The moment she was out of reach, she chastised the two Prillons. “Why are you allowing this to go on? Zenith is a neutral space station, controlled by the Coalition. What the hell are you doing? Call for reinforcements or something.”
The Prillon warrior nearest her shook his head. “I’m sorry, ReCon. They have a bounty certificate. We can’t protect him. We can only protect you.”
“Fuck this.” Breanna activated the helmet attached to her Coalition Fleet armor and took cover behind the control station, pulling her second blaster, both of which she pointed at Shade and his crew. “Go ahead, Mikos. Fuck ‘em up. I got your back.”
“Try not to shoot me, female.”
“You can take it, baby.” I heard the smile in her voice, the confidence that she spoke true. My cock grew hard at the pet name she chose to bestow upon me now, at the most inappropriate time possible, and at the challenge to validate her faith in my physical strength. My mate was correct. If she happened to hit me with blaster fire, I would be in pain, but not incapacitated. Unfortunately, the same could also be said of my Rogue 5 brethren.
“You’re really going to make us do this?” Shade shook his head and stepped back as the first of his companions charged me.
Breanna hit my attacker with a shot from her ion pistol. He grunted but barely slowed, lowering his shoulder as he slammed into my chest. I knew him, a Prillon-Everian-Hyperion mix known for his angry temperament and lack of self-control, which often ended with him making poor, impatient decisions. Like this one.
The curse Shade uttered implied he agreed with my assessment, and I wondered what he’d told them, if he intended to share the bounty. He was a Siren Enforcer, and they were mere soldiers. He was in command. This was his show, if he could maintain control of the idiots he’d brought along. If all five rushed me together, they might have a chance. One at a time? I’d have to try very hard not to kill them.
I grabbed my assailant around the hips. I lifted him, flipping him over so his feet were in the air before throwing him into the nearest wall.
Breanna didn’t wait to see who would charge me next. She fired into the group as fast as she could, striking true, hit after hit.
Enraged by her assault, another male, this one mostly Prillon bloodline, bared his fangs and stepped toward her.
Perhaps I would not try so hard not to kill them all.
Moving swiftly, I wrapped my hand around his neck until his feet dangled above the floor as he kicked and yelled, fighting to break free.
His copper-colored face turned a dark, mottled brown as I considered my options. These idiots were just doing their job, following Shade’s orders. The price on my head was large enough, the other Legions would probably send bounty hunters after me as well. Perhaps, I would let him go.
No. He threatened my mate, bared his fangs at her, stepped in her direction. He would die.
I squeezed, slowly, enjoyed the way his eyes bulged as his hands clawed at me.
“Enough!” The booming roar filled the transport room like an explosion of sound. Annoyed at being interrupted, I turned my head slowly to find Prince Rukzi of Hyperion flanked by one integrated Prillon warrior and nine integrated Atlans, all fully geared up with Coalition armor and weapons. Except Ruk, of course. His flesh was tougher than armor and the claws coming out of his fingertips could cut through a ship’s hull. Blood dripped on the floor from lacerations made by the claws when they exited his body.
A full-blooded Hyperion, claws out, was a rare sight, and not to be taken lightly. Not even by me. I inclined my head to royalty, but did not release my stranglehold on the idiot who’d threatened my mate. “Prince Ruk. What are you doing here?”
“Oh my god. Sebastion?” Breanna emerged from behind the transport control station and ran to the Prillon male, throwing herself in his arms.
The Prillon I held made a choking noise and I realized I’d increased the pressure around his throat. What was this new Prillon male to my mate? A friend? Lover? Did she care for him? Love him?
“Mikos, put that idiot down.” Prince Ruk stepped up onto the transport platform and yanked on the dangling male’s arm just hard enough to encourage me to let go. Reluctantly, I did as he requested, not because I felt compelled to obey him, but because my mate was on her feet once more, speaking to the Prillon, Sebastion, her hands waving with excitement.
She knew this male well.Likedhim. Treated him as a friend.
The growl in my throat was so low I doubted the others would hear it in the chaos as the Atlans surrounded Shade and his group, separating them from me and my female.
Sebastion must have heard the sound because his gaze darted to mine, and he took a small step away from my mate.
She didn’t appear to notice. “What are you guys doing here? Oh my God. Enzo? Stryck?” She spoke to two of the Atlans. Fuck. Did my female know every male in this sector? “How did you guys know where to find us? Did Karter send you? I thought you guys were out on a mission.” Her smile made me want to skin Sebastion and the two Atlans alive. But then she turned to Prince Ruk. “Hey, Ruk. How are you?”
“I am well, Lady Bree.” He bowed slightly at the waist and smiled at her, his fangs twice the length of mine, which didn’t appear to bother her. Not at all.
Bree?He called her Bree. As if they, too, were friends. The remaining seven Atlans all inclined their heads to her, greeting her as if theyallknew her personally.
How many males did my mate count as friend? Too fucking many, by the looks of things, as every single one of the Atlans made it clear she was under their protection, placing their bodies between Shade’s men and my mate.
Sebastion watched me as she said hello to each of the Atlans, greeted them by name.Touched themon the arm, the hand, the shoulder. Apparently, she was familiar with all of them. Felt comfortable enough to touch them.
Why did I tell her I was not her friend? Had I placed myself at a disadvantage among these other males? How many of them wanted to take her from me? Touch her? Kiss her? Claim her for themselves? She was beautiful. Perfect. Tall. Strong. Her full, round ass begged to be held. Spanked. Teased. Her breasts were full and heavy with sensitive nipples. Her lips were plump and ripe for kissing. Her light brown skin glowed with health under the station’s false light. She was the most striking female I’d ever seen. My cock grew hard, and I crushed the urge to attack every male she touched with a brutality that made my chest ache and my eyes burn.
