Freeing Luka: The Clecanian Series Book 2 by Victoria Aveline (readict books TXT) 📕

one thing, but to embarrass her like that in front of everyone? Cold. Stone cold,” she finished, shaking her head disapprovingly.

Luka eyed his brother, a silent plea for help. The corner of Theo’s mouth lifted in a smirk, and he stood back, allowing Luka to be scolded by his small pregnant wife.

Before she could resume her yelling, Luka spoke. “I didn’t mean to treat her poorly, but I’m in a great deal of pain. Do either of you happen to have a healer on you?” he asked as politely as he could through clenched teeth.

He’d found that while sitting, he could manage the pain, but any time he stood, blackness threatened to overtake him. He hadn’t meant to be so short with Alice, but he’d made the mistake of standing, as males were supposed to do when talking with a female, and at the time, pushing her away had seemed preferable to fainting on top of her.

Theo’s grin faded, replaced by concern. “You’re hurt?” he said, scanning Luka’s body.

“I tripped on the way here. I think I may have broken my ankle. I was already running late and had no time to heal it before the meeting started, so I decided to bear it instead.”

“You tripped on the way here?” he repeated with narrowed eyes. Jade settled herself into a seat next to him, and while she was preoccupied, Luka sent Theo a warning glare. A muscle ticked in Theo’s jaw, but he said, “Let me find a healer for you. Stay here with Jade for a moment.”

When Theo had left the room, Jade scowled at him once again. “Why didn’t you just tell her you were injured and in a lot of pain instead of acting like an ass?”

Luka’s eyes widened in surprise. Jade wasn’t altogether wrong, but he wasn’t used to a female being so unguarded with her words.

I was an ass.

“Limping in injured and weak wouldn’t have been attractive,” he muttered, feeling as though his plan had only worked to hurt his chances with Alice.

“So, you thought it’d be more attractive to look uncaring and possessive than weak?”

“Yes!” His shoulders slumped, and he added, “At least for a Clecanian female.”

Luka didn’t know what else to say. A Clecanian female wouldn’t have approached a male. She would’ve waited for him to approach her. It hadn’t factored into Luka’s decision that Alice may try and initiate a conversation with him. He also knew he’d vastly underestimated both his injury and the affect seeing her with another male would have on him. He flinched. Telling her she couldn’t be taught by a male had been over the line. It wasn’t his place to say that to any female. At least, not in that way.

“A Clecanian female—” he began to argue before being interrupted yet again.

“Ugh, this again. Sometimes I feel like Izzo is the only one of you with any brains. At least he had the good sense to come and ask for my advice about a human girl he likes. What makes you think you know how to act around a human?” She spoke her next words slowly, making Luka wonder if he liked Jade after all. “Alice is not Clecanian. She’s human, and I’m guessing by her reaction, she’s utterly offended right now. As well she should be. Most human women appreciate honesty. If you wanted to appear strong, congratulations, you did it. She now thinks of you as the strongest jerk around.”

The female was rude and condescending and…right. He didn’t know how human females behaved or what they’d want out of a male. So far, he’d spent his time researching medical information pertaining to humans and watching her from afar, but he’d never thought to use one of the best resources he had at his disposal. A human female. His sister-in-law, no less. Luka was a proud male, but he was also a scientist. His logic had failed him, and he could admit when he was wrong.

“You’re right. I thought she’d act like a Clecanian female, and now I worry I’ve ruined any chance I had. Can you help me?”

Jade, who’d been shifting uncomfortably on the chair, looked at him with brows drawn. Slowly a smile curved over her face. “Wow. I’m glad you aren’t as stubborn as your brother. Or me, for that matter. I thought that would’ve been a hell of a lot harder fight. Ego being what it is.” She shot him a sheepish grin. “Sorry for going off on you. Between being cooped up in the house and close to full term, my temper’s out of control.”

“That’s an understatement.” Theo entered then, carrying a healer. Jade rolled her eyes but said nothing.

Luka could sing with relief. He needed to go and see Alice. Make things right. Explain why he’d behaved so badly. But first he had to learn more about humans from Jade.

Grabbing the device out of Theo’s hand, he ran it over his swollen ankle.

“You know that’ll only help with the pain temporarily,” Theo said. “You need to go and see a doctor right after this to fix any breaks.”

Thankful the small device could give him any relief at all, he let out a sigh then looked to Jade. “What do I need to know to win a human female?”

Theo snorted from behind Jade.

Jade swatted at him then turned her attention back to Luka. “First, tell me, do you really like her, or do you just want to charm her because she’s your mate?”

Luka had wondered this himself, but the more time passed and the more he watched her, small memories from the cell came back to him. “I can’t lie and say the bond isn’t causing me to have…intense feelings for her, but those feelings are more of a sexual and protective nature. I want her for those reasons, but they aren’t all. She saved