And he was wearing green. A doctor. The doctor.
“You’re Helion.”
He dipped his chin. “And you are Stefani Davis.”
“I am.” I tried a half-hearted smile at the guard who’d been threatening to floss my teeth with his rifle. Nope. Wasn’t feeling it. “Where am I?”
“In Coalition controlled space, Sector 438. We are in orbit around a pale blue star labeled 438-5-18-42.”
“Never mind. It doesn’t matter.” None of that made any sense to me after the word ‘space’.
“You, my lady, have arrived in a secure transport facility aboard Battleship Zeus known only to the commander himself and members of the Intelligence Core who serve directly under my command.”
“Top secret, huh?” No wonder the first Prillon had been so aggressive. I’d just landed in the middle of a super-secret military zone.
“Exactly.”
“You don’t seem surprised to see me.”
“Catherine told me you might be coming.”
“Catherine?”
“Apologies. Warden Egara.” He nudged me forward and I took a few tentative steps. The movement helped. My body started working again. “I have known her many years. She was mate to my brother.”
“Her mates died.”
“Yes, they did.”
Oh, shit. I was being an insensitive jerk. Not purposely, I just couldn’t get my brain to work. “I’m sorry. Your brother…”
“It was a long time ago.”
I thought about Warden Egara and shook my head. Not long enough for her to forget. She’d lost her mates. I was here to make sure I didn’t lose mine.
“Where is he?”
Helion didn’t even try to pretend he didn’t know exactly who I was talking about. “He is on the surface of the fourth planet, hunting.”
“When is he coming back?”
“He is not.”
“That’s what I thought.” I shoved the Prillon away, not wanting to touch the asshole who had sent my mate to die. “I’m going down there.”
“That is not wise, my lady.”
“Then go get him.”
“That is impossible.”
“Why?”
“Warlord Velik refused to wear a helmet. He deactivated both his imbedded transport beacon and his comm a few minutes after his landing.” Before I could ask, Helion told me. “He cut them from his flesh. He does not wish to be found.”
“I don’t care what he thinks he wants. He’s not dying down there. Do you understand? He’s mine. And I’m going to go get him.”
“You intend to go to the planet’s surface?”
