Page 13 of Sawoots Story

“Sector clear.”

I hold the controls as Markin and Tar’ank take their places next to me. We should be focusing on the huge planet below and the space around it, but all I can think of isher.

Sawoot.

She stared up at me with naked hatred. She was uncowed by my triad, my triad who has rent Scorp and massacred pirates and slavers.

My triad followed my lead when we took the job under Captain Aelon. He’s known as a ferocious fighter, but a good leader who does not waste the lives of his soldiers.

The pay was good.

Good enough to set my dream into motion. You’d have to be a fool to think the universe was not on the brink of war. My triad and I bought a refinery and repairs station and every month on payday we use the funds to improve it. It can now handle basic Reaver repairs and we’ve set up an assembly line for missiles.

If…no,whenthe universe plunges into war, demand will skyrocket.

The universe is not safe. Whether you believe the Priests or not, change is coming. Too many Aurelians are growing angry at being ruled by a queen who pushes to give humanity more rights. Too many are turning to the Old Ways…

Like Kit.

Like Kit, who was about to lose his honor and do something to her I couldn’t let happen.

My biceps tense and flex as my protective urges overpower me. A growl rips out of my throat before I can stop it.

Tar’ank looks at me, and I can tell by the look in his eyes he understand.“We should be guarding her,”he telepaths through the Bond, so the other triads in the weapons-targeting room won’t overhear. His aura is uneasy. I try to keep mine steady, but unease pulses through me.

Tar’ank looks like he should be the leader. He’s got a regal look to him. I’ve always had a broad, simple face, and I’ve lived a simple life as best as I can. As simple as I can be in the modern universe.

Sawoot has…complicated things.

Who is this woman?

She had an instant effect on both my triad and Kit’s. It was like my body moved without thought. I was ready to cut the heads off of men who I have fought side-by-side with. Sawoot draws me to her, but I can feel the hate.

Kit almost succumbed. If I hadn’t been there at that moment, he would have snapped. The Mating Rage almost took him. Once the threshold has been passed, it’s nearly impossible to stop. I would have had to kill him to end it.

We were ordered to escort her safely to the female quarters.

When she stood there, asking me how I could say she would be safe…

I almost cracked. To my deep shame, I almost cracked. She stirs something up in me I’ve never felt before. The Mating Rage boiled up in my balls, the raw lust so powerful my conscious mind melted. She makes me feel like an animal.

She makes me a beast.

But a prisoner is off-limits, even if she did not hate us. No Aurelian would touch one unless they were ready to sacrifice everything that made them good.

She must be kept safe and protected.

I will be her guardian.

“We have our orders. It’s our shift. We must be vigilant. If Toads attack and we’re not keeping look-out, she could be hurt.”

I telepath the words to my triad, but it’s hard to believe them.

As I stare out into the dead of space, all I can think of is losing control, giving in to the dark urges toclaimSawoot.

4

Sawoot

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