Favored by Felix Read Free Page B

shoes. He owed his brother to do his best and make sure
everything worked in the way they’d planned.
    * * * * *
    Casey came awake; every one of her senses
telling her something was wrong, out of place. She didn’t open her eyes, didn’t
twitch so much as a muscle while she tried to recollect. She already knew she
wasn’t in the room at the resort. This one smelled different—kind of musty—and
the bedcovers didn’t hold the same floral scent. She cast her mind back,
remembering, remembering.
    She hadn’t been able to sleep. Again. Despite being so tired she was acting like the walking dead species on planet Erastes.
She’d gone for a walk on the beach while, for the hundredth time, attempting to
decide what to do—carry out the general’s wishes or disobey orders and lose
everything.
    “You don’t know anything else. Besides,
by the time I’ve finished, no one would dare touch you.”
    As the general spoke, Casey recalled the
expression on his face, one of triumph. Remembered the way her stomach had
curdled because she’d seen that look before—right before he thrust his verbal
sword and cut his opponent off at the knees.
    “The vitamins your squad has been taking
for improved physical performance actually help prepare your body for the
technology. It’s too late. The process has begun.”
    A low moan escaped her parched throat and she
finally opened her eyes. She struggled to sit up. Gods, where was she? While
the bed was comfortable and the linen she was lying on clean and crisp, the
walls were tree branches glued together with a reddish-colored mud. The ceiling
of the hut consisted of a type of bright-pink plant. Someone had woven the leaves
into a thick covering to keep out the solar light.
    “Ah, you’re awake,” a cheerful male voice
said.
    It was him. The man she’d kissed on the
beach. She struggled through the fog in her brain and came up with a name. “Felix.”
    “That’s right, sweetheart.”
    “Where am I?”
    “Captured,” he said. “Enjoy the fantasy
while you can.”
    Captured?
    Of course! One
of the resort’s fantasy offerings. At least that would take her mind off her
problems.
    Felix’s communicator buzzed. “Excuse me,”
he said and stepped out of the hut.
    He must have stopped right outside the door
because she could hear his side of the terse conversation.
    “Get them? Fuck. They look okay? Yeah. Must
be okay if they ran into the trees. Anywhere to land? Hell. That makes things
difficult.” An extra-long silence. “True. Come back here then. The twins can go
back to the resort.”
    Casey frowned and viewed all four corners
of the hut. This wasn’t a virtual reality room? She’d thought… No.
    Felix returned, his expression even happier
than before.
    “Good news?”
    “Cautiously happy,” he said. “I knew Saber
would manage a miracle. He always does.”
    “Where are we?”
    He shrugged, the faint movement of his
powerful shoulders reminding her of his size. “It’s not important. All you need
to know is that you’re here for the duration. My captive,” he added with
satisfaction.
    Casey fought an unusual burst of humor and
only just won the struggle to prevent a smile sneaking onto her lips. “Sir, you
can’t do this to me. I’m an innocent and must get to my betrothed so we can
marry on the morrow. You must let me go. You must.”
    “Huh?”
    “Please sir. I want to get married. My
betrothed is a very rich man. He’ll pay a rich ransom for my safe return.”
    “I don’t want a ransom.” Felix straightened
and insult dripped from every word.
    Casey’s brows rose. “No money? No jewels?”
    Felix’s brows squished together. “What are
you blathering about?”
    “Oh.” She forced shocked surprise into her
tone. “You intend to ravish me.”
    Felix rubbed his chin, studied her then flicked
the sleep-bed a speculative glance. “I could deal with ravishment.”
    Oh, he was good. “But I must save myself
for my future husband. I-I… Sir, is