Vance and I exchanged a puzzled look. “Christmas?” he repeated, his brow furrowing as he glanced around. “What’s a... Christmas?”
Rowan laughed, the sound chiming like little bells, a sweetness that filled the room. “It’s a holiday from Earth,” she explained, her voice softening as she spoke. “A time for celebration, for joy... and for love.” Her gaze slid to me then, lingered, her eyes full of warmth. “When I was a child, Christmas was my favorite holiday. All the children on base are worried,so we decided to decorate the garden and throw the children a Christmas party. And I wanted to bring a little bit of my home here, and share it with you.”
I stepped farther into the room, the scent of the green garlands mixing with the warmth emanating from the lights, a stark contrast to the harsh coldness that usually clung to my quarters. There was something else in the air, a faint smell I didn’t recognize—sweet and spicy, like a warm drink that seemed to seep into my bones, soothing the tension I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying.
“It’s... beautiful,” I said, the words grating in my throat, my chest tight. I didn’t know how to express what was really stirring in me. Awe, mixed with appreciation, and a fear that I wouldn’t get to enjoy this with her for long. That I wouldn’t be able to keep this place. Or her.
Vance’s hand came down on my shoulder, and I could feel the strength in his grip. “You did all this?” he asked, his voice steady but low. “It’s beautiful.” His desire for her simmered just beneath the surface, the heat building as we admired our bride.
Rowan nodded, her cheeks flushed pink, her happiness at Vance’s praise sparkling though my dark soul like magic. “I did,” she said softly, glancing around at her handiwork. “I had some help with the lights from Rezzer and Braun?—”
Instant rage that another male had been in our quarters blasted through my lungs like a blowtorch. Thank the gods I knew both Atlan males were well and truly mated to females of their own, or I might have lost control.
“—but most of it I put together myself. Caroline helped me fine tune my skills using the S-Gen machine.” She touched one of the garlands lightly, as if caressing it. “I thought... I thought it might make things feel less empty.”
The word hit me like a blow.Empty.She was right, of course. My quarters had always been a place to sleep, nothing more. Areminder of isolation. A punishment for my many failures. I’d failed the Coalition Fleet with my capture. Failed my own honor by not fighting to the death during the Hive’s torture. Failed to recognize the forces tearing Perro apart until it was too late. So many failures.
Now with the glow of the lights and the scent of my mate in the air, our quarters felt different—warmer. Like a place where life could happen. Love. Children. A future.
I glanced toward the doorway and noticed a small sprig of green hanging above it, tied with a bright red ribbon. “What’s that?”
Rowan followed my gaze, a smile curving her lips. “Mistletoe.” Her eyes twinkled as she crossed the room and stood directly under the strange decoration. “It’s tradition to kiss whoever stands beneath it.”
Vance chuckled, but the sound held a bittersweet note. “Human traditions are strange,” he murmured, though there was no judgment in his tone, only curiosity.
Rowan stood quietly, the fabric of her gown rustling faintly, and the air seemed to shift, thickening around us. Her gaze met mine, and there was an invitation in her eyes, a hope that made something inside me tighten. I walked toward her. Vance advanced as well, but stopped just out of her reach. I took another step, my senses filled with the scent of her, the memory of warmth radiating from her skin. The room faded, the glow of the lights and the scent of her green garlands falling away until there was only her.
Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, I cupped her face in my hands. Her skin was soft beneath my rough palms, a warmth that seeped into my very bones. I could feel her breath against my lips, quick and shallow, as I leaned in. Kissed her. Hard. Full of the emotions I wasn’t ready to speak aloud. The kiss deepened, and she melted into me, her body pressing close. Herlips tasted sweet, like honeyed fruit, and I could feel the pulse of her heartbeat beneath my fingertips, a rhythm that matched the pounding in my own chest.
Vance appeared behind her and gently pulled her golden hair to one side to run his lips over her shoulder and neck.
Our mate was between us, as she should be.
The world disappeared, the storm, the mission, even Vance’s quiet presence—all of it faded away as I lost myself in her. I poured everything into that kiss—my fear of the coming storm, my longing, my unspoken promises. It was a desperate kiss, a promise without words that I would come back to her, no matter what.
When we finally broke apart, she gazed up at me, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed with unshed tears. “Promise me,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “Promise you’ll both come back.”
Vance froze, his lips hovering over the curve of her ear. “How did you know that we are both to go on the mission?”
“Rachel told me.” She turned her head and claimed Vance’s lips in a kiss as I watched, my cock already hard and engorged, eager to fill her. She placed one hand on the side of my face to hold me in place. The other she lifted to Vance’s cheek, her need and acceptance like a warm balm to both of our souls. “I just found you. I refuse to lose you. I know that traditionally one of you would remain behind. For me.” Her gaze darted from Vance’s dark gaze to mine. “I also know you are the best at what you do. That The Colony needs you.” She lowered her hand to my lips and traced my bottom lip with gentle fingertips. “But I need you, too.”
I swallowed hard, my throat tight, the lingering taste of her on my lips. I was a warrior, trained to face death without flinching, yet in that moment, with her looking at me like I was her whole world, I was more afraid than I had ever been in anybattle. “I promise,” I said, my voice low and rough. “We will come back to you.”
Vance cleared his throat, breaking the spell. I glanced over at him, his face carefully neutral, though there was a shadow of pain in his eyes. I knew he understood why I hadn’t ordered him to stay behind. We had a mission to complete, and he was the one I trusted at my back. And if I had just lied to our mate, if I did not return... I knew he would be here to watch over her.
I stepped back, fighting for control as a savage beast roared to life inside me. Demanded I rip the burgundy gown from her body and fuck her here. Now.
Her breathing shifted and I knew she could feel the need riding me. The scent of her wet pussy soaked the space between us but when I reached for her, my mate held up her small hand, stopped me dead in my tracks. Her blue eyes were wide, filled with something that looked like determination. Before I could say anything else, her chin lifted. Her voice was steady.
“I spoke to Rachel and the governor. I’m coming with you.” Her determination was sharp and clear through the mating collars, leaving no room for doubt. “I’m a geologist. I can help. You need me out there.”
My body went rigid, the shock of her words cutting through the moment like a blade. “No,” I said, my voice low and hard. “Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
“I know the risks, Marz,” she shot back, her hands on her hips. “But I also know that the storm is behaving differently than any of you predicted. Rachel said they tracked an odd disturbance beneath the surface of the planet. That’s my specialty. Back on Earth, that’s what I studied. Geological formations. Stone. Rocks. Forces at work beneath the surface. If I can get out there, I might be able to figure out what’s causing the anomalies and come up with a solution. If we don’t figure this out, The Colony is in serious danger. That includes all of us.”
My gut twisted. The thought of her out in that storm, battered by winds so strong they threatened to tear the biodomes apart, was enough to make my blood run cold. I shook my head, my jaw clenching. “You’re not going.” The finality in my voice was nothing compared to the resolve I had to keep her safe. “You’re staying here, where it’s safe.”
She took another step forward, her eyes flashing. “It’s not safe. Isn’t that why there is talk of evacuation?”
