Chapter 34

ZAHHN

Anticipation builds inside me as I escort Leona down the corridor that leads to my quarters. I cannot wait to get her alone. But just as we round a corner, a familiar male blocks our path. I growl.

Doctor Ammdox.

Before I open my mouth to speak, he points a blaster directly at my head. "Hand over the female. She was supposed to be mine!"

I step in front of Leona, shielding her with my body, even if she's not Doctor Ammdox's intended target. "Emperor Radakk assigned Leona to become my mate, not yours. Perhaps you will receive a female from the next batch, the group of two thousand."

He peers around me, looking at Leona. "I want that one. I like the way she smells, and you dishonored me when you prevented me from claiming her as my patient three moon cycles ago." His eyes cloud with swirling darkness, dimming the usual glow, a sign that he's recently taken an illicit substance.

"You're not feeling well, Doctor Ammdox." I slowly reach out a hand. "Give me the weapon and I'll help you."

He snarls and moves closer, the blaster still pointed at my head.

Listen to me carefully, Leona , I say down the bond. Slowly, very slowly, take a step back, then another, and keep going until you're safely around the corner.

What about you? she asks.

Do it. Obey. I will protect you. I promise.

I feel her acquiesce, and I sense when she takes a step back. To my relief, the crazed male doesn't seem to notice her retreat.

I eye the blaster in Doctor Ammdox's hand, trying to determine its model. Until very recently, my people were not in possession of blasters. We prefer to use shooting stars and knives during battle. But one of our traders recently acquired a huge stock of blasters from an outpost, and the weapons were, perhaps unwisely, distributed throughout our vessels. Unlike the blasters used by humans, these newer ones can penetrate the thick texture of a Darrvason's skin. Which means I fluxxing hope this bastard doesn't shoot me.

As I stare at the weapon in Doctor Ammdox's hand, I realize it's one of the deadlier models, and I resolve that I must keep him from firing the blaster near Leona.

I sense my mate take another step back, then another, and I'm relieved when I realize she's close to rounding the corner. I stare at the crazed male, then I peer beyond him with the most horrified expression I can muster. A silly trick? Perhaps. But it works. His eyes widen and he spins around with the blaster held high, obviously expecting to meet a foe. But there's no one there.

I tackle Doctor Ammdox and we tumble to the floor. I wrench the weapon from his hand and throw it as far as I can. It clatters somewhere at the end of the corridor.

He growls and thrashes in my hold, and I reach for one of the shooting stars or a mini-blaster concealed in my clothing, which I plan to use to temporarily paralyze him, only to realize I'm wearing the wrong outfit. Fluxx . I'd intended to change into my armed clothing after the meeting in the command room, but after learning Leona was assigned to me, I never bothered.

Doctor Ammdox punches me in the jaw, and I growl as I launch myself on top of him. I'm larger, and the impact of my weight is surely crushing. He gasps and flails, unable to get up.

Then I grab his head and slam it to the floor. He immediately loses consciousness. Rage pumps through me as I stare down at him. How dare he attempt to steal my mate? I could kill him where he lies, but he did not officially challenge me to lahhkda —a battle to the death for a mate.

Banishment. That's the sentence he'll receive for his crimes today. Banishment from the Darrvason Empire. Even if he lives, he'll never pose a threat to Leona again.

I sigh and lift my wrist comm to my mouth. "This is Doctor Zahhn. I'm requesting security officers and a medical team to Deck Twenty-Five."

I stand up and rush to Leona. When I see her peek around the corner, I shoot her a stern look even as I hurry to take her in my arms.

I meant for you to remain hidden and safe , I tell her.

Sorry. She gives me a sheepish look. I just wanted to make sure you were okay. Are you?

I am fine. I touch my jaw. He got one punch in, but I will live.

She stands on her toes, takes my face in her hands, and presses a kiss to my jaw. Then, for the first time, she purposefully sends me a wave of affection through the bond. It's warm and bright and soothing.

It's everything I never knew I needed.

I growl and scoop her up in my arms. As I carry her down the corridor, we pass the security and medical officers. I pause only long enough to explain what happened.

I carry Leona into my quarters and call out a verbal command to lock the door. And even though I didn't have to steal her, I still activate the force field in front of the door.

No one can enter, and no one can leave.

Leona peers around my living space, but I don't pause to give her a tour. I carry her straight to my bedroom and place her on her feet. She blushes as she glances at the bed, and as she fidgets in place, I notice she's pressing her thighs tightly together. Aching. She's aching to be filled up. Aching to be bent over the bed and pounded with ruthless vigor.

My cocks harden and my scrotum commences a rapid vibration. I'm about to rip her clothes off and sink inside her, until I remember the new safety protocols all Darrvason males must follow as we acquire our new mates, protocols I was charged to develop.

Poor innocent Leona. She has no idea what's about to happen to her. How thorough I'll be as I perform a strip search to ensure she's not hiding any weapons or contraband. I will delight in searching her tight orifices. Her slick pussy. Her shy bottom hole.

Her eyes widen, making me suspect she's picked up a few of my more recent thoughts.

"No," she says in a pleading tone. "Absolutely not. I'm not hiding anything. You don't need to search me. Please don't."

My dual appendages thicken further, and I savor the scent of her growing arousal. She might be averse to a strip search, but she's quivering with arousal whether she wants to admit it or not. There's no denying the sweetness of her feminine essence in the air.

"I like it when you beg, human female."

"Seriously, you don't need to search my… orifices ." She whispers the last word as though it's highly scandalous, and her face turns a darker shade of pink. I don't believe I've ever seen her blush so hard. As she peers up at me, she starts scratching her right arm.

"Give me your arm!" I step closer and snatch her arm. Shock resounds within me as I gaze at a faintly glowing blue mark on her flesh. My breath catches, and I look up to meet her eyes.

"Is that an ancestral marking?" she asks in a tone of sheer disbelief.

"It is." Relief fills me. It's happening. The heartbond is happening. Sure enough, my blood immediately heats, and I start sweltering in my clothing. Pure savage need for my female pulses in my veins, and I snarl as my swollen appendages press painfully against the front of my pants. "I'm afraid your body cavity search will have to be quicker than I was originally planning. I am ravenous to claim you. My female. My mate. Lee-oon-ahh."