Sly smiles stretched across Uuktar’s many reptilian faces. “However, we’ll give you a hint. Our source is someone capable ofnotsetting off the Eki’s alarm, and who else would be able to accomplish that, aside from an Eki or a Stellarian… since both species are able to star hop?”
Micah laughed incredulously. “Before theLacertusarrived, you implied you were receiving information throughpsychicmeans, and neither?—”
“Oh, wait…” the Hydrassian interrupted as their smirks grew. “Star hopping is what theStellarianscall it. The Eki refer to it as ‘particle leaping.’ Odd that someone who claimsnotto be a Stellarian would use their term for the ability…”
“Is that true, Zig?”
“I… have no idea.”
Cold dread skittered up my nonexistent spine as theLacertusturned their unwavering focus back to my mate.
This is all my fault.
If I had simply allowed Micah to finish his training with Leeloo, he would have been better prepared for this confrontation. Instead, I allowed my false sense of superiority to put the man I loved more than anything at a severe disadvantage.
A disadvantage that could get him killed.
Despite the fear and anxiety swirling in our bond, Micah stood his ground. “Are you implying I am a rare hybrid of some kind—an Eki overtaken by a Stellarian who is still able to utilize my powers? Everyone knows Stellarians take complete control of their vessels, leaving nothing but an empty shell for them to inhabit, like a single-minded parasite.”
Uuktar didn’t reply, but what shocked me the most was theLacertusnot immediately agreeing with Micah’s outdated assessment of my kind.
Interesting…
The seer made a disgruntled noise before their multiple gazes grew distant. “It will be simple enough for us to learn more about what you are…”
For a moment, I feared they were reading my stellar collision’s thoughts, but Micah looked unconcerned. This led to me recalling how he’d formed shields around his own mind to block psychic infiltration onDionaea—causing Uulvin to comment on how my mate’s shields were “more advanced” than the ones surrounding their cave.
The ones created by the Eki…
That lying set of snakes!
Suddenly, I understood exactly where Uuktar had been getting their intel from, and I desperately hoped my mate hadn't already activated his mental shields so I could warn him.
“Micah! Uuktar’s communicating with?—”
“I know, Space Daddy. I’ve got this.”
Of course, my incredibly impressive mate was already ten steps ahead of everyone else. Then, he turned his back on theLacertusto face his opponent, becausemygreatest enemies were not his.
The Hydrassian was.
Both of them.
“So, you've been psychically communicating with Uulvin all this time, hmm, Uuktar?” Micah tauntingly ran his fingers over the surface of the shielded prison, causing the air to ripple between them. “Scheming to send us here to do their dirty work for them.”
Do their dirty work for them…
“You were sent here by Uulvin?!” the headLacertusgrowled, baring its fangs and causing my protective instincts to spike.
“Yes,” Micah calmly replied, and my proverbial blood ran cold. “They sent us here to free their sibling.”
Nonononono…
While I agreed the Hydrassians were the true enemy here, Micah wasn’t completely understanding how volatile the situation still was. As “intelligent” as theLacertuswere as a species—still far less than Stellarians—if they sensed a threat, no amount of logic would get through to them.
“PUT UP YOUR GODDAMN SHIELDS!!!”
Luckily, IfeltMicah instinctively obey despite his confusion, but my relief was short-lived. With a roar, the purpleLacertusgrabbed my mate, bellowing with rage when they failed to crushhim in their powerful grip.
