“I like to think of Astra Legion asRobin Hoodand his band of merry men. They lie, cheat and steal, but it’s all for a good cause.” Ivy released my hand and extended it behind her until one of the massive Forsian males stepped forward and wrapped her small hand in his. “This is my mate, Zenos.”
The male was massive, and gorgeous. Put him in some tights and a cape and he could playSupermanfor any major Hollywood studio. They’d drool over him.
“Breanna. Mikos notified us of your arrival. It is an honor.” He bowed his head as Ivy bounced on the balls of her feet like an excited toddler.
“You havenoidea how excited I am to have another Earth girl in Astra. Harper and Abby are always over in Styx territory. They’re going to be so jealous.” She clapped her hands together like a cartoon villain.
“How did you get all the way out here?”
“ReCon gone wrong. You?”
I snorted, feeling instant kinship with her. “Same.” Except maybe, mine was more ReCon goneright.
“I lost my whole team and came to Rogue 5 looking for revenge. What happened to you?” Ivy asked.
“Found Mikos on a Hive Integration ship. We were breaking him out and one of the Hive Soldiers stabbed me through the heart. Mikos bit me to save my life.”
“Holy shit. I need the whole story.”
“Another time, Ivy.” Astra tilted her head and everyone around me responded at once, shifting positions to get moving. Ivy and I were as different as night and day, and she still felt more like home to me than anyone else I’d seen in months. Except Mikos, of course. But he wasn’t human. Henry and the guys were great, but they weren’t women. And they weren’t mated to a Forsian. Ivy knew exactly what it felt like to have a Forsian mating fist locked in her pussy as her mate’s fangs sank deep.
We were going to be besties; I had a strong feeling about it.
Ivy’s mate stared at me but didn’t say another word. Okay. If my gut wasn’t on fire, I’d probably have the energy to be offended. Had I done something wrong? Or was he just playing the strong, silent type?
Sebastion, hands resting on his blasters, cleared his throat. “We appreciate the welcome, Astra, but we are short on time. Breanna just came out of the ReGen pod, but I assume you saw the readings Mikos sent you?”
Astra’s gaze zeroed in on me. “Of course. Mikos’s message was very clear.”
“What did he say?” My vision blurred but I blinked until it cleared to find Astra watching me with a frown on her face.
“Zenos, carry her. She won’t make it on her own.”
“Yes, I—” Can. I can walk. Except, I couldn’t. My knees buckled and a familiar, fiery agony made me feel like my intestines were trying to digest a hot welding torch.
Zenos lifted me off my feet, as Mikos had done so many times before, cradling me against his chest. But it wasn’t the same. I wasn’t comfortable. I didn’t want him to hold me. He was too young, too volatile, and he smelled wrong. I wanted Mikos.
The muscles running up and down my spine chose that moment to seize. I cried out, my back arching as the muscles cramped, twisting into hard knots. My vision blurred again, and the fire spread to my lungs.
“Oh, dear. She’s bad. How many days has it been?”
Was that Ivy’s voice?
“Four.” I gasped. Or was it five now? I wasn’t sure.
Astra sighed. “How many times did he bite you, child?”
Every time I asked. Ten? Twenty? Honestly, I’d lost count. But I wasn’t going to tell her that. It was no one’s business what we’d done in bed. Or the shower. Or against the wall.
Astra must have realized I wasn’t going to answer because she sighed, turned on her heel, and led us deeper into Astra territory as Mikos’s fellow Forsians closed around us just like the Atlans had on Transport Station Zenith. I missed Mikos, but I wasn’t afraid for myself.
These were his friends, his brothers-in-arms, his people. His family.
As ridiculous as it was, I felt like part of it. Like they were my family, too, even if it was only for a little while. Because Mikos was only mine for a little while.
Tears streaked my cheeks as a deep ache settled between my ribs. Let them think the tears were caused by the effects of the poison. That was far safer than admitting the truth.
Mikos felt like home. And, as usual, I wasn’t going to be allowed to keep him.
