Wyvern Protection Unit - Chapter 95: Chapter 95

“What do you mean, she left? There are people kidnapping Shifters and she left without protection?”
Zircon was holding on to his Wyvern by the tail. When the blue haired Drakein female cornered him in the kitchen of his family home, he immediately moved, putting the granite topped island between them.
“Kidnapping Shifters? I did not know,” Aliza faltered, looking less certain.
“Where is she, Aliza? Where did Jenn say she was going?”
“Why do you care so much, Prince Zircon?”
“Do not call me that, please. I just need to know where she is.”
“I heard her cavorting with the mates of your brothers. Soon after, the female, Jennifer Dylluan, took one of the motored vehicles and left the compound,” Aliza told him, almost gleefully, he observed.
“Aliza?” Kizzy entered the kitchen with Hydra, Luna, and Serene close behind.
He’d noticed the five women often traveled together, and wondered about it, but not enough to ask. Earth girls did shit like that, too. Like going to the bathroom in groups when they were at restaurants and bars. Of course, none of the other women he knew were as potentially dangerous as these five.
Wyverns were apex predators, powerful and strong as fuck. The females were just as formidable as the males, even if they were treated as second-class citizens on their home planet, and later, in that spaceship where Cass Viper had ruled. That was the main reason his father had offered their home and grounds for this little assimilation experiment.
Arthur Wessex was a clever man, and though he was retired, he still had connections within the government. The DPCA and the Wessex Protection Unit often worked hand in hand, but even Zircon had to admit the task of keeping Alien Shifters on the down low was the wildest one he’d ever heard of.
There was something he didn’t trust about these newcomers, though. Sure, they towed the line, so far, but there was something about them that set the hair on the back of his neck to standing. Like Aliza. She was staring at him across the way like he was the six foot plus version of a salty, hot, and crunchy French fry that she wanted to gobble up.
Gulp. No thanks.
For some reason, every woman in the compound was obsessed with the salty fried potatoes. Like unhealthily obsessed. But with his brothers’ mates being pregnant, and Caro’s time coming close, they all indulged them whenever they could.
“What is it, Kizzy? I am speaking with Zircon Wessex,” Aliza hissed at the other female.
“You should not address him so informally. He is our prince⁠—”
“I know what he is! I am putting my claim forward. Be still, Kizzy,” Aliza growled, then turned to face him at the same time Jennifer entered the kitchen.
“Jenn?”
“Um, hi. What are you all doing in the kitchen?” Jennifer asked.
She was wearing pink pajamas with baby blue cartoon axolotls all over them. Her bountiful curves were perfectly outlined in the thin, soft looking fabric, and Conny’s body hardened at the sight of her. Her hair was in mismatched braids, and she had cotton wedged between her toes and bubble gum pink polish on her fingernails and toenails—all the telltale signs of a girls’ night PJ party.
“Aliza said you left. What is going on here?” Zircon asked.
He stepped closer to where a confused Jennifer stood with a tray of half-eaten goodies in her hands. Aliza had her arms spread and her fangs bared, like she was barely holding on to her inner Wyvern. The woman was enraged, but he had no fucking idea why. He only knew he didn’t like her so close to his Jennifer.
Not mine. He reminded himself, ignoring the painful tightening in his chest.
Yes. Ours. His Wyvern corrected him. The faithful beast would never not see her as theirs, he supposed. He shook his head and growled hopelessly at his plight. Whatever. He needed to pay attention. Whatever this whole gathering was about, he knew it was not right.
“I’ve been in Caro’s room all night. What’s going on?” Jennifer asked, repeating his question.
“Aliza, explain why you lied about Jennifer leaving,” he said, and noted Jennifer’s look of surprise.
Jennifer placed the tray on the counter and sided up next to him. His beast rumbled with pleasure at the fact she felt safe beside him, something she might not have admitted otherwise. But he knew better, and it filled him with pride and a profound desire to keep her safe and beside him for always.
Fuck. He needed to get better control of himself before he did something completely fucking nuts, like reach out and grab her in front of all those people.
“If it wasn’t for Kizzy and her interference, I would have been able to do this without such an audience,” she hissed.
“Sorry, Aliza,” Kissy replied softly.
“Fine. I lied about Jennifer Dylluan being here, because I wanted all of your attention, Prince of the Flamebound, Zircon Wessex,” Aliza said, drawing herself up to her full height.
The Drakeins predilection for using first and last names aside, he did not care for the way the blue haired female treated her friends. He was about to remark on it, but Ox and Xabat entered the kitchen, and there were way too many folks in one place for it to be comfortable.
“I do not understand,” Zircon replied, glancing at Jennifer, who appeared as confused as he was.
His childhood home had always exuded warmth and pleasant memories for him. This was the first time he’d ever felt an inkling of discomfort, and he really did not care for it. Nor did he like the way Ox was staring at Jennifer in her cute as fuck PJs. He growled in the male’s direction, and Ox averted his gaze, his cheeks burning red with embarrassment.
Good. Next time he looks at what is ours, we will roast his sorry ass.
“You have lived on Earth, so I excuse your ignorance, Prince Zircon Wessex⁠—”
“My ignorance? Aliza, you came here and lied to me, now I want to know what is going on.”
“I believe we all do,” Jennifer added with a bite to her voice.
“You are an unmated eligible male and I, Aliza ARF346721, am an unclaimed eligible female. I lied to clear your brain of this Earth female so your Drakein could focus on what is a much better match for you and that, of course, is me.”
“What?” Zircon barked the word.
“I put forth my bid to claim you as mate,” Aliza announced, shocking the shit out of Zircon, and apparently everyone else in the room. “I am healthy and will bear you many heirs.”
“What?”
“The fuck you will!”
“Aliza!”
Zircon uncrossed his arms and shook his head. He’d already texted his brothers when the women had waylaid him in the kitchen, and he was fucking glad of that fact now. He heard them traipsing down the hall and, seconds later, his brothers filed into the crowded room.
Good thing, too. Shit was about to happen. Zircon felt it in the air. His Wyvern was scratching and clawing. Both man and beast wanted no fucking part of whatever bullshit Aliza was spouting. This was so not part of the job. But one thing had him pausing in his rebuttal and that was Jennifer.
The female looked positively fierce, not to mention possessive as fuck, as she stood in front of him, blocking him with her trembling body. Her glasses were pushed up on her head as she stood toe to toe with Aliza, both of them growling and hissing their anger.
“You dare! Aliza, I told you to not bother this male,” Xabat growled, stepping forward.
“You do not tell me things when we are on this planet,” the blue haired female retorted, never taking her eyes off Jenn. “Here, male or female, it does not matter. Here, we are equal. Is that not right, teacher?” Aliza snarled, mocking Jennifer.
“Enough!” Zircon shouted, glancing at his brothers.
Jasper and Heliodore caught on immediately. The two of them sent Xabat and Ox back to their quarters, while Larimar gently instructed the other women to return to their quarters.
“Aliza, I am flattered by your interest, but the answer is no,” Zircon said.
“No? I do not understand. She does not want you, and I do. I am young, fertile, I will give you many heirs⁠—”
“You are very worthy, Aliza, but I am not the one for you,” Zircon said calmly and with real feeling. He did not want to hurt the woman, but he did not need this complication in his life. Like at all.
“Maybe we should fornicate, then you can determine if I am not better attuned to your needs than this Earth Shifter.”
Zircon felt his ears burning. He shook his head. Raising his hands to stop the woman’s advancing. He felt Jennifer’s eyes on him, but had no idea how she was feeling at the moment. All his attention was on Aliza and trying to make her listen.
“No. I do not want that. Aliza, I am sorry to be blunt and I have no wish to hurt you, but the answer is still no.”
“You insult me!”
“I mean no insult to you. Relationships are complicated, and I know things worked differently where you’re from, but here, well, we don’t just announce what we want and expect others to fall in line,” he tried again, but Jennifer’s gasp brought his attention back to her.
Oh, she was pissed. Even in adorable pjs with her hair in braids and polish on her nails, she was still a force to be reckoned with. The air surrounding her sizzled with Shifter magic and energy. She was so damn sexy. Hot as fuck, and he was drawn to her like nothing else. The fact she was made did something else he hadn’t been expecting. It sparked hope.
“Don’t we, though? Don’t some people here just announce what they want and expect everyone and everything else to just go with it,” snapped Jennifer, interrupting his train of thought.
He frowned hard, realizing the real danger at the moment was not Aliza, but Jennifer. Zircon didn’t have to look at the Drakein to know the woman had moved closer to him, but he inched away, eyes on the trembling Owl Shifter.
“Jenn, what are you talking about?”
“You know what, Conny? She’s right. You are eligible and unmated. Maybe you should consider her offer,” she snarled, and her brown eyes flashed with the gold of her Owl.
“What the hell are you saying?”
“Nothing. Just that. You’re single. She’s single. Why not try to see if you two fit?”
Zircon reared back. It was as if he’d been slapped. Fuck. How could she say that to him? Didn’t she know her words were worse than weapons, tearing at his very skin and cutting him down to the bone?
“If we fit? You know, I get that something happened somewhere along the line to make you so hard and unreachable. But I’m trying to be there for you. I am trying Jennifer. Are you?” he asked. “I used to think you were the bravest, smartest woman I ever met. Fuck knows, you are the only woman I can even see. But that was unworthy of you. And I didn’t deserve that from you, either.”
“Shit. Conny I⁠—”
“No. No more tonight, Jenn. I can’t,” he growled, closing his eyes on a wave of pain.
“I-I see,” Aliza said quietly, and her shoulders slumped. “I will retreat to my chambers. You both seem to have things to work out.”
“There is nothing to work out,” Jennifer whispered.
Sadness and despair seemed to waft off her, but Zircon couldn’t process anything but his own grief. For the past few years, he’d tried it her way. He’d waited impatiently at times for her heart to soften towards the idea of being his mate. But she remained unmoved. Even after everything they’d been through as a team, as lovers, she remained unmoved. And he was running out of patience.
“I’ve offered you everything I am, Jenn. I don’t know what to do anymore.”
“Where are you going?” she asked, as he started to leave the room.
“I’m going to my room. Alone. You should go to yours, too.”
“Conny, I’m sorry⁠—”
“I know. But things are going to change now, Jennifer. From now on, it’ll be up to you to make the first move with us. I am done beating my head against a brick wall. I love you. Understand? I love you. Now it’s on you to decide if you can love me back.”
“What? Christ, Conny, you don’t understand! Whatever. You know what? We can go back to just being coworkers!” Jennifer shouted after him.
He heard the tears in her voice, her hurt and anger, and it was killing him, but he didn’t answer. His voice caught in his throat. This was one helluva risk he was taking, but what choice did he have? For all his trying to persuade her to choose him, Jennifer had remained firm in her refusal.
He would think her totally unaffected by him, except for one thing. When they touched. Then she burned for him like an inferno. Just as he did for her. Oh, he was tossing the ball in her court. But he had no intention of making it easy for her.
Now, it begins.