Chapter 31

MANDY

Firm hands grasp me. I feel disoriented from a sudden change in location. Somehow, I know I’m not on the Haxxal anymore. Cold dread fills me as I blink and slowly become aware of my surroundings.

I’m in a small shuttlecraft, or perhaps it’s an escape pod. I’m not sure. But I’m here against my will, and I have a very bad feeling. Four Darrvason males come into focus. They’re so similar in appearance that I think they must be brothers. One of them, the oldest, looks familiar. I think I’ve seen him on the Jansonna before. Yes, I think he’s one of the engineers who’ve visited the human worldship.

Voices reach me, but I don’t comprehend the words being spoken. Darrvason. Someone is shouting in Darrvason. The same someone yanks me in front of a video comm, and I gasp at the sight of Kameer.

Though I don’t know the names of the Darrvason males who have, by all appearances, taken me hostage, it’s obvious they’re the individuals behind the attempts on Kameer’s life. I swallow hard and try to look brave as I stare at the video comm.

Kameer looks ready to commit murder. Ready to raze an entire galaxy. I’ve never seen his eyes so dark, nor his jaw so tense.

Mandy . My heartbonded mate’s voice is a comforting echo in my head. Do not be afraid. It’s me they want.

Why? I ask. Why do they want you dead?

He shows me a quick replay of recent events, catching me up to speed as he reveals why Officer Gorrsum and his brothers want him dead. He explains why they want to destroy the entire Darrvason fleet in the process, the Jansonna included. Greed. Money. Power.

It’s now that I learn the full extent of Kameer’s wealth. It’s a shocking number. He’s worth billions of galactic credits. If he dies without any offspring to inherit the Hurrsona Asteroid Belt, Officer Gorrsum will suddenly become one of the richest and most powerful Darrvason males in history.

The male holding me, who I now realize is Officer Gorrsum, drags me closer to the video comm and shouts in Darrvason. Kameer is quick to translate his words for me. Stop what you’re doing immediately, Chief Kameer, lift the enhanced shields around engineering, and allow us to beam you aboard the escape pod. Do it now or your mate dies. I feel the coldness of a blade at my throat, and I suppress a shiver.

“Will you give me your word that you’ll release my mate as soon as I’m aboard the escape pod?” Kameer asks in Darrvason.

After Officer Gorrsum responds, Kameer translates for me again. Yes, I swear on the souls of my ancestors.

I’m heartbroken when Kameer holds up his hands in a show of surrender. He draws in a huge breath and glances over his shoulder. “Officer Ewoltt, would you please lift the advanced shields? It would seem I’m about to go for a ride.”

“Yes, Chief. It’ll just take a moment.”

Kameer sends me waves of comfort, but it’s difficult to feel any sense of hope right now. The second he’s beamed aboard the escape pod, Officer Gorrsum and his brothers will kill him. The brothers in question move out of sight of the video comm, then withdraw blasters from their belts and hold them at the ready.

No, Kameer, you can’t join me. They’re going to kill you. They have blasters. Officer Gorrsum’s brothers have blasters! Please don’t let your comrade lower the enhanced shields. Maybe… maybe they won’t kill me. Maybe they are bluffing. I don’t think they’re bluffing, but I can’t fathom the thought of any harm coming to Kameer.

Before he replies, I know what he’s going to say. He stares at me with a gentle smile, the sort of affectionate look he usually bestows on me during the quiet moments we share after a long session of mating. When he’s holding me. When he’s caring for me in the aftermath of his carnal brutality that I’ve come to enjoy.

Pretty human, I intend to join you on that escape pod. I won’t let them harm you. You’re my sweet mate and I will always protect you.

I glance at the blasters, thinking they look nothing like the much smaller blasters that human security officers carry. I send a quick visual to Kameer, showing him the weapons.

To my shock, I hear his chuckle in my head. Ah, Tretonnlian blasters. It makes sense. Fourteen moon cycles ago, we visited an outpost that had a Tretonnlian ship docked. I suppose the virus as well as the weapons were acquired then. Tretonnlian blasters are one of the few weapons that can penetrate the thick, textured skin of a Darrvason. He seems pleased, as though he’s just solved a mystery, but I want to scream. I want to scream and beg Kameer to find another way.

Am I about to watch him die?

It happens fast. Kameer becomes a dark, fuzzy outline on the screen, and there’s a shimmer in the escape pod. Just as my mate materializes in front of me, there’s a terrible choking noise where Gorrsum’s brothers were standing.

I glance over to find them slumped to the floor, electrified rings compressing their necks to the point that their eyes bulge unnaturally. To my shock, Doctor Zahhn stands above them.

Gorrsum screams and tightens his hold on me. Kameer steps closer, and it’s then that I notice a tiny metallic object in his hand. With a quick flick of his wrist, it shoots upward and strikes Gorrsum in the head. He instantly goes slack and the knife clatters to the floor. He falls back with a resounding crash into a console, and I find myself suddenly swept into the arms of my mate.

Kameer . I hug his neck and press a kiss to his cheek, overcome by relief and happiness. I’m still in a bit of shock, however, and I break into a ceaseless tremble as tears burn in my eyes. But I blink the tears back and focus on my mate. He’s alive. I’m alive.

Doctor Zahhn clears his throat as he approaches the console that Gorrsum crashed into. He gives me a polite nod, shoves Gorrsum’s body aside, and his hands fly over the screens.

“Don’t worry, passengers. We’ll be returning to the Haxxal momentarily.” He gives a satisfied sigh, as though he’s enjoying himself.

I glance at the floor, only to wish I hadn’t. Not only is Gorrsum dead, but his brothers are as well, killed by whatever weapon Doctor Zahhn encircled around their throats.

Kameer sends me another wave of comfort, and I meet his gaze as my relief continues to grow. We’re alive. We’re okay.

All is well, pretty human. He sinks into a chair and holds me in his lap. I snuggle into his embrace and rest my head on his chest, needing to hear the steady beating of his heart. The heart that belongs to me.

What happened? Perhaps I’m deep in shock, because I can’t quite figure out how Kameer managed to kill Gorrsum, nor can I fathom how Doctor Zahhn made it onto the escape pod. How did you kill them so quickly? How did Doctor Zahhn get here?

Kameer presses a soft kiss to my forehead, still sending me continuous waves of affection and comfort. The weapon I used to kill Officer Gorrsum is called a shooting star. It’s a small metallic device that has a nerve agent embedded within it. Though I would’ve liked nothing more than to bludgeon Officer Gorrsum to death with my fists, I needed to dispatch him quickly. I had to keep you safe, pretty human. I couldn’t let him hurt you.

Thank you. Thank you for saving me and thank you for not dying in the process. But you should’ve told me! You should’ve shown me what you were planning! Though I’m a bit annoyed that I was kept in the dark, I relish the feel of Kameer’s arms around me.

Forgive me, pretty human, but there was no time. I also worried that events might not transpire as I was hoping. Doctor Zahhn still has difficulty astral projecting sometimes. It’s a skill he’s trying to master.

Astral projection? I glance over at the doctor, then meet my mate’s luminous red gaze. Are you serious?

Kameer rubs my back. Doctor Zahhn possesses the ability to astral project, which he discovered several moon cycles ago when he inadvertently astral projected to the Haxxal to see Leona, who as you know, eventually became his mate, but that is a story for another time. He offered to be on standby today in case his services were needed. I regret that I wasn’t able to kill all four males myself, but he was the better choice to dispatch the males holding the Tretonnlian blasters.

“Ah, here we are,” Doctor Zahhn says in his trademark arrogant tone. “Back on the Haxxal . Please be mindful of the dead bodies on the floor as you exit the vessel.” He performs an elaborate bow, then disappears into thin air. I gasp.

Close your eyes, Mandy . Kameer stands with me in his arms, and I obey his order to close my eyes. I have no wish to catch another glimpse of the bodies on the floor.

My mind reels. I can’t believe how easily Kameer killed Officer Gorrsum, nor can I fathom Doctor Zahhn’s skill to astral project, and I’m a bit miffed that Leona never mentioned his unusual ability. I resolve that the next time I encounter my friend, I’ll demand a full retelling of how she became Doctor Zahhn’s mate. I imagine it’s an interesting story.

You may look now, pretty human.

I open my eyes to find we’re headed down a corridor flanked by a security team. When we round a corner, the guards disperse and head in opposite directions. I recognize the royal corridors and spot the door to our temporary quarters, and relief fills me to bursting.

The danger is over, Mandy. I promise. We’re both safe. Star Gods, I am sorry they managed to take you. I sense his deep regret through the bond. I am sorry they beamed you aboard the escape pod. I had no idea they would manage to get past the Haxxal’s defenses, though I will study their methods and ensure such a thing never happens again.

It's not your fault, Kameer, and I’m okay. I’m just glad it was over quickly and that neither of us got hurt. But I saw a shuttlecraft explode earlier, shortly before I was beamed aboard the escape pod. Did someone die?

The shuttlecraft was empty. It was part of the trap Officer Brute set for the brothers. Gorrsum believed I was aboard. His brothers planted an explosive device on it. Gorrsum also hid an explosive device in my Founders’ quarters aboard the Jansonna today, just in case his brother’s device was unsuccessful.

There’s a bomb on the Jansonna ? I jolt in his arms.

Officer Brute has a team taking care of the second explosive device right now. He increases the comfort he’s sending me, and I instantly relax. No one on the Jansonna will get hurt. I promise.

He carries me into the bedroom and sinks down on a chair near a viewscreen. I lace my arms around his waist and hug him tight, while he strokes my hair and murmurs comforting phrases in Darrvason.

As we share this quiet moment, I become aware of another truth in my heart, one that would’ve scared the hell out of me just two weeks ago. Is it too soon to say anything?

Kameer once informed me that Darrvasons mated for companionship and breeding purposes. I could peek into his mind to see if he feels the same way, but would that be cheating?

Before I can reach a decision, Kameer answers my unspoken question, and the honesty that resonates in his voice warms me from the inside out.

“I love you too, Mandy Benton.”