Barek snarled at the armed intruders and used one arm to shove me behind him so that he stood between me and the three large males. “Slomak, you kill me, and you will have war with Astra Legion. Fucking idiots. This is neutral territory.”
The metal head in front, Slomak, shook his head. “We aren’t after you, Barek. Step aside.”
Barek’s fists clenched at his sides. “No one breaks the code.”
“No one fucked with the Trach family before.” Their leader’s tone sounded partially synthesized, like he was speaking through electronic speakers. The effect of his deep voice and strange, alien language coming through my NPU instantly made me shiver. This is what I imagined a real demon would sound like. The spirit of pure evil with a physical voice.
“I delivered. Where’s my reward?” The guard’s voice came from behind me. I looked over my shoulder in time to see him snatch a small bag out of midair and tuck it away, out of sight. One of the metal heads must have thrown it to him.
I faced forward as the metal-headed minion on Slomak’s right spoke next. “Mikos will be made an example of, Barek, and so will his mate.”
My sexed-up euphoria crashed in a bucket of ice-cold reality. My thoughts raced. What did he just say? They wanted me because they thought I was Mikos’s mate? No one knew the truth. Mikos had just told me that I was his mate mere moments ago. Mikos made no public declarations. We hadn’t gotten married or had any weird alien ceremony. There was no way they could know what Mikos had just whispered in my ear. I was his mate. That was true. But these jerks didn’t know that. He’d even denied it to Commander Karter, Sebastion and all the Atlans who escorted us here.
“I’m not his mate.” I dared a peak around Barek’s elbow to voice my protest. “I don’t know how many times I have to tell you people.” If they believed me, maybe I could at least get Barek and me out of this mess and safely back to Astra territory. We could get help there. Decide what to do.
Slomak laughed, the sound condescending and cruel. Didn’t need the NPU to translate that. “Stupid female. A Hyperion male cannot bite any female but their mate. It’s not physically possible.”
What?
His evil villain snigger made my blood turn to cold mud in my veins. Every thump of my pulse became painful as my aching heart tried to move sludge.
Mikos knew I was his mate thewhole time?From the very first time we met on that Hive ship? If he hadn’t alreadyknownI was his mate, he wouldn’t have been able to bite me at all? Wouldn’t have been able to save my life? His fangs would only inject his essence into his mate? No one else?
Did he only bite me to save me? Did he know, that day, that I was his, and decide he didn’t want me? Didn’t want a mate?
The chill in my bones transformed to leaden weight as I realized that was exactly what happened. Mikos must have decided to ignore the fact that I was his mate. After we saved him and transported him to the Karter, he would have convinced my ReCon team, and Commander Karter, to release him, and he would have gone about his business, his life. Without me. Without a mate.
He didn’t want a mate. He didn’t want me.
He hadn’t chosen me at all. The Hive who’d stabbed me through the heart had forced his hand. He didn’t actuallywantto be with me, he was just too honorable to let me die when he knew his bite could save my life. I’d been a mercy bite. Then I’d been a fuck buddy for the trip to Rogue 5, because why not? He’d already bitten me, so we could have some fun without the risk that I’d be poisoned, or that I’d expect a commitment.
That’s why he didn’ttell meI was his mate. His plan had been to fuck me, use me, bite me, get maximum pleasure for himself, while he could. Once I had the antidote, he was going to send me on my foolish, trusting, naïve way, none the wiser.
I would have never known he didn’t want me. I’d believed him, too.
Guess this asshole was right. I really was a stupid, foolish female. Because I loved him. I fell in love with an alien who didn’t really want a mate at all.
“I’m guessing he uses his mating fist when he fucks you, too. Mikos has Forsian ancestors, after all. Bet you love that big, swollen cock locked inside you.”
I refused to answer. I did, in fact, love it. Now, I also hated it. None of his business.
“I’m not his mate.”Liar, liar, pants on fire.“Ask anyone.”
The guard who’d let me into Mikos’s cell cleared his throat. “Not what you said an hour ago.”
Oh, shit. I forgot about that. I’d lied—or thought I was lying—to the guard so he would allow me into the cell with Mikos. Damn it. Couldn’t catch a break.
“Words are irrelevant.” Slomak watched me as he spoke. “Biology betrays you, female. If you were not truly his mate, he wouldn’t have fucked you so many times I can smell both his essence in your blood and his disgusting cum coating your pussy right now.”
He leaned in and sniffed the air, as if to prove his point. “Although, I must admit, I do enjoy the smell of a juicy, human pussy. Very valuable on Occeron.” He straightened to his full height and looked down at me. “Maybe I won’t kill you. Maybe I’ll take you to auction in the Omega Dome. That seems a more fitting punishment for Mikos. I’ll make sure he knows my plans for you before I kill him.”
God damn it. I was really tired of these alien criminals and their bloodhound level sense of smell. Tired of the arrogance. The technology. Thelies.They all lied, even Mikos.
I had to get back to the Coalition. At least there I knew the rules, and those rules were enforced. Prime Nial, the leader of Prillon Prime, and the big general in charge of the entire Coalition Fleet, made sure his military followed rules, orders,laws. Life on Battleship Karter was lonely, but it made sense. And I was lucky enough to pop a few Integration Units in the head every now and then.
I’d love to ‘double tap’ this asshole into oblivion.
Barek’s hands clenched into fists. “Enough, Slomak! Hurt one hair on her head and Astra Legion will hunt you down. She is one of us. Mikos claimed her. Hurt her and there will be nowhere you can hide.”
