“That’s everything?”

“Yes.”

“Good. I’ll be right back. We need to move down the hallway to another home until this one is repaired.” He glanced down her body. “You also need clothes. I don’t mind you wearing my shirts but I didn’t enjoy other males seeing your bare legs. We have a supply store and they keep clothes for the Gifts there. Not many since they enjoy shopping online but they should carry pants that might fit you.”

She watched him leave the room and sagged a little on the bed. Her eyes closed and the sound of his soft voice carried. The relief that he wasn’t angry that she’d flirted with some kid to use him still didn’t alleviate her guilt.

True disconnected the call and nodded to Flame as he passed over the notebook. The male accepted it but glanced at his bandaged arms, frowning.

“You should go to Medical.”

“Jeanie took care of it.”

He sighed. “She worked for Mercile on the medical staff?”

“No—Drackwood.”

“I don’t understand how you could protect her. She seems nice enough but I’m not sure I could trust a female who worked at such a place. Don’t you worry that she might harm you if you go to sleep? You’d be vulnerable sharing a bed after you adjusted your senses to ignore her every movement so you wouldn’t wake.”

Anger surged but he forced it down. The male wasn’t malicious, just curious and wary. “She didn’t know Species were kept there until after she took the job. I believe she did her best to get us freed.”

“I heard what she said about the agent. You think he exists?”

“The team is sending someone to find the cell phone she used to communicate with him. It will prove her innocence.”

The male cocked his head, studying him. “What if it can’t be found?”

True knew Tim would suggest she’d lied. The human really wanted Jeanie returned to his custody. “I’m hopeful it will be.”

“I hope they find it too. She seems like a nice human.” Flame hesitated. “It’s tense downstairs. Some of the males are nervous to have her in the dorm. I wanted to warn you.”

“She’s no threat to them.”

“Jericho pointed that out but they are aware of what she did to him. He had to sit with an ice pack against his balls in the community room downstairs. She nailed him hard enough to cause lasting pain.”

“She didn’t mean to. She was afraid. You saw her. Instincts took control.”

“Do humans have those?”

“I’m sure they do.”

Flame appeared thoughtful. “They are so foreign to me.”

“Humans?”

“The female ones. They aren’t as tough as our females and they don’t say what they think. We have everything in common with our females and nothing with the humans.”

True couldn’t deny Jeanie was different from Species females. “Differences can be good too.”

Flame sighed. “I’ll take this to the elevator. Darkness is on his way up. Tim is not happy that you took the female from Medical.”

“I don’t care.”

“He’s the one you have to deal with when you return to work once you’re not taking care of the human. How long is she staying with you? I’ve been assigned backup duty to keep watch and Jericho will change shifts with me when he’s feeling better.” He lowered his voice, glancing down the hallway and then smiled. “I can’t believe the little human dropped him. He’d never have allowed one of the males to get that shot in. Everyone is teasing him about it.”

That news didn’t amuse True. “Is he angry with her?”

“No.” Flame shook his head. “The opposite.”

Jealousy flashed through True as hot as a fire igniting. “He is attracted to her?”

“No.” Flame took a step back. “That look is scary, man. Calm down. If looks could kill, I’d be exhaling my last breath on the floor. He feels bad for her is what I meant. He’s referring to her as that ‘poor terrified female’. He admires that she fought instead of just fainting the way he expected one of them to do. That’s all. Admiration and sympathy but not attraction. I doubt he’d ever look at her without wincing after the number she did on his nuts. That’s not the kind of reaction a male wants in that region.”

The elevator opened and Darkness stepped out. He strode toward them. True tensed, hoping the male wouldn’t chew him out over the fight. Darkness stopped and held out his hand.

“Is that her notes?”

Flame passed it over. “Yes.”

“I apologize,” True got out, not wanting to say more on the matter.

Darkness grinned. “For kicking Flirt’s ass? No problem. I took my time arriving, hoping you’d do a little more damage to him.” He tucked the notebook under one arm. “He earns his name and the bruises around that busted nose will make him less pretty. He’s always riding my ass about how I need to smile more or I’m never getting laid.”

True was surprised. “I would be happy to hit him again if he comes after Jeanie.”

“He won’t.” Darkness sobered. “I banned him from going near that female and he knows I mean business. His pride took a beating worse than your fists gave him when she chose you.”

Flame cleared his throat. “He is right though. You might get more offers to share sex from our females if you smiled more.”

Darkness turned his head, silently staring the male down. Flame dropped his gaze. “Just saying. It wouldn’t hurt. I can’t remember ever seeing a female visiting you or you going to the women’s dorms.”

“Mind your own business.”

Flame nodded, quickly backing away. True almost pitied Flame since Darkness did intimidate most Species. His past had been rougher than most and therefore they were uneasy about how he’d respond to their teasing. Flame wasn’t done, though, and True smothered a groan, deciding the male was either too naïve or just looking for a fight.

“Some human males are attracted to other males. Is that it? None of our kind have felt that way yet but there are so few of us. It is bound to happen at some point. No one would tease you if that’s why you don’t smile at our females.”

Darkness rumbled, his dark eyes turning almost black.

Flame backed up enough to bump the wall. “Sorry.”

“I’m attracted to females. Is that what everyone thinks? I like males instead?”

Flame kept his lips firmly sealed but barely nodded.

“Fuck.” Darkness shot True a furious look. “Is that what you think too?”

“I don’t think about you and sex at all.”

That seemed to appease Darkness because he looked back at Flame and stepped into the male’s space, going nose to nose with him. “You shouldn’t talk to me about why I’m not with a female when you can’t shut up about the one you want but don’t have the balls to go after her,” he growled. “But to appease your curiosity I’ll share a secret with you that better not get out.” He paused, the rumble from his chest ceasing. “I’m not too eager to allow anyone close to me, considering the last female I fucked was one I had to kill.”

He spun away then, leaving both of them in stunned silence. The elevator door opened, he stepped inside and it closed. Moments passed before Flame gaped at True with a horrified expression.

“He was messing with me, right?”

True pondered the expression he’d seen on Darkness’ face. “I don’t believe so.”

“Shit. I stepped in it, didn’t I? I didn’t mean to upset him.”

“You have to remember he isn’t quite like us, Flame. We all did what we had to, to survive while held in captivity but they expected much worse from him.” Thoughts of Jeanie filled True’s mind. What if Polanitis had dosed me with the breeding drug and thrown her into my cell, loosening the chains enough for me to reach her no matter where she tried to flee? The answer was easy. It would have badly damaged him inside if he’d killed her when he’d been insane and would have had to live the rest of his life with that knowledge. “I’m moving us down the hallway to new quarters and taking her to get clothing.”

“Both corner units are open at the end of the hall. Take your pick. I hate going to supply to pick out clothes so do you mind if I stay here while you take her? I was told to guard the door, not escort you both everywhere. I could transfer your clothing and personal items to the new unit while you’re gone.”