Read Adin's Adventure: How to Ruin a Rescue for Free Online

smooth wall in a sequence that would allow her access. Registering her administrative DNA and code, the wall shimmered and Neeri stepped through with an almost painful surge of anticipation.
    She expected him to be peacefully asleep. She’d thought about all the ways she could wake him on her way through the facility and h ad one particularly tempting plan in mind when she entered the dark room. She did not expect him to roll off the bed in a blur of ready violence.
    WHO ARE YOU?
    Instinct drove her into a hunting crouch before she registered the panic in his mental tone. Then she relaxed a little, pressing fingertips to her temple with a wince and a mild, “Ow.”
    For some reason—she blamed hot, logic-frying lust—she’d forgotten all about his telepathy. Or rather, she hadn’t thought about how it would complicate things. The guy could read minds. He would see who she was. When he did, she suspected her simple fuck fantasy was going to go sideways in a hurry. Hell in a hand basket.
    Adin’s nightmare lingered, keeping his heart rate at a wild pace. He’d been trapped in darkness, lost and alone. He’d heard a soft voice calling him, mournful and compelling, but he hadn’t known where to turn or how to find her. The change in air pressure had woken him to lesser darkness and a presence in his room.
    He’d panicked a little. But they’d never sent someone to hi m while he was sleeping before. And something about the way she’d entered the room seemed off, almost furtive.
    Pressing a hand over his thundering heart, he eyed her warily. She’d crouched when he’d thrashed off the bed, her movement almost as swift as his and her lithe body tense, but now she only blinked at him in mild reproach. Her pupils were fully dilated so he couldn’t see the color of her eyes but he could tell by the way she studied him that her night vision was just as good as his own.
    She didn’t look as though she would attack him. His heart slowed and he felt a wave of remorse as he watched her fingertips press against her temple. My apologies, he murmured with a much gentler telepathic touch. You startled me.
    “Then we’re even. I thought you’d be asleep.”
    I was. Bad dream , he responded absently, studying her with increasing curiosity. He’d never met one of her kind but he’d heard of her species. They called themselves Lyomedrin, or “big cat” in common tongue. His home planet had a species similar to their primitive ancestors, a non-sentient predator he found beautiful but a little unnerving. This Lyo female triggered the same reaction.
    Colors were different in the dark but he thought she was mostly golden with dar k, long hair on her head. Her skin seemed bare everywhere else but he knew it would have the lightest coating of fine hair, barely visible, a hold-over from when their ancestors were covered in fur.
    She was smaller than he, limbs deceptively sleek and graceful, hiding the predatory power and speed of her species. Her fingertips and toes were blunt, claws retracted for the moment. Her facial features were almost delicate, high cheekbones, narrow jaw, and wide slanted eyes. Her pupils would be vertical slits in the light but now were round pools of midnight, gazing at him with unblinking interest.
    Adin started a little, realizing that interest in her wide eyes had a hungry edge. He wasn’t sure if he should be excited or nervous—Lyos weren’t known for their civility and she’d come in the dark. Plus, their distant ancestors had been competing apex predators. Some residual instinct thrilled alarm across his nerves.
    Who are you? he asked again, more quietly this time.
    “Neeri,” she answered. For some reason, the sound of her name captivated him. Or maybe it was her voice, slightly rough but liquid, like a purr. He wanted to hear more.
    Neeri, he echoed and watched her draw a deep breath. Why are you here?
    “You know why,” she murmured, eyes unblinking and compelling.
    Adin’s tongue flicked