“That would explain it.” Var’s relief was clear in his own voice. “I’ve got a ship. There were three more Scouts inside. They just dropped dead.”
“Same here,” Sambor replied. “I had one more Soldier to take down. An integrated Prillon. He just hit his knees. If he survives, we’ll have to take him with us.”
I stood and pulled the ion pistol from my holster. The ion rifle was toast, and this little blaster would probably just make the Atlans writhing in pain on the ground angry—but it was all I had. “The two integrated Atlans are up here on the ground. They are no longer a threat.”
“Do not hurt them.” Bahre was still in beast mode, but there was so much blood inside his helmet I had no idea how he was standing, let alone talking.
“I won’t shoot them as long as they don’t try to kill us.”
That made Bahre snort. He grabbed the small ion blaster from my hand and tossed it aside like it was an old shoe. “Not hurt. Rage. Relief.”
“Yes, I figured that.”
Bahre went to stand over the two fallen, integrated Warlords and let out a battle cry I had never heard before.
In my headset, Sambor chuckled. “Gods be damned, that is music to my ears.”
“What the fuck is that?”
“Warlord victory cry. You should hear a battalion of Atlans after they rip apart a battlefield full of Hive.”
The bright light of a ship caught my attention as it settled on the ground below us. I watched as a hatch opened and Sambor climbed on board, hauling the injured Prillon Hive Soldier with him. Moments later the ship hovered above us, ramp down, Sambor on the other end with his hand out.
Bahre handed first one, then the second Atlan up to Sambor, who reached out and took them on board without question.
“Grab that Nexus head,” Var told me. “Helion will want it.”
Disgusted but knowing Var was correct, I picked up the blue head—tentacles and gadgets attached—and threw it up to Sambor.
“Forget that. He’ll want the body, too.”
“Gods be damned. Why are we catering to that asshole?” I looked back to where the massive corpse lay unmoving, knew this was an opportunity my dislike for the commander shouldn’t prevent. “Go, Bahre.” I used my shoulder to help Bahre get to Sambor, then went back for the body.
It took every ounce of strength I possessed to move the thing a few feet. Bahre appeared next to me. “Move.”
I glanced up in shock. “You can barely walk, Warlord. I’ll handle this.”
His beast was calming, and Bahre was able to speak in a full sentence. “You are stubborn. I do not know how you got a female to accept you.” He picked up the Nexus corpse with a grunt and walked up the ramp. Sambor clapped him on the back, which made the injured Warlord drop the body with another grunt of pain.
I actually laughed at his insult, a sound I hadn’t been sure I would ever hear again. Our fight had been intense, only perhaps five or ten minutes, but it was clear now that we would survive.
With all four of us who’d made it through the crash—and a few new additions—safely climbing on board, Sambor walked down the ramp and the two of us managed to drag the dead body onto the stolen Hive ship.
“Fucker is heavy. Too heavy.” It was like the Nexus unit was made of magnets that literally locked it to the gravitational field beneath it. He was far heavier than his size should have dictated, even if he were made of pure stone or metal.
“Helion can have fun dissecting him.”
I grunted at that. Without doubt, Sambor was right.
He held out his hand to me. “Get on, Nik. Lucy will be worried. Let’s go home and claim her.”
Home. Fuck. I liked the sound of that.
12
Lucy, Interior Child’s Play Area, The Colony
* * *
I sat in one of the beanbag chairs and watched the kids play, tuning out their chatter and laughter. With the number of kids growing on the planet pretty darn fast, a playroom had been built where the kids could burn off energy. The space had pint-size tables and chairs for crafts, a large rug for story time, a reading corner with picture and word books, and a fast-food-chain type playland. The guys had seen pictures we’d shared of these Earth indoor playgrounds and added their own planets’ spin. Slides and tubes, ropes and ladders, poles and rock walls. It was a little nuts, especially since the bulk of the kids were under the age of two. But they’d grow into it—and based on the size of the Prillons, but especially the Atlans, really fast. I wished I were a little shorter so I could join them in the corner where there was a fake tree to be reached from a small spaceship by a bridge.
Emma had dragged me over to the beanbag in the reading nook and pointed her little finger for me to sit. She kept watch to make sure I remained. She was a bossy thing, and it was amusing to observe the toddler imitate Wulf. Olivia dragged a tiny chair over to sit beside me. She and Wulf had returned from Earth the day before, earlier than expected since Rachel had commed her about what had happened. I had a feeling they were pleased to leave Earth behind.
I had no idea if they’d wrapped up their PR work for the Bachelor Beast, and I didn’t really care. I’d enjoyed working on the show and approved of the idea behind the concept—bringing attention to worthy fighters who wanted mates—but didn’t miss Chet or the pettiness that came with reality TV. There was none of that here in space. I’d only been behind the camera. As for Olivia and Wulf, who’d had every aspect of their relationship broadcast all over the world, they probably didn’t care either. As soon as a new bachelor beast was assigned, the spotlight would be off them and on to the new Atlan.
I had no interest in anything, feeling numb and strangely surreal. If I didn’t have the black collar about my neck, I’d have questioned my sanity and wondered if the two days on Prillon Prime had actually happened.
I had no pictures, no selfies or visual record of Nik and Sam. I’d gone onto the computer and searched for them, found their images and bios, which proved they did exist.
Had.
They were dead.
Dead.
I could still remember their touch. Their weight as they pressed me into the bed. Their breath. Their voices. The heft of their cocks as they filled me.
A shriek of laughter broke through my dirty thoughts. Tanner and Wyatt wore kid-sized Coalition uniforms, armor and all, and ran around with toy ion pistols making weird blaster sounds. They were fighting imaginary Hive and hiding behind the toddler slide, their heads popping out to shoot. Emma was currently in the ball pit tossing the colored orbs up in the air.
Olivia and I were the only adults in the room. When I glanced at the clock on the wall, I saw that Lindsey would come to take over supervision in twenty minutes. There was an unspoken arrangement that we’d watch the kids in shifts to give everyone a little break. This way the kids could keep playing but the parents could rest.
“Ready to talk about it?” Olivia asked.
I glanced up at her. Even in the kiddie chair, she was taller than me. I sighed. “I have to, since you forced me out of bed.”
After transporting back with the others, I’d gone right to my quarters and climbed into bed. And stayed. Food had been dropped off, even though I had an S-Gen machine, but I’d been left alone.
Until Olivia came storming into my room, then ripped the covers off the bed and made me shower and put on fresh clothes.
“You were starting to smell,” she replied, although there was no scolding in her tone. “Just tell me about the party. I missed everything.”
Now she grumbled.
“Jessica wanted to line dance, so a DJ—or some guy with a sound system Lindsey must have either imported from Earth or magically programmed an S-Gen machine to make—” I took a breath. “They played the Electric Slide.”
Olivia’s eyes widened; then she burst out laughing. “Oh God, I can only imagine.”
I couldn’t help but crack a smile. “Those big, buff, in-control aliens?”
&n
bsp; She put her fingers over her lips to hide her grin. “Can’t dance?”
I shook my head. “Can’t dance. Everyone was bumping into each other. Except this one Prillon commander. Now he had moves.”
Emma tossed a soft ball up in the air, and it bounced off her head.
“Wulf would have stepped on me,” Olivia said.
“Nik ran into me. That’s how we met.” A pang of longing filled me at the memory of us bumping, of him grabbing me so I didn’t fall. Ensuring I wasn’t hurt.
“Was he a fair Prillon or dark? I heard they’re like various colors of caramel.”
“Nik was dark, Sam fair.”
“One of each. Mmm.” Her eyes widened. “Were they good?” she asked, glancing at the kids. “Tanner, be careful running near Emma.”
Tanner fired his weapon, and a light on Wyatt’s armor turned green.
“I’m not the Hive!” Wyatt shouted, mad he’d been hit.
Olivia had to go over and talk to the boys, and I took a moment to think. Were Nik and Sam good?
So good. My pussy clenched. I ran my fingers over the smooth collar.
Olivia returned, saw the gesture. She dropped into the chair, her knees bent up by her shoulders.
“Are you going to take that off?”
I shrugged. “It was supposed to be a fling. I just wanted to get laid. I made it clear. Really, really clear.”
She rolled her eyes. “You remember how Wulf literally moved in even though I told him we wouldn't work.”
I’d been there when Wulf arrived at Olivia’s house, staked his claim. I should have realized from his actions how Nik and Sam would behave. The difference was, Wulf was Atlan and in mating fever at the time. He’d taken one look at Olivia on the Bachelor Beast set and known.
“They didn’t come on to me. I propositioned them,” I clarified.
Olivia grinned. “You go, girl.”
I glanced away, suddenly feeling sad. Or sadder.
“You don’t think they’d have dragged you out of there if you hadn’t made the first move? You know Prillons. They’re just as bossy as Atlans.”
I pursed my lips. “True.”
She was quiet for a minute, waved to Emma. “But it was more than a fling for them. You’re wearing a collar.”
“I refused to be claimed. I didn’t… I didn’t—”
She set her hand on my shoulder as I swallowed tears that were lodged in my throat.
“I didn’t believe them,” I whispered.
“Don’t the collars share their feelings?”
I nodded.
“It’s not like they could lie. It’s not like on Earth when you don’t know if a guy’s just lying for sex.”
I shifted in the beanbag, bringing my knee up so I could face her. “I knew. I felt the truth. They showed it to me. Then they left for their meeting and… well, there wasn’t time.”
She squeezed my shoulder. “And now?”
I touched the collar again.
“Now I’m alone here.” I sighed. “I’m sorry. I don’t mean that you and Wulf and the kids aren’t my family and I’m not alone. But… I know what having mates is like. I almost had my own family, and now I want it. Want what you and Wulf have. What Nik and Sam offered.”
Olivia was quiet as she studied me. “Yeah, it’s not the same thing.”
“I came here to be with you guys. I don’t regret it, but now I know what I’m missing. You have a life with Wulf. I don’t have anything here. I’m just the fifth wheel.”
“I know it’s too soon, but you could mate someone else.”
I didn’t want anyone else, but I couldn’t tell Olivia that. Instead I rolled my eyes and tried for some levity. “That would only work if Wulf lays off his big-brother thing.”
As if he knew we were talking about him, the playroom door slid open and he came in, his head almost grazing the top. “Who’s hunting Hive?” His voice boomed through the room, and Tanner and Wyatt froze, spun in place and raised their hands.
Wulf went over and dropped to his knees so he was closer to their height. “Did you look behind the ship?”
They nodded, their heads bobbing in unison.
“We should check again because Hive are known to be tricky and devious. Climb on, fighters.”
Wulf dropped to his hands, and Tanner and Wyatt climbed on as if riding a horse. Wulf crawled toward the back of the room. “Weapons ready!”
“Braun’s interested,” Olivia said, smiling at her mate’s antics. He was a good father, a good role model for the boys. Emma chased after them, tugging on Wulf’s arm until he grinned and lifted her up to sit on the back of his neck where she squealed, pointed and screamed, “Go!”
“Wulf threatened to beat him bloody in the pit if he even breathed near me,” I reminded.
“He still talked with you… when Wulf wasn’t around.” She rubbed her arms as if the topic made her as uncomfortable as it was making me. “He would worship you. You know he would. You may not be the one for each other, but you could be happy.”
I sighed. “Braun’s sweet, Liv. You know that. He’s a nice guy, but I’m not for him. God, he’s like a big brother. I know it, and I think he knows it, too. That Atlan is a looker, and I’m sure he’ll claim some female in that hot up-against-the-wall sort of way. It just won’t be me.”
Olivia fanned herself, probably remembering the time Wulf carried her out of the Bachelor Beast studio… on live TV.
“I think Braun feels stuck, like me,” I admitted.
“You’re not stuck. You’ve got big plans.”
Shaking my head, I looked at my lap. “I did everyone’s hair and makeup for the party. It was so much fun. Sure, I cut hair for Rachel, you and the others, but there’s less than ten women on the planet. I can’t run a spa for ten women.”
Olivia laughed, tugged on one of my curls. “I’d come every day.”
I rolled my eyes, thought of Sam and how he’d found my hair… wild. “Whatever. No women, no spa.”
She scrunched up her face, then smiled when Emma came running over. She climbed into Olivia’s lap as the boys continued to play with Wulf.
“Think you want to go back to Earth, then? You’re the only one of us who has that choice.”
That was a good question. Did I? Unlike Olivia, I was able to go back. I could start up a spa like I wanted. I knew how it should be done. How to get a business license and a loan and everything. There, I could do it. But after being in space, I wasn’t sure if it was for me.
“I’m different, Liv. Two nights with two guys and I had everything. I’d say yes to being claimed. I was willing to leave here, leave you for two hot studs.”
“For two hot studs, I’d leave me, too.”
I sighed, her joke falling flat. “I’m serious. I’d say yes to them. To all of it.”
Olivia’s eyes widened at my vehemence.
“Now it’s not going to happen.” I pushed myself out of the beanbag chair, looked down at Olivia with Emma, who was sucking her thumb. “I’m going back to bed. I’m okay. I just need time.”
I felt like I had tons of it. I had no real job, no real prospects. No Nik and Sam. Braun was going to be a problem because I had a feeling his mating fever was pushing him toward me. I just didn’t want to break his heart, because I knew exactly what walking around with a broken heart felt like.
Empty.
13
Sambor, The Colony
* * *
I’d never been to The Colony before. Niklas had said he’d been once, but that had been before I’d become his guard. Seeing the barren landscape through the windows, it reminded me of the planet we’d just escaped. Except here, there were no Hive—I hoped—and we’d arrived intentionally. Crash-landing was something I wanted to experience only once.
Governor Maxim had met us in the transport room. Alone.
Disappointment coursed through me at not having Lucy waiting for us. We’d flown the fucking Hive craft into Coalition-controlled space, an
d all four of us initiated our comms to let them know we were friendly. The last thing we’d wanted to do was be shot out of the sky a second time. We’d had the medical station connect with Bahre’s comm so they could transport him directly to the unit for emergency medical treatment. At the time we’d had no idea of his chances for survival. He’d been without care for four days, but we’d learned since that time in a ReGen pod had healed his injuries, although he’d be scarred physically for life.
As for the rest of us, we’d flown the Hive ship to Battleship Karter, since it was the closest ship in the sector, and the Hive craft would be kept and studied for technology and enhancements. Helion had met us when we arrived—completely unscathed from the attack—to collect the Nexus unit’s two parts, the body and separated head. I’d been so glad to be back on Coalition turf that I hadn’t paid him any attention. We’d all gone to medical, been examined and released. The two rescued Atlan Warlords and the Prillon warrior would have their integrations analyzed, but were eventually headed for The Colony and a second chance. Var would spend a few days on the Karter to recuperate before being assigned a new mission. As for Niklas and myself, we’d only taken time to eat, shower and don fresh clothes before going to the transport room to be sent directly to The Colony.
No, not to The Colony. To Lucy. Our mate.
In the blink of an eye, we arrived, eagerly going down the steps to the governor. He slapped me on the shoulder and gave us both a broad smile. “It is good to see you both.”
“Governor,” Niklas began but was cut off.
“Do not fear, your mate is nearby,” Governor Maxim assured us.
I was not as schooled at hiding my emotions like Niklas. “Where is she? Why is she not here?”
“She does not know of your arrival.” He frowned for a moment. “Or that you’re alive.”
“That is cruel,” Niklas replied.
“I assure you, it was far from that. I heard of your survival and that of the others. And the rescue of a few who will make The Colony their new home. As for Lucy, I didn’t wish to falsely inflate any hopes she might have if the comms I’d received were wrong or if, hell, you somehow got sucked out a waste chute.”
Surprise Mates Page 13
