We’d had this argument multiple times during our brief stay. “No. I do not. It is my honor to protect you.”
“I’m your mate. I get to protect you, too.”
“My love, it is not necessary. I will not allow you to be hurt. It is too dangerous.” I rose to fetch the clothing I’d made for her. It wasn’t a flowing Atlan gown, as we would likely be traveling. Instead, it was a lighter version of my armor. Rather than black and gray, the material was green and gold, like her eyes. I helped her dress and brought her boots. She put those on while I dug through the pile of mistakes—this space did not have a working recycling unit—and pulled free the shoulder wrap I had created. The fabric was long enough to tie into a loop over her shoulder when she did not need the warmth and pull free to wrap her upper torso when she was cold.
I had been awake for hours contemplating the responsibilities I now had and how best to take care of her. My beast gave me several ideas as well, although they all were related to pleasuring her. Part of me truly was an animal.
Not that she would mind. I had a feeling she would love every idea just as much as I did. The beast seemed to cross his arms with a very arrogant satisfaction. He knew her as well as I. Perhaps on a more basic level.
“What’s so funny? Beast is very pleased with himself. Worried. Pleased. Worried. What is it? Do I look weird in these clothes? What did you make for me anyway? I look like aStar Warscharacter. All I need is that ray gun.”
She stood before me looking…beautiful. Stunning. Mine.
“Hint, hint, Kovo.”
“No weapons.”
“You’re a weapon. Does that mean I can’t have you?”
“I am the ultimate weapon, female. You need no other.”
That made her laugh.
“You are so beautiful. I want to strip that armor from your body and fuck you again.”
She grinned, shook her head, and blushed—a term she had taught me to explain the pink tinge that colored her cheeks when she was embarrassed. “We barely got out of the shower a few hours ago.”
“I know.”
“We’ve had sex at least a dozen times.”
“Not enough.” I stepped forward to gently lift her face to mine with a finger beneath her chin. “I will never get enough.”
Loud pounding sounded on the door. Adrian gasped and swirled to face the entrance. Quickly, I positioned myself between my mate and whatever was on the other side of the door.
Whoever it was pounded again. “Warlord Kovo, we know you are in there. Surrender, sir, or we will have to take you by force.”
My beast growled at that, more than ready to kill anyone who came through that door to threaten my mate.
Moving quickly, Adrian stepped up to my side. “I’m going to answer that and tell them to go away.”
“No. They will not believe you. One of them would put his hands on you and I would not be able to control what happened next.”
“Oh.” She glanced up at me and placed her hand on my arm. “That bad? Really?”
Contemplating how to explain the ferocity of my instinct to protect her without frightening her, my beast surged to the surface. Impatient fucker.
“MINE.”
Adrian’s eyebrows shot up. “Okay then. That bad.”
The beast receded, satisfied that she had received the message. However, he did not go dormant. He waited. We both knew what was on the other side of that door for me.
Death.
“Kovo.”
“Yes, my love?”
