by Liz Paffel
They could not survive encased in this metametal compound without the ability to cycle the air and cleanse it of carbon dioxide. The Axxeon were susceptible to high levels of carbon dioxide just as humans were. Another crack or shift in the ice might drive the wedge completely through the wall.
He turned to Hiarion. “Take two of your men and meet the engineering team in Sector 5 in case they need assistance.”
Tapping on his comlet, he initiated contact with engineering and instructed them where to go. Tryllin burst into Command.
“Quixx?”
“We have a breach in the compound, my King. Here, in the oxygen conversion room. I have already sent engineering to investigate.”
“I will meet them there.” Tryllin addressed the room. “Resume your normal duties until you hear otherwise.”
Priya’s voice was filled with urgency. “If the system fails, what does that mean?”
“We have only a few days before we run out of oxygen.”
“There’s no backup system?”
“There is. But it is a temporary unit, capable of supplying only a small section of the compound for three days’ time. By then, the main unit would be repaired, or the compound evacuated. We have two-hundred and fifty bodies in the compound. Too many for a situation like this.”
Tryllin locked eyes with Quixx. “We cannot leave until the weapons have been retrieved as planned.”
Quixx held back a scoff. He’d stood silent once before when his former King made a bad decision. It had cost them everything, and he wouldn’t stand for a repeat. “I understand that you want to honor your word to the humans that you will deliver the weapons so they may fight back against the degarzee. However, my King, the lives of your people must come first.”
He didn’t know what to expect as a reaction. He was challenging his King, after all. It was bold, but he’d known Tryllin since they were kinders swimming in the pink waters of Axxeon 8 and he intended to uphold his King in his promise to do a better than his father. In his short time at rule, Tryllin had kept his word.
Tryllin gave a soft nod. “We need the weapons not only to keep our promise to the humans, but for the protection of our people. We suspect our enemy is alive and causing chaos by releasing more degarzee to cause destruction. If they were to ever turn these creatures on the Axxeon…”
Quixx took a slow breath through his nose. “We need to have the ability to defeat them.”
“Correct. We need to protect Axxeon 9, and our future home planet, once it has been secured. As long as the Nozing live, we can never feel safe from what they might do to us next.”
He knew what he had to do. His heart jumped as he glanced at Priya. The time she’d been given to teach him had already been shortened. It seemed it would be shortened even more.
“I will prepare to leave immediately, my King.”
Tryllin’s lips pulled into a resolute line. He turned to Priya. “There is no time to coach Quixx on human manners. You will accompany him and do the talking. Get the weapons. Return here.”
“What?” Priya spread her hands. “When? When are we leaving?”
Tryllin’s comlet began to flash. He glanced at it. “We will wait to hear from engineering about the feasibility of repair. Be prepared for immediate departure, just in case. I must go to my mate.”
Priya scratched, watching as Tryllin left Command. Restless energy rolled off her. “Can you check with Yawnlit again? I have a bad feeling about all of this.”
Quixx contacted Yawnlit on his comlet. The old physician was slow to answer, his words slurred when he assured them that the patients were still fine. The man needed to recharge, and soon before he depleted his inner stores and sunk into stasis. Quixx informed him that they were coming to assist, but he deterred them, stating the patients were resting and doing well. He was going to check on the Queen, but would return shortly.
Priya didn’t look pleased. “I feel like I need to do something right now. I can’t just stand here.”
The incident had turned on her inner drive and given her that adrenaline dump that forced certain people to act while others chose to run the other way. Axxeon were similar, though, none would ever turn away in the face of danger even if they wanted to. It was admirable to see her reaction to the threat the compound was under. With that kind of resolve, what had happened so badly that she turned her back on being a human physician?
“I am going to check the remaining seams in the compound. It will take some time. You may assist me if you wish, but first, you will eat something.”
She rolled her shoulders as if to dismiss his request. Except, he wasn’t requesting. He would not take no for an answer.
“I can eat later. Let’s go. Did you tell Yawnlit to call if he needs help? I really should get one of those wrist things.”
“I am not asking you to eat, female. It is a direct order. It is foolish to allow yourself to go hungry and weaken your strength when we are facing challenges ahead.”
“You’re ordering me to eat?”
“Yes.”
“Here’s a lesson for you. Women do not like to be ordered to do anything. They welcome suggestions. They’re willing to take your advice into consideration. But never, ever order your mate to do anything.”
“That is ridiculous. Females do not always know what is best for them.”
Priya thrust both hands on her hips. Her energy snapped with irritation. “Are you serious?”
“I am always serious. You are standing before me right now very hungry, are you not? Yet you would rather disobey an order to consume a meal and look out for your health, than to actually consume a meal. It is more important to you to argue with me than to look out for yourself. This tells me that you are not considering what is best for you.”
Her cheeks heated but he cut her off before she could respond. “Like the Axxeon, human males also have this tendency to not do what is in their best interest. They may not realize it until someone who cares for them takes the lead and opens their eyes. So, you will eat now, and I will not hear another word against it.”
Her nostrils flared, an enticing shade of pink sweeping across her broad cheekbones. Her full lips were parted slightly as if she were on the verge of a retort but held it back. His gaze focused on her mouth… how soft her lips looked. How warm would they feel against his own?
“Fine,” she ground out. “Let’s go eat. But let’s not make it awkward now that you confessed.”
A saucy expression crossed her face, as if she had bested him in some way.
“I confessed nothing.”
“Oh, yes you did. You care for me. Don’t worry. I won’t tell anyone.”
He considered what he’d said—yes, he did imply that caring for someone was the impetus for sometimes taking control of their cares. That didn’t mean he cared. It was an example. Quixx stepped closer as he searched her face. A potent heat began to build inside his middle, welling up to his brain where shadowy desires began to bloom. Desires he should not be experiencing.
He did not wish to feel this way over a female—any female. But there was a small voice inside his head that whispered he did care; he just hadn’t realized it until she’d touched him and set off his solarderm in the way only mates can do.
Heat flushed to the surface of his skin at the memory of his body aflame, tingling, wanting, when he reacted to her touch.
“In the hall. Now.”
He did not wait for her response as he gripped her upper arm and ushered her out of Command. He did not stop until they were several feet away from the door and she was pressed against the far wall, eyes huge with surprise as he trapped her in with his body.
“What are you doing?” Her chest heaved quietly; her face flushed with the same want he had flowing through his veins.
“If you are suggesting that I have intimate feelings for you, it is only fair that I show you how completely an Axxeon male cares for his female.”
What was he doing? He did not want intimate f
eelings with any female.
B-2 Delta. His mission. He would be gone for human months exploring the planet. He was not worthy of this consuming need to touch this female, to take her in his arms and spread her delicate body beneath him for mating. He did not deserve the heated tenderness pulling in his heart for her. Yet having her like this right now brought forth the desires for exactly those things that he’d long ago pushed to the back of his heart.
“I can play fair,” she said in a rush.
Her breath hitched and held in her throat as he leaned down, their eyes locked as he cocked his head and brought his lips close enough to hers to feel their soft warmth. His lips zinged, his solarderm sparking as the demarcation lines began to glow. One more move and he could claim her mouth and slate his need to taste her.
Quickly, and just once.
There wouldn’t be just once. There couldn’t be. He wouldn’t stop at the press of their mouths. He wouldn’t be content until his shaft was buried deep inside her, locking them together and cementing the mating bond.
I do not deserve this. She is staying on this planet, and I am going light years away.
Her throat moved slowly as she swallowed, blinked. The pink of her cheeks turned red as she ripped her eyes from his. “You can back up now, Quixx.”
He blinked, too, realization striking him fully over what he’d been about to do. He moved away and allowed her room to push off from the wall. She refused to look at him as she hugged herself and moved her hands up and down her bare arms. Had he caused the chill that settled over her?
“Can we get on with eating, please?”
“Of course.” He took the lead, disappointed when she stayed a few steps behind him instead of walking at his side like his equal as she normally did. “I offended you in some way.”
She made a soft sound. “I could see you at war with yourself over whether or not to kiss me. I understand that I’m not every man’s cup of tea, but I’ve never had a man struggle over a simple kiss quite that long.”
“It would not have been a simple kiss. Which is why I could not allow it to happen.”
A soft touch against his arm made him pause. “What if I wanted it to happen?”
Just like that, his solarderm heated again, his body going tense with the need to claim her.
“It cannot happen, Priya. I will never be the male to ‘take you home.’”
Her forehead scrunched in surprise right before she huffed a humorless laugh. “Signal received loud and clear, Commander.”
It was best if they dropped this line of conversation now. Continuing down the hall, he pushed his thoughts to stray to the weakened compound, and what else he might find as he explored each sector. The lights flickered twice as they entered the cruex. The mess from multiple tipped trays had been cleaned, the empty room made right after the quake.
Quixx grabbed two trays and sent them through the synthesizer, then carried them to the closest table and set them down. Priya did not argue at his food choice, nor did she speak as she sat and moved food around on her plate. She sectioned each portion farther apart from the other, ensuring her food did not touch. Quixx tucked into his own tray. He cared not if it was all mixed together. Eating was a necessity and something to be done quickly.
“Can I ask you something?”
He paused mid-bite to answer. “Yes.”
“This woman you’re going to retrieve is for sure the woman you want to take as your mate?”
“My King is considering making her my mate. It is not my choice.”
She ate a couple bites. It pleased him to know she would not be hungry any longer.
“Here’s the deal with human women, Quixx. Let’s say you do plan to make her your life partner. You have to commit to her and only her. No looking at other females. No… kissing other females. In fact, you can’t show interest in another female in any way or it will cause trouble.”
Quixx lowered his fork, elbows on the table as he crossed his forearms and looked at her. “Do you tell me this information for my benefit, Priya… or, yours?”
Chapter Ten
“Don’t be ridiculous. Why would I be saying it for me?”
Damn him. How did Quixx read her so easily?
Why was she even immersing herself in this? Quixx was hot. He was sexy, and considerate when he wasn’t being an asshole. Even when he was edgy, well, he had a reason she supposed. He was a commander in charge of things she was just beginning to understand.
Some people turned into all business with no tolerance for pettiness or interruption when they were focused and under pressure. He had a gruff side to him, but so did she. They both got more intense when they were under pressure. It didn’t bother her that he got an attitude. In fact, she liked his intensity. Working in the operating room under constant pressure gave her an appreciation for people who were focused and competent under fire.
She could be snarky, but she’d learned to temper it. Sass was her way of keeping people where she wanted them. Not too close. Never too close.
So why did she want to bypass that rule with an alien?
“When I do take a mate, it will be for appearances only.” Quixx took two quick bites and pushed away his empty tray. “I have no intention of breeding her or letting her close to my heart.”
“I’m almost afraid to ask why. Okay, I’m not that afraid. Why?”
“I have no desire to create offspring. I have no need for a legacy, nor do I want one.”
No children? Wasn’t breeding the whole idea behind the Axxeon Summoning human women to mate with them? A bitter edge lined his tone suggesting he was covering his true feelings with his words. Whatever his reasons, they were his own.
“Not everyone wants children,” she said. “Humans accept this. How do the Axxeon react to those who may not want a child?”
His shoulders stiffened as he looked away. “It is none of my concern how they feel about it. Offspring is not something I will tolerate, just as I will not tolerate having a mate.”
“Then, what do you plan to do if King Tryllin tells you to mate with this woman?”
Quixx rose and grabbed his tray. “I will send her to Axxeon 9 to live her life. Once I retrieve her and the weapons, I am preparing for a mission that will take me many galaxies from Earth. I will be gone a very long time. She will be well cared for by my people. She may take a substitute mate in my absence if she chooses.”
“You mean, like a lover? That’s allowed?”
He was willing to take a mate he did not want and not bat an eye if she took a lover while he was away at work. Work, which would take him away for months at a time. Her stomach dropped just thinking about it.
“If by lover you mean a male who will satisfy her sexually since I will not, then yes.”
Wow. Tell it like it is, Quixx. At least she knew where he stood. He was leaving? Why did she keep coming back to that? The base of her throat grew tight as it always did when she got panicky about something. She shouldn’t feel that way right now. She had no business feeling anything about what he’d just said. There might be something about him that she appreciated and desired, but he wasn’t good for her just as the men she’d dated weren’t good for her. It was a pattern she couldn’t seem to break out of.
She wasn’t going to continue that with a big, green alien.
And now that she understood his position, she doubted anything she might tell him about how to present favorably in front of a human female would do any good. He was prewired to resist anything she might suggest about cultivating a relationship because he simply didn’t want one.
“I have another question,” she pressed gently. Maybe she shouldn’t ask, but what the hell. She had nothing to lose, and his answer could tell her a lot about his resistance to forming intimate bonds.
“Ask.”
She took a moment to consider how to frame her words. “I don’t know the details of what happened to your females except what Alora told me. The Nozing released a virus that killed many
of your women. Shortly after, your planet entered a deep freeze and died. Are you afraid of having a relationship because it’s too painful after suffering the loss of your loved ones? Or, is there something more?”
He stared at her as if he’d turned to stone. She recognized immediately that prying had been a mistake. She put up a hand in supplication. “I’m sorry. Please, forget that I asked.”
“Would you find it painful to discuss with me how you were responsible for the death of a patient, which caused the end of your work as a doctor?”
Her mouth fell open. How did he…? Right, Yawnlit had researched her background before asking her to help him work in medical. Of course, he would tell the Commander about her shortcomings. He likely had to explain why he wanted her help after what she’d done.
“It’s not something that I’ve talked to many people about,” she answered honestly. “But if you ask me because you’re truly curious and not simply lashing out at me because you’re angry, then I will tell you.”
Pulling his gaze away, he grabbed his tray and rose. She followed suit.
“Quixx, this isn’t going to work.”
He was already leaving the room. She hurried to keep up, suddenly feeling as if her muscles were fatigued. Maybe, she was losing her purpose in trying to keep up with him at all.
“What do you mean?”
“You’ve got your mind made up about this woman, about your future as a possibly mated man. I can try and put you through an entire course on being the sexiest bastard in the city, but it’s not going to sink in because you don’t want it to. Let’s face it; you don’t really care if anyone likes you or not.”
“That is true, but I cannot risk that she changes her mind because I offend her in some way.”
“That’s why you have me coming with, remember? I’ll do all the sweet talking, act as a buffer for anything terrible that might come out of your mouth. We get the weapons and the two of you head back here.”
Quixx stopped so fast, she almost ran into him.
“You are still planning to return to the city?”
“I believe so, yes.”