Chapter 12

12

M ikos

Were we so close? A few minutes? Fuck. How long had I been in here feeling sorry for myself? Staring at my mate, wondering if I'd made the right choices? Wondering if she'd forgive me?

Did I have a plan? Yes, and I didn't feel like sharing. Ruk was a stranger to me. One wrong move, one word spoken in the wrong corridor on Rogue 5, and everything could go horribly wrong.

Why was he offering to help me? I blinked, wary. I barely knew this male, he was not a friend. I did not trust him, not completely. Nor did I trust the Atlans. Or that fucking Prillon noble whose cousin shared a mate with Commander Helion, the head of the Coalition's spy network. Why was he with these Atlans? Why had they all not gone to The Colony after they escaped the Hive Integration units, as expected of them?

Part of the reason I'd kept my mate so isolated was that I didn't trust any of them. She seemed to, claimed they were her friends, that she'd been on a few missions with their assistance. Her fondness for these males was the only reason I hadn't tried to kill them all and take this ship.

She would have been angry with me if I hurt her friends.

Her tender emotions, and the fact that I couldn't control the navigation system—I'd tried to access the system while Breanna slept—were the only reasons we were still here, on this ship, with these males. Sebastion had not lied when he stated only active Hive could access the ship's systems.

After being captured by the Hive, I'd fought to the brink of death to make sure no Hive technology survived in my body. Ironic that now I needed that same Hive tech if I were to have any hope of stealing this ship, that because I rejected the implants, my mate and I were both at the mercy of these males, weak and vulnerable, trapped on a ship I could not control.

Every time I thought about it, I clenched my jaw so hard I was surprised I had not shattered multiple teeth.

"Do you want my help or not?" Ruk demanded. "The Atlans can't leave this ship, but I can. I have diplomatic immunity on Rogue 5. I can escort you both to Astra territory."

I clenched my fists but made no attempt to reach for the armor. "I don't trust you."

Ruk stared at me, his dark gaze boring through me like a bullet. "She does." He inclined his head in Breanna's direction, and I bit back a growl. The male spoke true.

"Which is the only reason you and the Atlans are still breathing."

My claim made him burst into laughter, the sound a deep rumble in the small room. "You fuckers are all the same." He lifted one hand, the wet sound of flesh ripping filled the room as his claws emerged from his fingertips, dripping with blood. "You wouldn't make it past me. You're old and slow, Mikos."

"Try me." The Hyperion was half naked, but I wasn't fooled. His hide was so tough, he didn't need armor. He was half my age, but I was meaner, and I had a mate to protect. He also expected a frontal assault. I was not honorable, not when it came to protecting my female. I'd slit their throats in their sleep to keep my mate safe.

"Would you two shut the fuck up." Shade sauntered into the room through the still open door. His restraints were gone, and he wore Siren Legion armor, deep blue arm band prominently displayed. He stepped between us, and I moved to stand between the two males and the ReGen pod where my innocent female slept, completely unaware of the danger.

I crouched, prepared to fight them both if they made a single move in her direction.

"Calm down. I'm not here to hurt Breanna." Shade crossed his arms and leaned back against the far wall like he wasn't worried I might tear out his throat.

I still might. Watching Breanna collapse in pain had rattled me, and I was not fully recovered. "What do you want?"

Shade sighed and I tried to remember the reasons I did not hate him. "You never should have brought her here."

"I had no choice."

"So I heard." He shifted his feet, crossed one ankle over the other as if I would believe the casual stance made him less of a threat. "Drakdak Trach is already on his way to Rogue 5. Last I heard, he travels with at least twenty fully Hived-up Scions. I have to turn you over to them. It's too late to change the plan. Even if I wanted to let you go, I need the bounty on your head, Mikos."

"Why?"

"Personal business. But I need it. I'll kill you if I have to. Drakdak will give me less if you're dead, but it would still be enough."

I snarled at the mention of the sadistic fuck who'd put the price on my head, but Shade raised his hand. "But I like Breanna, and that would make her unhappy. So, I'm here to make sure your head is in the right place. We finish this, I collect the bounty, you survive long enough to kill Drakdak. If you pull of that miracle, you can even keep your mate."

"She's not?—"

Ruk snorted. "Do not bother with the lie. We know the truth, and so will everyone on Rogue 5. Your female is the only one who does not know what she is to you." He narrowed his eyes and moved his claws so they made a clattering sound as they struck one another. "Why is that? Why are you lying to your mate?"

"You heard him." I pointed to Shade. "We set a trap for Drakdak. He will bring at least twenty augmented mercenaries with him to the hearing. Maybe more."

"This is a stupid plan." Ruk was not amused.

"The plan was to set up an ambush on Xerima, not face him in the open on Rogue 5. Would have worked, except…" I glanced down at my unconscious female.

"You fucked up, got yourself taken prisoner by the Hive." Shade held up his hand and wiggled his fingers as if I owed him something. "You're welcome for that save, by the way. Who do you think sent the Coalition after you?"

Fuck. I wondered how the Coalition Fleet just happened to find the ship where I was being held prisoner. There were hundreds of integration ships. Maybe thousands. ReCon teams located a fraction of them in time to save the prisoners on board.

Shade did not speak often, but when he did, at least in my experience, he had a hard time shutting the fuck up.

"Even after I manage to send a ReCon team after you, one of them happens to be your mate. The odds are astronomical. Then she almost dies, so you're forced to bite her. And now, you need that fucking secret antidote to save her life. We don't have time to detour to Xerima. Drakdak will force the issue of your execution in the Sim Arena. The Legions will vote, and you'll be dead, friend. Fucking dead." He glanced over at Breanna as if he actually felt sorry for her.

I looked from him to the stunned face of Prince Ruk. "Shade speaks true. We set the trap for Drakdak weeks ago. Breanna changed everything. I have not told her she is mine because I thought to spare her feelings if our plan fails, if Drakdak, or his Scions, manage to kill me."

Shade raised his brows and shook his head as if I were the biggest idiot in the sector. "Have you met the other human females? Styx's mate, Harper? Cormac's Abby? Ivy is in Astra Legion, is she not? Have you not been paying attention?" He chuckled and rubbed his head. "I supposed not. You've been gone a long time. Breanna is going to destroy you for this. Gods help you."

I had heard rumors and stories of the females Shade mentioned, but not met any of them. I'd been on the run for more years than those females had been mated to Legionnaires on Rogue 5. I had begun to suspect my mate would be difficult, but that was a problem for another time, after she had the antidote.

Shade moved to stand next to Ruk. "What is the new plan?"

"I kill them all."

"With your bare hands?" Ruk asked. "In the Sim Arena? Are you mad?"

"I don't have a choice." None. Not if I wanted to keep Breanna.

"I can help, but you must promise me not to move against Drakdak until I am out of the arena." Siren Legion was no friend to Astra. In fact, anyone caught in the other's territory usually ended up dead. No one would suspect him of helping me, as long as he was out of sight.

"You have my word."

"Excellent." Shade reached for his collar and pulled his armor away to reveal his neck. There, embedded under the skin, was a blinking light.

I lunged for him, but Ruk caught me around the shoulders and turned to face him. "A tracking device? That's why you ran your mouth on the Zenith. You wanted us to bring you onboard." I'd made sure he was here, had asked the Atlans to make sure they brought him on board.

Shade inclined his head. "Yes. The Silver Scions are aware of my location. They will be waiting to take Mikos into custody on Rogue 5. Once Drakdak arrives to witness the execution, I will receive my reward." His gaze locked with mine. "And you can kill him."

"I doubt he will travel to Rogue 5. That paranoid fuck never leaves Occeron." Ruk's claws clicked faster, in irritation. "You are both idiots."

He was not wrong. Drakdak Trach was one of the most powerful members of the Silver Scions. He never left his depraved home under Omega Dome. Too many formidable people wanted him dead. Which was why it had taken so long to set the trap, to bait him out, into the open. I had been waiting eight years to tear his limbs from his body. I would cut off his cock and shove it down his throat. I would?—

"He wants Mikos dead. Needs to make an example of him. Trust me, he is on his way to Rogue 5." Shade tilted his head and glared at Ruk, unblinking. Apparently, the Siren Legion male had zero survival instinct.

Ruk released me, slowly. "Who allowed you to walk free on this ship?"

"Sebastion Arcas is not an unreasonable male. Besides," Shade shrugged, "I'm not armed." He laughed like he didn't care whether he lived or died. "Decide, Mikos. The plan changed. So be it. I'd rather not kill you, but I do need that bounty. So, are you going to trust me, or not?" The blinking light under his skin changed color from pale white to a dark red. Shade lifted one hand to tap the tracking device and met my gaze. "We're out of time."

Breanna

"Why do I need to wear this armor?" I pulled the mottled green and black armor on and tried not to stare at Mikos, who had donned his armor while I slept. The material felt oddly familiar, nearly identical to Coalition Fleet armor, just a slightly different color.

Except for the dark green band of color circling my biceps, declaring me part of Astra Legion. Which I wasn't. Wearing Astra colors made me feel like I was just tormenting myself with something I wanted but could never have.

"The Coalition has no power here. Wearing my colors will give you the protection of my Legion."

"Okay." The twisted part of me that wanted to be possessed by him, loved the fact that I would be wearing his colors, even if it was a lie .

I tugged the armor on and tried not to stare at my man. But hot damn. Mikos's armor hugged every bulge and dip of his muscles. The strange material adjusted its surface hue to display marks on the skin, specifically every scar on his impressive body. There were a lot of marks across his chest and shoulders, on his thighs. I licked my lips, eager to see what his back looked like in the magical, color-shifting armor. It was almost like the scars were badges of honor, purposely put on display.

I had a few scars myself and my pussy flooded with heat as Mikos's gaze lingered on each and every one, his cock growing hard and clearly visible under the form hugging armored pants. He looked like he wanted to kiss every inch of my skin. I wanted that, too. Which was a relief. When I'd gone into the ReGen pod, I wasn't sure how I'd feel coming out. I didn't feel good, exactly, and I had a strange ache under my one breast, like I'd been kicked in the ribs, but my insides weren't on fire. I'd take the win.

Armor on, Mikos handed me two ion pistols and a matching set of knives.

"Thank you." I felt better as I strapped them into the holsters on my thighs. I had no idea what to expect on the infamous moon base, but I did know Coalition rules didn't apply. This was like the Wild West of outer space. No laws. No rules. The only thing that mattered on Rogue 5 was power.

I slid my feet into the boots, surprised when Mikos knelt to fasten the buckles. When he finished, I expected him to stand. Instead, he remained on one knee and lifted his face to look at me. He was so tall, his face was even with my chest.

Unable to resist, I reached out and buried my fingers in his hair. I needed to touch him, feel him.

A pit opened in my stomach and my hands trembled. This was it. This was good-bye. We'd walk off this ship, I'd get the antidote, and that would be the end of this fantasy I'd been living the last few days. I would go back to Battleship Karter, and Mikos would go on with his life, doing whatever it was he did. "Thank you for everything, Mikos. I—I don't know what to say."

His eyes drifted closed and he leaned into my touch. "Do not, female. Do not thank me. I lied to you."

"What?" My hands froze. "Lied? About what?" I tried to take a step back, but Mikos caught me by the wrists and refused to let me go. His normally pale grey eyes, when they opened, were dark with regret. Pain. "I don't understand."

"Forgive me."

I was about to scream at him, demand he tell me what the hell he was talking about, when the door slid open. Ruk and Shade walked in. Shade was holding a pair of restraints big enough to hold an Atlan beast. He stopped a few paces from Mikos. "Let's go."

Rising like a man heading for the gallows, Mikos stood. He stared down at me for long seconds, then cupped my face with his hands, leaned down and kissed me.

His lips moved slowly, gently, like I was as delicate as the petals of a flower. He'd never kissed me like this.

"What is happening?"

He stepped away and Shade moved between us to slam the restraints onto Mikos's forearms. The giant metal cuffs completely enclosed him from elbow to fingertips. I'd never seen anything like them.

Anger rose in my mind like a red cloud. I pulled both ion pistols free and pointed them at Shade's head. Point blank range. I wouldn't miss. "What the hell do you think you're doing? Let him go."