This time, Torvyn answered.
I felt himinme—sudden and intimate, like a hand sliding up the inside of my thigh. A shiver of pleasure dragged goosepimples across my skin. My breath hitched, heat flooding my face.
That was new. And dangerous.
I shoved the sensation aside and opened another terminal. The Corporation had found the artifact they'd been searching for—and had stored it right here for my analysis.
That man's arrogance had finally caught up with him.
I sprinted to the indicated storage bin and yanked it open. A glowing, egg-shaped object rested in a cradle, pulsing faintly like a heartbeat. I pulled the small backpack from beneath my jacket and slipped the device inside. It was about the size of a wine bottle—and heavier than it looked, the weight settling against my spine, warm and faintly vibrating,like it was alive.
We are here.
Torvyn's voice filled my head. Pleasure surged again, threatening to root me in place.
Not now.
I ran back to the console and triggered the frigate's lockdown protocol. On the security feeds, bulkhead doors slammed shut, sealing marines inside their ready rooms.
Coast is clear.
I sent the thought outward and switched to the airlock feed just as it opened.
Kaedren burst through, blast rifles raised in each of his upper hands, all teeth and violence and joy. He sprinted down the corridor, Lyrin close behind, then Vaelix, and finally Torvyn—commanding even at a run, his presence filling the space like gravity.
On another feed, a lone marine turned too late. Kaedren's fists slammed into the man's face, sending him flying into the wall before he crumpled to the floor.
Kaedren grinned.
A knock echoed at my door.
"I'm ready," I called.
"Stand back," Kaedren said.
I ducked behind a table just as the door exploded inward. When I popped up, Kaedren was framed in the smoke.
I ran to him and threw my arms around his torso so hard he actually took a step back. Warmth surged between us as he wrapped his arms around me. I melted into his chest, my control slipping, a soft moan escaping before I could stop it. He smelled like cedar and leather and home.
"We must go now, my tiny human," he said.
"Just one more second," I murmured into muscle.
Reluctantly, I pulled back and turned toward Vaelix. "Your plan worked like a charm. They never expected their own research to be turned against them." He took my hand, his touch precise and warm. " I had very little to do with it. Without you fixing the algorithm in the astrolabe, none of thisworks. Every fake signature, every phantom ship—that wasyourbrilliance turned into a weapon."
A hand settled on my back. "The bond is unstable," Torvyn said gently. "We need to return to the Starbreaker before it fractures."
I pulled away reluctantly. "Fine. Let's go so we can settle this bond—and thenreallyget to know each other."
Desire crashed into me from Lyrin and Vaelix like a wave of molten heat that made my knees weak and my breath catch. The want wasn't just mine anymore—it wasours, layered and hungry and overwhelming. My skin flushed hot, and I had to brace myself against Kaedren's arm to stay upright. I blushed furiously, torn between embarrassment and the urge to drag them all back to the ship right now and lock the door.
"We can absolutely do that, boys," I managed, voice rougher than I intended.
Lyrin's relief washed over me like cool water. Vaelix's focus sharpened my senses, making every sound, every movement crystal clear.
Torvyn took my hand and led us forward. I didn't resist. I wanted him to lead me. I wanted him to make me feel safe—and he did.
We raced through empty corridors toward the airlock.
