Page 34 of Act of Command

“You were shutting up, remember?” she asked, with a wink.

He tucked himself into his pants and then stood, bringing Mae with him gently. He righted her gown as best he could and realized she was not only full of his seed but wearing it as well. She also bore his mark—his claim.

She was his wife.

He dragged her against him and held her, shaking slightly as the reality of it all sank in. He kissed the top of her head. “I know I’m to be quiet now, but love, I need to get us out of here.”

“I know,” she said, touching his chest. “But don’t do anything stupid. I didn’t used to think you were real. Now that I know who you are, I’d like to keep you in one piece.”

He snickered. “Yes, dear.”

Chapter Fourteen

“Go.” Corbin released her and then pointed to the other side of the infirmary. He wanted her safe and away from the entrance should his plan go south. He couldn’t wait any longer for an extraction. His gut told him they were on borrowed time as it was. He’d not risk Mae.

She nodded and did as he instructed. He turned and began to take inventory of their surroundings. Something, that as a trained soldier, he should have done the minute he woke there. His cock had guided his actions. It was time for his head to do so now.

There was a clanking noise and then a rancid smell filled the room. He twisted to find Mae near a long counter with various vials of liquid on it. One vial was now on the floor, broken open, sizzling.

Mae’s lips pursed into a thin line and her brows quirked upward. “Sorry. I didn’t see it there.”

He remembered her in glasses then the night he’d seen her on campus. “Love, try not to blow us up, okay?”

She shrugged. “I’ll do my best. No promises. I’m clumsy. Amazing I haven’t broken my own neck in here yet today.”

He didn’t bother to hide his smile. His wife was funny on top of being beautiful and clearly brave. She’d survived two weeks of being held by the enemy and hadn’t broken. She was a strong woman—albeit one who couldn’t see very well at the moment.

Corbin sniffed the air once more, making sure the chemical on the floor wasn’t one that would cause harm to anyone if inhaled. He was satisfied it was safe and set his attention upon the door. It didn’t open. Not that he expected it would. He tried to pry it open but it held firm. He even attempted to override the access panel to no avail.

A thought occurred to him and he looked back to find Mae touching various vials on the counter near her. Good gods, did the woman have a death wish? Who knew what the scientists here were working on? His mate could blow herself up if she wasn’t careful.

He covered the distance to her quickly and lifted her, causing her to gasp. He set her on the bed and stared at her. “Sit here. Touch nothing.”

“I was just wondering what they all were,” she said, her voice making his body warm. He wanted her again, but it wasn’t the time for that. He needed to get her to safety. “I was hoping to find something that would help your wound.”

Corbin glanced at his side, all but forgetting he’d been hurt. It was healed over for the most part, the scar ugly and fresh looking. It would fade away in days. He took Mae’s hand and brought it to his side, wondering just how bad her vision was without her glasses. “I’m fine, love.”

“Wow, I thought you said what they gave you slowed your healing.”

“It has.”

She blinked. “And you’ve healed over that much already?”

He kissed the tip of her nose. “Sit tight. I beg of you. The vial you knocked over has something corrosive in it. Had that spilled on you—” He shuddered at the thought. “I can’t handle anything happening to you. I’m hanging on by a thread as it is. I need you to listen to me. Please.”

She huffed. “I’ll sit here and be good.”

“Thank you.”

Corbin moved in the direction of the long counter full of liquids. He searched for one that smelled and looked the same as the one on the floor. When he found it, he lifted it carefully and went for the door. He poured it over the access panel and then grabbed a pole used to hang IV bags and rammed it into the melting mess. The door popped open in the center, but didn’t open all the way.

He used the pole to pry it open enough to get his hands in. Once he did, he drew upon his strength and yanked hard. The doors gave way enough to be able to get Mae and himself through, one by one. He turned and put his hand out to his mate, before realizing she probably couldn’t see the action from across the room.

He didn’t want her trying to come to him on her own if her vision was off. He went to her instead, taking her hand in his. “Time to go, love.”

She tugged on his hand. “In case this goes sideways, thank you for coming for me. And thank you for helping take away the pain. Our first date has been interesting, to say the least.”

He stiffened. He’d learned enough of the Fae to know some had the ability to sense impending danger. Could she, and if so, did she sense her own demise? Panic assailed him and he had to fight to temper it. He shook slightly as he held her hand in his. Unable to help himself, he bent, his lips claiming hers, needing to know she was alive and well. When he broke the kiss, he stared down at her. “Stay behind me, love.”

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