Page 103 of Zayrik

The words cut through my rage.

Because they were true.

She’d known they were true when she turned herself over to him.

I turned toward the ship again.

My hands curled into fists.

The marks on my arms blazing bright enough to see through my sleeves.

I could end it now.

Follow our bond straight to her.

Rip through hull and metal.

Drag him out.

Break him down to blood and dust until there was nothing left but his begging.

I could.

The warrior in me knew how.

The mate in me demanded it.

But I didn’t.

Didn’t move. Because she trusted me to do this right. To be smarter than rage.

To become more than just violence with purpose.

I activated my comm again.

Each word careful against her trust.

“Raxor. Clear a path to Bay Twelve. I want breach teams ready.”

“You’ll have them. Two minutes.”

A promise in those words.

A countdown to controlled destruction.

I forced myself to stand still.

Forced myself to breathe.

I aimed to be the warrior she needed, not just the mate who wanted blood.

Through our bond, I pushed everything I had. Strength, determination, promise.

Hold on,K’sha. Just a little longer.

I felt her response, faint but fierce. Still alive.

Vask wanted me to lose control.

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