“Oh hell, now I’ve heard everything. Look, let me say this very slowly so that you understand. You and I aren’t happening. You’re a man-whore and I don’t like to share my things, especially in such personal matters. For that matter, do you even know my name?”
I try to think of the name Myev said earlier, only for my mind to go blank.“I really don’t know my mate’s name.”
“Pathetic! This mate thing you think you’re experiencing will pass as soon as I’m gone, and you can go back to your regularly programmed screwing. Have a nice life … Falon.”
She walks around me, and my insides start to shudder, but I have no idea what to do. She is going to leave me. The one female in the entire universe meant for me is walking away, heading for a location that I have no way of following. I am not scared of fading, but I was never given the chance to prove to her that I can be what she needs.
ViN’s young one is suddenly making a scene behind me, and before I can contemplate my actions or the consequences, I run up the ramp of their shuttle, touching the walls. Instantly integrating with its system, my mind searches for a place to hide. Within the blink of an eye, I am moving toward a service panel. Opening it, I squeeze my massive form inside, then send a false reading out, hiding my heat signature from the system itself.
It’s not long before we are airborne, and I can hear the others around me through the circuits in each chamber.“I can’t believe Ami Lynn threw such a fit. I have never seen her turn completely and her skin is still too hot for me to touch. You would have thought we were severing an arm; it took SCOUT promising her he would set up a communication system in the area so she and Atasha could talk and calm her down. She is your daughter when she acts like that, ViN.”
Their voices fade off and I must work harder to mask my presence on the shuttle. I know I need to send a signal to Bikar before we reach their primary ship. Cloaking my comm unit, I type out a quick message, but the moment I hit send, I can feelSCOUT searching the area for the source. He may not know I am on this ship, but he knows an unauthorized signal was sent, and I have a feeling he is simply waiting for me to make another mistake before taking action.
CHAPTER 5
FALON
The shuttle lands, and I practically hold my breath until all is silent around me. I wait half a rotation before moving out of my hiding place, thankful to see that the ramp is still fully extended when I look out into the large loading dock. Oddly enough, there seems to be no crew present. Sneaking out of the shuttle, I make my way toward a set of doors marked crew only and slip inside.
The moment I am through the doors, I duck behind a large crate, my eyes searching for a circuit or panel. Finding a charging port low to the floor, I merge my hand within as I search for an empty cargo hold or room where I can hide until I figure out my next steps.
Two floors down lies a control room with limited access. According to the last log, it is not due for cleaning or maintenance for several rotations, and right now, that is the closest safe spot I can find without giving myself away.
It takes me longer than I want, with too many close calls, but I finally reach the room. When I access the safety codes and the door slides open, I let myself take a breath. I can feel the ship moving under my feet, and I just need to stay hidden until weare at least out of the Void.“God of Ruk, what am I doing?”I whisper out into the open room.
“You may want to ask that question of someone not holding your life in their hands and hope that they like your answer before I have you thrown out of the airlock. Then I suppose you could have a more personal conversation with your God before you draw your last breath.”
Suddenly, a small holographic human female is floating right in front of my face, and I catch myself leaning back so that she cannot touch me.
“Whoa, what the frack, or should I say who the frack, are you?”
“I am the one asking the questions here, as I am absolutely amazed that you thought you could walk through my corridors and invade my programming without me noticing. I do not know if you are overly confident or just very stupid.”
“Are you saying you are the ship?”
“A little slow it seems, even with your unique skill set. And yes, I am the ship but you may refer to me as Destiny for as long as I am at your service.” She twirls around and bows slightly before saying, “Now, begin pleading your case, Ruk.”
“I need to speak with my female.”
“Wrong answer! First strike; two more and out you go.”
“You will not really throw me out the airlock, would you?”
“Absolutely … you are a stowaway who has illegally infiltrated my domain. Not only will I have you thrown out, but I will enjoy it. You gave up all rights and objections when you illegally boarded that shuttle. You should be grateful that I am evenallowing you a moment to defend yourself. Now, do you want to try again, or do I need to notify SCOUT?”
“Look, I made a huge mistake, but she would not give me a chance to talk to her, and things happened so fast that I just reacted.”
“Well, that is the first truth you have spoken; go on.”
“Do you want the long or short version?”
“Time is not on your side.”
“She caught me … f..ki …umm … fornicating, and now she thinks I am nothing but what she called a ‘man-whore’, and until my mating collar appeared, she was probably right. But she knows nothing about a mated Ruk and I lost her before I ever got a chance to prove to her that I would love her like no other.
“Ahhh,” the little hologram spins around with a huge smile on her face. “Love you, say? Well, that is a completely different matter altogether. I understand how confusing it is when your circuits get crossed. It took me quite some time to understand all the hints my ANDI was broadcasting my way as well. So, you are saying you hid away on my ship forlove?”
“Yes! She was going to leave through the Veil to a place I could not follow; forever lost to me.”
