Page 29 of Bonded

The Dirsigian bred their soldier caste for war. One big trigger used to make them unbeatable was to hardwire a mating frenzy into their genetics. When they went too long without mating, they would go insane. One soldier in a frenzy could bring down an entire infantry battalion.

To scent a female seemed an unnecessary risk. I didn’t want to insult Ithran, though. He took honor and bonds seriously. He also wouldn’t want to be perceived as weak. “Thank you for your concern, Captain. Would the ship be able to track Priya’s footsteps? Perhaps that would be more convenient for you?”

My suggestion did not fool him. “I know you are referring to my control. Trust me, I am fine. I am not a danger around mated females. Especially this one who is part of the ship.”

I didn’t know if I wanted to address the fact that he basically claimed that Priya was a ship part or that he responded to Priya as if she were already mated.

Okay, not the time to be irrationally happy. Must focus. Priority 1. Check on Priya’s safety.

I opened the link to the ship. “Ship, please make sure that Ruzan doesn’t hear me. Tell me where Priya is.”

The screen lit up on my console. “Pilot-Priya is asleep in her bunk.”

I was afraid that if I were to relay that information to the captain, he would be upset.

“Where were her last coordinates?”

The image showed her in one of the docking bays. And then I got a little nervous. I dashed off into the docking bay as a last-minute change in plans. I thought it would be easier to get extra supplies if we were in two vessels instead of one. “Ship, where is Priya’s exact current location?”

“She is asleep in her bunk.”

I ignored the low-level growl that snapped from Ithran, who must have overheard the ship’s answer. “And where is her bunk, Ship?”

“Her designated bunk is in shuttle C.”

“I am operating shuttle C.” I got up and tore through the shuttle. I found Priya in the back in the middle of a storage bin she had made into a bed. Relief washed over me.

“Ship, why didn’t you tell the captain that she was on the shuttle?”

“The captain asked about Pilot-Priya’s health and location. I repeated she was asleep in her bunk.”

Ithran’s voice rumbled through the comms. “I asked where Priya was and you said she was still on board, Ship.”

“You asked if she was on the ship, and she is. The shuttle is part of the ship. Plus, she had mentioned that she would claim the space as her own. The privacy appealed to her, so I updated her bunk designation as shuttle C.”

Ithran slapped his palm against his forehead. “Ship, we will need to speak about precise terminology in the future. Meanwhile, all three of my pilots are off-vessel, and they are on the only two working shuttles. What if something happens to them?”

“Nothing will happen. I will make sure of that.”

I didn’t want to know why Priya was here, especially because it would not help me now. All that mattered was the fact that she was here. I couldn’t change that fact. “Captain, I am closer to the space station than I am to the ship, but I can still turn around.”

“No, Ruzan needs you at his back. He might intimidate the Kaza twins, but they will also take an advantage if they see they have one.”

“But what about Priya? I will not leave her unattended in the shuttle. There’s no telling what would happen. It could be hijacked or robbed.”

“I am already ahead of you, Vryek. I have already changed course and we will be at your six within the hour. The plan will be that while you and Ruzan go to the meeting, the rest of the ship will wait on the outskirts. I will be close enough to acquire the shuttle and bring it back to the ship. We will have to make do with whatever equipment fits on one shuttle versus two.”

I was fine with that.

Now I had to decide whether to tell Ruzan that our soul was here at the space station. I said as much out loud.

“That won’t be necessary, Vryek, as I will be the one to tell him,” Captain Ithran said. “I promised her safety on my word, and I will account for it.”

“Thank you, Captain. He will be upset, but once he sees she is fine, he will be okay.” Mostly okay, but I didn’t add that.

“His emotional state is not my concern. Priya’s safety is. As you are slowing for the space station, we are gaining. I am about half an hour behind you.”

“Understood, Captain. I think I can delay, so we don’t have to leave her alone.” Even if the captain was a few minutes behind, I didn't want to leave her. I would wait out those minutes.

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