When she jumped to the ground I realized this was it, that what happened between us this night would determine the course of the rest of my life.
And without her, it meant nothing.
I followed her around the building, both of us moving quickly through the shadows. When she reached a low-level window, she stopped and pressed her ear to the glass, just as she’d done on the roof.
Strange, but I would ask her about it later. Not now. Not when a hint of sound might get us both killed.
Whatever she heard appeared to satisfy her, for she opened the window and leaped up, pulling herself up as easily as any man. I followed quickly, knowing she would leave me behind without hesitation if I slowed her down.
Goddess, she really was magnificent on a hunt. And I had no doubts about what was going on, we were hunting. Together.
And I loved watching my mate move. I loved how deadly she was. I loved knowing she could fight her way out of here if we needed to. She was dangerous. A threat. A beautiful, sexy, passionate threat, and she was mine.
Pulling myself into the building, I landed on the floor next to her in a storage room of some kind. Shelves lined with boxes and supplies surrounded us. My eyes adjusted quickly, and I saw Destiny standing near the door. Listening.
The muffled sound of conversation came clearly through from the other side. A stream of light slipped just under the door itself, and I noticed Destiny was careful to keep the toes of her boots just out of sight. One hand was on the door, the other on a weapon. She was thorough, and ready for trouble, although I doubted anyone would get close to the door without her knowing.
I wanted to push her out of the way and listen myself. I wanted to open the door and peek outside, assess the situation. Decide on a course of action. But something about the way she moved held me in check. She wasn’t just listening at the door, she was listening. Intent. She obviously had a plan.
My only plan was to protect her.
I’m in. I’m always in.
I had made my mate a promise just a few minutes ago, and I had no intention of breaking it now. When I found her freezing and miserable, alone on top of that roof, my heart had broken at my own stupidity. She was out there, alone, unprotected, because of me. I’d gotten exactly the opposite of what I’d wanted.
I needed to make her understand what she was to me. I wanted her to know I loved everything about her. I hadn’t realized it until now, but it was the truth.
Unable to speak, I reached for her hand. When she turned to look at me with a question in her gaze, I kissed her. Really kissed her, with everything in me. Everything. Willing her to understand.
When I pulled back, she stared at me for long seconds, holding my gaze. Then she smiled. Nodded.
She understood. Thank the goddess. I never wanted to see her look at me with so much hurt in eyes again, not at my betrayal. And I had betrayed her. I realized that now. It took being secured naked—alone—to our bed to see it.
Never again.
She turned back to the door and I inspected the room, looking for anything useful. Exits. Weapons. I had plenty on my utility belt—a new one since she had mine—but it never hurt to be prepared.
There was neither. The window and the door were the only two ways in or out. And without opening the boxes, I had no idea what might be in them.
She pulled me down close, her lips pressed to my ear. She spoke so softly I barely heard her.
“There are twenty-two distinct voices. Six female. The nearest is about ten steps to the right of this door.”
My eyes widened and I stared at her. How the fuck did she know that?
“Nix? Did you hear me?”
I nodded and squeezed her shoulder so she’d know I was listening.
“If anything goes wrong, we need to get Morson out. He’s Optimus Unit, one of the good guys. The only one.”
I squeezed her shoulder again. I knew who he was. How she knew what she was telling me, I had no idea. But I trusted her.
“Everyone else can fucking rot.”
Awww, there was my female. I grinned, which made her squeeze my shoulder.
Then she froze.
“Do you hear that?”
I shook my head. What? What was she talking about? Just like that night in Elder Amandine’s office. She’d said she’d heard something and I hadn’t. And she’d been right.
“Oh, shit.”
She pulled away from me and walked along the boxes, listening. Searching. Then she stopped and just stared at one in particular. “This one,” she whispered as she pulled a box down off the shelf.
I saw the circuits and wiring a split-second before she could pull off the lid. Fuck, she’d kill everyone in the building!
Slamming my hand down on top of the box, I tore it from her arms and settled it back where it had been on the shelf. When she just looked at me, I pointed to the circuits and leaned in close. “It’s a bomb.” The timing circuit was clearly visible, counting down in a military style system of clicks I knew all too well.
She frowned. Stared at the odd dashes and lines on the display. “How long?”
I glanced at it again. “Five and a half minutes.”
Her eyes widened slightly, but she remained calm. “Shit. There are twenty-two people who are going to be blown up. We have to get Morson out of here.”
“Morson?” I whispered. Fuck Morson. He’d walked into this place, he could get himself out. There was a fucking bomb right in front of us. I had no idea if this was the only one or not. I needed to get my mate out of here.
Now.
She darted toward the door. I grabbed her by the elbow. When she turned back to look at me, I saw raw fury in her eyes.
“What?”
“Obviously, someone wants a lot of people dead.”
“A bomb?” I heard a female voice clearly through my comms unit. Princess Trinity, most likely. Other voices came through as well, hearing our conversation. “Get out of there!”
If Destiny could hear a pin drop in the other room, then she could hear her sister’s command, yet she paid her no attention.
“Mate, someone’s been killing people off one at a time. Crayden was the latest.”
I saw a shiver run through her, most likely as she envisioned coming upon his body.
“This bomb—” I pointed to the box. “It’s a step up. No muss, no fuss, but a big explosion with a big body count. The mastermind isn’t here, but he has been. Looks like he’s cleaning house. Completely. Adding you to the list will just be a bonus. We need to get out of here. Now.”
She shook her head.
“We need more intel. We need Morson alive,” she murmured, her voice close to my ear. Her breath fanned my neck, but this was not the time to even consider how it made me feel. “Two minutes to listen and get Morson. Then I’ll be out the nearest window or door. Are you in, or are you out, Nix?”
Fuck. She was right. If everyone in the room was worth killing off, we did need what we could get out of them before they were blown to bits. We couldn’t storm in, arrest them all, and get them all to talk. That would take much longer than five minutes.
Fuck. Fuck!
“Two minutes and we’re out of here. I will carry you out if I have to.” I might be allowing her to remain, but on my terms.
“You’re such a caveman.” She stroked her knuckles down my cheek as I often did to her.
She turned toward the door and I let her go.
The Ascension Saga
Thank you for joining me on this exciting journey in the Interstellar Brides® universe. The adventure continues...
TRINITY
Book 1
Book 2
Book 3
Volume 1 (Books 1-3)
FAITH
Book 4
Book 5
Book 6
Volume 2 (Books 4-6)
DESTINY
Book 7
Book 8
Book 9
Volume 3 (Books 7-9)
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All of Grace's books are Happily-Ever-Afters and always free from cheating because she writes Alpha males, NOT Alphaholes. (You can figure that one out.) But be careful...she likes her heroes hot and her love scenes hotter. You have been warned...
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About Grace
Grace Goodwin is a USA Today and international bestselling author of Sci-Fi & Paranormal romance. Grace believes all women should be treated like princesses, in the bedroom and out of it, and writes love stories where men know how to make their women feel pampered, protected and very well taken care of. Grace hates the snow, loves the mountains (yes, that's a problem) and wishes she could simply download the stories out of her head instead of being forced to type them out. Grace lives in the western US and is a full-time writer, an avid romance reader and an admitted caffeine addict.
Also by Grace Goodwin
Interstellar Brides®: Ascension Saga
Ascension Saga, book 1
Ascension Saga, book 2
Ascension Saga, book 3
Trinity: Ascension Saga - Volume 1
Ascension Saga, book 4
Ascension Saga, book 5
Ascension Saga, book 6
Faith: Ascension Saga - Volume 2
Ascension Saga, book 7
Ascension Saga, book 8
Ascension Saga, book 9
Destiny: Ascension Saga - Volume 3
Interstellar Brides® Books
Mastered by Her Mates
Assigned a Mate
Mated to the Warriors
Claimed by Her Mates
Taken by Her Mates
Mated to the Beast
Tamed by the Beast
Mated to the Vikens
Her Mate’s Secret Baby
Mating Fever
Her Viken Mates
Fighting For Their Mate
Her Rogue Mates
Claimed By The Vikens
Interstellar Brides®: The Colony
Surrender to the Cyborgs
Mated to the Cyborgs
Cyborg Seduction
Her Cyborg Beast
Cyborg Fever
Rogue Cyborg
Interstellar Brides®: The Virgins
The Alien’s Mate
Claiming His Virgin
His Virgin Mate
His Virgin Bride
Other Books
Their Conquered Bride
Wild Wolf Claiming: A Howl’s Romance
Ascension Saga, Book 8: Interstellar Brides®: Ascension Saga Page 7