Page 7 of Tornn's Mate
A growl rumbles from my throat.Fluxx.
How could this have happened?
“She used a hypospray?” I ask.
“Yes. She had it hidden between her thighs, Admiral.”
“Contact all the males who left the docking bay with a human female,” I say. “Apprise them of the situation and order them to frisk their femalesthoroughly. Also order them to search their female’s luggage.”
“Understood, Admiral.” He spins on his heel and rushes down the corridor.
I don’t return to my quarters immediately. I stand outside the door, trying to gather my thoughts and rein in my anger.
How could a female attack her mate? It’s unthinkable.
I stare at the door, wondering if this was a coordinated attack. Do other human females plan to inject their males with the same harmful substance? Is Captain Warren involved?
Darkness gathers in my mind. Does Ellie have any contraband in her possession? A small weapon, or a poison-filled hypospray?
I return to my quarters and settle a fierce look upon her. Her eyes widen as I approach the sofa where she’s sitting. I crouch in front of her, holding her gaze.
She sets the water aside with a trembling hand. “Is-is something wrong, Admiral Tornn?”
Hearing my name escape her lips for the first time causes an unexpected warmth to flow through me. It catches me off guard, and I don’t start interrogating her just yet. Instead, I study her expression for any hint of deceit while also admiring her beauty.
Is she waiting for the right moment to withdraw a weapon or a hypospray from her gown and try to end me?
Why would the humans want to harm us?
But the more I think about it, the more I realize Captain Warren and his command team likely aren’t behind the attack on Paddax. It wouldn’t make sense for the human leaders to want any of my people dead. Our weaponry is vastly superior to that of the humans. We could destroy theJansonnawith the press of a button.
In all likelihood, Paddax’s mate had acted alone, and she probably wasn’t under orders from Captain Warren. The very survival of the human race depends upon maintaining the Darrvason-human alliance. They need us.
“I’m afraid there’s been an incident,” I finally reply.
“What kind of incident?” She glances at the viewscreen, her gaze on theJansonna. “Is the human worldship okay? Please tell me there wasn’t an accident on board. I-I know the ship is in terrible condition, but…” Her voice trails off and she wraps her arms around her body as her shaking increases. “My mother and sister live on the upper decks.”
“Nothing happened aboard theJansonna,” I’m quick to assure her. “I’m certain your family is fine. I’ve sent a team of our most skilled engineers to start making repairs on the human worldship. We passed them in the corridor just outside the docking bay.”
She places a hand to her chest and releases a quick breath. “Oh. Oh, thank goodness.” She peers at me with questions brimming in her eyes. “Um, did something happen on theHaxxal, or on another Darrvason ship?”
“One of the thirty human females has attacked her mate, leaving him in critical condition. She injected him with something.”
She gasps. “Will he live?”
“The doctors believe they can save him.”
A relieved sigh escapes her, and her shoulders sag briefly. Then she straightens and grabs my arm, giving me a beseeching look. “Please have mercy. Please don’t kill the woman, and please don’t break your alliance with my people.”
I place my hand atop hers, enjoying her touch despite the gravity of the situation. “I have no intention of killing the woman. She is currently in the brig, but she’ll be returned to her mate once he recovers. In the meantime, she will not be mistreated. As for the alliance with your people, I wish to maintain it. I won’t let the actions of one allow it to collapse.”
Her eyes fill with relief. “Thank you, Admiral Tornn. Truly. Thank you.” A somber look falls over her. “I’m glad the Darrvosan male will survive, and I’m sorry for what the woman has done. She did a terrible thing, I can’t claim she didn’t, but… what will happen once she’s returned to her mate? Will he…hurt her?”
“It’s possible he’ll decide to punish her,” I say, “but it’s also possible he’ll be forgiving. I don’t know the male in question very well, so I cannot speak for him. If he does punish her, the worst she can expect is a whipping.”
Ellie’s eyes grow larger, but she doesn’t immediately respond. I’d expected her to plead for more leniency on behalf of the woman, but she remains quiet and appears deep in thought. Troubled. Anxious.
“What would you do?” she asks in a whisper. “If I attacked you, what would you do?”
