Chapter 11 | Markus

Chapter 11

Markus

My nerves are shot. The past hour has been a total nightmare, and I’m pretty sure things won’t be getting better. I can’t believe I let Magda distract me long enough for Damon to kidnap Justine. I just really didn’t expect them to do it and got caught unprepared.

Seeing Justine tied up on the floor filled me with a rage so intense it was scary. I wanted to shout, “Unhand my mate and prepare to die!” like some ancient hero and then make good on my promise. Instead, I had to deal with the petty idiocy of Damon.

If that wasn’t bad enough, I’m pretty sure Justine was awake for at least part of our conversation. This is probably the last time I’ll ever be able to touch her, my cherished mate. She’s going to be furious.

I rub my hand over her back as I carry her. She doesn’t move, but I can sense that she’s aware of it, of me. She must be waiting until we’re alone to tell me off. Dread pools in my gut, and my only comfort is the feel of her in my arms.

I fumble open the door and carry her straight to the bed. I want to make this moment last, but that wouldn’t be fair to her.

I lower her gently on top of the covers, then take a step back, waiting for her to strike. Sure enough, her eyes fly open, and she pins me with a furious glare as soon as her head hits the pillow. She immediately sits up and points at me accusingly.

“Why can I feel your feelings?”

“What?” Of all the things I expected her to ask about, this wasn’t one of them.

“I’m not sure,” I hedge.

“That’s a lie. Want to know how I can tell? Because I can feel it in here.” She taps the middle of her chest. “I can also tell when you’re angry or when you’re longing for me. Why are you longing for me?”

Seeing that look in her eyes, her desperate confusion, makes something snap inside of me.

“It’s because you’re my mate. We’re in the process of bonding,” I explain.

She looks even more confused now.

“That can’t be true. When did this happen?”

“When we were having all the sex, I think.”

She blushes adorably. I want to reach over and brush my fingers over her cheek, but I resist the urge.

“All it takes is sex?” she asks.

“No. There has to be love and compatibility there, too.”

The words hang heavy in the air. Justine looks like she’s been punched.

“Love? Are you saying you love me?” Her voice has dropped to a whisper.

I slow down to choose my words carefully.

“It would seem that I do. And I’m sorry to say, it looks like you love me too.”

“No!” she blurts. But just as she can sense my lies, I can sense hers, too. She loves me, but she’s not happy about it at all.

I shrug. I’m trying hard to look unbothered, but her reaction hurts.

“Just because we’re mates doesn’t mean we have to stay together,” I say, and each word feels like a dagger in my hearts.

“Is this your way of telling me you want to leave?” Her voice rises.

“No! It’s just that I would understand if that’s what you wanted. You’re not a Xanxian so it’s not part of your heritage. Humans can walk away from the bonds more easily than we can. And I haven’t, uh, been the best mate to you so far.”

“Well, that’s all going to change,” she says.

“It is?”

“Yes. Start by telling me everything. Who are you working for? Who are Damon, Magda, and Ronnika? Then I can decide what to do. But I need to know it all.”

“I’m actually more of an independent contractor. I’m my own boss.”

She rolls her eyes and waves her hand.

“Yes, I get it. But you’re obviously mixed up with something bigger than you that involves me, and I want to know what it is.”

“I work for Rotten the pirate.”

“The same Rotten that hijacked my escape pod and marooned me on Lemargo.”

“That’s the one.”

“He’s the one who’s been trying to keep me from going back to Xanx?”

“It would seem so,” I hedge.

“What do you mean, ‘it would seem so?’” Her eyes flash dangerously.

“I don’t know about his motivations. My only job was to steal your credit chip. And he’s the one who sent me back to Lemargo on some bullshit errand this week.”

I hate the fact that we’re having this conversation. I never wanted Justine to hear about all of this. It’ll remind her of what a shady guy I am. Although she’s just been kidnapped by my shady associates, so there’s no hiding it now.

“I see. So, who took my identity graft?”

“Probably Magda or Ronnika,” I answer.

“And Rotten has it now?” She taps a finger on her chin, thinking.

“Probably.”

“And you borrowed money from him for this trip?” she continues.

“That’s right.”

“Fuck, you’re in deep with this guy,” she finally sighs.

“I wish I wasn’t,” I tell her, and her expression changes.

“I want to talk to him,” she says

“No.” I don’t even want to think about putting Justine in the same room as a pirate, especially one that has caused her so much trouble.

“Make it happen, Markas. Or I’ll have to rethink this bond thing.”

I want to argue against whatever she has in mind, but she’s not playing easy.

“Okay, I’ll contact him,” I grumble.

“That’s good.” She smiles briefly at me, then faces away. “I need to be alone now, Markas. I need to think, okay?”

Her tone is brisk and businesslike. It’s a side of her I haven’t seen before and one I don’t know quite how to negotiate with. I just feel in my bones I’d better listen and do what she says. I don’t mind having her take charge. It’s hot, like everything else she does. But I wish she didn’t want me to leave.

“Sure. I, uh, will find somewhere to sleep tonight,” I mutter.

She nods distractedly, like all she can think about is her big, awful plan.

“Meet me at breakfast at 0900 hours. I’ll expect you to have a meeting set with Rotten by then.”

“Okay.”

I hesitate, thinking I should say something else.

“You can leave now.”

“Alright. I’ll, uh, grab my toothbrush and go.”

She nods, then turns away from me. I head out the door and try to focus on the task at hand.