Page 55 of Tornn's Mate
I bark more orders into my wrist comm and to the security officers who are flanking me as I hurry down the royal corridors, anxious to reach Ellie.
“Only one of the human males who boarded theHaxxalis still missing,” Officer Paddax says with a glance at his wrist comm. “But we have security teams sweeping every room and corridor on the ship. Wherever he is, we’ll find him soon and he’ll join his comrades in death.”
“How did the humans disable our shields and power systems at the samefluxxingtime?” I shout as I reach the corridor that leads to my quarters. I know I’m needed on the bridge, but I must make sure Ellie is all right. The coldness of her fear keeps hitting me through the bond, and I long to take her in my arms and comfort her.
“An initial report from engineering claims they remotely hacked our systems using Xorrshanan technology. Something they must’ve acquired at an outpost. They also attempted to push our other vessels out of the shared hyperdrive bubble, as I suspected they might, but it didn’t work. All fifteen ships left the bubble at once, though the humans were then quick to use the Xorrshanan technology to temporarily disable every ship in our fleet. A good plan,” Officer Paddax says, “if only we were all dying of the plague and couldn’t fight back.”
“Why do you suppose they attacked us now?” I ask, impressed that Paddax’s theories are proving correct. “Had it worked, the virus would’ve taken two moon cycles to spread through theHaxxaland incapacitate our crew. They’re over a moon cycle early.” Theyfluxxingcaught us by surprise.
Officer Paddax squints at his wrist comm. “As you know, they are several millennia behind us in scientific advancements.” He snorts and shrugs one shoulder. “They probably miscalculated the spread of the virus. Fools.”
“Take your security team to the bridge,” I order Officer Paddax. “I will join you in a moment. There’s something I must do first.”
To the security officer’s credit, he doesn’t balk or even lift an eyebrow when he sees me take off in the direction of my quarters. Instead, he draws in a deep breath and starts issuing orders to those under his command, and the entire team veers down a corridor that leads to the bridge.
I rush into my quarters—why thefluxxis the door open?—still startled by the powerful surges of fear I sense through the bond.
Just as I pass the entryway, there’s a flash of red, and a sharp pain impacts my shoulder.Fluxx. Blaster fire. That means…
I growl and barrel toward the human man who’s grasping a struggling Ellie by the arm. She punches at his chest and tries to reach his blaster, but he holds it high and attempts to shoot me again. The beam goes wide and hits a painting on the wall to my left.
My rage is a blinding, dark force, the most powerful surge of bloodlust I’ve ever experienced.Ellie. The human scum has his hands on my mate.
Before I can reach them, the male wraps an arm around her, holding her tightly to his chest as he presses the blaster to her temple.
I freeze.
“Stay back!” the human male screams. “Stay the fuck back or I’ll shoot her. I swear I’ll do it!”
“Let go of me, Nathan. You stupid asshole.” Ellie stomps on his foot, and he snarls and presses the blaster more firmly to her head. She goes absolutely still.
Nathan. My bloodlust mounts. So, this is the human male Ellie was supposed to marry. The human male who’d called her a traitor and a whore.
“It’s over,” I say. “All your comrades are dead, and you’ll never make it back to your shuttles in the docking bay.”
Nathan’s face goes white. “You’re lying. There were two hundred of us packed onto the shuttles. Our soldiers can’t all be dead.”
As I press my hand to a hidden pocket on my pants, feeling the outline of the small but deadly weapon hidden within, I give the human male a broad, menacing smile, making sure to reveal my sharp, pointed teeth. “All dead,” I repeat.
“Why aren’t you all sick?” Nathan asks in a wavering voice. “Fuck. You were all supposed to be sick or dead.”
“The Darrvasons were quick to save Sheila’s mate and develop a vaccine against the virus she injected him with,” Ellie says. “I tried to warn you. I tried to tell you that the Darrvasons are much more powerful than us and there’s no defeating them.”
“Shut up!” He gives her a shake, and I take two steps forward as I withdraw the weapon from my pocket. “You were supposed to be my wife! With Captain Warren’s niece as my wife, The Saviors planned to install me as the next captain!”
It takes all my self-control not to growl and launch myself at Nathan, but I cannot risk Ellie getting hurt. A blaster shot to the head would likely kill her. Fortunately, my thick, textured skin offers me protection against the human weapon. I need to get myself between her and Nathan. I need to protect my sweet human female.
As I hold Ellie’s gaze, I send warmth down the bond. Her eyes glisten with tears and I feel her grasping onto the affection I’m sending her, holding onto the tether as though she’s clasping my hand.
Drop down, drop down, drop down.
I try to send the command through the bond, unsure if it’ll work.
Drop down, Ellie. Right now.
I clutch the shooting star between my fingers—a tiny but lethal, metallic throwing blade that has a nerve agent embedded within it. But I can’tfluxxingtoss it at Nathan if there’s a chance I’ll hit Ellie. I’m a good aim but I cannot risk her safety.
Drop down, Ellie. Drop down.
