by V T Bonds
Twisting in the small space proves difficult, but I fit the grill back into place and thread the screws with a little contortionism and patience.
The cramped, dark tunnel makes my insides squirm in dread, but I already made the trek once today, so I push through my unease and crawl through the maze.
When the tunnel opens into a narrow, tall room full of offshoots just like the one I crawled out of, I stand and sidestep my way up the sloped floor.
A square patch of level floor tells me I’ve made it to the hidden pocket door leading to the maintenance room. After sliding open the slab of metal, I plaster myself to the wall in the darkened room and close it as quietly as I can.
The slight purple glow in the far corner of the noisy space confirms what our bond already tells me—my Alpha waits for me.
His white irises snap to mine as I saunter past the machinery, any noise we make masked by the chugging and clinking of the metal monsters circulating clean air through this portion of the ship.
I give him a quick hug, glad he no longer resembles a heartless brainiac crammed into a lab coat, and lead him between a puzzle of pipes.
A few minutes later, we slide into a different suite, one we entered earlier this morning.
The Alpha snores as I glide past the mound of blankets covering him and his mate. The sedatives I hit them with when we first snuck in should last another few hours.
By the time they wake up, we’ll be long gone, and since they’re both off rotation for her heat, no one expects them anywhere for another week.
Plus, their pungent pheromones will cover all traces of our passing and they were already so deeply asleep when I shot them with tranquilizer darts, they’ll have no clue they were medicated. Their rut and heat will plague them when they wake, stealing their attention from any possible side effects.
I stroll to their computer and begin another encrypted message, raiding their closet as I wait for it to send.
By the time I slide on the woman’s least colorful frock, the message has met its destination and Draukir has pulled on a pair of pants and a boring shirt.
They won’t miss these clothes either, by the size of their wardrobes.
I guess working in the oversized maintenance hanger has its perks.
Erasing all traces of my efforts on the server and computer, I join my lifemate by the door.
I soak in his quiet reassurance before opening the hatch and leading him into the hallway.
As mated pairs do when not working, I wrap my hand into the crook of his arm and walk half a step behind him, hiding my awareness behind a ditzy façade.
We weave our way through shops and businesses, stopping to input a code where required and buying a few things to match our story.
I stay plastered to Draukir’s side even after we board the exit pod. The other passengers wear similar clothes—the females preened like peacocks while the males wear stuffy clothes.
Man, the ISC really has no sense of humor, do they? Draukir’s wry smirk accompanies his agreement over my internal remark.
The overall presence of surveillance and strict dress code show how important they take their outward appearance. Even here, in a transport heading away from the heavily guarded ship, speakers remind “citizens” to behave according to proper protocol.
We transfer to a different line at the next station, then slip into a private craft. From there, we land on a mid-level planet the next solar system over and slink into the obscure part of the city.
I don’t drop the dumb mask until we step into a rundown hotel room and find the most privacy we can outside of our Space-Flyer.
Humongous fingers rip the wig off my head, taking a few strands of brilliant red with it.
I snarl, sending my leg backward to sweep my assailant’s feet out from under him, but he yanks me off balance by my hair and scoops me up as though I weigh nothing.
My lifemate snarls and cradles me to his chest as he stomps across the room.
“Take all this fake shit off,” he demands, dropping me onto the somewhat clean bedspread.
My laughter bounces off the walls as adrenaline morphs to understanding.
I send him teasing flicks through our bond, riling him up further in hopes he’ll strip us both and knot me right now.
He won’t, but I like the way his growl arrows straight to my core.
“Focus, firecracker. Strip. Shower.”
“How is that supposed to make me focus?”
I stare and try not to drool as he strips down to his underwear.
He looms over me and grabs my chin.
“Take that fucking makeup off and wash the rank Alpha stink down the drain before we meet our next target, or the last ten years will be for nothing.”
He knows me so well.
The high from a successful infiltration and escape drains away and my focus returns to our end goal.
I sigh and launch myself upward, planting a frustrated kiss on his tight lips before shucking off the ugly dress and systematically taking off my hidden weapons.
I stack them all on the counter by the sink before stripping out of my leathers and hanging them in the mini washer in the corner of the room. Once Draukir hangs his black outfit next to mine, I snap the door closed and punch the start button.
All business, I saunter back to the shower. By the time I close the stall, the washer beeps and pops open, done with cleaning our clothes.
“Why don’t we have one of those on the ship?” I ask as I set the shower to a cleansing cycle.
“We do, it just isn’t that little. Or efficient.”
I snort and scrub the falling soap into my hair.
“You missed the first round of water,” I say as my Alpha enters the tiny shower stall.
“I’ll live.”
He rubs himself against my back, stealing most of the falling soap. I turn and run my hands over him, using the slippery stuff as an excuse to touch him.
“Careful, little Red. I’m half a heartbeat away from delving deep into your cunt. You’re too fucking sexy,” he growls.
I hold back my moan, knowing we don’t have the time to knot in a strange hotel room in a not-so-safe neighborhood.
We purr and hold ourselves in tight check as the rinse cycle washes away the soap and allows our scents to cloud the tiny stall.
The dry cycle leaves me biting my lower lip, arousal wetting between my legs.
“Put the damn leathers back on before I mount you.”
He swats my ass as I step out of the shower.
I keep biting my lip so I don’t ruin our chance of making our next stop on time.
We’re so close to being ready. Losing out on the next contact would set us back too much.
Meetings like the next one are few and far between. If we miss it, it could be another year before we’re ready.
We can’t wait that long.
Evie can’t wait any longer.
The time is now.
Chapter Thirty-One
Draukir
My mouth waters as she shimmies into her clothes.
Pulling my underwear over my rigid cock makes me want to rip the offending fabric to shreds, but my lifemate’s urgency stops me.
The desperation emanating from the nest in the corner of her heart pulls us both toward the end goal.
We want to find a home. A permanent home. Somewhere with more security than a Space-Flyer.
Somewhere we can relax and love one another without reserve.
The web of souls wrapped around my lifemate’s only friend pulses with activity, growing more and more active every day.
Unease worms into my chest, but I push it away.
The next few days will hold more danger than the last fifteen years combined, yet they are necessary for the outcome we desire.
I finish pulling on my clothes and start slipping weapons back into place, watching my lithe Omega out of the corner of my eye.
She finishes by latching the tiny beacon onto her belt and
draping her shirt over it.
When she crosses the room to stand by the door, I grab her arm and pull her against my chest.
I don’t purr or try to influence her through our link.
She wraps her arms around my waist and leans the side of her face on my pectoral.
We stand in silence, clinging to each other as the gravity of what we’re about to do settles over us.
She takes a shuddering breath before speaking.
“No matter what happens, know that I wouldn’t have changed our time together for anything. These years with you have been more fulfilling than I ever could have imagined.”
I frame her face and meet her eyes.
Baring my soul, I rumble my response in a voice full of emotion.
“I will follow you to the end of time. I love you, Minette.”
“I love you too, Draukir.”
After a searing kiss, she pushes at my shoulders.
I reluctantly pull away and hold her at arms distance.
She strokes my face before squaring her shoulders.
“Time to face the music.”
I follow her out the door, letting her weird expression roll over me.
There will be no music, but I understand the sentiment.
Our biggest trial awaits, but we’re ready.
We’re done running.
We’re going to war against the largest corporation across countless galaxies.
∆∆∆
I sit on the decrepit bench and prop my shoulder against the wall behind me, looking as nonchalant as an Alpha brute can look in a tiny backwater town like this.
A large male with brown scales glances my way, scratching his right ear before slipping into the next alley.
The slim woman sitting cross-legged near the well stands, her tiny frame moving through the crowd with ease as she follows the scaled man.
I wait a few minutes before a couple covered in fabric from head to toe make their way into the alley.
Standing to my full height, I blend into the crowd, visiting a nearby haggler stand before taking the long way to the alley.
After a few steps down the passage, I make a sharp left and duck into a tiny door. I shut it behind me and stand against the wall.
Pews fill the room, centered on the altar of a kaleidoscopic fish-like being raised on the other side.
Eight Alphas, five Omegas, and four Betas sit like a small congregation in the pews.
The smallest frame sitting in the front row stands. Covered in a beige robe from top to bottom, my lifemate takes the stairs and stands next to the altar.
As she turns to face those gathered, she lowers her hood and looks at each person in attendance.
“You’ve come here today because you’ve been wronged.”
She lays her hand on the pedestal holding up the bright sculpture, highlighting the words of a community wiped out eons ago from the same organization who provided the motivation for this meeting.
“Your people have been enslaved, tormented, and experimented on.”
No one breathes as she meets each person’s gaze.
“Nothing will right the horrors that have been done to you and your loved ones.”
She unfastens her cloak and lets it fall to the floor, revealing her sleek weapons and tactical clothing.
“But I’m here to help you crush the soulless assholes responsible for it.”
The atmosphere in the room shifts, and I can’t help but smirk as my Omega wins the loyalty of every person in the room.
We’re going to war.
And we have an army to take.
After each ruler pledges their hatred of the ISC branch residing within Mai’CuS, we take a headcount.
Ships, soldiers, workers, and spies number in the thousands once we tally up our followers.
It may not be enough, but with our organization, skills, and timing, we’re hell-bent on success.
Not only that, but we have a secret weapon.
We have someone already on the inside.
Evie.
My lifemate’s heart swells with anticipation and dread.
Should this go as planned, she’ll be reunited with her best friend.
She’ll have her own family unit to belong to.
She’ll have a lifemate, the woman who helped her through the darkness of her youth, and safety.
I want her happiness more than anything in the universe.
If this is what it takes to get that, then I have no reservations.
I’ll do whatever it takes.
Even if it seems impossible.
Next in Series: Unified Omegas (Alpha Elite Series Finale)
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Keeping up with V.T. Bonds
My website:
https://vtbonds.website/
Deviant Doms Series
Sneaking In: Skylar’s Story Part 1
Breaking In: Skylar’s Story Part 2
Staying In: Skylar’s Story Part 3
Alpha Elite Series
Unknown Omega
Unnatural Omega
Unbalanced Omega
Untouched Omega
Undone Omega
Unleashed Omega
Unified Omegas
Depraved Monsters and Decadent Myths Series
The Last Sacrifice
The Lost Sacrifice
The Little Sacrifice