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“Thresls become the essence of the person they bond with.”
    “So the commander is, deep down, a female diplomat?”
    Vohne nodded. “He probably appreciates art and music but was told when he was young it wasn’t manly enough to pursue those interests.”
    “And Kres? Deep inside he’s an almost seven foot man with violent tendencies?”
    “Yes.” Vohne smirked. “Deep down, my mate is a soldier who can snap your neck if you bother him too much. But don’t worry. He never will.”
    Zander dared to look the Thresl in the eyes. “Why is that?”
    “Because I would do it for him.”
    Pleased he’d made his point, Vohne went to get his human some food. He didn’t tell Zander that as he evolved he would lose some of his more violent urges and Kres would gain more aggression. They would find a balance until they were so close their minds would almost be as one while their bodies would feel the urge to join. The magic of Thresl-human bonding was they would both become stronger. He also didn’t share what being an alpha really meant.
    He would share that information only with his mate.

Chapter Four
    Kres didn’t know what Zander and Vohne had discussed while grabbing food, but his fellow classmate was giving him a cautious glance from time to time, as if he worried Kres was going to jump across the table and attack him.
    “Is there a problem?” Kres asked before popping another piece of meat into his mouth. All morning he’d had an odd craving for red meat. Since he was usually a borderline vegetarian, it was extremely strange—but then, what hadn’t been weird lately? The fact that Vohne had known he needed meat and had brought him a giant platter also needed further investigation, but he’d do it later when he wasn’t shoving beef down his throat as fast as he could.
    “Um, no?” The answer was more of a question than a statement of fact.
    “What did you say to him?” he asked the Thresl.
    Vohne shrugged. “I told him where the Thresl form comes from.”
    He could see getting a straight answer would be like yanking out one of the Thresl’s fangs—difficult and potentially painful.
    Taking another bite of food, he gave Zander a curious look, silently prompting the other man to continue.
    “He is your inner form,” Zander said.
    Kres choked. He was saved from a blocked airway by a pat on the back from Vohne that nearly broke his spine.
    “You are my inner form?”
    The Thresl smiled, exposing full fangs. “Surprise.”
    Kres looked the large man up and down. “I must have a great inner warrior thing going on.”
    “Yes, you do.”
    He was unsettled by the serious expression in Vohne’s eyes. A loud explosion startled him out of their locked gaze.
    Billowy, black smoke filled the cafeteria as smoke bombs detonated in the doorway. Kres tensed, wishing he hadn’t left his weapon in his room, but he hadn’t expected a synchronised attack over a steak dinner. He saw Vohne’s eyes glow in the dim light. A large hand clamped over his wrist and pulled him farther into the room, away from the invading smoke.
    “They’ve come for us,” Vohne said.
    “Whoever they are, they can’t have you.” There were many things Kres was uncertain about in their relationship, but there was no way he was going to let some Thresl-kidnapping bastards take his Vohne. Kres held his breath against the smoke as the room was entirely darkened by the bombs.
    Blinding lights cut through the blackness as at least a dozen men entered wearing masks and carrying weapons with light scopes.
    Vohne dropped to the ground, pulling Kres with him. “Whatever happens, don’t let them take you. I will always return. Remember that.”
    “What?” Kres gasped. He tried to figure what was going on as a loud roar filled the room, and the air closest to him was displaced by Vohne’s departure as the Thresl ran directly into the blackness.
    Choking on the smoke, Kres tried to stay as still as possible as screams echoed about him. He