25. Gravod

Shouts sounded outside the bar. It all faded to a low hum as I read the text from Thylor.

You know what I want. She's safe as long as I get it.

My vision blurred. I was slipping into a haze. If he harmed Jess in any way… My vengeance would be slow and painful.

But I couldn't allow myself to imagine that. Not now. I had to find her, and I needed to stay clear and focused. This was my fault. She never should have been left unguarded.

The last ninety minutes had been a nightmare.

Tormenting Kevin took longer than expected, and by the time we left his house, it was rush hour. Traffic had slowed to a crawl, and I knew if I didn't get to her place soon, Jess would think I wasn't coming. I weaved in between cars while Jake held onto the grab handle and shouted at me to calm the fuck down.

When we finally screeched to a halt in front of Jess's apartment, he took one look at my expression and got out with me. Jake's presence kept me from breaking down her door when she didn't answer my knock. But then I realized her car wasn't in the lot, and my nerves frayed even further.

My calls went to her voicemail and my texts were undeliverable. Icy panic gripped me as we stood outside her empty apartment. Jake gently guided me back to my car. He didn't have a mate, but he understood how important she was to me.

"We'll find her, Gravod."

His words kept me in check as we sped to the bar, the only place I could think to look for her.

When we got there, I spotted Jess's car in the parking lot. But she wasn't inside the bar or at my house, and no one had seen her. Jake immediately shifted to sniff around the area. Other animal shifters in the bar went to help, along with the Lydaxians who were there. I'd been about to join them when I got Thylor's text.

The door of the bar swung open with a bang. Jake stood there, naked and out of breath.

"She's here. A little shaken up, but?—"

I moved before he finished talking, running outside.

"Jess."

One of the bear shifters, Hal, was untying a rope from her wrists and speaking to her in a soothing voice. The growl that tore from my throat at the sight of another male touching my mate had him backing up, hands raised.

"Just trying to help. She's okay."

I barely heard him. All my attention was on Jess.

She tugged off the last of the rope just as my ta'laps encircled her, lifting her off her feet and bringing her flush against my body. I heard Hal's intake of breath. He hadn't seen ta'laps before.

With blood racing through my veins and my heartbeat hammering in my ears, I was out of control. I couldn't hide myself. Lydaxians were feral when it came to protecting our mates. It was a potential liability that I'd need to examine later, but for now, I didn't care who saw me. I only cared about her.

Jess was speaking, but it took me a minute to recognize the words.

"I'm okay, Gravod. Really. He didn't hurt me. Please put me down so we can talk."

Her voice broke through the seething anger and choking fear that clouded my mind. I was suddenly aware of her body against mine. The feel of her breasts against my chest, her hips and waist under my ta'laps. Without thinking, I held her tighter, lifting my hand to grip her nape.

Her eyes fluttered as my thumb brushed her pulse, and her scent filled my nose. I wanted to bury my teeth in her neck. Bond her to me. Now.

"Gravod?"

I blinked. My name from her lips, the concern in her voice, was enough for me to come back completely, for the last of the fog to lift. Reluctantly, I loosened my grip and set her down. She backed away until I withdrew my ta'laps. The distance left me cold and uneasy.

"What happened?"

Jess let out a long breath, her gaze flicking to the dozen males who were milling around the parking lot, awaiting my orders. She answered me quietly, at a volume meant for my ears only, although I knew the others could probably hear her.

"I came out here to find you when you didn't come to my apartment. Then I thought I saw you walking into the field, and I followed."

She lifted her chin toward where we kept the ship. I stiffened, but she continued before I could say anything.

"It wasn't you, obviously. It was Thylor. He tied my hands and brought me into the building where you keep your spaceship." She paused to swallow, as though she still couldn't believe what she'd seen. "He told me he was framed for a crime that someone else committed, and he wants to go home and clear his name. I…believed him. He didn't hurt me."

"But he could have." The anger was back, hot and sharp. Thylor had dared to touch her, to bind her. I wanted his blood.

His motivations meant nothing to me. Only his actions.

I turned to the males who were gathered. Jake was there, back in his clothes, ready to help. The others were a mix of my crew and different shifters. We were lucky to have so many allies.

On each face, I saw the same fierce protective instinct. Jess was my mate, but they would all defend her. Any lingering worry I may have had that Thylor could corrupt my crew, or that the shifters would betray our secrets, was erased by the united front they presented.

Jess's hand on my arm drew my gaze back to her. Something sparked in her eyes.

"I know you want to go find him, but please, hear him out. If what he told me was true, it seems important. Afterward, you can explain why you were so late tonight." Her lips curved in a small grin. "And then show me your ship."

I wasn't sure if I should mention anything about Kevin, at least not tonight. Showing her the ship would be a good distraction.

"I will. After I find Thylor." I turned to Jake, and he stepped up to my side.

"Ready to go after him?"

I shook my head. "Jake, meet Jess. Jess, this is Jake." They nodded at each other, and I put my hand on his shoulder. "I'd like you to stay with her until I return. Please."

He stood taller. Leaving my mate in his care was a sign of my trust in him, and he didn't take that lightly.

"Of course. Watch your back, Gravod."

I squeezed his shoulder in gratitude before calling out to the others.

"We're going to the barn. Thylor is there. I need to place him in custody."

The ship had a brig I never thought we'd need. It was about to have an occupant.