by Siren Allen
“We are wanted, by the GP, by Rhodes. I’m trying to make sure we have enough fuel and weapons to stay on the run without stopping for a while.”
“Bull shit. We’re more than ready for any of those bastards. We have a freaking fighter craft. Ep is upgrading the Striker with all kind of new technology. Both ships are loaded with weapons. I think you’re not ready to let Malia go, that’s what I think.”
“Isn’t there something you need to be doing right now.”
“You mean rechecking the ship, again? No, I’m tired of stalling around every day. You have to get over what happened.”
“Why the hell would I do that?”
“She was scared. She was only doing what she thought was right.”
“She was betraying me.”
“She was trying to save herself.”
“I saved her. She was already fucking saved.”
“Okay, she betrayed us all also. We’ve forgiven her.”
“That’s on you all. I can’t forgive her.”
“Listen captain…”
Silver tossed a gun into a crate. “You don’t even know what all I’ve done for that female. I saved her life, more than once. I fucking betrayed by own people and our war for her. I’ve given her everything.”
“Hold up, you did what?”
“I gave her everything.”
“No. Who did you betray for her?”
Damn it.
“Silver, what did you do?”
“I…” Fuck. The words were out now. Gamma wasn’t going to let him skip over that slip up. “I’m the one who tipped the Venusians off to our presence during the Time Dweller war.”
“What the fuck, Silver?”
“I had no choice. Or at least I thought I didn’t. If I could do it all over again I would let those bastards die, all of them.”
“What? How could you?”
“I sensed her, Gamma. Malia.”
“She wasn’t even born yet.”
“But her ancestor was. With one touch I saw my mate. I knew I couldn’t destroy Venus and kill her.”
“Shit, Silver.”
“What would you have done?”
“I would’ve... I don’t know. I… we lost the war. Our people died.”
“There was not a lot of bloodshed.”
“It doesn’t matter. We could’ve won, we should’ve won. All these years and it was you.”
Silver hadn’t wanted them to find out this way.
“Were you ever going to tell us?”
“I… no, no I wasn’t. What would have been the point?”
“We would’ve known. That would’ve been the point. We were your crew, your friends and you did some shit like that.”
“I know,” Silver rubbed a hand over his face.
“We followed you into battle. And you’re the reason we lost. What if one of us would’ve died?”
“That didn’t happen.”
“But it could have. I can’t believe this shit.” Gamma paced around the cargo hold.
Nothing Silver said would make the male feel better. Silver had lived with this secret for years. Now that it was finally out, he felt relieved. He also knew his crew was going to be pissed.
“I can’t keep this to myself,” Gamma told him. “The others have to know.”
Silver nodded. “I know.”
“Are you going to tell them or should I?”
Silver knew he should be the one to tell them. They wouldn’t take the news well. He might not only lose a mate. He would probably also lose his crew. He didn’t deserve to have either.
“Let me talk to them first,” Gamma told him. “Smooth things over.”
“Why would you want to do that?”
“Because, you’re still my friend.”
Silver nodded and resumed looking over the weapons for the hundredth time while Gamma went in search of the rest of the crew. It was about an hour later when they finally spoke to him over the comm-device.
“Silver, meet us in the kitchen. We need to talk.”
“On my way.” Silver stared around the room. For an hour he’d been sitting in the same position staring at the same wall, wondering what he could say to his crew. The best way to deal with this would be to tell the truth.
They would be pissed. He couldn’t blame them for that. They would yell, curse, and probably want to settle it by fighting. He wouldn’t fight back. He deserved their anger. He wanted their anger. He needed it.
During his hour of alone time he also thought of his mate. Gamma was right. Ep had been right also. He had to quit stalling and take her home. It was for the best.
“Silver, are you coming?”
Silver stood up. Time to face his crew. He found them on the flight deck of the fighter craft. They’d yet to name the ship. They were going to allow the kid to name it. He couldn’t decide, saying he wanted it to be something unique. Silver walked onto the deck and stared at his crew: Beta, Gamma, Epsilon, Frost and Malia.
“What is she doing here?” He didn’t want her here. Didn’t want her to hear this.
“She’s a part of the crew,” Ep told him, while patting Malia on the shoulder.
Malia stared down at her feet. Silver wanted to rip Ep’s arm from its socket. How dare he touch her?
“No growling,” Ep told him. “You don’t have a right to be angry. We do.”
“Did Gamma tell you everything?”
Ep nodded. Beta wouldn’t even look at him. Shit.
“We lost the war, Silver,” Ep yelled. “Our people died.”
“They weren’t our people. They were Galactic Raiders and where are they now? Not with us. They’re against us thanks to Rhodes.”
“Still, where the fuck was your loyalty to us? We were your crew. You should’ve told us.”
“I didn’t have time to think. I had to act quickly.”
“All to save a mate you don’t even want.”
That stung. His eyes swung to Malia. A tear streamed down her face. Fuck. Why did they have to bring her into this?
“Does she know?” Silver asked.
“We told her,” Ep said. “We don’t keep secrets from the crew.”
Silver nodded. She knew. She now knew he’d betrayed his people for her. She must think him weak just as they did. He watched her, hoping she would look his way. She couldn’t even bring herself to stare at him. Fuck.
But Beta could. “I can’t follow a captain who led me into a battle he’d already rigged for us to lose.”
Silver swallowed the lump in his throat.
“Neither can I,” Ep agreed.
“Sorry, Silver,” Gamma said. “But I can’t either. How can I trust you now?”
“So what do we do now?” Silver asked, his voice surprisingly steady.
“According to Zedonian law, traitors are to be put to death,” Beta stated.
“Wait, no,” Malia raised her head at that. “You can’t kill him. You said you were just going to talk to him.”
Silver had to admit he was just as surprised as she was. They were his crew, his friends, his family… yet, they were willing to kill him over something he’d done years ago.
“People died because of him,” Beta told her.
“But many of my people were spared because of him.”
“You should be upset that we were there in the first place, that your mate was willing to kill your people like they meant nothing.”
“I am upset. But in the end he didn’t do it. And he saved my life numerous times. I’m sure he’s saved your lives before too. Doesn’t that count for something?”
“None of that matters,” Ep stated. “He knew the law when he betrayed us. And to keep it a secret this long just adds to the distrust.”
“Do you think I’m just going to stand here and allow you all to kill me in front of my mate?” Silver asked. He didn’t want to hurt them. But he wouldn’t add to his mate’s pain. She’d cried enough over him.
The way he’d treated her these past d
ays were horrible. He wouldn’t allow her to watch him die. He couldn’t have that on her conscience for eternity.
“You have no choice,” Ep told him. “Plus, Malia is a member of our crew now.”
“I’m not,” Malia shook her head. “I’m a member of Silver’s crew. If he dies. I die.”
“Malia no,” Silver started.
“Just shut up, Silver damn,” she yelled at him. “You are so daft. I love you and I made a mistake because I thought you were the bad guy. I apologized over and over again, yet you would not forgive me. Then I find out that you lied to your friends to save me. How is that different?”
“Because I lied to save you. You lied to me for no reason.”
“I was scared. I didn’t know what was going on because you were keeping secrets from me. If you would’ve told me what was going on I wouldn’t have run. Just like if you would’ve told your crew that your future mate was going to be born on Venus, they would’ve helped you stop the war.”
Fuck, she was right. “I didn’t think,” he told her.
“Neither did I. But I’m thinking now. You’ve been an ass to me. But I still love you. And if you die. I die. Because I’ve been living without you these past days and it’s been hell. I don’t want to live without you.”
“Fuck, Malia.” The tears came. And his crew was staring. But he didn’t care. He refused to allow the female he loved to die for him or with him. He would fight them all to protect her.
“Just give me my mate, and I’ll leave,” Silver told them. “You’ll never lay eyes on me again.”
“You think we’re going to allow you to leave with her?” Gamma laughed.
“You think I’ll allow you to stop me?”
“Don’t fight,” Malia moved forward.
Ep gripped her arm and pulled her back.
“Let her go.” Silver kept his voice calm.
“Why?” Ep held on to her, though she struggled to be free. “So you can take her away then remember you don’t want her and leave her stranded on some unknown world. Or worse, space her.”
“I’ll return with her to Venus.”
“We were supposed to be on Venus days ago. But no, you’ve been getting drunk at the local tavern and hooking up with the call girls.”
“What?” Malia’s eyes widened.
“I didn’t touch them,” Silver admitted.
“He lies,” Ep told her. “I sat in on one of his encounters. The female was all over him.”
“I didn’t touch her, I swear.”
“It matters not,” Beta added. “We can’t let you go and we’re damn sure not allowing you to take Malia anywhere. She’s safer with us.”
His anger mounted with each word Ep spoke. “Sebastian Johansson, you will be put to death by your crew. Your mate will forever be in their protection.”
Fuck this. Silver misted. He wouldn’t kill them, just down them and give himself enough time to flee with his mate. They could have the fighter craft. He would take his own ship.
A punch to the gut didn’t faze Beta. Silver swung at his face twice before ducking and misting to Gamma. The male reached for Silver. He could hear Malia screaming. He had to get to her.
His fist connected with Gamma’s chin. Silver ignored the guilt he felt over fighting his own crew. His ex-crew, he mentally corrected. If left up to them he’d be dead and his mate would belong to them.
That thought took away any guilt he was feeling. Two more jabs to Gamma’s chin sent the male flying back leaving only Ep. Arms wrapped around Silver’s waist. Beta. Damn, the big guy could take a hit and keep going.
Silver head butted him. From the corner of his eye he saw Ep leaving the deck with the kid and Malia. His mate’s eyes were on him. Silver returned to physical form.
“Okay,” Silver yelled.
Ep stopped. Beta’s big arms were still wrapped around him.
“Okay, what?” Beta asked.
“Okay, we can do this your way. Just, don’t let her watch. And let her choose.”
“Silver no,” Malia screamed.
He let the tears fall. “Let her choose if she wants to remain with the crew or go home.”
“Silver, I love you. Please don’t leave me.”
Damn it, he’d been so dumb for thinking he could live without her.
“I’m sorry Malia. Sorry I didn’t spend these last days showing you how much I love you. Shit, I treated you like I hated you.”
“I know you don’t hate me. You were hurt. I’m sorry for hurting you.”
“Don’t be sorry, sweetie. It’s my fault. I took you from your home. I put you in this situation. I should’ve been honest from the first day I saw you. Stars, if I could go back I’d change so much. What I wouldn’t change is loving you.”
“Silver,” Malia slumped against Ep.
Silver wished it was him holding her. He’d give anything to hold her one more time. Beta released him and shoved him forward.
“You think that’s enough?” Ep asked.
“Yeah,” Beta said. “I think he’s finally come to his senses.”
Silver stared around the room. What the hell was going on?
“But did you have to punch me twice?” Gamma rubbed his chin, glaring at Silver.
“What the fuck is going on?” Silver kept his eyes on Malia. If he died, he wanted the last person he saw to be her.
Ep released her and she raced to his arms. Silver pulled her in hugging her close. He would never let her go. Not again. He couldn’t. Frost clapped his hands together.
“This is exactly how I saw it happening,” the child said. “I like it.”
“Great plan, kid,” Ep ruffled the child’s hair who was smiling like a kid in a candy store.
“Someone tell me what’s going on before I mist me and my mate out of here.” Silver threatened.
Malia hugged him tighter, burying her face in his neck. Her body trembled. She was afraid.
“Stop growling, captain,” Gamma said, still rubbing his chin. “And we’re sorry Malia. We didn’t want to scare you. We didn’t have another way to make the captain realize he was making a mistake before it was too late.”
“Explain,” Silver commanded.
“Captain, I told the guys about what you did. And yeah, they were pissed. But Ep was the one who pointed out how you betrayed us and would want forgiveness, yet you were unwilling to offer the same thing to Malia, your mate. We figured it was only pride keeping you from forgiving her. So we wanted to show you that pride has no place in mating. You give that up once you claim your female.”
Shame filled him. He was ashamed that it took this and Gamma’s words to make him realize the truth. “What about what I did?”
“We forgive you. Just tell us next time you want to throw a war so you can save your mate.”
“Will do.” Silver pulled Malia closer, thankful that he still had a mate. But whether she stayed or not would be her choice. “Malia,” Silver leaned back to stare into her eyes. “I’ve been an ass. I’ve said horrible things and treated you like you didn’t matter. Trust me, you do matter. If you don’t want to forgive me, I’ll understand. But I’m hoping you’ll let me spend the rest of our existence showing you how sorry I am. Malia, will you stay with me and be my mate?”
“Say yes,” Frost whispered.
Malia laughed, and wiped her eyes. “If you say you’ll forgive me.”
“I do, baby. That’s behind us. I will never hold that against you again.”
“Good, and one more thing.”
“Anything.”
“Did you sleep with any of those call girls?”
“I didn’t. And Ep was lying. That female wasn’t all over me. The only female I want to touch or to lick on is you.”
“Uh, kid in the room,” Ep nodded toward Frost.
“Why would he want to lick her? She’s not pancakes,” Frost asked.
“Come on kid. You get to play on the flight deck while I program new security measurements into Striker’
s database.” Ep steered the kid away from the grown up talk.
Silver pushed Malia’s hair behind her ear. “No more crying, no more lying. From now on you and I will be completely honest with each other.”
His mate nodded. Silver leaned forward and pressed his lips against hers.
“Okay,” Gamma called out. “I’m going to prep the ship for takeoff. Next stop, Venus. We’ll find that doctor for Nahid. Okay. Guys, do you hear me? Uh, they’re not even listening.”
Silver could hear Beta talking to Gamma. “Come on buddy. Let’s put this baby into warp drive and get Nahid some help.”
“I sure hope we don’t have another adventure like this when Nahid wakes up and realizes she’s mated to Ep,” Gamma stated.
“Shit, it’ll probably be worse than this. There’s no telling what kind of powers she’s got. We still got to figure out what monsters Rhodes was trying to force the kid to bring forth.”
“I need a vacation,” Gamma said. “When we get to Venus I’m renting me a massage android.”
“Shit, me too. I’m renting two of them.”
Silver paid them no mind. Whatever the future brought, they’d weather it together. Tonight, all he wanted to do was show his mate how much he appreciated her for staying with him.
“I love you Malia. I’d give my life a thousand times for just one moment with you.”
“Luckily, we’re immortal. We truly have forever together. And if you even try to die, I will kill you.”
Silver laughed and pulled her closer. He let his guard down and shared a glimpse into their future with her. For days he’d been looking into their future, it had been blank. His own anger and pride clouding any images of a future for them.
Now he could see clearly and what he saw filled him with joy. When Malia pulled back she had tears in her eyes.
“Twins?” She whispered.
“Twins,” Silver nodded.
“Maybe we should get started now.”
“You read my mind.” Silver scooped her up and carried her to their room onboard the Striker.
Neither of them noticed Nahid, fully awake, standing in the shadows.
The End
Coming Soon
***Book 2: EPSILON – coming soon. I can’t wait for you all to learn the lengths Ep will go through to keep from being pulled into the mating game. The poor thing doesn’t realize he doesn’t stand a chance. Once in love’s grasp, there is no getting out. Keep reading to learn of more books written by me. Remember Malia’s cousin, Lark, who’s mated to the vampire? Her book is available now! **