“And who’s your contact?” Maya asked, not cowering in front of these pirates. His female was brave.
“Some male from Vosthea. He was very clear that you and the dragus pup must be unharmed.”
“Whatever he’s paying,” Maya said, “maybe the rightful owner of Commander Chaos will be willing to offer more.”
“You mean Gallus? Highly doubt it. He doesn’t work with pirates. Enough talking,” said the other pirate. He pointed a blaster at Ranek. “You, step back until you touch the wall, and keep your hands where we can see them.”
Was the idiot going to open the cell door? That would be his end. Ranek stood, showing his hands and backing away from the door until he was pressed against the wall. Believing themselves safe, the idiot opened the door to the brig.
The scarred one pointed his blaster at Maya. “Come on out like a good little female.”
Instead, she scrambled back away from him and toward Ranek. Good. Lure the dumbass closer.
“Watch out!” the other male warned, but it was too late.
Ranek lunged, shoving himself off the wall with surprising speed. The asshole never stood a chance. Ranek grabbed the blaster, directing it first away from Maya in case the male was too trigger-happy, and then wrenching it out of the male’s hand. With practiced ease, Ranek pointed it back at his opponent. He didn’t bother to give the male a chance and instead pulled the trigger, shooting the bastard point-blank.
“Fuck! Shit!” The other pirate scrambled back, his hand fumbling for his weapon.
“You’re next,” Ranek growled as he shoved the body, blood spurting from it, toward the door, using it as a shield.
Maya’s shock and fear were palpable. Ranek could scent it coming off her in waves. He only wished that she’d be able to forgive him for his actions. He had to do it. For them. For her. It might make him a monster, but he’d do anything to keep her safe. If his violent behavior upset her, he’d beg for forgiveness afterward. But for now, anything threatening to harm her was as good as dead.
There was the gurgle of blood as he flung the first pirate into the other. But the fat one was ready; he dodged, more nimble than one would think his generous frame capable. He’d also gotten his blaster free from the harness on his belt. There was a zing of energy. The shot hit the weapon in Ranek’s hand, and it flew into the air. But before the pirate could aim again, Ranek charged.
He surrendered to the bloodlust, no longer fighting the savage need clawing through his veins. The rush was wild and madeevery nerve spark to life; his skin tingled as his senses turned razor sharp. His fangs descended, and he unhinged his jaws, stretching impossibly wide. He was a true predator now. The brutal transformation happened in a fraction of a second.
And he was leaping at the male in a lethal blur.
Chapter 15
Maya
Everything happened so fast that Maya couldn’t react. One moment Ranek and the scarred pirate were in the cell with her and she barely had room to move, and the next, Ranek was charging at the remaining pirate in full bloodlust. The blaster that had been in Ranek’s hand clattered to the ground. There was red everywhere, and the iron-rich tang stung her nostrils.
Her stomach clenched, torn between horror and a surge of adrenaline. The two large bodies collided with brutal force, and snarls vibrated through the air. Her skin prickled and a small voice told her to run, but everything seemed so surreal, like she was witnessing it all from behind a screen. And that alone had her watching, her attention rapt.
The fight was fast and furious, and she couldn’t look away as the two clawed at each other with the talons on their feet and threw punches that would cave a man’s head in. It was bloody and violent, and she should be terrified at the feral form that was Ranek. She should be running, especially after what she’d just learned about him.
A murderer who’d escaped from prison? She’d known there was more to his story, but it was still a lot to take in.
Murder? Theft? Okay, so maybe she’d had an inkling, a suspicion that the ship wasn’t really his, but murder? And years in prison? How long had he planned on keeping that from her?
She shook her head. They hadn’t been close. He didn’t owe her the truth, not yet. But it still hurt.
So why was it that her heart kept telling her that she was safest by his side?
She hadn’t missed the surprise on Ranek’s face either. The news had been just as much of a shock to him as it had been for her. He really did not remember anything. So at least she knew that he was telling her the honest truth there.
Did that mean he truly believed she was his mate?
She inhaled sharply as a hard punch landed across Ranek’s face. But he acted like he didn’t even feel it. He fought back, beating the male to the ground. One swift kick ended it all as a sharp talon sliced across a soft jugular.
Ripping the pirate’s head free of his body and holding it up like a trophy, Ranek roared his victory, looking for all the galaxy like the feral beast he was. He tossed the head aside. Then, canines still descended and with his jaws terrifyingly wide, he turned to Maya.
“Mine!” he snarled as he rounded on her.
He was a monster, but right now, he washermonster.
