Page 60 of Radakk's Mate
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RADAKK
Spying.My mate has been spying for Captain Warren. I wonder what she was telling him, what secrets she was revealing to the vile male, when I walked in. They were speaking in a human language I couldn’t understand.
Why? Why would she do it?
I grasp her arm and lead her to my bedroom. She trembles and makes a frightened whimpering noise in her throat, but she offers no resistance. Fear rolls off her in waves.
I know the story she told me about her father was true. Officer Brute, who is still stationed on theJansonna, has verified it. A mention of her father’s trial and execution was recently included in a report about the various rebel groups on the worldship. She didn’t lie about her past, but I cannot fathom why,whyshe would be spying for Captain Warren. Why she would be reporting to him in secret.
“It wasn’t what it looked like, Emperor,” she finally says.
I snarl and push her toward the bed, forcing her to sit down. I stand above her and cross my arms over my chest. Fury and hurt and betrayal wind through me.
“Not what it looked like?” I scoff. “What kind of information have you been passing along to the captain during the last two moon cycles?” Star Gods, that’s how long she’s had access to a video comm. Has she been speaking with the captain this whole time?
She shakes her head so fast her golden hair flips about her shoulders. She radiates undiluted fear, and she’s paler than I’ve ever seen her. I don’t like it. I don’t like it, and yet… I must interrogate her. I must discover the full scope of her deceit.
“I asked you a question and I expect an answer, Thalia. What information have you been passing to Captain Warren?”
“Nothing. I-I haven’t told him a thing. I swear to you it’s not what it looked like. I’m not spying for the captain. It’s not like that.” She grasps my hand and shoots me a beseeching look. “Please, you must believe me.”
My ancestral markings start tingling, and I curse inwardly at the bad timing. I don’t want another reminder of what we might never have. During the last two moon cycles, I’ve stood by and watched as a heartbond formed between every other Darrvason-human couple on theHaxxal. Stood by and watched and cursed the Star Gods as I wondered what we were doing wrong. WhatIwas doing wrong.
I draw in a quick breath, preparing to bark more questions at Thalia, when I notice the red splotches on her upper arms. It looks as though she’s been scratching all morning.
Maybe… maybe it’s finally happening. Until now, I’ve never glimpsed redness on her arms.
“Are you all right, Emperor?” Concern threads her voice. “You’re flushed and sweating. You look like you might be coming down with a fever.”
A fever. Yes, a fever.
The bonding fever, to be precise.
My shafts harden and I’m suddenly sweltering in my clothing. So, I start tearing them off, shedding my shirt and pants, tugging off my boots. I toss the garments aside and loom over my trembling mate, my chest rising and falling rapidly as lust sears my insides, a breathing, living fervor that needs release.
My mate. I need my mate. I need to bury my shafts inside her, pound her to completion, and fill her with my seed. Over and over. Until thefluxxingend of time.
I’m about to reach for Thalia and tear her dress down the middle, but her eyes widen with knowing, and some of her fear abates.
She rises from the bed and removes her gown, her demeanor sweet and submissive. She’s wearing nothing beneath the garment, and I growl with pleasure at the sight of her curvy, naked body.
She stands before me like an offering, and I grasp her shoulders and yank her closer. I still have many questions for her, and I’m still furious over the prospect of her having spied for the captain. Spiedon me. But even if she’s betrayed me, I cannot fathom letting her go.
Mine. She’smine.
I will keep her. I will make her obey.
I will make her confess every last secret she has.
“Is it the heartbond?” she asks in a breathy tone, and the scent of her arousal thickens in the air.
With a snarl, I grasp her chin. “I believe so.”
I’d told her about other Darrvason-human couples now sharing heartbonds, but I hadn’t admitted we were the only pair whose mating bond hadn’t yet formed. I also hadn’t admitted my deep fear that it would never happen for us, that perhaps we were so different, so at odds with one another, that the Star Gods wouldn’t allow it.
I tighten my hold on her chin, and she winces. “I wasn’t spying on you for the captain. I swear it. You must believe me.Please.”
