Me. Lucy. Their—
“Mate.” The word burst from me. I’d meant to say Nik’s name, or just yell or scream or groan. But I’d finished my thought aloud, and Nik’s reaction was like a nuclear explosion inside my mind.
His fingers dug into my hips as he locked me to him. Sam came again, his hot seed splashing on my lower back. His release triggered another orgasm in me. Nik growled as the culmination of the sensations we all felt through the collars went from coherent lust to something wilder. He’d held himself off until both Sam and I found release, until our feelings were built layer upon layer and they burst through our minds like a flash flood breaking a dam.
Nik came on a shout, filling me with his seed. I came again with him, my pussy eager to spasm and pulse, so close to the edge for so long the orgasm never seemed to stop.
I’d been right in my words. Adding Nik and Sam’s pleasure to my own had been too much. The last I remembered before I passed out was Nik and Sam gently cleaning me before I was tucked snuggly between them. Right where I was supposed to be.
8
Niklas, Coalition Transport Ship, Location Unknown
* * *
Lord Ander, Sambor and I materialized standing next to one another, the transport beacon on my chest buzzing with energy as I scanned the cargo area, making sure that Gwen and her mate, Makarios from Rogue 5, had not yet arrived.
The room was empty except for Dr. Helion, who held an ion pistol pointed in our direction. We were safe on a Coalition ship and in a rarely used section for this fairly clandestine meeting, but he still was clearly wary. He didn’t trust anyone, even us, whom he’d been expecting. Gods, he’d been the one who wanted this meeting. While Ander had been able to make it happen, the location wasn’t IC Command, and Helion lacked control. He seemed to hate that.
Fascinating. I had never seen this side of him, and I was suddenly very curious as to who had inspired such emotion.
“As I said yesterday, my mate was trying to help arrange this meeting,” Ander said. “She was successful. Although I am grateful, I would prefer to be in her bed, not standing in a cold cargo hold in deep space.” This was the second day in a row our duties to the Coalition had taken him from her side during her birthing day celebrations.
I could relate since Sambor and I had been pulled from Lucy’s bed as well. Normally I lived for my work. This was the first time the thrill in my blood was directed at going home rather than going out on the next mission.
“Gwendolyn Fernandez of Earth and Makarios of Kronos Legion will arrive shortly.” Dr. Helion settled his weapon back into its holster on his thigh.
Good. Because just behind me, Sambor had his own weapon leveled at Helion… just in case. Sambor liked a good laugh, but when it came to fighting, he was ruthless. Which was just one of the reasons I’d chosen him so long ago to be my second. He protected me with expert precision, and he would protect Lucy the same way.
Our mate did not lack bravery, but hers was of a different sort. She had the courage to leave her planet, and not for a mate. She had explained she’d gone to The Colony because her friend, Olivia, had been mated and cuffed by Atlan Wulf. Lucy lived there without having a mate—or mates—of her own. Still, she’d chosen to go out into the unknown, to another world for the family she loved. Olivia and her niece and nephew.
I wanted that fierce love directed at us. To earn Lucy’s love, I needed to get back to her. “How did a human female end up with a mate from Kronos Legion?” I asked.
“That’s irrelevant.” Dr. Helion snorted. “And human? Gwen? Hardly. She might have been human once. Now she is a weapon.”
Standing slightly behind me, watching my back as always, Sambor shifted. Normally I would have read his agitation at the doctor’s words from that one small movement. With the addition of the mating collars, his dislike of Helion added to my disgust at the doctor’s choice of words. The idea of him speaking of a human female so similar to our mate in such a clinical way had me disliking him all the more. I wondered if her Rogue 5 mate knew of Helion’s thoughts.
“A human female? A weapon? How is that possible? I’ve seen them handle themselves with a ReCon Unit, but alone? They are small and weak, Doctor. How is a defenseless human female dangerous enough to have you nervously pulling your ion blaster?” I asked, wanting to see what he would say next. He was far from a diplomat. Perhaps that was why Lord Ander had ensured I was in attendance.
The doctor paced the room, clearly nervous. “She single-handedly destroyed a Nexus unit on The Colony. I tried to track her down, but she and that fucking hybrid mate of hers stole a ship with advanced stealth tech. They have eluded me completely.”
“What type of hybrid?” I knew all members of the legions on Rogue 5 were part Hyperion. Their fangs and aggression made them dangerous enemies.
“Forsian.” Dr. Helion glanced from me to Sambor, then Ander. “In addition to that, he has full Hive integrations. That’s why you three are here.” His gaze lingered on Ander’s bulk next to me, then on Sambor’s weapon. I, too, could fight like a demon if provoked. I’d thought we were here for diplomatic reasons. To negotiate some kind of deal.
Apparently we were here to be Helion’s muscle against a hybrid Forsian cyborg.
Fuck. Not a fight I wanted to be in. I had much more pleasurable things I could be doing.
“So they eluded you but agreed when Queen Jessica asked for her help?” I used years of practice to keep my amusement from showing in my expression. The idea that a human female had irritated the most pragmatic and ruthless intelligence operative I knew entertained me, despite the fact that her mate was a scary bastard from Rogue 5.
Helion scowled.
Ander ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Exactly. I spoke to my mate, who spoke to Lady Rone.”
I sorted through names. “Rachel? Governor Maxim’s mate?”
Ander nodded. “Yes. She knew Gwen before. They were friends during Gwen’s time on The Colony before she and her mate went rogue.”
“She went rogue?”
“I told you, she and that Forsian of hers wiped out a group of Hive, including a Nexus unit, stole a ship, and haven’t been seen since,” Helion snapped.
“She sounds fucking amazing to me,” Sambor offered, and I knew he was purposely irritating Helion. We had so few opportunities to do so.
“The human will not respond to my request for information or assistance,” Helion complained.
“Why not? Did you make her angry? Betray her trust?” I looked at Ander, wide-eyed, knowing Helion would never answer such a question.
Ander gave me a look, then sighed. “The females do not trust easily. And getting my mate involved”—he gave Helion a dark look—“during her birthing day celebrations was the fastest way I could think of to get this hunt of yours over with.”
“We need her. I need to know what she knows. What she can do.” Helion, as usual, was completely unapologetic.
Ander sighed and shrugged as if to say, See what I mean? Aloud he asked me and Sambor, “Do you wish to spend time with Helion and his Hive Nexus unit for a third day in a row?”
I didn’t respond because I knew it was rhetorical. None of us wanted to be here when we had warm, willing females waiting for us back on Prillon Prime.
“Trust me, Lord Maxim is not thrilled to have his mate involved in issues like this, but Lady Rone was able to get Gwen to come here. If, and I mean if, here was a cargo ship in Sector 437, protected by Commander Karter’s battlegroup, where there was no chance Helion would try to capture her as well.”
Helion’s clenched jaw was all the indication I needed to know that had been his hope. It seemed the Earth female was smart—or very familiar with the IC commander.
“Girl talk, I’ve heard it’s called,” Helion replied as if it was sour in his mouth.
“You are speaking of my mate and your queen. She and Lady Rone achieved overnight what you have yet to accomplish. Tread carefully, Doctor.” Lord Ander spoke q
uietly, but his words carried the weight not just of Queen Jessica’s mate, but of a warrior who was battle scarred and very protective of his female, as all Prillon warriors should be. And he was here with this asshole rather than at the palace with her.
As usual for the doctor, he did not apologize but continued on. “The human females have disproportionately affected this war.” The speed of his pacing increased. “They seem uniquely adaptable and highly creative. Their minds can handle the effects of the Hive implants and still retain control. It’s remarkable. The brain bleeds are a problem, but with time I’m sure I can solve that obstacle. I simply need more of the females to work with.”
The doctor was obviously thinking aloud. Still I felt my ire rise at the thought of the doctor placing Hive implants in any human’s brain, especially my Lucy’s. “Don’t even think about it, Helion.”
I spoke for all Earth females, not just mine.
Sambor’s rage rivaled my own, the psychic link between our collars making me speak a bit more forcefully than I had intended. I did not lose my composure. Ever.
Helion stopped midstep and looked up at me with surprise. When his gaze dropped to the mating collar around my neck, he sighed. “Fuck. Not you, too.”
Ander shocked me by chuckling. I had never heard the scarred male laugh.
“A human?” Helion asked.
“Yes.”
He stared as if waiting for me to give him more information about Lucy, but I was not inclined to provide details to a male who had just spoken of experimenting on human females and their brains. He would know nothing of her.
“I am happy for you, Niklas,” he said, sharing the smallest shred of courtesy. “Sambor is your second?”
“Yes.” Sambor answered for himself, which was unusual. Normally he remained silent and watchful as I conducted business. But I felt his need through the collars to make Helion aware of the danger of messing with our female.
“Good for you.” He paced again, his impatience growing. “Where is that female?”
“In a hurry, Doctor?” Lord Ander asked, sarcasm lacing his words. “Please note, whatever outcome this meeting has, we are adjourned for the next three days. My mate’s generosity in helping you has caused me to be away from her. The same can be said for Niklas and Sambor and their new mate. You will need to plumb your own depths to be the diplomat all on your own, Helion.”
Helion’s cheeks mottled red at Lord Ander’s scolding, but I didn’t blame Ander. Gods, I wished I’d said the words myself. I felt Sambor’s satisfaction.
Dr. Helion turned away, fists clenched and shoulders stiff, as we all felt the disturbance of energy in the room. “They are arriving.”
I couldn’t decide who was more pleased by that.
Sambor took his weapon out and leveled it at an area of visual disturbance on the other side of the cargo hold. The space was large, and Ander had said he’d given our visitors precise coordinates.
When the two guests materialized, I was surprised to find the female looked completely human. And lovely. Long black hair fell to her waist. She had darker skin than my Lucy, and her eyes were a deep brown similar to some of the other human females I had seen. Next to her, Makarios of Kronos was massive, as I’d expected. What I had not imagined was the apparent lack of concern on his part for his female. She stood out in the open next to him, unprotected should Sambor decide to take a shot. Helion’s weapon was at the ready, and I knew Ander and his contingency of guards with him were armed.
“Dr. Helion, I presume.” The female spoke first, looking to the IC commander. The uniform had been an easy giveaway. The massive male next to her glared, much like Ander, but larger even than an Atlan. I stared, not able to resist the urge to inspect him thoroughly. He had dark hair, dark eyes and fangs. A solid foot taller than any Atlan I’d ever met. I was surprised not to see any Hive integrations on his body.
He snapped his fangs at me, and I grinned back, unrepentant. “I was told you both came by way of The Colony. But I do not see any integrations.” I was trolling for information, not sure any would be forthcoming, but I would take my chances. They were both fascinating. I believed Makarios of Kronos’s anger was focused more on Helion than the rest of us. I didn’t blame him. It seemed many were inconvenienced this day because of him.
The female spoke for him, probably because the hulking male did not look inclined to humor my curiosity. “Oh, he’s got ’em. Shoulder. Hip. Thigh. Knee. A lot of microscopic stuff. He was strong before. Now he can rip his way through a Hive ship’s outer hull with his bare hands. Can’t you, baby?”
His grin was the only proof I needed. I felt Sambor’s shock at her words coupled with my own. That kind of strength simply wasn’t possible.
I supposed the surprise showed on my face, because Makarios spoke with pride. “My mate is stronger.” His laughter made light of his joke.
Assuming it was a joke. I wasn’t sure. I looked at Sambor, the question on my face and, I had no doubt, communicated clearly though our collars. He shrugged and Helion was quick to take advantage of the small break in conversation.
“Gwendolyn Fernandez of Earth,” Helion spoke quickly, his voice like sharp beats in the room.
She nodded and held out her right hand. “You can call me Gwen.”
Helion stared at the proffered hand, so I moved around him and closer to the female. I’d been around enough humans to recognize the peace offering of a handshake, as they called it. This was my role, to keep her from transporting right back out of here before we’d gained any knowledge from her.
I placed my right hand in hers and bent low over our joined hands. “I am Ambassador Niklas Lorvar of Prillon Prime.”
She waited patiently for me to let go of her hand, and I did so quickly, not eager to upset her mate. I released her and straightened She grinned and the look reminded me of Rachel’s face when she was teasing Governor Maxim or Captain Ryston. Or even the sly twist of her lips just as Lucy did with me. “I know who you are. Rachel gave me the 411 about the party the other night… that you two left early. Congratulations.”
I had no idea what the numbers meant, but I understood the context, the fact that she knew Lucy had taken us back to her room.
“This is Mak.” She thumbed over her shoulder, casually introducing her mate.
I inclined my chin to the male but did not offer to touch him. I was not a fool. “Makarios of Kronos. I am honored to meet you.”
He crossed his arms and stared at me. “I don’t like this, so make it quick. We’re here because Gwen and Rachel are friends.” He switched his attention to Helion. “And that’s the only reason.” He looked behind me. “You must be Ander?”
A nod of Ander’s head was his only response.
“And you?” Makarios was looking at Sambor now.
“I am Sambor Treval. I am the ambassador’s private guard and his second.”
Makarios gave Ander’s guards—who’d stood at attention and silent behind him—a quick glance, but their role was clear.
Sam’s words made Gwen smile. “I’ve heard about you, too, Sam. Nice to meet you guys.”
Sam? Had she just called him Sam? “How do you know of Lucy’s name for him?” I asked, which was completely out of character and off topic. It was not my job to veer into personal matters, especially not my own, but I couldn’t help it.
That made Gwen laugh. “Oh, you boys are funny. I know all about you two and Lucy. From what I’ve heard, she’s a sweetheart, so you better take good care of her.”
How the fuck did this female who hunted Hive on the other side of the galaxy know about the mate I’d just met and had yet to officially claim?
My shock must have shown on my face, because Dr. Helion chuckled. “I did warn you. The human females have some kind of secret communication network. They keep secrets from us.” He glared at Gwen, but the face she made was another I recognized from watching Lucy every moment since we’d met, and from dealing with Queen Jessica the last few years. A
nnoyance. She was annoyed with the most powerful male in the Intelligence Core. Not upset or intimidated. Annoyed.
“Why am I here, Helion? Rachel said you’ve got a Nexus unit locked up. Good for you for capturing one, but I heard all the credit goes to Vice Admiral Niobe. Another Earth woman, right?” She didn’t wait for him to answer. “What do you want from me? Let’s get this show on the road and get these guys back to the party.”
My thoughts exactly.
Helion actually huffed. “I need to know how you are finding and targeting the Nexus units. I need to know exactly how you are taking them out. You have destroyed two that I know of. How?”
She crossed her arms and shook her head. “Nope. Nothing I can say would help you. Just stay out of our way so we can get the job done. The one you can’t.”
“I can’t do that.”
Now her annoyance turned to aggression, and I wisely stepped back to watch the interaction play out. There were times for diplomacy, and this wasn’t one. I had never seen anyone refuse Helion anything.
This should be interesting.
9
Sambor
* * *
I should have been shocked at the female’s sharp words. Instead I found myself amused. Wearing the collars was interesting, even without Lucy here. I assumed Niklas would also find the female entertaining. Now I knew he did. His amusement enhanced mine. And this human female? So much fire. Passion. Just like our Lucy. Makarios was a lucky man. When Niklas and I got off this battleship and back in Lucy’s bed, we would be, too.
“Listen, Doc,” Gwen continued. “I know you sent that stupid probe to try to track our ship.”
“I—”
“No.” She raised her hand, palm out, toward his face. He was so shocked he actually stopped speaking. “No. You are not going to stand here and lie to me. I know it was you. Or someone under your command. Whatever. You aren’t going to order me around like I’m one of your soldiers. I’m not. But I’m on your side. Be grateful and leave Mak and me alone to do our thing.”
Surprise Mates Page 9