Kneeling by my bed was Jessica, her face close, our noses nearly touching. With her was Ander, who stood tall beside her, arms crossed. He was in the same black battle armor Sam usually wore. His face was smeared with dirt and… was that dried blood?
I tugged the bedding up higher to ensure my nakedness was covered. “What’s up?”
“Well, we… um…” Jessica looked to me, then away. She bit her lip, and tears filled her eyes. Then she took a deep breath and met my gaze. “Something’s happened. Let’s get you dressed and we’ll tell you.”
I looked up at Ander, whose jaw clenched as if he were trying to break rocks with his back molars. “Where are Nik and Sam?”
“That’s what we want to talk about. Clothes first,” she said. Her voice was so calm. Soothing, even.
“Talk now,” I countered.
Ander nodded, although somewhat grudgingly.
“Something’s happened,” she said again. “Ander was with Sam and Nik today. They had that meeting.”
I pushed up on my elbow, careful to keep myself covered. “The one with the guy from IC. They told me about it, at least what they could. The follow-up from the one yesterday. That’s why they left early.”
Jessica glanced at the floor, then back at me. “They were all at the meeting, and their ship was attacked. I don’t know the details, but the Hive… well—”
“The ship was destroyed,” Ander said.
Destroyed?
“I… I want those clothes now,” I said, needing a minute, unable to process what they were telling me—or rather, not telling me. At least not with words. The grim look on Ander’s face made my chest ache and the backs of my eyelids burn with denial.
Jessica nodded and stood, going to my closet as Ander spun on his heel, faced away to give me some privacy. She returned with a sweatshirt and yoga pants, the ones that Nik said he liked. I climbed from the bed and tugged them on as my brain processed.
The ship was destroyed? But Ander is here. He was on the ship, too. Right? So where are Nik and Sam?
I pulled my long hair from the neckline of my sweatshirt as I said, “What do you mean, it was destroyed? Blown up? Crashed? What?”
Ander darted a glance over his shoulder, then seeing me dressed, turned around. I stood so small before him in my rattiest of clothes while Jessica was dressed in her gorgeous Prillon finery, ever the queen.
I kept talking. “Where are Nik and Sam? Are they hurt? You’ve got blood on you. You went to the meeting, too, didn’t you? Are you injured?”
Ander glanced down. “No injuries a ReGen wand won’t fix.”
Meaning he had been hurt but came here, to speak to me, before treating his injury.
“Then take me to Sam and Nik.” If they were hurt, I wanted to see them.
Ander shook his head, his fists clenched at his sides. “While the collar about your neck is not Lorvar blue and you are not officially Lord Niklas’s mate, it is my duty to be the bearer of bad news.”
My heart began to beat frantically, and I became light-headed. I had an idea of what he was going to say, yet I held my breath.
“As general in the Coalition, it is with great sadness that I share with you that this morning Niklas Lorvar and Sambor Treval were both believed killed in action when the cargo carrier they were on was attacked by multiple Hive Scout ships. External scanners on Battleship Karter registered an explosion, after which, they lost contact with the ship.”
My knees gave out, and I dropped onto the bed. Stared up at Ander.
“What do you mean, they lost contact?” No. Just no. My brain refused to process the words. “You were there. What happened to them? You came back. Why didn’t they come with you?”
His lips pressed into a thin line. “They insisted I leave first, placing my safety above their own.”
God, that sounded exactly like something Nik and Sam would do. Damn them.
I felt a sob well up, but I fought it down with cold, hard logic. “What about escape pods? Maybe the ship crashed somewhere and they’re still alive. Did they send anyone out to search for them?”
Ander bowed his head, and Jessica sat next to me, taking my hand as Ander answered my questions and more.
“The Karter sent out multiple probes to look for wreckage. They looked for hours, but there were no life signs, no comm signals. All they could find were—”
He stopped and I wanted to kick him. “Finish that sentence. What did they find?”
“Pieces of the ship. Wreckage.” He shuddered and Jessica quickly wiped a tear from her cheek and I realized they were sharing emotions through their mating collars. Of course they were. The pain on Jessica’s face made this all too real.
“They can’t be dead.” I licked my suddenly dry lips. “They were just here.” I pointed at the bed.
Jessica settled closer and leaned her head against mine. Her hand squeezed my fingers, and either hers were warm or mine cold. “Honey, I know. I’m so sorry.”
“Why? Why were you there? Why did they have to go? What was so damn important?” Rage built in me, and I clung to it, used it to bury the pain piercing my skull like an ice pick.
“They weren’t after us,” Ander explained. “We set up a meeting with a human female who has unique Hive implants. She and her mate agreed to meet with us.”
“Gwen. You’re talking about Gwen.” I had heard of the famous human woman who had tracked and killed a Hive Nexus unit in the tunnels beneath The Colony. She’d fought like a demon in the fighting pits, too. Governor Maxim had forced her to take a mate because she had been causing so much trouble.
I’d heard the stories during my time on The Colony, and I’d secretly admired her. She sounded awesome. Like a real badass. She was the reason my guys were dead? Nothing made sense.
“If the Hive wanted Gwen, why did they blow the ship up?” I asked.
“She had already transported off. They were probably mad.”
I looked up at Ander. He was scarred, obviously a warrior, but he was not integrated like Prime Nial. Like Gwen and Makarios and everyone else on The Colony.
“The Hive don’t have emotions like that. They don’t get angry.” I’d been on The Colony long enough to have learned a thing or two. Plus I’d spent enough time with Olivia and Wulf to pick up quite a lot about his time with the Hive. I had asked questions of Wulf. Dr. Surnen. Even Braun, because he’d seemed eager for someone to listen. Mad? The Hive? “They weren’t angry. I can promise you that.” I thought about everything I’d heard about Gwendolyn Fernandez and the Hive and the things she could do. “Gwen doesn’t need a space suit. You know that, right? They probably thought they could kill everyone on board and she’d float out into space where they could just pick her up.”
“What do you mean, Gwendolyn does not need a space suit?”
I shrugged, the pain and anger warring inside me until I felt numb. “Ask Dr. Surnen.”
Jessica rubbed her hand up and down my back, and her touch was making me angry for no good reason. I didn’t want her touching me. I didn’t want anyone touching me except Nik and Sam, and they weren’t here. Weren’t ever going to be here again.
I needed to be alone. I needed to process.
I needed to curl into a ball and cry, and I didn’t need witnesses. I looked from Jessica to Ander and fought for control.
“I’m so glad you’re all right,” I told Ander. I was. Happy for him, for Prime Nial, for Jessica. In a very strange way, I was also proud of Nik and Sam. They’d protected Ander, insisted he transport away first because that was who they were. Protectors. Loyal. Perfect.
And gone.
Jessica popped up, went over to Ander and hugged him from the side. His arm went around her shoulders, and her head tucked into him. “I survived only because my guards and I initiated our transport beacons when we did, otherwise…”
“You would have been on the ship when it exploded. Just like Nik and Sam,” I stated, figuring it out.
“I would have, yes.”<
br />
“Then if you weren’t there, you don’t know if they’re dead,” I reasoned. “I mean, they could be alive. Injured. Maybe part of the ship blew away and they had to crash somewhere. Maybe the comms are down and we just don’t know.”
Ander shook his head. “They were in deep space, too far from any planet to survive the journey in such a condition. I am sorry, Lucy. There was nowhere for them to go.”
“They’re really dead,” I said, finishing what he couldn’t.
He nodded.
Jessica moved back to me, hugged me. “Honey, I’m so sorry.”
I didn’t know how I was supposed to feel. I’d only known Nik and Sam for two days. Heck, less than that. I’d only arrived on Prillon Prime less than forty-eight hours ago. Yet in such a short time, I’d not only met them but given myself to them and reveled in it. I’d held nothing back, for the first time in my life taking what I wanted. Feeling beautiful. Desired. Feminine. Worthy.
This thing with Nik and Sam was supposed to be a fling. A wild time. Fun. They’d changed that when they’d offered me the mating collar, when I’d felt their emotions, their desire, their possessive need to protect me. Fuck me. Please me. They’d ruined me, and now I didn’t want anyone else. I wanted them. They were mine.
“Wait!” I touched my finger to the collar around my neck. The one I’d accepted the night before. “I’d know if they were dead. I’d feel it.”
Both Jessica and Ander shook their heads, but it was Jessica who spoke. “Oh, honey. No. It’s not like that.” She touched her own red collar. “They’re not Hunters. The collars don’t work that far apart. I didn’t sense Ander was in danger or share the feelings he had when the Hive attacked. The battlegroup was too far away. I only knew of it when he arrived back at transport. I dropped my breakfast plate, the feelings hit me so hard. I ran out of the palace, my guards chasing after me to get to him at the transport station.”
I didn’t feel either Nik or Sam. Not positively or negatively. I didn’t sense them at all. The things I’d felt through the collar weren’t bombarding me now. Eagerness, need, pleasure, satisfaction, desire, happiness… all of it had been overwhelming the night before. Sitting here, it was as if the collar was a simple necklace, something pretty about my neck.
Something black. Something that would never change to blue.
“They didn’t claim me,” I admitted.
“I know, honey.” Jessica stroked my back.
Of course she knew. Everyone knew because my collar was black. Would always be black.
“I canceled the royal ball tonight, Lucy. Everyone is on edge. The Hive haven’t attacked that deep in Coalition space for months. The kings and queen of Viken have returned to their planet. Commander Karter and the others from Battlegroup Karter have returned to their ship to help with anything they can. Other Prillon fighters have been assigned new missions and transported out. Those from The Colony are waiting to take you back home. I got in touch with Olivia on Earth. She’s going to come back from there to be with you.”
“Right now?”
“Yes. They are already at the transport pad.”
I nodded and moved quickly, throwing the few things I’d brought with me into a bag. I wanted to keep everything I had. I wanted to remember them. Their touch. The sounds they made when they found my body wet and eager for them. Their heat wrapped around me as I slept.
Home. Why did the idea of returning to my tiny quarters on the barren planet feel so empty? Why did I feel so empty? I hadn’t been ready to be claimed. I’d told Nik and Sam that. They’d told me how they felt about me, that they’d wanted forever. I’d felt the truth of it in the collar.
That hurt so fucking bad. The potential for what we could have been had been blown up. Destroyed by the Hive.
When I was ready, Jessica led me out of my pretty room. I felt Ander’s presence behind us. “Nial’s busy in a meeting with the war council… but wanted to be here to talk to you.”
“I understand.” Her other mate was the head of all of Prillon Prime and the Coalition planets. He had a big job, and losing Ambassador Niklas Lorvar, Sambor and a ship with who knew how many other fighters on it to an unexpected Hive attack was a problem. I didn’t have any problems. I was just a makeup artist who was now going to live on The Colony alone. Most likely forever since none of the guys there interested me. Not like Nik and Sam. Now that I knew a true connection, I didn’t want anything less.
We met Lindsey, Kiel, Mikki and the others from The Colony at the transport room where the weekend had begun. Everyone was quiet, showing none of the earlier excitement. I got hugs from the ladies, and Lindsey wrapped her arm around me. Two days ago we’d been eager to party and have a fun time on Prillon Prime. I was supposed to get laid.
I’d gotten exactly what I’d come for. Hadn’t left with anything more except… a broken heart. I was devastated. Two smart, brave and amazing guys were dead. I loved them, despite the fact that I was realizing it a little too late.
I looked up at Lindsey. “What happens in Vegas,” I said, then burst into tears.
11
Niklas, Uncharted Asteroid, Four Days Later
* * *
We crouched behind a ridge of black carbonite boulders on the asteroid and watched as the Hive Scouts swarmed what remained of our wrecked cargo ship. This was the third scout team in the last few hours. There were four who’d survived the crash. Four of us stuck on this Coalition-forgotten rock. Me, Sambor, Warlord Bahre and Captain Var, a Prillon who’d been outside the meeting room when the explosion had occurred. Either the rest of the passengers on the cargo ship had transported out or had been sucked into space. After days on this hellish planet, I had to wonder if instant death would have been a better option. Now we spent our time avoiding the Hive, staying alive and waiting for rescue.
Lying flat on the rock above us, Sambor had his ion rifle aimed in the Hives’ direction. He was practically motionless, watching. His whisper was loud and clear in my helmet.
“Three Scouts. Three Soldiers with heavy armor.”
“Fuck.” The Atlan’s groan fit my own mood perfectly, but the sound was because he was seriously injured. His body was riddled with a patchwork of burns and lacerations that no mere mortal creature should have survived. We’d found one ReGen wand in the wreckage after the crash and it had worked for a time, but without being recharged, it had become as useless as one of the pebbles we lay upon. The Atlan now survived on pure will.
Var crouched on the opposite side of the small plateau we’d climbed after the crash. His ion rifle pointed in the opposite direction, guarding our flank. Above us, a rock overhang created the illusion of a cave. It wasn’t much, but the outcropping had protected us from the harsh rays of the nearby star as well as kept us hidden from Hive patrol ships. So far.
The asteroid’s electromagnetic field was wreaking havoc with our comms. We could speak to one another, but the connection was weak and filled with interference. And our transport beacons? We had tried, but they had been unable to lock onto a transport location. We were stranded with no way to communicate with the Coalition, and no way off this rock.
Unless help arrived soon, we were all dead. Or worse. If the worse happened, we all knew it would be so bad that being sucked into space would have been a blessing.
Why had I thought my job was so important? Why did I risk what we had with Lucy for Helion? The Hive weren’t going anywhere. That was blatantly obvious to all of us in this moment. I should have told Helion no. Delayed the meeting. Stayed with Lucy. Duty had called me away.
Look where that got me. All of us.
Fuck.
Sambor remained still for long minutes, and we remained in silence, waiting with him. There was nothing else to do except think about all my own weaknesses. He was the expert here, a veteran of many Hive battles. He knew what he was doing, knew how to keep us alive. If I had to crash-land on a Hive-infested asteroid and remain alive with anyone, it would be him.
�
�They’re inside,” Sambor murmured. “I’m coming down. Don’t shoot me.”
“Not even for fun?” I asked, making Bahre as well as Var chuckle.
Sambor slid down the rocks to land opposite me. I sat next to Bahre, monitoring the status of his life support on his armor’s display. There wasn’t anything I could do, but it made me feel better knowing his vitals were holding steady. Sambor stretched his legs out and settled his ion rifle across his thighs. “Captain Var, get over here. We need to talk.”
The Prillon warrior moved silent as a ghost and completed a triangle in the small area where Sambor was one corner, Bahre and myself the third. He squatted down. “What’s the plan?”
“What plan?” I asked. There was no plan. This wasn’t a diplomatic trip with meetings and dinners scheduled. This also wasn’t a mission, the details having been coordinated in advance.
Sambor looked at me, and the lack of humor in his eyes was startling. “We have waited three days for a ReCon team. They’re not coming. Based on the blast and the wreckage, I’m guessing the Coalition already thinks we’re dead.”
I wanted to argue, to verbalize some kind of hope, especially for Bahre, but I knew Sambor was probably right. “What do we do?” I was used to being in charge. But here? Now? I could fire an ion blaster or take on an enemy in hand-to-hand combat. I could argue or cajole or compliment. I was a master at reading people and figuring out what they wanted. I was a diplomat, not a survivalist. I’d graduated from the Coalition academy along with the rest of them, but our paths had diverged since. Yet we were back together again now. I had to hope Fate had brought the four of us together to get us out of here.
“You are going to stay here with Bahre,” Sambor ordered. This wasn’t my element, but it was his. “Var and I are going to set up an ambush and steal one of the Hive ships. Then we’re going to fly it back into Coalition space and pray for a miracle. Or that we won’t be blown out of the sky, again, but this time by our own fighters.”
Surprise Mates Page 11