by Tana Stone
Dorn slipped the device back into his pocket and glanced over his shoulder. “This is bigger than just you, now. I don’t know what’s going on, but at least one person very high up knows, and has been covering it up.”
Zayn folded his arms. “That doesn’t change anything. I still need to get off the station. Maybe now more than ever. If whoever knows about this and has been trying to hide it realizes it’s all about to fall apart, whatever the timeline is for this thing—” he said as he tapped his head, “—might be sped up.”
Dorn looked at Zayn’s head then away. “Agreed.” He pulled the device back out of his pocket. “Do you want me to have Mandy bring your mate down here so you can talk to her?”
Zayn shook his head. “No. I don’t want to see her before I leave.” When he saw Dorn tilt his head at him curiously, he added, “I don’t want to make it hard on her. Better if I just go.”
“Okay. I can’t admit to understanding human females, but don’t you think she will be upset? Earthlings are much more emotional.” His finger hovered over the screen. “Are you sure?”
“I’m sure.”
Dorn put the device away and took Zayn’s arm. “I’ll authorize your departure, but only right before you’re about to leave. We don’t want to tip off the Kronock agent.”
“Agreed.”
The two men strode toward a ship with a sleek, black hull. Dorn leaned on a panel to release the hatch. “It’s one of the transport vessels used to retrieve the tribute brides. It’s got jump capability, of course, and stealth technology, but the weapons aren’t much.”
“Won’t you get some heat for letting me take this?” Zayn asked.
“Not when I explain,” Dorn said. “We have a few anyway. I thought you should take something larger than a shuttle in case you need to…”
“Live in it for a while?” Zayn finished the man’s sentence as he peered inside the transport ship, realizing this would be his home for a while. It was a far cry from the luxurious suite he’d been occupying for the past few days, and he felt a stab of longing for what he was leaving behind.
“It’s not the Boat, that’s for sure,” Dorn said, seeming to read his mind. “But it’s got the basics: rations, bunks, medical supplies.”
“It’s more than I deserve.”
Dorn grabbed his arm. “None of this is on you. As soon as we get this figured out, we’ll get you back here and reunited with your bride.”
Zayn shook off Dorn’s arm and shook his head. “I’m not coming back.”
“I don’t understand. I know it’s hard to adjust to taking an Earth female for a mate, but trust me when I say they grow on you.”
“She doesn’t want me,” Zayn said, not looking at Dorn when he spoke.
“You’re su—?”
“Positive.” Zayn started up the ramp leading into the transport ship and turned.
Dorn stared at him, then sighed. “I’m going to need to create a distraction to get you out without being detected. Wait for my transmission before leaving.”
Zayn gave a single nod before disappearing into the cockpit. “Tell her I’m sorry.”
Chapter Thirty
“So, what do we do now?” Katie asked as she and Mandy hurried along the corridor. “Without the doctor or the initial medical report, we don’t know who is covering this up or why.”
“I wondered why one of the medical crew disappeared,” Mandy said. “I never guessed he’d been sent away to cover up something.”
“Do you know where he went? Maybe we could contact him. Are there interstellar phones up here? How do you get messages to people far away?”
Mandy smiled at her. “There are communication systems, but sometimes there can be a time delay depending on the distance and interference.”
They got on the open inclinator with a Vexling male in a light-blue jumpsuit. Katie waited until the doors closed before she whispered to Mandy. “So where are we going?”
“I don’t know,” Mandy whispered back. “I’m trying to think what to do next. We should probably find Dorn.”
Her communications device vibrated and she pulled it out of her pocket. Her eyes grew large as she read it, but she put it away without saying anything. The inclinator glided to a stop and the Vexling disembarked with a nod to both of them.
Once the doors slid shut again, Mandy spun toward her. “It’s Zayn. Dorn found him.”
“Really?” Katie’s heart beat faster. “Is he with him? Let’s go.”
Mandy placed a hand on each of Katie’s arms. “He’s gone.”
“Who’s gone? Zayn? I thought you just said Dorn found him.”
“He did, but Zayn convinced him that it would be safest if he left the station. Dorn got him on a ship and snuck him off.”
“He left?” Katie heard the crack in her voice. “Just like that? Is this for good, or is he coming back?”
Mandy’s blue eyes shone with tears as she looked at Katie. “I don’t know. I guess until they can figure out what’s going on with the implant and if it’s dangerous.”
“But if it’s dangerous, then Zayn is all alone out in space with that thing in his head and no one to help him.” Katie felt lightheaded as she thought of him voluntarily leaving by himself to ensure the safety of everyone else.
“I’m really sorry,” Mandy said. “I know you were falling for—”
Katie waved a hand to cut her off. “I barely knew him, so don’t worry about me.” Even as she said the words, she knew they were lies. She may not have known him for long, but she knew his heart. She’d seen him anguish over his lost team, worry about her, and now sacrifice himself to protect her and an entire station.
“You don’t mean that.” Mandy’s voice was soft, and made Katie’s eyes burn with tears.
She looked up at the ceiling and tried to blink them away. “You’re right. I don’t. I’m just angry he left.”
“He should have said goodbye, but I guess he was worried about getting off the station before anything else happened.”
Katie knew why he’d left without seeing her, and that was what hurt the most. He hadn’t wanted to see her again. If he read all her notes, he must have suspected that she’d been playing him all along, that none of it was real. A sob caught in her throat as she imagined how alone he must have felt when he realized the person he’d thought cared about him—the person he’d confided in and opened up to—was just using all his pain for a story. Zayn must have been relieved to get off the station and ensure that he’d never see her again, even if it meant a possible death sentence.
“I think I need to be alone,” she said. “Do you mind if I go back to my suite?”
“Of course not.” Mandy swiped a hand to send them to the African Safari level. “Why don’t you rest for a while? I need to get a message to my brother-in-law, anyway.”
“Dorn’s brother?” Katie tried to remember the connections between everyone she’d met. “And Bridget’s husband?”
Mandy nodded. “He’s on assignment, but since he’s with Drexian military intelligence, I thought he might be able to help us track down the doctor.”
Katie nodded, but she felt numb. She knew Mandy and Dorn were worried about a wider plot, and what the implications were for the station and the Drexians in general. Katie couldn’t get past the fact that Zayn was the pawn in all of it. He was being used by the Kronock, and he’d been used by her.
She swallowed the lump in her throat. She’d never meant to hurt him, but she hadn’t been able to help herself. She’d seen an opportunity to get information to use for her own benefit and her lifetime of training had kicked in. By the time she’d realized that she had feelings for him and cared about him more than she cared about getting away and telling the story, it was too late. She’d ruined everything, and now Zayn was gone.
Even if he survived, she doubted he’d return to the station. The only reason he’d had was her, and she’d betrayed him. No, she’d seen the last of her big, Drexian warrior. He would n
ever forgive her, and she didn’t blame him.
The doors of the inclinator swept open, and Mandy gave her a final quick squeeze. “I’ll let you know if I find out anything that could help Zayn. Try not to worry too much. Dorn and Kax are pretty resourceful. If anyone can get Zayn out of this, it’s them.”
Katie tried to return her smile, but her heart wasn’t in it. Even if they saved Zayn, he wouldn’t want her, and she didn’t blame him. She waved as the doors closed on Mandy, and she trudged down the wooden pathway to her suite, ignoring the breathtaking scenery.
The sight of the birds swooping low and the grasses rustling made her want to scream. It wasn’t real. None of it was real. It was more smoke and mirrors. She was sick of the pretense. Katie kicked one of the railings. The only thing that had been real was Zayn. The way he touched her, the way he looked at her. That had been real. She’d felt it in her core.
“Well, you messed that up real good,” she muttered to herself as she reached her door. She thought about what was on the other side. The suite where she’d first met Zayn, the balcony where they’d talked, the bed where he’d made her feel things no man ever had, the bath…Her face burned as she thought about the way she’d felt with him, and then the tears rolled down her cheeks when she thought about how she’d destroyed it all.
“I can’t do this,” she said, turning away from the room. “I can’t stay here without him.”
She almost ran down the walkway to the inclinator. She didn’t care about her story anymore. As a matter of fact, she had no desire to expose the Drexians, or their space station, or the tribute bride program. She didn’t want to hurt anyone else, but she also knew she couldn’t stay there. Not without Zayn. She had to get off the station and get back to Earth.
Katie hurried onto the inclinator car as the doors opened, not meeting the eyes of a Gatazoid with a hover cart covered with silver domes. She waited until he disembarked to select the floor for the flight deck, remembering that Dorn had said it was on level two. She didn’t want anyone to be able to track her movements until she was safely back on Earth.
As the inclinator dropped, Katie thought about Mandy and Reina. They would be upset when they found her missing, but she hoped they’d understand. She figured Serge would be hysterical until he was given another wedding to plan. The only other person who would miss her presence was probably light years away from her by now.
This was for the best, she told herself, as she stepped out of the inclinator and looked both ways down the wide corridor. This part of the station was less sleek and shiny. The lighting was not as bright, and the hallways didn’t boast a spectacular view of space. She suspected this was because tribute brides never visited this level. Aside from when they first arrived, and at that time they were all unconscious. Hard to believe that had only been a few days ago.
Katie spotted a Drexian in a black flight suit exit a wide doorway down one side and she walked purposely in that direction, glad the warrior didn’t turn and see her. The doors slid open as she approached, and she faltered for a moment. The space was massive, stretching across what she suspected was the width of the entire station. Space ships of various sizes were scattered across the dull metal flooring, some in the process of repairs, and others being loaded up with supplies. She noticed a line of black fighters, their noses long and their wings curved.
She needed to move fast and find one of the ships that brought tribute brides from Earth. They would have to be larger than fighters or shuttles, since they were equipped with facilities to carry more than one female at a time, and she suspected they traveled with a small crew. Her eyes rested on pair of black ships that were clearly transports. Bingo. They were the only ships that looked large enough and had the black stealth paneling she’d heard about.
Katie edged her way around the room, trying not to draw attention to herself. Luckily, the crew seemed too preoccupied by their work to notice her ducking behind crates and scooting around barrels. One of the transports had its hatch open, so she walked briskly up it, not looking left or right or slowing down until she was inside the ship. She heard the engines power up and the hatch begin to rise as she slipped into the back. Her heart pounded as the ship shuddered and started to move across the flight deck. She’d made it just in time.
Katie knew she should find a place to hide for the flight, so she opened a door and saw a trio of pod-shaped beds with clear lids. She assumed that was how she’d arrived on the station, but she had no desire to climb in one now. Her stomach lurched as the ship increased its speed, and she was knocked off her feet at what was likely takeoff. She hit the wall and gave a small yelp, startled by the jolt of the ship and the impact against her shoulder.
She rubbed her arm and hoped no one heard her. All she needed to do was keep hidden until they reached Earth in a little less than two hours. Then, she could sneak off the ship while the Drexians went off to gather the new crop of tribute brides.
“Easy, peasy,” she whispered to herself, looking around the room for a closet she could hide in. She didn’t see anything, so she began opening the lower cabinet doors. There was always a chance she could squeeze in under there.
“What do you think you’re doing?” The voice made her jerk around and yelp again.
Katie felt like the air had been knocked out of her, as she looked up at the towering Drexian, his blue eyes flashing with anger and shock.
“Zayn?”
Chapter Thirty-One
“I asked you what you think you’re doing?” Zayn’s voice was a low rumble, and he saw her flinch as he stared down at her.
He didn’t know if he was more surprised to see Katie rummaging around in the cabinets, or angry that she’d stowed away on his ship. The whole purpose of him leaving was to keep her safe, and here she was. Another part of him—maybe the biggest part—wanted to pull her into his arms and never let go. Then he remembered all her notes and the secrets she’d been keeping. “Well?”
“What are you doing here?” Her voice cracked when she finally spoke. “Dorn told me you’d already left the station.”
So she hadn’t been trying to stow away with him. He felt his spark of hope flicker out. She’d just been trying to leave. “I had to wait until he could create a distraction on the bridge so my departure wouldn’t be detected. He doesn’t know who the Kronock agent is, so he can’t trust anyone.” He took a step closer. “I guess you’re just trying to get back to Earth so you can tell everyone about us, right? Isn’t that why you were taking notes? And those names in the corner. Is that where you plan to sell your story?”
He heard the anger in his voice and watched her cower. He backed away, ashamed of himself for scaring her. “It doesn’t matter anymore.”
She opened and closed her mouth a few times, her cheeks as red as her hair and her eyes swimming with tears. “It does matter. I’m not writing a story. I was at first, but that was before…”
He felt his heart knocking in his chest. His hurt and fear and anger were all mixed up together, and even though he wanted to trust her, he couldn’t. Not again. “You want me to believe you changed your mind? Then why are you on a transport?”
Her eyes went to the floor. “You’re right that I’m trying to get back to Earth. I’m not going to lie to you anymore.”
He gave a bitter laugh. “You’ve been lying to me from the beginning, haven’t you? Why should I believe you now?”
“It wasn’t all lies,” she said, reaching a hand out to him. “What I felt when I was with you wasn’t a lie.”
Her touch sent a jolt through him, and he clamped his own hand over hers. “How do I know that?”
“Can’t you feel it?” Katie closed the distance between them and pressed her other hand to his chest. “You can’t fake something like this.”
His pulse quickened and blood rush to his cock as her body brushed up against his. He wanted to stay angry with her and let her feel a bit of the pain he felt, but his body betrayed him.
Zayn backed
her up until she hit the wall. He kept pressing until his body was grinding against hers. “I have never faked what I’ve felt for you. Even when I knew that I didn’t deserve you and should walk away, I couldn’t hide my feelings.”
“I’m the one who doesn’t deserve you,” she said as tears rolled down her cheeks. “I was a coward. I’ve never felt this way before and it scared me, so I told myself that I was doing it all for my story. That was the real lie.”
He brushed her tears away with the his thumbs, feeling her body trembling. “No more lies.”
She shook her head. “I thought I’d never see you again. That’s why I got on the transport. I didn’t want to stay on the station without you.”
“I left to keep you safe. I’d rather die than let anything happen to you,” he said with a husky laugh. “So much for that.”
She lifted her arms and ran her hands through his hair, her eyes studying his face as if she was memorizing it. “I don’t care what happens. As long as I’m with you.”
Zayn crushed his mouth to hers, all anger melting away as he felt her body responding to him and heard her breathy sigh. He didn’t care about the past anymore, and he couldn’t even think about the future. All that mattered was the two of them in that moment, and knowing that she was his. The blood pounded through his body as his hands wrapped around her, grabbing her soft, round ass and lifting her up. She wound her legs around his waist and moaned in his mouth.
“I need you,” she gasped, when she’d pulled away.
He looked at her pink cheeks and her wild hair, her green eyes burning with desire. He captured her face in one hand, rubbing his thumb across her wet bottom lip. “Tell me you’re mine.”
“I’m yours, Zayn. I always have been.” She took his thumb into her mouth and sucked it hard, and his eyes rolled up nearly into the back of his head.