No doubt, everyone could see them. And his chest. And everything else exposed when the haphazard coverings I’d made for him had fallen to the ground.
That gasp had to be from my sister. Maxus cursed. I heard shuffling and what sounded like weapons of some kind being checked. Turned on. Something. How many guards were out there now?
“Stef?” I called out.
“I’m sorry. I tried.” She would have done her best to hide, to buy me the time I needed. I knew that in my bones. I’d played my twin card, the once a year, not to be denied, favor of all favors to be used in the direst of emergencies.
For Stefani that had meant passing her university calculus class. Her last math class. Ever.
My request had been a lot bigger, sexier and more dangerous. But I hadn’t cashed in a twin card in the last couple years. She owed me. Big time. But not anymore. Debt paid.
“Stef, how many are there?”
“Do not—” Maxus began.
“Eight.”
Holy shit. Eight Atlan guards for one prisoner? For my beast? “Overkill, don’t you think?”
“Let her go, Kovo.” Maxus didn’t raise his voice, which was a solid decision. Every muscle in Kovo’s body was flowing, moving. Ready to spring.
“My mate. Mine.”
“I am her father, Warlord Maxus. I served on Battleship Zakar for many years. I am a male of honor. I will protect your mate with my life. You have my word.”
The beast did not move or speak as he considered Max’s words. I placed my hands on the small of his back and stretched up on tip-toe to whisper to him. “It’s okay. I promise. I should go with him. I will come back.”
For about a minute I believed my mate would agree to let me go with my family. I meant what I said. I would be back. With a private investigator. A judge. A dozen lawyers. I couldn’t just give up on him. I wouldn’t.
“No. Stay with me. My mate. I protect.”
I heard a deep sigh and knew, just knew, the sound came from Max. “I was afraid you were going to say that.”
Kovo took a step forward, toward the front of the cell.
Max gave the command. “Do it.”
The slight buzzing of the energy field went silent. Kovo roared. Whistling sounds pierced the air, followed by soft thunking noises.
Confused, I moved to my side to see eight huge Atlans shooting at my mate. Not bullets. Darts. They whistled through the air and sank into his flesh like toothpicks into a hot cake that was ready to come out of the oven.
Kovo managed another step. Two.
Three.
The guards backed up. Reloaded their weapons.
“Stop!” I yelled at them. Kovo had too many stuck in his body already.
“Indeed. That is enough.” The strange voice drew my attention from my mate to another male who appeared out of nowhere to stand next to my sister. He was smaller than the Atlans, but not by much. His facial features were angular, the armor he wore easily recognized. He was Coalition Fleet. Military. And he wasn’t Atlan, he was Prillon. I’d seen a few of them on Earth before mom and Max left the planet for good.
“Give him a minute. He will go down,” the Prillon ordered.
Kovo growled, the sound the most menacing thing I’d ever heard. “Helion.”
“Warlord.”
“Kill you.” Kovo snarled the threat seconds before he dropped, unconscious, to the floor.
