Since it worked well once, Ram repeated his strategy. While the others took on the remaining soldiers on floor two, his warrior trio moved onto the bridge level, the only place left for Ti-zod to be holding Eryn.
Although she crawled and shimmied through the narrow ducts quickly, hoping to get there before Ram, when crouched over the vent she could hear warriors engaged with the toads down the hall.
“This should take care of any stragglers,” she’d murmured, before she shook the last egg, flipped the activation switch with her thumb, and let it go. Listening for the hiss, the only indicator the invisible gas had deployed, she smiled when she heard it and softly whispered, “Bingo!” That’s when bodies began to fall.
Now, as silence pervaded the lowest and final level, she took it as her cue to proceed and see if she could help locate Eryn. Checking her mask was still in place, she lowered herself through the hole, hanging by her fingers as she prepared for the ten-foot drop to the floor below.
She squealed in alarm as hands rounded her hips.
“I’ve got you, paulova.”
Hearing Trask’s pet name for her in his low sexy burr, she closed her eyes, tamping down the yearning, and the pain.
“I can do it, thanks.”
“Don’t be so obstinate, dammit.”
She didn’t argue further, allowing him to lower her to the floor. Once steady, she tried to step away from him.
“I am so proud of you, Lana. Your bravery and quick thinking made this much easier on us all.”
She nodded. Having him so close, she was afraid to speak lest her heart overthrow her brain and she profess her love for him, begging for him to take her back. But it wasn’t meant to be. She knew that, even if he didn’t and wouldn’t ever agree.
Making the mistake of looking up, she saw his haunting blue-green eyes with their frame of long silky black lashes and felt a stab of pain in her heart. If only…
His hands slid from her hips up her back as he hauled her against his chest. “By the Maker, I’ve missed you,” he murmured, bending deep and burying his face in the curve of her neck. “Your scent haunts me from across the galaxies.”
“Trask, please,” she whimpered, as she squirmed, her fingers curling into the broad muscles of his shoulders, too close to melting into his arms.
“You are mine, Lana.” A hand came around to her breast, his thumb grazing over her erect nipple. She could feel the hard proof of how much he wanted her pressed against her belly. “While you won’t admit it, your body knows that you are.”
Of course, he was right. Desire coursed through her, heating her blood and making the nerve endings stand on end in her skin and hair, her nipples grew tight and began to ache because of him, as did the needy wet place between her thighs. She would do anything if it could be different, but short of a miracle, the anything she needed, was impossible.
Her brain told her body to stand down at the same time it sent a message of denial to her lips.
“No, I can’t accept that,” she cried, pushing against him with both hands.
“Why the hell not?” he snapped. He didn’t get his answer, interrupted by a booming voice from the end of the hall.
“Are we ready to transport off this toad-infested tub?”
They broke from their embrace, and turned to see Ram carrying Eryn in his arms.
“You’re all right,” Lana cried. “Thank God.”
“If you’re down here, where is Cierra?” the new mother exclaimed with alarm.
“Torq is watching her,” Ram answered matter-of-factly, as if it was an everyday occurrence.
Eryn’s eyes widened. “You mean the one who’s bigger than you? What does he know about babies?”
“She’s fine with him, Eryn,” Ram said, reassuring her with a squeeze. “She had a fistful of his hair and was blowing bubbles at his goofy faces when we left. Besides, the general felt he needed to stay behind and think on matters.”
Trask grunted. “Hopefully, he has learned his lesson.”
“What did he do?” Lana asked.
“Never mind,” Trask muttered, taking her arm to lead her to the lift.
The hot tingling sensation that had plagued her before their separation ignited at his touch. She jerked her arm away, before it left a burning imprint on her skin and the stomach upset which always seemed to accompany it, started in again.
“I can walk under my own power. Thank you, General.”
He glowered down at her, his face dark with frustration, but he dropped her arm. They moved on, inches apart, yet a chasm miles wide separating them. Lana knew the fault belonged to her, and it killed her to hurt him so, but she had to stay the course.
She also had to find a way to keep them from running into one another again. It was too painful, and she knew eventually she would break, and her tears would reveal she still cared. She couldn’t give him hope, knowing if he thought he had a chance of changing her mind, he would never move on.
To contain the flood of tears threatening to overflow now, she dug her nails into her palms hard enough to gouge half-moons into her skin. It was the second hardest thing she’d ever done. The first, walking away from him to begin with.
* * *
“What did he do?” Eryn repeated Lana’s question in a whisper, even though they were out of earshot.
“I’ll fill you in when we’re alone,” Ram murmured. “But it seems we have another mate mystery on our hands.”
“If you can figure it out, you’re a better detective than me. I’ve been after her for months to spill, but she’s clammed up tight.”
“And Trask is at his wit’s end over why she left him.”
“Are we all destined to have such trouble accepting our mates?”
“A case in which the reward is worth the challenge. I think the difficulties are unique to you Odyssey officers, however. Never have I seen such a stubborn group of females.”
She stiffened, affronted for herself and on her crew’s behalf. “Because we didn’t collapse at your feet in awe at first glance doesn’t make us stubborn. A novelty for the Master Warrior, I’m sure.”
“I was teasing, little rebel.”
“Oh…well, then… I’m sorry.”
Her body vibrated from the low rumble of amusement in his chest. “But I do remember you gawking and perhaps drooling a bit when we first met.”
“I did not drool.”
He laughed because she didn’t deny gawking. If she did, it would have been a bold-faced lie.
“I rather like the idea of you bowing at my feet, galita. We’ll work on that, too.”
For Ram, she’d do it gladly. For a slimy frog, not so much. She kept this to herself, however. “We will, huh?”
“Yes, but we’ll do so—”
“I know, later.” She rolled her eyes. “It sounds like we’ll be working on a lot of things, later.”
He gave her a firm squeeze then followed the other two toward the lift. “At last, she gets me.”
She smacked him on the shoulder, which had him laughing harder because she had to scramble to keep from losing the cover and exposing her bare breasts. When they joined Trask and Lana for the short ride up to level four, she sensed the tension thick and heavy between the two. As her mate pulled her closer, she felt relieved to be on a better path with less rocky times ahead.
In her ear, he whispered, “Love you, Eryn.”
She slipped her arm around his neck and pulled his head down. “I love you, too, Master Warrior,” she whispered in return. “Always will.”
His lips touched hers tenderly. A feeling of rightness came over her, now that her baby was safe and she’d made peace with her mate. Sadly, the sense of calm didn’t extend to the pair beside them. When she raised her head, she found Trask and Lana watching, intense yearning on both their faces. She hurt for his friends, knowing if they were like the rest of them, Kerr and Eva, Roth and Maggie, and she and her Master Warrior, more pain-filled days lay ahead for them.
28
After transporting to the Dauntless, they set a course for the new colony. During the short trip, Ram and Eryn spent the hours quietly recuperating from their ordeal. The recovery time would have been hastened if they could have spent it naked in each other’s arms, but their ordinarily cooperative infant daughter, who seemed unaffected by the events of the day, was in a playful, energetic mood and wouldn’t nap. This left the only separation cures available to them fully-clothed, cuddling among the three of them, and never letting the other beyond the reach of their clasped hands. And kissing, lots of openmouthed tongue-tangling kisses which Cierra seemed to find amusing. She giggled or blew bubbles, ruining the passionate mood, and they ended up chuckling against the other’s lips unable to resist the infectious laughter of their adorable baby girl.
Fortunately, this closeness was enough for their symptoms to diminish.
Arriving at New Earth late that afternoon, they transported the other three shaken up, yet uninjured, women and the two pilots down to the planet. Lana insisted on leaving, too, no matter Trask’s exhaustive efforts to convince her otherwise.
When Eryn escorted her friend to the transporter to see her off, the general was conspicuous in his absence. Despite her insistence that she wanted this, Lana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she appeared wounded, like a woman with a shattered heart.
She tried to hide her pain when the technician indicated he was ready to send her home, but the smile she plastered on her face as she said her good-byes didn’t fool Eryn.
“Being with you is always an adventure, Chief.” She took her hand and gave it a hard squeeze. “I’m so relieved Ram came to our rescue, both with the frogmen and before you reached Primaria and faced the council.”
“You were right,” Eryn told her ruefully. “I should have sent word to him. If I had, all this could have been avoided. But if you say I told you so, I’ll smack you where you stand.”
Her friend’s smile brightened a little at her teasing, though it didn’t reach her eyes.
“Lana,” she began, giving it one last try. “You’re leaving with things unresolved with Trask. Are you sure this is what you want?”
“Eryn,” she breathed out wearily. “I didn’t say I told you so. Return the favor by not going there about Trask. My mind is made up.”
“I saw you in the hallway on the alien ship. He wants you, and, from the way you molded against him without a speck of daylight between you, the feeling is mutual.”
Looking away, she murmured, “You don’t always get what you want in life, though, do you?”
“You admit there are feelings there?”
“I never denied it. Nonetheless, we aren’t mates any longer, so how I feel has no bearing.”
She started to argue further but didn’t get a chance because Lana stepped forward and enveloped her in a tight hug.
“I’ll miss you, Eryn, even if you can be a major pain in the ass.”
The affectionate insult prompted a laugh. “Funny, that’s what I always thought about you. But I won’t be gone forever.”
“Yeah, except I’ve been thinking about returning home when the Odyssey leaves for Earth next week.”
Being a few days away from her general was one thing, six long weeks quite another—which explained her melancholy mood.
“You wanted to be a part of the integration,” Eryn reminded her. “Why go now when things are just getting rolling?”
“You know why,” she whispered with a sad, watery smile.
“Don’t you dare leave before I get back.”
“Ah, honey, if things go well with the council, you won’t be back.” She sniffled and, after hugging her once more, entered the transport chamber, taking her place on one of the eight lighted rings. “Take good care of your precious girl. I’ll miss her sweet smile and her wonderful baby smell. She’s like a little piece of heaven.”
With tears glistening on her cheeks, she disappeared in a shimmering haze and a flash of bright light.
Heart aching and missing her friend already, she joined Ram where he waited by the doors, Cierra contentedly tugging on his ponytail. He didn’t seem to notice, his eyes locked on her as he held out his free arm, inviting her in for a comforting hug.
She didn’t hesitate, wanting to be nowhere else.
* * *
The quiet threesome made their way through the winding corridors of the huge ship, back to their quarters. Eryn appreciated the silence Ram gave her and the strength of a supportive arm around her waist. Cierra was quiet, too, as though sensing her mama’s sadness.
When they rounded the last corner, they found Trask pacing in front of their door. “She’s gone?” he asked first thing, not bothering with a greeting.
His turbulent eyes keyed in on Eryn. She noticed the light bluish green, an extraordinary color normally, had darkened with his turmoil to a deep forest green. Where Ram’s glowed brighter with extremes of emotion—anger, joy, passion—the general’s became as dark and stormy as the oceans back home.
She nodded, jumping the next instant as he exploded in rage and punched a hole clear through the wall in the corridor. Cierra screamed in fright.
“Trask, get control!” Ram demanded as he tried to soothe their daughter.
“I’m sorry.” Immediately contrite, he rubbed his hands over his face and breathed deep. “I’m at my wit’s end and have no idea what to do to convince her she is meant to be mine.”
“Believe me, I know how you feel. It wasn’t so long ago when I stood where you are now.” He passed the sniffling, though much calmer, baby to Eryn then moved to his friend. “Come inside and we’ll talk. I have some aged vilo which will help.”
“I’m not sure I’m in any shape to talk.”
“Then have a drink, and I’ll do the talking. I’ve noticed some disturbing trends that may have something to do with Lana and her refusal to recognize your match.”
“Truly?”
“Yes.” He waved his hand over the sensor, put his arm out for her and Cierra to enter first, and the two men followed them in.
“I need to feed her and put her to bed.”
Ram nodded to Trask’s hand, where blood dripped from his quickly bruising knuckles. “Before you do, bring the emergency kit from the bathing room.”
“His hand needs ice.”
“I was about to see to it, little rebel.”
* * *
Trask could not sit still, pacing until Ram expected to see a rut forming in the floor in front of the couch. He stopped long enough to bandage his bleeding hand and, at his host’s insistence, used the ice pack, but only for a moment, abandoning it for a tall glass of vilo.
“Tell me about this trend.” Trask drained his first drink and poured another.
Ram didn’t have to remind him about what happened to Eva and Kerr since he bore witness to almost all of it, including nearly losing their Princep. He was also aware of the incident with the poisoning of the males’ food, making them all ill at once, and leaving the women in full control of the Odyssey.
“We know the Purists were responsible for the plot against Eva but never found the culprit behind the poison plot on the females’ ship.” Seated on the dark-gray couch, and finding it not nearly as comfortable as what he’d left behind at the new colony, or at his home in Ariad, he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, tension over the situation not affording him much opportunity to relax anyway. For several moments, he watched his superior continue to move with restless agitation around the room then got to the heart of the matter. “Roth feels strongly whoever did it set Maggie up to take the blame. And it almost worked. They were still at odds, and he suspected her first when none of the women became ill.”
“Yes, and he had to talk fast to get out of the hole he dug for himself on that one,” Trask allowed.
“If he believed her at fault, even if she was found innocent later, the rift could have been insurmountable.”
Halting mid-stride, the general turned to
face him. “You think someone is deliberately interfering between mates? To what end?”
“These early incidents could very well have been the Purists. But the strange occurrences continue with Eryn.”
“How so?” Trask asked.
“Juna suspects the pregnancy tests she used with Eryn were tampered with, and there is the false summons my mate intercepted, conveniently with me gone, and her subsequent capture by the Denastrians who happened to be in the right place at the right time. They’re not known for their intelligence, so I think someone tipped them off. That’s too many coincidences for my comfort.”
“Mine, too,” Trask agreed. He began to pace again, this time slower, appearing more focused. “And you think this has something to do with what is going on between me and Lana? Or rather, what isn’t.”
“Think about it. Someone has been systematically trying to drive us apart. We are all in Kerr’s inner circle, have his ear, and have mates of the original eight. The plot may have changed as time has passed, but the intention is the same.”
Coming to a stop at the window, Trask stared out. Ram followed his gaze to where the green orb that was the earthling’s new planet grew incrementally smaller. His eyes shifted to his friend’s rigid stance, knowing how he must feel, leaving Lana, who he believed was his mate, behind.
“We need to take this to the Princep,” Trask stated, still gazing out, his voice flat without a hint of inflection.
Ram noticed the green planet had disappeared from view. He hurt for his friend, but with this ongoing mystery on their hands, was at a loss how to help him.
* * *
“Kerr is aware of some of this, but not the new evidence, or that outside entities were drawn into this. It will make a difference with how we deal with the Denastrians. And they may have information about this contact.”
His Rebellious Mate (Primarian Mates Book 3) Page 36