by Tana Stone
Chapter Twenty-Two
Kax waited until the shuttle had landed on the space station—the spacecraft jolting as the landing gear slapped the floor of the flight deck—to unclasp his seat restraint. He leaned over to assist Bridget, but she’d already undone hers and stood quickly.
“I’ve got it,” she said, not meeting his eyes.
He pressed his lips together but didn’t respond. He couldn’t say anything, since his brother sat right next to her.
Dorn stood and pounded a hand on his back. “You officially made it back in one piece, and with Bridget. I’d call your mission a success.”
Kax glanced at Bridget, now wearing form-fitting cargo pants and a snug T-shirt, courtesy of Mandy, who’d insisted Dorn bring her clothes to wear on the journey back since Bridget had been abducted in a bridesmaid gown. He didn’t know when he’d fallen for her, but she’d gone from just another tribute bride to the woman he couldn’t stop thinking about. Maybe it was when he’d watched her fight the Kronock by his side, or maybe it was when she’d opened up about her past, but at some point, the female had worked her way into his heart. His gut clenched as he watched her brush her dark hair back from her face, and he thought about those same delicate fingers tending to his wound and digging into his sweaty flesh.
“Ready to face the High Command?” Dorn asked, ripping him away from his thoughts.
Kax pulled his eyes reluctantly from Bridget. “Right now? I thought I’d. . .”
His words trailed off. What had he thought he’d do? Go with Bridget to her quarters? Try to spend one more hour in her arms before leaving? That wouldn’t be fair to her. Or to her new mate. He tasted bile in his throat as he thought about the Drexian she’d been matched with.
Karsh, son of Terk, wasn’t someone he knew well, but he’d known his father for years as they’d served on the High Command together. One day, Bridget’s mate would sit on the High Command. Kax was only glad he wouldn’t be around to see it.
“You have other plans?” Dorn raised an eyebrow. “Better to get it over with. They’ll want to know why you blew up a shuttle.”
“Of course I don’t have other plans.” His brother was right. Better to deal with the High Command first, so he could secure his next mission as soon as possible. He saw Bridget flinch, her gaze avoiding him. He desperately wanted to reach out for her. She was so close he could smell the sweet scent of her skin, could imagine the softness of her beneath his fingers as he ran a hand down her bare arm. He closed his eyes for a moment as he inhaled deeply, trying to breathe her in, but when he opened his eyes she’d moved away from him.
He snatched his pack from the floor and followed as the door to the shuttle opened. If he could get her away from Dorn for a moment, he could talk to her and explain. He hesitated. Explain what? What could he possibly say? I’m falling for you, but I can’t be with you because I can’t give you—or the Drexian Empire—offspring? His face warmed at the thought of revealing his humiliation, and he dropped back. What was the point? It wouldn’t make any difference if she knew or not, except she’d probably feel pity for him. He clenched his teeth. He couldn’t bear pity.
Bridget hurried down the ramp in front of him, and Mandy rushed up to her, throwing her arms around her friend’s neck.
“I knew they’d bring you back,” Mandy said when she released her, smiling and swiping away tears. She inspected Bridget, running her hands up her arms. “You look okay, but I should take you to the medical bay just in case.”
“I’m fine,” Bridget said. “Al fixed me up.”
Mandy’s gaze narrowed. “I want to hear all about this Al guy, but first let’s get you checked out.”
“Just go along with it,” Dorn said. “You know how she loves to patch people up.”
Mandy shot her mate a look, but Bridget could see it was more playful than angry.
“I hope you didn’t get into too much trouble without me, girl,” Bridget said, falling in step next to Mandy and looping an arm around her waist.
“How could I get in trouble working in the medical bay?” Mandy said. “I did start brainstorming ideas for your wedding, though. Wait until you see what Serge came up with.”
Bridget’s smile froze, and she began to turn around. Kax held his breath, hoping for her to look at him and see from his face how much he wanted her. Surely she wasn’t going to walk away from him without saying goodbye. Not after they’d survived the Kronock together. Not after… everything.
Bridget released a long breath and squared her shoulders. “I hope you told him I don’t do blush and bashful.”
Mandy threw her head back and laughed. “Don’t worry. There’s no pink anywhere.”
The two women walked arm-in-arm off the flight deck without a backwards glance. Kax felt his shoulders droop even as his brother nudged him.
“I still don’t understand the Earth females,” Dorn said, his mouth twitching up on one side, “but I do enjoy the one I have.”
Kax couldn’t help giving his brother a weak smile. Dorn had been the most battle-worn warrior he’d known—rough and tough with lots of hard edges—but he was soft when it came to his mate. Kax hadn’t expected the pair to mesh as well as they had, but they seemed to be deliriously happy. He caught sight of a fading bite mark on his brother’s neck and raised an eyebrow.
Dorn caught his eyes and reddened slightly. “I have yet to tame her, but we both enjoy the challenge.”
Kax shook his head as they headed toward the High Command room. He couldn’t be jealous of his brother’s happiness. Dorn had given up his command of a battleship on the outskirts of the solar system to take a mate and take Kax’s position in the Drexian leadership. While most would consider these to be steps up, he knew Dorn would have preferred the scarred metal of his battleship and the sound of laser fire to the cushy life on the Boat.
“How is the High Command?” Kax asked, as they strode along the pristine corridors, their heavy boots echoing off the curved walls.
Dorn shot him a dark look. “Boring. Remind me to pummel you for leaving our family seat vacant.”
“You’ll be a valuable addition, brother. They need to hear from someone who has been engaging the Kronock, especially now.”
“They don’t want to believe our enemy might have been lulling us into complacency for decades.” Dorn let out a breath. “To be honest, I don’t want to believe it.”
“It isn’t your fault or anyone else’s. They did a good job of hiding their intentions behind half-hearted attacks. It was impossible to know they were busy building an army of hybrid soldiers and developing sophisticated technology.”
“We would have known if we hadn’t pulled back on our intelligence,” Dorn said. “You told them not to limit the military intelligence units, but they thought it was a waste of resources. They should have listened to you.”
Kax shrugged, looking down at the gleaming floors. “We didn’t know then what we know now.”
Dorn stopped outside the tall, gilded doors leading to the High Command chambers and faced Kax. “What do we know now?”
“It’s just a guess, but from what I saw, I suspect the Kronock have been doing medical research for years.” Kax said, revealing what he hadn’t wanted to in front of the other soldiers. “They’ve developed highly adept soldier-hybrids, using who-knows-what type of DNA. I suspect they’ve been harvesting genetic material from the worlds they invade.”
“For what purpose?”
Kax raised one shoulder. “I can only suspect they’re trying to create superior beings. The Kronock commander who took Bridget is not just Kronock, although I don’t know what else he’s got in the mix. Something highly intelligent, however.”
Dorn frowned. “We need to know when they plan to attack, and how.”
“That I can’t tell you, but the radioactive material doesn’t bode well.”
“Agreed,” his brother said. “We’re sending in a fleet to eliminate the mining colony, so the Kronock won’t have that t
o work with anymore.”
Kax felt a sudden pang of sadness for Al, even though he knew it was only a computer program.
“Or next priority must be finding our enemy’s research facilities so we can stop them before they develop anything else,” Dorn said. “Then we’ll send in teams to take them out.”
Kax felt a flutter of both excitement and dread. “Send me. I already know the location of a research facility.”
“Still able to read my mind, big brother,” Dorn said with a shake of his head, as he rested a hand on Kax’s arm. “You’ve had the most recent contact and know what to expect. Of course it’s up to you. I told the High Command you’d need a few days to recuperate from your rescue mission.”
Kax pushed all thoughts of Bridget from his mind. “I don’t need that long. The faster we find out about the invasions and eliminate their advantage, the better.”
“There’s the Drexian I should be thanking.”
Both the booming voice and footsteps made the brothers turn. Karsh, son of Terk, wasn’t as tall as Kax or Dorn, but he was broad-shouldered like all Drexian males. He wore his sandy brown hair long, like members of Dorn’s Inferno Force did, even though he’d been posted to outposts and battleships that had never seen action. Kax wondered how he’d acquired his sash full of ribbons and medals when he’d never fought in a battle.
“Karsh.” Dorn acknowledged him first by clasping the man firmly on the side of the arm. “How long has it been?”
“The last time we saw each other you were headed back to your battleship, and I tried to convince you to accompany me to Zareen.”
Kax flinched at the name of the pleasure planet known for beautiful and willing females, and free-flowing cocktails that eliminated all inhibitions. He narrowed his eyes at Karsh.
“If memory serves me, you had a special attachment to Zareen,” Dorn said.
Karsh winked at Dorn. “Her name was Quillan from the empath planet. Anticipates your needs before you know you have them. She spoiled me.” He pivoted to face Kax. “But enough about that female. I hear I should be thanking you for bringing my tribute bride home safely.”
“Congratulations,” Kax said, putting a hand to Karsh’s arm. “You are a lucky Drexian.”
“Am I?” Karsh squeezed Kax’s arm. “I wouldn’t know. The human refuses to let me in her suite.”
Kax tried not to smile. “Really?”
“Actually, her friend is the one barring my entrance,” Karsh said, his eyes resting on Dorn. “Your bride, I believe.”
Dorn cleared his throat. “I am sure Mandy is just being protective. Bridget has been through a traumatic experience. She probably needs to rest. Right, brother?”
“Very traumatic,” Kax said. “She might need medical treatment, as well.”
Karsh frowned. “I was not told she was damaged.”
“Nothing permanent.” Dorn took him by the arm and spun him toward the High Command doors. “Why don’t you join us in the High Command briefing? I’m sure your father would be glad to see you.”
Kax followed behind, scrubbing his hand over his face so no one would see the smile he tried fruitlessly to suppress. Knowing Karsh had not seen Bridget made him feel like dancing. Even glancing at the large round table and the solemn faces around it didn’t dampen his satisfaction.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Bridget tossed back the bubbling drink and slammed the empty glass on the bar. “I missed those.”
Mandy eyed her as she sipped her own cocktail. “Don’t forget what happened the last time we tried these.”
“Don’t remind me, girl.” Bridget remembered all too well. She and Mandy had gotten tipsy and giggly, and Dorn had ended up throwing Mandy over her shoulder and leaving with her. Before Bridget could have another drink, Kax had shown up and escorted her back to her suite almost as forcefully.
Kax. She sighed as she thought of him, letting her mind slip back to their time together on the mining colony. Before they were rescued. Before she was brought back to the Drexian space station and assigned another mate. She licked her lips, the fizzy drink lingering in her mouth.
It had been easier to accept the crazy prospect of being matched up with a huge alien she’d never met back when she’d been convinced love was not for her. She’d known she was in no danger of loving and losing, so it had seemed like a wild adventure. Now, she understood why women hesitated or took a while to wrap their minds around the concept. Bridget couldn’t imagine spending her life with some guy she’d never met. Not now. Not after Kax.
Bridget gave her head a small shake, as if trying to expel all thoughts of him from her mind. She took in the holographic environment—golden, sandy beach, cerulean-blue water lapping at the shore, steel-drum music playing instrumental versions of movie theme songs from the 80s. The Boat had a quirkiness she’d grown to like, and the aliens aboard tried hard to make the Earth women happy.
Her gaze fell on the bartender and the small, nubby horns poking out of his wavy blond hair. She knew he wasn’t a Drexian, but he was pretty cute. She recognized him from the last time she and Mandy had tossed back cocktails at the tiki bar. That time, they’d made him nervous enough that his tail had twitched up a storm. This time, he seemed more relaxed as he polished a glass.
She caught the bartender’s eye and tapped the rim of her glass. “Hit me.”
“Well, well.” Serge bustled up in a lime-green suit, remarkably similar in color to their drinks, and hopped onto a barstool next to her. “What do we have here? A premature bachelorette party?”
Mandy put a hand on her back. “We’re just unwinding a bit. Bridget’s been through a lot.”
Bridget couldn’t see what was going on behind her back, but she could sense Mandy giving the pint-sized wedding planner some pointed looks and perhaps mouthing some things to him.
Serge let out a tortured sigh. “Fine, but I still say there’s no time to waste if I’m going to pull together a wedding in three days. Since you’re friends with Mandy, and Preston liked her so much, I’ve sweet-talked him into doing your flowers, but I’m not sure if The King can do another performance so soon. Even with our regenerative medicines, his vocal cords need rest.”
Bridget smiled at the bartender as he slid a fresh cocktail toward her. She pulled the round, powder-blue fruit out by the stem and popped it into her mouth. “There was a time when I practically subsisted on the garnishes in my cocktails. Back when I had to stay skinny for the ballet.” She chewed on the sweet fruit—a cross in flavor between a cherry and a peach—and the taste exploded on her tongue. “Hold the phone. Did you say three days?”
Serge magically produced a thick, pink binder and slapped it down on top of the bar. “Don’t you worry your pretty little head. That’s an Earth expression, isn’t it?” He waved a hand in the air. “Doesn’t matter. I may never have pulled together a wedding in three days, but that doesn’t mean it can’t be done. We just need to focus and buckle down to work.”
Both women stared at him as he opened the binder and flipped to a checklist.
“A binder seems a little old-school, doesn’t it?” Bridget asked.
Serge stroked the pages in the binder. “You can’t beat a classic.”
Mandy glanced at Bridget and reached over, closing the binder and shooting Serge a look Bridget caught.
“Who says it has to be in three days?” Mandy asked.
“The groom has requested it.” Serge leaned closer to the women’s heads. “He’s from one of the most illustrious Drexian families.”
Mandy rolled her eyes at Bridget. “Since neither of us had even heard of the Drexian race before a couple of weeks ago, that doesn’t blow either of our skirts up. Bridget was kidnapped and just rescued. No way is she ready to walk down the aisle with some complete stranger in three days.” Mandy slid her gaze over to hers. “Right?”
Bridget nodded and took a drink. “You can tell Mr. Hot-to-Trot that I’m not.”
Serge scratched his head and his
purple spiky hair did not move. “My command of the English language is considered exemplary, but I don’t understand what that means.”
“I already had to kick this guy out when he barged into her suite.” Mandy shook her head. “Luckily, Bridget had the bathroom door locked, but he was way too pushy. Even for a Drexian. I mean, I’m all for a big, tough, alpha male, but he needs to give her a little space. This is not a normal tribute bride wedding scenario. And if you see him, tell him Bridget wants her scarf back. He snatched it from the nightstand, and said he’d take it as a token.”
Serge cleared his throat. “I’ll admit that does seem like a bit much considering.”
“You think?” Mandy said.
Bridget motioned to the binder. “Don’t you have a section in there about the appropriate amount of time for a wedding after the bride has been abducted and then rescued?”
Serge opened and closed his mouth, his pristinely arched eyebrows disappearing beneath his hair. He stared at the binder, clearly at a loss for words.
Mandy leaned over to Bridget. “Guess not.”
Bridget shrugged. “Maybe the binder needs some updating.”
Serge sucked in air and ran a hand over the shiny, pink cover. “Bite. Your. Tongue.”
Mandy grinned. “You’re right. Your command of the English language is excellent.”
Serge slid off his barstool and tucked the binder under one arm. “I see I’m getting nowhere with you two. I suppose I’ll have to do all the prep work myself and hope we can pull it all together in time.” He leveled a finger at first one then the other. “Dress selection tomorrow. No ifs, ands, or buts.”
He left in a huff, passing Reina on the way. The tall Vexling walking toward them had a habit of wringing her bony hands in front of her. When she saw Serge, she clasped her hands and began twisting them.
Mandy let out a slow breath. “I’m thinking we should have found a less popular place to drink.”
Reina took a seat beside Mandy, casting a final glance at Serge. “I warned him not to rush the planning, but you know how well men listen.”
