The engines roared, and the craft surged forward, thrusting us back into our seats as we shot toward the storm. The darkness outside was alive, swirling with electric currents that crackled and spat against the hull. I could feel the intensity of the storm pulsing through the ship’s metal, and the turbulence hit like punches, one after another, jostling everyone inside. But Vance was good—damn good. He seemed to anticipate every jolt, every gust, steering us on a path that avoided the worst of the chaos.
I glanced behind me to see Rowan gripping the armrests so tightly her knuckles turned white. She kept her mind focused on the task. I could see the conflict in her eyes but felt no fear from her. My brave little mate. I would reward her with my mouth onher pussy when we returned to base. I would devour her, reward her, make sure she never, ever wanted to risk her life again.
The landing was rough. Vance brought us down hard, the ship shuddering as it touched the ground with a bone-rattling jolt. The storm's fury outside had only intensified. Toxic rain slashed sideways across the landscape, carried by violent gusts that threatened to tip us over. As soon as we were down, I unstrapped and hit the hatch controls, barking orders to the security team.
“Perimeter, now!” I shouted over the howling wind. The warriors moved in perfect accord, set up portable shields, and scattered sensor arrays that would give us early warning if anything—or anyone—tried to creep up on us.
Rowan stood at the rear of the ship, directing the mining crew as they unloaded the drilling equipment. Her voice was steady, her earlier tension replaced by calm focus. I moved to check in with Vance, who was still seated at the controls.
“Vance,” I called, stepping up beside him. He didn’t respond right away, and I felt a chill creep up my spine. “You with me?”
His eyes snapped to mine, but they were unfocused, like he was looking through me rather than at me. “I can hear them. The machines.”
I’d seen that look before, years ago, when Perro had fallen to Hive mind control. My chest tightened with a mix of fear and anger. I’d sworn I’d never let it happen again—never let someone else be taken under my watch. “How bad is it?” I tried to get a sense of his emotional state, but all I felt from him was an eerie calm that sent chills racing down my spine.
“I’m in control, but they’re angry.” He blinked and the emptiness in his eyes was replaced with a look I’d only seen on his face during battle.
“Fucking fight them, Vance,” I growled, clapping a hand on his shoulder. “Rowan needs you. We both do.”
“I gave her my word.” And that was all he needed to say.
I left him and headed back outside to find Rowan who, despite my demands, was out of sight. I found her guiding the crew’s placement of the drilling array, her focus completely on the task at hand. “You’re handling this well.” My voice was far softer than usual. “I hate to admit it, mate, but we need you on this mission.”
She glanced up at me through her visor, and there was something in her expression, something raw and open that made me want to strip her naked and lose myself in the softness of her body, the pure fucking love in her heart. My praise had pleased her, made her happy.
“I’m not going to let anything happen to you, or Vance.” For a moment, we were the only two people in the storm. She was determined to protect us despite the fact that we were both twice her size and far stronger than normal Prillon warriors. I wanted to pull her close, promise that nothing would ever hurt her again. But now wasn’t the time or place. Not with Vance battling for control of his mind and the Hive’s machines under our feet threatening to destroy us.
“We’re ready!” The male’s voice broke the spell my female held over me and she turned away.
“Start the drill.”
Rowan
I feltMarz’s gaze leave me as he moved off to direct the security team, but the warmth of his hand lingered on my shoulder. It took all my focus not to let him feel how terrified I was. Not thatthe Hive would attack or that I’d be hurt. No, fear that I would fail.
The air crackled with more than just the storm’s energy as I turned back to my work, my body hyper-aware of every move Marz made, despite the cold gusts swirling around us. When I glanced back toward the ship, Vance’s eyes met mine, and for a brief moment, something dark and raw flashed across his expression—desire, worry, pride, fear—his emotions blasted through me but he quickly masked it, as if willing himself not to feel anything at all.
The connection between us had been building. Growing stronger. Now it was like a live wire, pulsing with the same frenetic energy that seemed to radiate from the ground beneath our feet. The connection I felt to both my mates was undeniable, but so was the weight I knew Vance carried. I had no idea what it meant to have the Hive trying to take over my mind. The idea was horrifying and scary and I wanted to wrap my arms around him and tell him everything was going to be okay.
But what if it wasn’t? My mates hadn’t explicitly told me what would happen if Vance lost this fight, but I knew. I’d felt the sadness in Marz, the resignation… from both of them.
Marz would kill him to protect me. That was their solution.
Unacceptable. I somehow had to shove enough love into Vance’s brain that there wouldn’t be any room left for the stupid Hive.
Vance gave me a tight nod and turned his attention to the ship. He had to be ready to get us out of here at any moment.
I exhaled slowly and returned to directing the drilling crew. I couldn’t afford to be distracted. Not now.
We made progress, but every meter felt like a struggle. The deeper the drill went, the more the ground resisted us, as if the planet itself were alive and trying to shake us off. I monitored the sensor data flowing across my screen, adjusted the drill’strajectory in real-time to navigate the shifting rock layers and hidden pockets of gas. Each shift in the ground felt like a new obstacle. The drilling team worked furiously to keep the machinery steady.
The storm raged around us, as if pulsing in time with the rhythmic grind of the drill, shaking the ground under our feet. Sweat trickled down my back despite the cold. My armor kept my body at the perfect temperature, but somehow, the atmosphere felt oppressive. Watchful. Conscious of the fact that we were trying to kill it.
I glanced over at Vance. He stepped away from the ship, his gaze distant as he watched the drill’s progress. His eyes flickered with silver, returned to dark brown. The light inside his visor cast shadows across his cheekbones, made him look like a monster from a horror movie.
I could no more leave him standing alone than I could cut off my own arm. I checked the drill’s progress and moved closer. He met me halfway.
“Vance, are you okay?” We both knew I wasn’t just asking about the mission.
