Into the Ashes [The Arcadians 2] by Laurie Roma Read Free Book Online

attached to him.
    Kadan was careful not to touch her as
    he helped his brother over and
    stepped back once they were safely
    back on solid ground. A low
    animalistic
    growl
    had
    Raven
    practically squeezing the life out of
    her savior as her head whipped
    around to look at the large beast
    standing beside Kadan.
    “This is Var, our pet argos ,”
    Kadan explained as he patted the
    beast’s large head. A low purr
    erupted from the animal as it pushed
    his head into Kadan’s hand.
    Of course, the giant glowy-eyed
    men had a fucking lion for a pet.
    “He knew he was not supposed to
    come into the room, but he smelled
    you and was curious.” Kadan
    frowned down at the animal who
    lowered its head as if in remorse.
    Raven’s brow winged up. “You…
    can talk to animals?”
    “Not talk…exactly. It is more like
    impressions. We raised Var from
    birth and have a special connection
    to him. He will not harm you.”
    Raven clenched her jaw to stop a
    scathing remark from spilling from
    her lips. Her body stiffened as
    Savitar lowered into a squat, still
    holding her.
    Shit, shit, shit!
    “Wait! Jesus, are you crazy? What
    are you doing?” A tremor wracked
    her body as she pressed closer to
    Savitar, as if trying to crawl into him
    when the large lion-like creature took
    a hesitant step forward. Savitar’s
    chest rumbled with a soothing purr as
    he stroked a large hand over her
    braided hair, holding her close to
    him.
    He reached up and putting a finger
    under her chin to lift her head back so
    she was staring into his golden eyes.
    He whispered something to her that
    she
    didn’t
    understand.
    Breath
    quickening until she was almost
    hyperventilating, she allowed him to
    take hold of one of her hands and
    together they stretched out their arms
    toward the animal.
    Her hand trembled in his, but she
    fought the urge to pull away as he
    guided her hand to the head of the
    beast. Raven looked down at the
    animal and held her breath as she felt
    the soft fur of the argo under her
    shaking fingers. It was amazing.
    Breathing again, she watched as
    Savitar’s large hand guided hers in
    slow strokes through the animal’s
    thick fur. She grinned as a purr of
    pleasure erupted from the great beast.
    Var sat down on his hind legs and a
    startled laugh escaped her as he
    licked her wrist with his coarse
    tongue.
    Okay, this was seriously cool!
    She looked back up at Savitar’s
    growl and had to fight back a shiver
    of desire at his intense stare. His
    golden eyes seemed to pierce straight
    through to her soul, holding her
    captive in his gaze.
    “Savitar said he could listen to
    your laughter to the end of days,”
    Kadan said, breaking through the
    connection between her and the
    eldest brother. “Var likes you.”
    Embarrassed now, Raven looked
    back down at the animal who was
    nudging her hand as if to ask for more
    stroking. “I like him, too, now that I
    know he’s not trying to have me for
    dinner.”
    Savitar growled something, making
    Kadan sigh. “This would be easier if
    we could implant you with an L-
    CON unit so you could understand
    us.”
    Raven thought for a minute then
    nodded. “Fine. But I want him to do
    it,” she said as she jerked her head
    toward Savitar.
    Kadan nodded then left the room.
    She yelped as Savitar picked her up
    and easily carried her back through
    the bedroom into the living area. He
    sat down on one of the large couches
    keeping her in his lap. Both of them
    seemed surprised when she made no
    effort to move. There was something
    about the large man that made her
    feel safe and, after the day she’d had,
    she could use the feeling of security,
    no matter where it came from.
    Kadan walked over to them
    carrying an instrument connected to a
    small gray box that he handed to
    Savitar. Raven eyed it suspiciously.
    “What do you have to do with that?”
    “We will inject a small device into
    the back of your neck that will allow
    you to understand the languages
    loaded into the