Species Traitor: A Science Fiction Dystopian Novel by Kate Mary (universal ebook reader .TXT) 📗

me up as well. “So, you know what will most likely happen when we do decide to take this step?”

I nodded but said nothing.

A flush warmed my cheeks when it hit me that Melora’s warning hadn’t been about the mayor, but about sex. I was eternally grateful I hadn’t known it at the time, and that it was too dark now for Finn to see my face.

“Ava,” he said after a moment of silence, “I care about you, a lot, but I want to be sure we’re prepared for whatever comes our way. I want to be sure you’re ready to face the consequences of anything we do, and I don’t just mean what Mayor Waters might be planning. If we sleep together, it could change everything for good. Are you ready for that?”

“What about you?” I asked instead of answering him, mainly because I couldn’t come up with a response. “Are you ready to be a father?”

“I’m—” Finn’s face was hidden by the darkness, but I heard the sigh he let out. “I don’t know. It’s a big step. Especially considering how little we know each other and how uncertain things are.”

“Then we’ll wait,” I said, trying not to sound too disappointed—and failing. “We’ll use this time to get to know each other better.”

“Yes,” he said, sighing again.

He sounded as thrilled by the idea of waiting as I felt.

Finn shifted, and a second later his fingers were laced through mine. I savored the feel of his skin and wished things were different. Never in my life had I felt a hunger like this, and lying beside him the night before had been hard enough, but now that we’d kissed, now that we’d fully acknowledged what was happening between us, I didn’t know how I’d hold back.

Of course, just because we couldn’t have sex didn’t mean we couldn’t enjoy one another.

As if reading my mind, Finn said, “There are other things we can do.”

I laughed, but it was cut short when he tugged on my hand, pulling me toward him. Shifting so I was on my knees at his side, I reached for him, somehow managing to find him in the darkness. I ran my hands up his chest to his face, placing one on each side as I leaned closer, pressing my lips to his. He returned the kiss as he grabbed me by the hips and pulled me onto his lap, so I was straddling him. The feel of his body against mine, of him under me, was exhilarating.

The kiss deepened, and Finn ran his hands up my back, under my shirt so he could trace my spine with his fingertips. A tremble moved through me, practically setting me on fire. He felt so good, every inch of him. How would I resist being with this man when he made me feel like this?

I didn’t know, but somehow, I’d have to find the strength.

Chapter Twenty-Two

The morning news coverage was once again focused on the protestors outside the District, or more specifically, on what they were demanding.

They wanted Arch.

A reporter I didn’t recognize stood in front of the crowd, a hover camera alternating between her and the signs sprinkled throughout the angry mob. Things like Give us the Child Killer and Down with Alien Scum were mixed in with old favorites like ET Go Home and You’re Not Welcome Here, which never seemed to go out of style no matter how long the Veilorians had been on Earth.

Finn and I watched it play out in silence as the reporter outlined what had happened and what was expected to happen next.

“It was just two days ago that a Veilorian man was discovered outside the District.” She turned, pointing to where the mob stood shouting. “He was spotted at the end of this very street as he tried to make his way back inside the fence and was dragged toward the crowd by two human men. Once there, a mob much like the one you see behind me converged on him, and had it not been for a human woman coming to his rescue, he would very likely have been beaten to death.”

The image flipped to one of Mayor Waters standing on the steps of the government building downtown. “I do not condone anyone taking the law into their own hands. Justice must be served, and it will be, but I cannot under any circumstances, no matter how grave they might be, allow a mob to beat a Veilorian to death. Not in my streets. I’m working hard to negotiate with the Veilorian council, and once the perpetrator has been surrendered to us, he will be arrested and given a fair trial.”

“What if they refuse to turn him over?” someone asked.

“I sincerely hope that doesn’t happen,” Mayor Waters said, her tone twice as grave. “I can only hope the Veilorians decide to cooperate and that no one else, human or otherwise, has to get hurt. But I will say this.” She focused an angry glare on the camera. “The heinous crime committed by this man will not go unpunished. Either the Veilorians cooperate and turn him over willingly, or we will take him by force.”

“What happened to innocent until proven otherwise?” I muttered.

“That only applies to humans,” Finn said.

I didn’t reply.

The image on the screen flipped back to the reporter, who looked as disturbed as the mayor had. “As you can see, the mayor has promised to bring justice to the victim and her family one way or another. From what we understand, the Veilorian council has until noon to turn the criminal over. The deadline is still more than three hours away, but already the brute squad has arrived.” The camera shifted, zooming in on the end of the street where a group of soldiers stood ready and waiting. “Whether it’s in preparation to storm the District or to keep the crowd from getting out of hand, I’m not sure. What is certain, however, is