Suddenly a voice heavy with command demanded “Lieutenant, report!”
Kat’s eyes snapped to the human female, the air of authority almost causing her to follow the command. Before she could speak, Jeffrey’s near-constant stream of words trickled off. He turned, finally noticing the female, and he immediately grabbed her and pulled her into a tight hug.
Her stomach tightened uncomfortably with an unknown emotion when she saw him embrace the human female. She tried to push the feeling away, but it lingered.
“Captain! I didn’t think we’d ever see you again.” Jeffrey’s entire demeanor changed, joy replacing frustration on his features.
There was a growl from behind the embracing pair. Kat’s gaze shifted to Major Ontarii who was standing behind the humans, his hands clenched in fists. “Get your hands off my mate or lose them.”
Kat’s stomach felt as if it had just hit 15 G’s. Major Ontarii’s skin was a blazing yellow, the desire to murder the human male writ large on his face.
Mate?
The human female detached herself from Jeffrey and spoke soothingly to the major. “It’s okay,” she said.
It seemed like the walls were closing in on her. Her breathing sharpened, her emotions on overload.
Major Ontarii has taken a mate. Ahumanmate.
Several years’ worth of daydreams evaporated like sea mist on a warm day. She and Major Ontarii on a beautiful alien world. Him stealing kisses beneath a waterfall. Holding her tight. Whispering words of love and adoration while a billion stars shone overhead.
None of that would ever happen now. Zantharians mated for life. Major Ontarii was forever out of her reach.
She couldn’t help the overwhelming resentment she felt toward the human captain. Her gaze narrowed as she raked her eyes over Major Ontarii’s mate. She was short, plump, with large eyes and thick, wavy hair.What has this scrap of female got that I haven’t?
The captain met her gaze, her discerning eyes taking in more than Kat wanted to reveal.
“Fill me in on what’s happening,” she told her lieutenant.
“After you’d left with this one,” Jeffrey said, gesturing at Major Ontarii, “we waited. After a few moments, you came back. He told his crew to remain on the ship with you and the others, while the rest of us were taken to the flagship. We thought it was you, so we followed orders, even though I didn’t want to leave you alone.”
The human female nodded. “It’s understandable.”
Kat saw Jeffrey make a sigh of relief. He continued, “On the flagship, we met this one, Kat’Chinna, Major Ontarii’s second. Long story short, we figured out that the Major Ontarii we’d brought back wasn’t the real one.”
The lieutenant frowned, his eyes searching his Captain’s face. “Where’s Mike? And Diego? And Talia?”
His captain shook her head sadly. “Mike and Diego didn’t make it. Talia was the Hareema plant. Although there had to be more.”
“Oh, there were more, at least two others,” Jeffrey said. Kat shivered at his frozen tone.
His captain had a similar reaction. “How do you know this?”
Jeffrey’s smile was sharp. “Because I caught one, and it talked.”
Kat didn’t like the cocky tone in Jeffrey’s voice.Why does he make light of everything? Even an enemy that threatened to destroy both their worlds.
Her head swiveled when Major Ontarii spoke. The surprise in his voice made her sick to her stomach. “You have a Hareema prisoner? We haven’t managed to catch one in centuries. How did you do it?”
“It’s all in the wrists,” the lieutenant joked.
His cavalier attitude made her nauseous. Coupled with Major Ontarii’s announcement, Kat was close to losing her lunch.We haven’t managed to catch one because we never tried, she wanted to say.
Before she could open her mouth to insult a superior officer, the Supreme Regent stepped forward. “We will discuss all of this further shortly. We have briefings scheduled all day. For now, I’d like to discuss assignments.”
Kat took a deep breath, turning herself on autopilot.I can deal with my feelings later.
To Major Ontarii, the regent said, “We need to debrief, obviously, and I want your help in interrogating the Hareema prisoner. Drake informs me that you have information about a rebel alliance among the enemy. I want to see what our captive has to say about this.”
