“It kept me numb for most of the span, but I dreamed of her.Constantly,” Vikan confessed.“I reawakened and it was night.And I knew right in that moment that I could not let her go.I did not have time on my side, however.I told the guards at the command center that I was taking over the watch so they would leave.Then I took my female.We made it a fair distance before we ran out of fuel.We have been traveling on foot since,” Vikan finished.“It was a foolish, rash decision.But Ido notregret it.If you must imprison me, fine.If you must strip my rank, fine.But I do not need the gift of foresight to know thatanymale, including you, would’ve done the same in my position.Do you deny it?You did not claim your female in the most honorable way either, but our hearts make fools of us all.”
Taylor’s lips parted.His heart?Did that mean…?
Vaxa’an studied his friend, his jaw pulsing.“I wish to speak with your female alone.”
“Nix,” Vikan growled.“She does not leave my sight around you.”
“I will,” Taylor said, cutting off whatever it was that Vaxa’an was about to say.Vaxa’an’s blue eyes connected with her own and she said slowly, “I will speak with you alone.But first, you must release him from those chains.”
“He has committed a serious—”
“I don’t care,” Taylor said, impatient.“I’ve forgiven him for it and as you can see, I’m fine.He took good care of me.And I can’t stand to see him in those chains!”
Vaxa’an let out a sharp breath through his nostrils.Then Taylor jumped when Vaxa’an suddenly called out in Luxirian.The guard that had originally cuffed her mate appeared.Vaxa’an jerked his head to the metal and in a short moment, Vikan’s hands were free.
“Now, I will speak to your female alone,” Vaxa’an rasped.“And I know that you will not go far, as long as she is near.Leave us.”
Vikan stared down his friend and leader.When he turned to Taylor, his eyes softened just the slightest amount and Taylor was relieved to see it.She reached out a hand, running it down his cheek, hoping that everything that she wanted to express was in that touch.His eyes closed and he huffed out a short breath.
“I’ll be okay,” she said softly.“Go.”
Vikan decided to trust in her word.A moment later he jerked his head in a nod, clearly reluctant to leave her.But he did a moment later, striding back the way they’d come so she and Vaxa’an could be alone.
When she turned back to the Prime Leader, she realized everything would be okay.Because Taylor could be damn persuasive when she wanted to be.
And she’d never been this determined in her life.
TWENTY-ONE
TAYLOR STARED AT Vaxa’an since neither of them spoke first.She found herself embroiled in some sort of Luxirian power struggle.And Taylor didn’t have to be a Luxirian to know that Vaxa’an was still pissed off at her mate.
Realizing that staying silent was getting her nowhere, Taylor spoke first, eager to state her case and get her mate off the hook.
“Look, uh, Prime Leader,” Taylor began, “I can see why you’re upset.But since this concerns me, I can honestly tell you that you’re making a bigger deal out of this than it is.”
Vaxa’an crossed his massive arms over his chest, the gold bands he wore around his biceps glinting in the bright light.“Vikan has been a loyal Ambassador and a friend to me for many, many rotations, female.I can assure you that I am not ‘making this a bigger deal.’He disobeyed a direct order from his Prime Leader in not only taking you from the Golden City without my permission but by also endangering your life in the wilds of Luxiria.Anything could have happened.”
Taylor blew out a breath.She had her work cut out for her.
“I understand that.But I can assure you that Vikan took care of me.His priority was my safety.Do you honestly believe that, me being his fated mate and all, he would be careless enough to let me get hurt?”
“Female—”
“He made sure I was warm, fed, and well-rested.He made sure we had a secure shelter every night.And honestly, once I got over being pissed off, it wasniceto get out of that damn room you left us in.”
His eyes narrowed.“Those quarters were to ensure that nothing like this ever happened, female.”
“No, you kept us locked in there for a couple weeks with no word about what you were going to do with us.Thank goodness that your mate came to see us and tell us what was going on.All of us were scared.We had no idea what you planned.”
Vaxa’an inhaled a patient breath.“I kept you there because I could not guarantee another Luxirian’s Instinct would awaken for one of you.Obviously Vikan had already seen you from the rescue.But the others…”
“I get that,” Taylor said, trying to calm down.She would get nowhere by getting pissed.“But it’s not the best approach.All of those women in there, I can guaranteeyouthat they can fight their own battles and make their own decisions if something like that ever happened.”
“It does not matter anymore, female,” Vaxa’an said.“A vessel has been properly outfitted and fueled for a journey to the Fourth Quadrant, to Earth.Once I have brought you safely back to the Golden City, you can all depart for your home.”
Taylor straightened her spine and said softly, “I’m not going anywhere.”
Vaxa’an tilted his head to the side, dropping his gaze to the ground, as if collecting his thoughts, before returning his gaze to her.“Female, I do not know what Vikan has told you…about his past.”
