“Faith! You have to come now. I think Ranek’s hurt! He locked me inside the room and went out to face the pirates alone.”
“Hang on, they’re already inside the station. Where are you? Which room? Wait, never mind, I think they found you. Oh shii….” The line went dead.
Moments later, there was movement on the other side of the door, and the door slid open. A Tallean male in a uniform greeted her. Behind him was a team of well-armed and armored males.
His eyes landed on her and then on Commander Chaos. His hand went to the device strapped to his chest. “We found her. And the pup too.” He turned to Maya. “Are you okay, female?”
But Maya was scanning the hallway for Ranek. She found him lying not more than ten feet away. She scrambled to his side.
“Ranek? Ranek!”
Oh god! There was so much blood. Maya couldn’t tell if it was coming from him or the pirates next to him.
“We must go, female. There are more pirates coming.”
“We have to help him,” she pleaded. “Please. Ranek saved me. He saved me. I’m not leaving without him.” She latched onto Ranek like he was her lifeline.
“There is no time.”
“If you want to leave, go. But I’m not leaving without him.”
“Maya?” Faith’s voice rang out in the station.
“Fuck. What is she doing out here?” The male in uniform rubbed a palm over his face.
“Faith? Ranek’s hurt. I’m not leaving him.”
Faith rounded the corner, waving her comm in the air. She spotted Maya and ran to her. Behind her was another big Tallean male in uniform, clearly trying and failing to get her back to safety.
“Sorry, sir. She slipped out when no one was looking.”
Maya braced in case they were here to tear her away from Ranek.
“I’m not leaving without him,” she repeated.
Faith shoved her comm at the leader. “It’s Gallus. I was trying to get them to bring it to you, but they wouldn’t fucking listen. If they did, I wouldn’t need to sneak out!”
The male took the comm and peered at the screen. Then his eyes went to Ranek. Maya reached for the blade on the ground by his feet, ready to protect him if need be.
“Stand down, female. We won’t hurt him. We just got new orders to take him along and make sure he survives the trip. We need to get him onto the med bed on the ship now.”
Then more Tallean males were there, lifting Ranek carefully onto a stretcher. Satisfied that they weren’t going to leave Ranek behind, Maya collapsed into Faith’s arms.
Chapter 24
Maya
Maya had never been to Kean’s compound on Vosthea. It was a large, multi-building affair, surrounded by the most gorgeous gardens. But Maya was too worried about Ranek to enjoy them. Especially when Ranek’s brother, Vasek, refused to let her into his room.
Vasek stood with his arms crossed in front of Ranek’s private room in Kean’s medical wing, blocking her way. “There is no way I’ll believe that my brother thinks you are his mate. That’s impossible.”
The male who had dropped her off had called her Ranek’s mate, and Maya hadn’t bothered to correct him.
“I don’t care what’s possible or not. I’m not leaving until I know he’s up and awake and well.”
“Let her through, Vasek.” The new voice was a low, rich baritone, and Maya turned to see an imposing figure stepping into the room. He was dressed in a dark silky shirt and leather pants, and he oozed power.
“Kean, you and I both know it’s impossible for her to be his mate.”
