by Liza Probz
"Input the access code."
"I will," she barked at X. "As soon as I can remember it."
"You forgot the access code?" His voice was a heavy growl.
"I didn't forget," she shot back. "I have to remember the appropriate code for the situation. If I toss out the wrong one, it will make things worse."
"Well, what kind of situation is this?" His breathing rate was increasing, his body rigid.
God, this mating frenzy thing is sure making him tense. If only I could think of a way to relax him so he could think straight.
The image of dropping to her knees and giving him something to moan and groan about almost buckled her. Maybe he wasn’t the only one going into a mating frenzy. She swallowed hard and tried to concentrate.
"Let's see... I would think Magnis would consider this just a standard entry. I'll give him the code I would give after returning from a scouting mission."
Sylvie leaned over the console. "Honey, I'm home."
The green lights blinked red, and an alarm began sounding. "Incorrect access code. The ship has started auto-destruct sequencing.”
"Goddamn NASA, why do they have to be so overdramatic?" Sylvie bit her lip.
"Self-destruct in T-minus ten minutes."
"Thanks for the update.” Sylvie rolled her eyes and let out a shaky breath. Having X stare over her shoulder didn’t help much. The heat rolling off of him was almost palpable.
He grabbed the back of her arms, pressing himself to her back. His desire to mate was evident by the thick press of his erection against the middle of her back. How the hell did he fit that thing inside of me?
He leaned over and brushed his lips over her shoulder. "Wrong situation. Try again, doctor."
"Okay, don't worry." She pushed at his head, needing a little bit of breathing room. "After I realized NASA wanted me to memorize thirty or so of these situations and then rely on a computer to share my assessment of what constituted each one, I insisted that they input an overall all-clear code that would call off any self-destruct sequence."
"Why didn't you try that one first?"
Sylvie frowned. "Because it's a last resort. Once I use it, the self-destruct can't ever be re-enabled."
X's hands covered his ears through the cloak as the destruction radar began to wail louder and louder. He moved and stuck his head out of the hatch of the craft. "Get everyone out of here. Initiate blast shield protocol."
Sylvie watched as the scientists scurried out, then saw an opaque membrane similar to Zantharian doors appear and engulf the walls of the large chamber.
The regent pulled his head back in and pushed back his hood, his dark face scowling at her. "Re-enabling doesn't matter now. Call off the self-destruct."
"Okay," she said, licking her lips. The self-destruct was the one weapon her vessel had. Literally. It wasn't equipped with any long-range weapons, nor anything hand-held. Even the utensils were dull.
Make a choice. You either trust him to keep you safe, or you blow up your only ride home.
"Magnis," she said, turning back to the console, "don't you think you're overreacting a little?"
The alarm kept buzzing. The lights continued flashing. Sylvie's knees buckled and X reached for her.
"What is it?" X asked. “Give the computer the damn code, Sylvie.”
"I just did. ‘Don't you think you're overreacting a little,’ is the code. It didn't work!"
"You've tested it before launch?" he asked.
"Of course. I had to make sure my override was functional." But it wasn't working now. "Maybe the computer was damaged in the crash."
"Or maybe it was sabotaged by the enemy." X's mouth was a flat line, his eyes cold.
"Self-destruct in five minutes," Magnis informed them.
"God, I hate when you start counting down!" Sylvie shouted at the computer, remembering his emotionless countdown to her crash landing.
"Try another access code," X said, grabbing her hand to recall her attention.
"If I screw up again, it will speed up the self-destruct sequence to one minute. We've got to get out of here. My ship is lost, but I don't want to go down with it."
"We can't leave," X said. "The room is sealed. Protocol dictates that the seal cannot be opened until the self-destruct sequence is ended, or the ship is destroyed."
"You shut us in here?"
"You said you knew the code!"
She lowered her head, defeated. They'd both screwed up.
X put a finger under her chin and lifted her gaze to his own. "I'm sorry. Come here and let me hold you one more time."
She gave him a sad smile and moved into his strong arms. "My fault. You warned me about coming here. You were right. It was dangerous."
As if to accentuate her point, Magnis said, "Self-destruct in three minutes."
"I can't believe I actually missed this stupid computer," she grumbled.
"Look on the bright side," he said, the glow in his eyes swallowing his pupils. "I get to spend the last few minutes of my life with the most beautiful woman on the planet. I know it’s ridiculous, but I’ve begun to fall in love with you."
She searched his face, realizing that it had become serene. He was beautiful and she had to quickly admit to herself that it wasn’t lust, but love she was falling into as well. "There's no one else on the planet I'd rather be with right now."
He laughed. It was a pleasant sound. "No one else on the planet likes you, woman."
She stuck out her tongue at him as fire ignited in his eyes. “I wish I could have you, one more time.”
"Self-destruct in two minutes."
She snuggled against him as her heart began to race. To act calm and collected about dying on the outside was one thing, but to be unraveling on the inside was another. “Nothing we can do to survive this?”
“No, baby. I’m sorry.” He kissed her softly before she pulled back.
"Goodbye, cruel world," she grumbled and lifted to her toes, pressing her lips tightly to his as he lifted her into the air. The soft brush of his tongue was all she needed to open up to him and forget everything. If death was imminent, she wanted pleasure to be her last memory.
X jerked back. "What the hell happened?"
"Happened?" She opened her eyes, realizing they were still standing there together.
"To the self-destruct sequence?"
At that moment Magnis piped up. "Self-destruct sequence has been deactivated. Correct access code received."
Sylvie let out a shaky laugh as tears rolled onto her cheeks. “Goodbye, cruel world."
"What?"
"That's the code for a biological threat. If, on my way back to Earth, one of my samples decides to try to eat me, or I discover something will cause a plague or outbreak, it would be considered a 'Goodbye, cruel world' situation."
“That’s ignorant.”
"I agree, but I don’t make the rules.” She made her way toward the console. “I don't understand, though. Why would Magnis consider an example of that scenario? What a strange malfunction."
"It could be enemy sabotage." X's voice was like gravel.
Sylvie straightened, hands on her hips. "Or it could be a malfunction from the landing, or from your people poking around in here."
"How can you be sure it won't happen again?" he asked.
She turned back to the computer. "Magnis," she said, "no more self-destruct nonsense, correct?" She felt as if she were lecturing a child.
"The override has disabled the self-destruct mechanism permanently," he replied.
Sylvie was surprised. "But you didn't recognize my 'overreacting' code."
"That code had been overwritten."
"By whom?" Sylvie wondered where this rabbit hole led.
"That information is classified."
"Classified from me? It was my code to begin with!"
"That information is classified."
Sylvie shot a glance at X. His face was troubled. At least he wasn't saying 'I told you so.'
&
nbsp; She sighed. "Magnis, your programming has been tampered with. We're going to try and figure out what's happened."
Magnis remained silent, but his lights blinked twice, letting her know that he'd received her utterance.
"I want you to cooperate with these nice people, all right? Answer their questions. Tolerate their poking around in your bits."
"Affirmative," the computer said, blinking green twice.
Sylvie stepped away from the console. "He says he's harmless now, and apparently willing to be quite cooperative."
A loud noise resounded from just outside of the ship. The protective membrane was being withdrawn. They must have been monitoring the inside of the chamber. Had they seen the kiss?
She turned back toward X, but his deadpan expression gave her nothing. With his darkened skin, she was unable to discern his mood from a simple glance as well.
He pulled the cloak back up, his face now bathed in shadows. He seemed suddenly distant, as if, after showing her such vulnerability, he had to rebuild his hard exterior. He had begun to fall in love with her. The feeling was mutual, but not having shared that, she was the only one who knew of their common feelings.
From intimacy to nothing. His detachment irked her.
"It sounds like you might be right about someone fiddling around with my ship. Whether it was able to bring down the shield itself, or whether it was merely a distraction, I'm not capable of figuring out which, and unless you're an engineer, I don't think you are either."
He said nothing at first, though the weight of his gaze lay heavy on her. Finally he nodded and growled his response. "Let's go."
X redid her wrist bindings and took hold of the braided binding at her back to maneuver her out of the hatch, and then out of the chamber. She thought maybe he got a perverse enjoyment leading her around all tied up, but forced herself not to think of him like that. He was simply feeling vulnerable and the mood swings had to be fucking with him, too.
He sped down the hallway, forcing her to keep up, which wasn’t particularly easy.
"Where are we going?" she asked.
He didn't answer, but just kept walking.
"X. Where are we going? Can you not slow down just a little? I can't keep up."
He froze in place and she bumped into him before he released her bindings, forcing her into an unoccupied cell.
Sylvie ran her hands up and down her arms as goose bumps began to appear. Fear. Fear of the cell before her. It reminded her too much of her time as a captive and her almost dismemberment. She shivered and glanced down at the binding around her throat.
X tugged hard on the binding and her head came back up in time for him to take a large handful of her hair between his fingers. He moved down toward her. "I don't know where we're going!"
She flinched at the volume of his voice, the concern stabbing her in the chest.
"I've run out of ideas, okay?" He pressed his lips to hers in a painful kiss and moved away, growling and dropping to the cushion below him. "I can barely think, my fucking gut is clenching so hard."
She moved toward him and he pulled her down into his lap, wrapping his arms around her and kissing the exposed flesh around her breasts as he mumbled, half crazed, "That ship almost blew the fuck up and you almost died. I could do nothing to protect you and it was my fault. I’m so sorry."
"I told you I knew the codes. It wasn't your fault." She brushed her hand over his cheek, his skin feverous. How could she stop the craze within him? His hurting left her confused and unsure of the next steps.
"I should have never put you in danger," he said, burying his face in her chest and brushing his lips over her as if memorizing the curves of her breasts. He was slipping into madness. "The thought of losing you..."
"Shh..." she said, stroking his tendrils and kissing the side of his face.
"I would do anything, give anything, to keep you safe. I cherish you, do you not understand? Do you not hear me?"
A burst of warmth shot through her chest at his words. It was the mating frenzy and he most likely wasn’t in his right mind, but it felt so good to be wanted, to be loved. How many years on Earth had she spent lonely and wishing for someone – anyone – to care for her?
She stayed still in his arms until his breathing relaxed, his kisses slowing down slightly. Sylvie continued to stroke his face and back, wanting to broach the delicate subject of helping him with the mating frenzy, but not wanting to upset him again.
"X, I'm as out of ideas as you are. Uncovering alien conspiracies is not my strong suit. I'm a biologist. That's my skillset. Let me use it to help you. Please?"
He looked at her, but said nothing.
"I could set up a lab here, take some samples, run a few tests, maybe consult with some of your senior scientists–"
"No consultations," he said with a frown. "I want no one else to know of my... condition... until after my demise. By then I'll have set a structure in place to take over for me seamlessly. We can't let things get more chaotic. It's an invitation for invasion."
"No consultations," she agreed. "Does this mean you'll allow me to search for a cure?"
He nodded. "As you said, we're out of ideas. I don't think you'll succeed, even if you are brilliant, but it will give me time to sort out my affairs."
She tried to focus on the compliment and not on the way he seemed resigned to death. It was too terrifying to contemplate.
"Let's get to a lab." She moved from his lap and tugged on his hand to pull him to his feet.
X stood, straightening his cloak. He looked down at her, and she could tell that what he was going to say was difficult for him.
"Thank you," he said, his voice grave, "for helping me."
"Of course," she replied as heat burned her cheeks. She hadn’t done anything but offer kindness and a warm hug. "Anything for my mate."
She'd meant it to come off as flippant, something to lighten the mood, but it had the opposite effect. Sylvie turned away as heat burned through his gaze and he groaned sensually.
Chapter 31
Xivthar was updating his Last Will and Testament. As the highest authority on the planet, his will was updated regularly. However, because of recent events, some changes were required.
He penned his desires slowly, loving the result of their night even if it meant his death. He would protect her and take care of her financially long after his days were over. "My estate in its entirety is to go to my mate, the Earthling female known as Dr. Sylvia Cohen."
Zantharians did not possess much personal property, preferring to live communally for the most part, but his family had amassed a large cache of gems taken from small undersea mines over the centuries. As he had no child to pass them on to, he would give them to Sylvie.
The gems would fetch an astronomical price back on Earth. He was determined to see that she made it back there, and that she would be provided for once she did.
He shifted his attention from his work to the female across from him. She stood at her own console, her tongue peeking out of her mouth as she licked at her lips over and over.
The sight of that little pink tongue drove him crazy, heat searing his center with fever.
Xivthar adjusted his cock underneath his sarong and groaned, the arousal sensitive to even touch. Being in the same room with her was complete and utter hell. He wanted nothing more than to plunge into her sweetness until he brought himself to come, the prayer that it would happen almost too much to hope for. He would try again soon, but she was damned and determined to help him in the lab, not in the bedroom just yet.
Even if he knew it was hopeless, he still had to grant her the chance.
X dialed the connection to Drake's console with a heavy heart. It was time to convince his brother to help. Since he'd be passing over the reins of Supreme Regent to him temporarily, until the crisis was resolved and a new regent could be elected, it was crucial that he get his brother's cooperation.
The Minister of Defense appeared on the display and Xi
vthar had to suppress his immediate reaction. His brother's skin was still a deep maroon, his fear on display for everyone to see.
Rage washed over the regent, but he held it in. He had to be convincing, and starting off with a dressing down was not the way to go.
"Brother, please make sure this channel is secure."
Drake's eyes narrowed as he took in the hooded figure. "It's secure. Xivthar?"
The regent took a deep breath, then pulled back his hood, exposing his face.
There was a sharp intake of air. His brother took the display and rotated it, making sure he was the only one to see what was broadcast over his console.
"How did it happen?" he asked, his voice tense.
"It doesn't matter. We have to--"
"The Earthling female."
Xivthar scowled. "It. Doesn't. Matter. Never mind how it happened, let's concentrate on what we're going to do about it."
"Is she still with you?"
Why couldn't his brother let go of his anxiety about the female? "Yes. Now listen. You will be named temporary regent. Your position as Minister of Defense makes you a candidate anyway, and a strong one during this crisis. You shouldn't face opposition."
Drake nodded, his attention captured.
Xivthar continued. "The Hareema threat is your priority, no surprise there, but I have one more matter that needs your personal attention."
"The female?"
The regent nodded. "Make sure she gets back to Earth safely."
"We can't be sure she's not an operative. This may all be part of their plan."
This time Xivthar couldn't hold in his reaction. "I don't care what you think. I know you have doubts. I don't. She's my mate. You will treat her as such."
His brother's expression tightened. The regent calmed himself. "This is the last thing I'll ask of you. The most important thing. We shared an egg, brother. I trust you more than I trust myself. Please."
He held his breath, watching the string of emotions cross his brother's face. At last Drake gave a stiff nod. “Fine.”
"Thank you."
"Have you mated her?" his brother asked.
"We had sex," Xivthar admitted. "It was only afterwards that the frenzy began."
