Beks didn’t know what else to say, except, “I’m sorry, I shouldn’t have startled you.”She was proud that her voice only shook a little, remembering the gleam of those deadly claws.
Lihvan’s ragged breaths didn’t change.And when Beks looked up at him, she saw him cast a hard stare at the metal doors.“Beks, you must leave.Right now.”
“Why?” she questioned.“What’s going on?I felt the ship—”
“Now!” he snapped.“Leave and return to my quarters immediately.”
Irritation made her prickly.“Hey, you can’t order me around like some sort of dog, buddy.I’m not—”
He made a sound in the back of his throat.Then Lihvan cut her off by pulling her more tightly into his body, craning his head down so that it rested in the crook of her neck.She felt him inhale deeply, like he was smelling her skin, and she wondered why that little action felt so erotic.She felt the sharp contrast of his black horns against her cheek and she felt the other one tangle in her hair.
“Lihvan…” she started, her momentary anger draining out of her.Her voice failed her, however, even though she didn’t know what she would’ve said.Instead, her throat closed up, clogging with unexpected tears, when his hands spanned her waist, when they ran over her curves like he was trying to memorize the shape of her, when he lightly brushed his lips across the sensitive flesh of her neck and whispered words in his language that she felt deep inside her bones.
He touched her with an infinite gentleness and Beks had never felt so treasured, sowanted, in her entire life.It shook her to her core.
The moment ended far too soon.Lihvan pulled away, his features showing his emotion.Beks thought that it resembled grief.
“Luxiva,” he started, “I ambeggingyou to leave right—”
His words were cut off by a sharp hiss as the doors slowly slid open, revealing a tightly huddled group of yet another alien species.Immediately, Lihvan shoved her behind him, blocking their path with his body.
It was too late.They’d already seen her.
* * *
Gribrak’s gaze darted behind Lihvan and zeroed in on Beks.Lihvan sickened at the realization on his enemies’ face, feeling panic bloom under his flesh until he thought he might suffocate from it.
He was angry at his female, for following him, but mostly at himself, for not realizing it sooner and for embracing her when he should’ve pushed her from the docking bay.His momentary weakness would be her doom and the knowledge gutted him.
In Jetu, Gribrak addressed him.“This is most surprising, Ambassador.A human female as your mate?I would think you had more control than that.”
Lihvan hated the way Gribrak’s eyes trailed over his female and the growl that tore from his throat was filled with both warning and rage.The only thing that prevented him from launching himself at the smug Jetutian was the knowledge that the docking bay was being monitored by Vikan.His friend would’ve seen Beks, would’ve seen the potential danger in having her so close to their most-hated enemy.All Lihvan had to do was buy time so that Vikan could come retrieve her from harm’s way.
Unfortunately, Gribrak also seemed to come to this realization.His gaze darted around the docking bay and then he grunted at his men, “Take them both.”
Lihvan’s muscles bunched and started to grow, sensing the direct threat against his mate.His Instinct bristled, hackles rising.
“Quickly!” Gribrak commanded, eyeing Lihvan like he was a weapon about to go off.
Lihvan reacted, knowing that at all costs he had to protect his mate.He lashed out with his claws at one of the seven Jetutians that had surrounded them both and blood immediately gurgled from the enemies’ slit chest.Beks gave a small cry of fear and surprise that raked across his insides and made him roar in fury.
His Instinct guided his actions, his vision focused, tracking every single movement of the Jetutians.He dispatched one more of them, his thick hide slapping onto the floor in a bloodied mess, before he felt an electric jolt through his body, robbing him of strength.
His limbs became limp and he felt another jolt, which brought him to his knees.His breaths went ragged and he blindly reached behind him to make sure his female was still unharmed.
Gribrak crouched in front of him, tilting his head to the side in that unnatural Jetutian way that looked as though it might roll off his neck.Dangling from his hands was the weapon that had shocked him.A coward’s weapon.
“Never have I seen you so undone, war general,” Gribrak commented, his gaze flickering to Beks behind him.
Lihvan attempted to make another swipe at him, but his arms were heavy.They thudded onto the docking bay floor, useless.
“Take them,” Gribrak said, rising.
Focus, the logical part of him reasoned.He was a war general, one that could strategize and keep a level head in dangerous situations.Dampening the rage that coursed through his veins, his eyes were drawn to the transport vessel the Jetutians had traveled in.And just like Luxirian transport vessels, there were four escape pods attached to the sides.
He could fit Beks into one if he regained control of his limbs soon.He could fire it back towards the vessel and hope that Vikan had not escaped by then, even though that was exactly what Lihvan had told him to do.
Nothing else mattered except for her safety.Lihvan would gladly give his life if it meant she would be unharmed.
