glimpsed inside. His cock jerked in reaction.
A female suddenly brushed her fingertips over his arm. He tore his gaze from the moonbeamâsurely one of the most difficult things heâd ever doneâand glanced down. Not just one female, he noticed, but several surrounded him. They had already worked their way to him and his men and were running their hands over them, oohing and aahing, some even rubbing their breasts against them.
Valerian bit back a gasp of shock when he noticed one of the human males trying to kiss Dorian. Dorian wore an expression of utter horror and pushed the determined male away.
âOnly the unmated ones?â Broderick asked, his eyes closing in surrender as a pretty brunette licked his collarbone.
âOnly the unmated ones,â he confirmed. The nymphs would be able to smell another man on thewomen, and those women with permanent lovers would be left here. If the pale little moonbeam who held him so enraptured had already been mated, he would have taken her anyway. Without reservation. But he knew from her sweet, entrancing scent that she belonged to no man save himself.
Not needing any more encouragement, his men leaped into action, beckoning the unmated females to line up. Of course, these women obeyed without hesitation, their feminine instincts instructing them to obey a nymphâs every edict. The mated ones cried in distress because they werenât chosen and tried to shove their way into the line, anyway. Even the male who desired Dorian tried to take a place in line.
When a human man protested the happenings, he was quickly subdued: a hard fist to the temple that swept him straight into slumber. Most were too frightened to do anything and remained hunched and shaking at the edges of the tent. What puny men, Valerian thought. Had they never engaged in battle before? He could not imagine acting in such a way.
He returned his attention to the moonbeam. âDo you know who I am?â he asked her.
âWhat do you want with us?â she demanded a second time, ignoring his question.
He grinned his most debauched grin. âWhat any man wants from you. Your body. You will belong to me. Now, come.â
Instead of obeying, she bared her teeth in a scowl, revealing a white row of perfection. Why wasnât she entranced by him? Why wasnât she begging for his touch? The mystery intrigued him.
âYou canât do this,â she spat. âGet out of here before the police arrive and youâre arrested.â
Police? Arrested? Valerian frowned. âYou will change your mind about my possession of you, this I swear.â He maneuvered around the women still vying for his attention and closed the distance between himself and the moonbeam. Her dark eyes widened with his every step. The closer he came, the more her delectable fragrance drew him like an invisible chain. Exceptâ¦
One of his warriors reached her first, his strong arms wrapping around her from behind and swooping her into his arms. She screamed and kicked, fighting like an enraged vampire famished for blood.
A feral growl rose in Valerianâs throat, and he bit back a wave of utter fury. Fury over her torment; fury over his intense sense of possessiveness. Mine. She belongs to me. Heâd never experienced a momentâs jealousy in his life. He and his men shared women all the time. But the sight of another man holding his little moonbeam nearly undid him.
âMine,â he barked. Even though he wanted to rip the warriorâs arms away from her, he remained still. âSheâs mine.â
Shivawn paused, the beads in his hair clanging together. The moonbeam continued to fight in his arms, pounding her fists into his face, making him bleed and grimace.
If he dropped her and hurt her, Valerian seethed, he would die.
âBut, my king, you said you didnât want any of these surface women. You said they were for us.â
He had, Valerian realized. The reminder