The connection faded yet I clung to the fleeting warmth in my mind, desperate to feel it again. It had only been a few seconds, but I was out of time.
Her beast must have sensed the danger as well. The golden animal charged the male who held the ion blaster. The smell of burning flesh filled the air as the beast was shot, but it did not stop. It leaped, its weight making the male stagger and fall. Her pet rushed in for the kill, its huge black maw on the male’s neck.
I was there instantly, my blaster at the male’s temple. I ended his struggle and rose to take care of their leader.
Rokor turned to assist his partner, found me instead. He raised his hands above his head. He didn’t run, he dropped his chin in a mockery of a bow.
I wanted him to run. I wanted to chase him down before I killed him. He was responsible for gravely injuring my female. Had ordered her death with no emotion nor remorse. His smirk held no remorse. No fear. He glanced down at the insignia on my uniform, just below my shoulder.
“An Elite Hunter? I wasn’t aware that I was of such interest to the Coalition Fleet.”
Disgust bubbled within me, but I did not linger on the feeling. My mate needed me. I did not have time to argue with this evil bastard. “Dead or alive. Your choice.”
“Alive.”
“When will your third be back?” Three of them had escaped the prison. They were all here, on Earth. I couldfeelthem. Two here. One…not far. An easy hunt.
He smiled at me. Fucking smiled. Then he turned his hand enough for me to see the transport beacon he held.
I fired. Too late. He was gone.
A jolt of heat flashed through my palm, shocking me back to the present. Toher.
I ran to her and knelt at her side, my pulse racing, not from the short fight but from being close to her. The scent of her skin wrapped around me, some kind of flower, no doubt. One I did not recognize, though it managed to seduce me all the same. I reached for her head where I saw blood matting her dark hair. I did not get close before her beast growled a warning.
“I’m not going to hurt her. I promise.”
The animal sniffed at me with a cold, wet nose, her black face and dark eyes focused on me with a surprising amount of intelligence. I took that for permission to continue and immediately returned my attention to the unconscious female. My female.
Using what medical supplies I had with me, I managed to stop the bleeding. But the items I carried were minimal, sufficient for emergencies only. They would help someone injured survive long enough to get back to their ship or a doctor. My mate needed more than this. She needed a ReGen pod. Blood. Days to heal. Most importantly,she needed to refrain from placing herself in danger, from chasing treacherous criminals.
She needed me.
Moving quickly I settled her back to the ground, her furry protector laying along her other side, watchful but calm. I took a DNA sample from the corpse of the dead criminal to confirm my kill. Stripping him of his weapons took mere seconds. I placed a bioflare on the corpse and activated it. Within minutes the body would be gone, burned to dust and ash. The human authorities did not need an alien body, potentially filled with illegal Hive tech, to dissect.
I returned to my mate and nearly forgot to breathe. She was uncommonly beautiful with warm, brown skin, softer than any I had ever touched. Black hair, wild with curls, surrounded her face, and her lips were full and ripe for kissing. I shuddered as I imagined tasting those lips. Having them wrapped around my hard length.
With professional efficiency, I checked for any additional wounds, placing a pressure bandage over the angry hole just below her ribs.. Her body was neither small nor frail. Full hips. Large breasts. Soft thighs. I would melt into her softness. She would feel like home. Like peace.
I turned her hand, palm up and my heart staggered when I saw the mark there. This was not a trick of my mind. Somehow, she was truly mine. My marked mate.
She was magnificent.
Turning to her beast, I reached for the patch of burned hair and flesh on the creature’s shoulder. Another soft growl of warning and I decided to leave the wound, for now. The animal did not seem to be in pain. More importantly, it clearly did not wish to be touched. At least, not by me. I had done what I could for my mate’s pet. Clearly the creature meant a lot to her. Enough to throw her body in front of an ion blast.
“Damn female. You are not to do that again.” My attempt to scold her failed completely, my reprimand much softer than it should have been.
I lifted her into my arms and reveled in her softness pressed to me. As I carried her back to my ship, her beast walked next to me. I wasn’t sure whether the creature’s intention was to watch over my mate or to keep me in line.
Protective. I approved.
The hunt would have to wait. I had more important things to do. Heal her. Claim her. Bring her pleasure.
I had not imagined myself with a marked mate, yet now that I held her I knew I could never let her go. I would do whatever was necessary to woo her, to make her truly mine.
3
Rebecca, Medical Station, Stark’s Ship
