Desire in His Blood

“And how did your Killup fair?”

A sharp, warbling sound rose from his throat. “The old records suggest we sent an army of fifty thousand soldiers. None of them returned from Kry

That had been the past, however. I was more concerned with the Kylorr now. Every species in the universe had a dark past. Mine included.

“Do you know about the Kaalium?”

“Yes,” Sorj said immediately. “It’s a region. A territory on Kry

“Do you know what it’s like there? Is it…”

I wanted to say safe, but I couldn’t make myself form the word. Whenever I pictured it in my head, all I could imagine was red. Rivers of blood. A dark sky. Hulking berserkers with fangs and wings and talons and horns.

And one wants me in his bed, I thought, shuddering.

Sorj shook his head. “No. Not many are granted access onto Kry

“Why? Why is it so hard to get there?”

“Because it’s one of the wealthiest territories in our entire universe,” he said, his hairless brow furrowed, as if that were obvious. “Don’t you know that, Miss Hara? That’s where lore comes from.”

A jolt went through my body. “Lore?” I whispered, my thoughts racing. So maybe what Mr. Cross had said was actually true. That the Kylorr suitor was very wealthy indeed. Maybe he could pay whatever I wanted in order to save my family. Maybe the price I asked would be mere pe

I took a took breath.

“And is it true?” I asked him, my voice unwavering.

Sorj’s gills fluttered again, hearing that which had gone unspoken between us. Until now.

“Is it true that they feed on blood?”

I’d heard horrific tales of the Kylorr, mostly from the maids and housekeepers before we’d let them all go. The other tales I’d sought out myself in my morbid disbelief, thumbing through old, dusty tomes in the library or searching through universal databases on the Nu device.

In these tales—if they were to be believed—the Kylorr would pin down their victims, enclose them in their wings like a cocoon, and feed on them, sinking their fangs deep. It was said the Kylorr could taste fear. That they deliberately hurt their victims because they liked the way it tasted, that pain lingering on their tongues like a fine wine.

Sorj’s silence was answer enough.

I closed my eyes, drawing in a deep, steadying breath. The miner’s protein had turned to stone in my belly.

“Don’t,” came his voice.

When I turned to regard the solemn-faced Sorj, he said, “Whatever it is that has you asking me these things, Miss Hara…don’t get involved with the Kylorr.”

Just then, I heard my father’s voice boom out over the grounds.

“Gemma, get in here!”

When I focused on the front door of the house, I saw his imposing figure, lit by a golden, hovering orb that had stopped at his side. Something else glinted gold, but it was the crystal glass of whiskey in his hand.

And it wasn’t irritation in his voice at finding me with Sorj this late in the evening. I heard delight.

Standing, I looked back to Sorj, who was still kneeling in the grass. His gills had flared out at the sound of my father’s voice.

I gave him a small smile I didn’t feel.

I shouldn’t get involved with the Kylorr?

I might not have a choice, I thought.

“I’ll get you your credits, if you can give me a couple days. Don’t worry. I’ll handle it.”

Chapter 3

Gemma

When I stepped into my father’s office, I saw that my sisters were already there. Father sat at his desk. One of Hydroni-make that he’d had imported, all gleaming red wood inlaid with swirling metal strips. The thick, sturdy legs showcased intricate carvings depicting the last battle of the Pe’ji War.

The battle that had changed everything for us. The battle that had given us this house, this land, this territory.

“Gemma, there you are,” my father burst out when he saw me enter the office, a wide grin on his handsome features. Behind him, I saw the backside of our property through the tall windows. Once there had been a shimmering blue lake—Mother’s favorite place.

Though darkness was falling, I could still make out the muddy brown color of its murky water and smell the putrid film that had developed over the top of it. I swallowed, my gut twisting. I still couldn’t stomach the sight of it. Even after five years.

Resolutely, I took my eyes away.

“You heard about the blue salt cavern?” I guessed, eyeing the glass of whiskey on his desk. Another expensive import. Judging by the pinkness of his cheeks on his ta

“You found more blue salt?” Piper asked, whirling on me with large, watchful eyes. “That’s great news! Just in time for Lord and Lady Rossi’s visit. We can keep the plates after all!”

“No, we ca

“Father!” Piper barked, whirling on him. “I would just die of mortification if Lord and Lady Rossi ate off our chipped set! Fran broke another cup just yesterday. And there’s a big crack in nearly all of the salad plates. You ca

“Piper, enough,” I exclaimed, feeling that stabbing headache return. My throat felt like it was tightening again, constricting.

Piper continued, “Lady Rossi’s cousin is a wealthy merchant. The handsome cousin. We need to make a good impression on them so she introduces us. And if she takes one look at our existing plates, she’ll turn her nose up at us. I wouldn’t be able to bear it!”

She was talking about plates and handsome cousins, and I was on the verge of a mental breakdown over the possibility that I would have to sell myself to a Kylorr, that my father had lied about paying our workers, that every day the interest on our debts grew to more insurmountable heights, and that plates wouldn’t matter when there would be nothing left.

I snapped.

“I don’t want to hear about the fucking plates anymore, Piper! We can’t afford them! And everyone knows Lady Rossi’s cousin is already engaged to an heiress on New Inverness. So, what chance do you really have? Why would he choose you over her?”

I hardly ever cursed and I hardly ever yelled. Like, actually yelled. And so the stu

“Gemma,” Mira admonished softly, stepping toward Piper, who crossed her arms and looked away from me. I heard her swallow thickly…followed by a small sniffle.

I blew out a short, sharp breath. Guilt started to settle, heavy in my mind as regret swarmed in my veins. I hadn’t meant to make it sound like Piper was lacking. Just that…well, reality was harsh. Lady Rossi’s cousin was a wealthy man. Who would marry into an equally wealthy family. Not one like ours, riddled with debt, with enough baggage to fill the emptying halls of our run down estate.

“I’m sorry,” I said, clearing my throat in discomfort. “Piper, I didn’t mean that you—”

“Yeah, well, he wouldn’t want you either!” Piper hissed, her green eyes flashing. She was crying now, but I knew that my sister could be cruel when she was hurt. I braced myself for what I knew was coming. “You’re a cold bitch with a stick up your ass. You’re just jealous that I might have a chance with him. Because he would never choose a frigid hag like you.”

All the blood drained from my face. My heart twisted into a sea of knots. Piper and I had never gotten along well, but this was a new low. Even for her.

“Piper!” came my father’s sharp bark. “Get out. Now.”