Chapter 6

Kaden watched the emotional struggle playing out on his female’s face. She fought to understand their connection. To believe in it.

Regardless of her reaction, he was glad he’d stated the truth, his truth. She was indeed his everything, and there would be no other for him.

Never in his long life. Only her. Only Calie.

He hoped she would feel the same for him. Eventually.

He wanted to lay it all out for her there and then, to explain the miracle that had befallen them, but her emotional fragility erected a barrier between them. It was difficult to refrain from attempting to tear it down. Difficult to experience her trust and passion while they embraced, and then watch her close herself off and pull away.

It was not in his nature to do nothing, say nothing, when the truth shone, so clear and bright, to him. But given the circumstances, how could he tell her she was his fated mate?

That she was biologically destined to be his?

Would it please her, or make her shut down further and run away?

Given her recent experiences as a forced servant to the Q’Larev, it wasn’t surprising she distrusted everyone, including herself. He wished they had the luxury of time to sort it out, but the Zyphorrans hunting them had to be exterminated first.

Calie’s safety would always and forever be his priority. Regardless of whether she chose to be his mate.

His gaze caught on his weapon she held, the muzzle dangling from under her crossed arms. He was pleased by her sense of self-preservation. And he fucking wished he could explain about the significance of the handgun.

Because acting on hope—and a hunch, given his reactions to her thus far—when he gave her a gun designed to work solely for his kind, and it functioned for her? Game changer. Life changer.

Science and biology never lie.

Only a potential cyborg mate could operate their weapons. His cyborganic nanos introduced into her system during medical aid hadn’t vanished once their task was completed. They lived on, thrived, and multiplied inside her. Because she could be his.

She’d intrigued him from the moment he first saw her and to know they were compatible in every way—

“No.” She cleared her throat and straightened her spine. “No.” Louder, stronger the second time. With too much conviction.

“I can’t...” She uncrossed her arms and waggled the gun in his direction. “We can’t... We aren’t...” A vehement head shake. “No.”

Her denial gutted him. Fuck, it hurt. Worse than any physical injury from battle. A soul-deep agony.

A potential life-enriching future ripped from his grasp by one tiny word. Her no echoed in his memory banks, but he kept his emotional distress in check, betraying nothing to her. Years of practice made it simple to school his features. To reveal nothing of the turmoil within. The warrior’s way.

He gave her a curt nod. “You will please remain here while I clear the planet.” And eliminate all threats to you, my precious mate.

Her brow furrowed. “The whole planet? How?”

Compared to her Earth, the mining planet was relatively small, but she didn’t know it. He could handle it alone, but his squad would land shortly to assist.

“My brothers arrive.” He performed an unnecessary weapons check on himself, to keep his hands busy while he kept his team’s calls at bay. Their vessel was circling the planet, veering to his current coordinates, and they’d been badgering him since before he’d begun the journey to the mine.

“Brothers?” She eyed him with suspicion then glanced around as if expecting his brethren to appear.

“Cyborg warriors like me. My team.”

And all of them were attempting to open a transmission line, the pushy bastards, but he didn’t want to speak to them, nor apprise them of the discovery of his potential lifemate.

Of her rejection.

No, he would not bare his pain to his brothers. He required action. His frustration and rising anger had him wanting to break things, such as the vehicle parked next to several stacked storage containers. Followed by the crates themselves. Then the wall next to them would easily crack under his fists. And when he located the Zyphorrans, who’d dared stalk and strike at them—

Yo, Kaden. What’s up with the firewalls, man?

Of course, Trace would be able to breach Kaden’s internal security. He would expect no less from the team’s information technology specialist. All cyborgs possessed superior IT skills, of course, but no one was as skillful as Trace. An asset to our platoon, but a definite irritant at times like these.

Go away, Trace. I’m busy. Kaden didn’t attempt to shut him out. The nosy asshole would simply find another way in, and Kaden had more important tasks to perform—such as, killing the Zyphorrans who attacked them.

Well, someone is snippy today. This is how you thank us for rushing to your aid?

He desisted with his useless weapons check. “I will return when the planet is secure. I respectfully request you remain here,” he repeated to Calie.

I don’t need your help, he barked at his friend while Calie gaped at him. The way she bit her lip seemed to indicate she was debating whether or not to heed his politely worded demand. Maybe he sounded a bit gruff, but how could he not? The sting of rejection burned through his circuits.

You totally need our assistance, Trace insisted. Bet you haven’t found the Zyphorran soldiers.

Soldiers.

Trace was correct—Kaden’s scans of the planet as he’d dashed to the mine with Calie draped over his shoulder had yielded no life signs, the enemy well cloaked, which in itself was unusual for the Zyphorrans. Apparently, they’d made some improvements to their vessels. His skilled friend, on the other hand, was more than a match for any tech upgrades to Zyphorran machinery. The good news for Kaden? There were multiple enemies to decimate, multiple outlets on which to purge his frustration.

Trace sent him the location of their vessel, which had landed far from the mine where he’d taken Calie. He would begin his hunt for the bastards there.

Thank you. Now go away, the lot of you.

Trace had the nerve to laugh at him. Be there in a sec, hotshot.

Kaden scowled but acknowledged the truth. As much as he would prefer to avoid his friends and what he was sure would be thousands of queries sent his way regarding Calie, their presence provided added safety for his little mate. Plus, his ship was likely unsalvageable. He would require their assistance to depart from the empty planet. Or perhaps he would commandeer the soon-to-be deceased Zyphorrans’ vessel, and continue to evade his friends—

You know, maybe we’ll just leave your ass on this planet, Trace mused as if hearing Kaden’s thoughts. Where you’ll perish from boredom.

Cyborgs don’t die. Not easily, anyway, and certainly not from emotional distress, although his mate’s rejection was certainly shredding his insides. He shoved aside another pang.

“Why are you so frozen and frowny faced?” Calie’s curiosity and odd turn of phrase drew his attention outward.

While he’d been dealing with Trace, performing scans of his own on the planet, and tracking the arrival of his team, Calie had repositioned herself atop a nearby single crate resting next to the other three-high stacks leaning against a wall.

She swung her legs, her boots thudding against the front of her makeshift seat. “And I thought you were leaving?”

“Do you agree to await me here in the mine?”

She glowered at him, her heels keeping up a steady thunk-thunk-thunk against the storage box. “Sure.”

He arched a brow.

She rolled her eyes. “Yes, cyborg. I will stay in the damn cave.”

“Thank you.”

“You’re welcome.” Her tone didn’t sound like she meant it at all. He’d spent enough time around the humans from Terra Suprema to recognize sarcasm when he heard it.

“Calie.”

“Cyborg.”

That was twice now that she’d used cyborg instead of his name. Irritation surged through his circuits. “My name is Kaden.”

She shrugged. “I’m aware. And?” She arched one brow, defiance written all over her face. Her feet continued to drum against the box.

He fisted his hands. It was clear she attempted to distance herself from him. It was the last thing he wanted, but he couldn’t stop himself from snapping, “I will remember this disrespect, little human.”

They glared at each other.

A silent standoff.

It was petty of him, and he didn’t give a damn.

He’d love to snatch her up, turn her over his knees and spank the sass out of her. He bet her smooth pale skin would bloom under his palm to a lovely shade of pink. And he would caress the sensitized flesh, soothing the slight sting, then stroke between her folds to find wetness there, the spanking having aroused her. Because he could never truly harm his female. She was his, to protect and pleasure.

Except, she was not.

His transmission lines blared to life, all of the team talking at once. Trace’s voice stood out the most.

My, my, my, our Kaden has a secret. Who is that, my man? My scan says you’re with a human female.

His brothers expressed varying states of surprise and amusement over the lines.

The endless thunks from Calie’s boots on the crate ceased.

“You’re dismissed, cyborg. This human can take care of herself.” She lifted her arm and pointed at the cave entrance with her gun hand. “Now run along, cyborg. Shoo.” She twisted on her perch and gave him her back, her stare focused on the nearby vehicle.

Oh, baby... Her voice is pleasing to my circuits, Trace crowed. She doesn’t seem to like you very much.

A cacophony of hoots and comments crowded his mind as the team expressed their curiosity and amusement at a human female giving him grief.

A growl erupted from Kaden’s throat. “Enough!”

The order was aimed at his brothers, most especially Trace, but Calie jerked at his shout then scowled at him. She slid off the crate and stomped over to the transport.

“I’ve had it with you, you big bully.” She climbed into the driver’s seat and looked over her shoulder to glare his way. “I’ll stay in the mine, like I promised, but as soon as you’re done being all murderous, I expect you to rescue Athena from your stupid smashed ship and bring her to me. Then, she and I will find our own damn way off this planet.”

Oh, now you’ve done it, Trace crowed. Who’s Athena?

Calie activated the vehicle. Headlights sprang to life, illuminating the broad pathway deeper into the mine. The walls sparkled and shone like the inside of a Terran seashell.

While his teammates offered various theories as to the identity of Athena, Kayden performed yet another scan of the mines, reassuring himself there were no signs of life. No enemies to harm Calie. Then he made his memories of the battle with the Zyphorrans along with Calie’s rescue available to his team.

His little mate pressed a button to put the machine in gear. It rumbled forward.

Leaving him behind.

His brothers fell silent.

Calie disappeared down the tunnel.

He waited until the rumble of the motor faded to nothing in his superior hearing before he pivoted and stormed from the cave.

Determination raced through his circuits and his emotional grid.

The hunt would end with the death of those who threatened his mate, and then he would reunite her with her beloved AI, and vow to transport the pair of them wherever she desired to venture next.

And while she might think she was leaving him behind, he would do everything in his power to change her mind about that, as they traveled to her chosen destination.

You can count on it, my fiery little mate.