chapter Fourteen
Terre threw a knife across the room in fury. A young soldier had to duck to avoid being hit, standing back at attention quickly.
Dayne laughed, watching the wide screen on the wall of the communications room. “He’s just trying to impress her, brother.”
Oh, Benjamin Reese was going to die a slow, painful, screaming death. Terre refused to look at the Cyst general chuckling by the doorway. Jaydon leaned against the wall, his wide chest blocking the view of the exit. To Terre’s left, Drake played a computer game, working on his manual dexterity before combat training started outside.
Drake looked up and studied the screen. “You will have to kill that male for speaking such an insult to your intended.”
“Oh, don’t you worry. He’ll take those words back while drowning in his own blood,” Terre gritted out.
“When is she coming back?” Drake asked, looking at Terre but still playing the game with one hand. Impressive.
“Soon,” Terre growled. “Why?”
Drake stared back to the screen as Benjamin Reese ate what looked like eggs. “She’s the best cook we have, and she’s always nice. I don’t like leaving her in the hands of the enemy.”
Neither did Terre. “Stop laughing, brother.” He and Dayne were evenly matched in a fight, and Dayne only led their people because he’d been born first. By one year. If he screwed up, Terre would cut off his head and take the mantle of leadership. However, Dayne had an impressive ability to perceive the entire picture, while Terre knew he became too focused. That made him a better soldier and Dayne a better leader.
For now.
“This is ridiculous,” Terre muttered. The bastard had kissed Karma. At the very least. Fury heated his limbs. “Karma is not smart or strong enough to gain us intel, brother. I’ve been trying to tell you that for three years.” He would’ve fought harder, but he’d needed her to gain access to the Realm Headquarters and the virus so she’d be free for him to take as his mate. He’d waited long enough.
Dayne took notes on a tablet, watching the screen. “We don’t require her to be smart or strong. The hybrid is bending over backward to impress her, not seeing her as any sort of threat, which she is not. So his guard is down, and we’ll gain invaluable information about the Seven. We already have their location, and we’ve been searching for years.”