“You…” Cruxan trailed off, the knowledge unfathomable. “You have—”
A whirring in the distance reached his ears. An approaching craft. Approaching fast.
He cursed and then Cruxan’s jaw grit together. With disgust, he growled, “You may get your wish. You will never see her again after what you have done. I will make sure of that.”
Thatprompted something from Jaxor’an besides cold detachment. His eyes flared hot and before Cruxan could react, the male’s fist struck out, impossibly fast, and whipped his face to the side on contact.
His temple throbbed at the impact, but he shook it off. He hadn’t been hit that hard in a long while, but he’d been hit harder in his life span.
At least it told him that Jaxor’an wasn’t immune to the possessiveness of his Instinct, to that wild, overwhelming pull. Jaxor’an mightthinkhe could give up hisluxiva, but he would never actually be able to. Ever.
That same realization seemed to hit Jaxor’an himself.
A growl, one of frustration, of grief, ofrelief, tore out of the Prime Leader’s brother.
Something unleashed inside him. The whirring in the distance was near. They only had a few more moments before…
TheMevirax. It was obvious to Cruxan what Jaxor’an had meant. He was going to trade the females to theMevirax. But for what purpose? And why? What did Jaxor’an want above anything else?
Jaxor’an’s gaze shifted to the brunette over Cruxan’s shoulder once again. Suddenly, just like Cruxan, Jaxor’an’s only goal was to get his femaleaway. His Instinct wanted her alone with him, safe.
He didn’t have much time. When he sensed the tendons of Jaxor’an’s muscles bunching, preparing, Cruxan tackled him to the ground with a roar, the earth quaking beneath the hard impact of their bodies. If Jaxor’an got his hands on hisluxivaand stole her away, he would never see the female again.
He heard rustling. Pinning Jaxor’an on the ground, the dagger angled at the vein in his throat, Cruxan’s head snapped over to his female and watched helplessly as both of them bolted from the clearing, into the darkness of the forest.
“Nix!” Cruxan growled, worry, fear, frustration, need coursing through him.
Jaxor’an resumed his struggles against him and it quickly became clear that an awakened male’s strength pitted against another awakened male’s strength was fruitless. Neither would win.
Cruxan’s gaze connected with Jaxor’an’s, just as he heard male voices echoing through the forest. TheMeviraxhad come, expecting their bounty, expecting Jaxor’an to hold up whatever bargain he’d made with them.
Endless questions reverberated in his mind but now was not the time.
They came to a silent agreement in that single moment. Both of their females, unprotected, scared, running away from them, were in danger.
Choosing the lesser of the two evils, Cruxan pushed off Jaxor’an and raced into the forest, after his female. Jaxor’an was right on his heels, the heavy crunch of his footfalls loud.
A moment later, theMeviraxdiscovered the empty clearing and he heard cries of alarm ring up through them. They would come after them.
Vrax, vrax, vrax, Cruxan thought, gritting his teeth.
In the inky darkness, he saw his female’s form. He sensed her, just as she no doubt sensed his chase. Her breathing was quick and ragged and, as if sensing him near, she pushed herself faster. Away from him.
Cruxan’s Instinct reared its head, primal instincts pushing to the forefront of his mind. His blood rushed under his skin, adrenaline and lust and determination coursing with it. He felt his cock harden painfully as he sprinted headlong towards her.
Running from him. Running from him.
Never!
He would catch her.
He would bring her to safety.
And then he would claim her.
Chapter Six
Shit, shit, shit.
