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“We’ll bring peace to each other.” She wrapped her arms around his neck again and kissed him.

Talyn lost himself in her softness, reveling in the silky touch of her hair and the sweetness of her mouth.

He had found his mate.

A scream distracted him. It was faint but increasing in volume, raging in his heart until he broke apart from Sinead and set her back on her feet.

“No, not this again.” He clung to Sinead, trying to focus on her, trying to blot out his mom’s panic. It was no good. She’d found a way in and had shattered his happiness.

Talyn jerked upright, a cold sweat covering his body. He checked the time, and his eyes widened. He’d been asleep for four hours. It had felt like five minutes being in that dream with Sinead.

He grunted as he noticed a huge erection prodding him in the stomach. It had been a long time since he’d woken with a hard-on. After spending the night being terrorized by your insane mom, the last thing you should feel was horny, unless there was something seriously wrong with you.

Talyn sighed and flopped back on the bed. That was incredible. Anything that got his mom out of his head, even for a short time, was something he planned to cling to.

He had to sign this contract with Sinead. He had to make sure she stayed in his life.

She was gorgeous. He realized that now. She came with a side order of chaotic but had calmed in his company. Talyn could handle her. He couldn’t let her go now, not when he saw the potential of their partnering.

Talyn picked up his port screen and opened the binding contract that partners signed before they joined. There was nothing in there to alarm Sinead. He’d studied the human marriage ceremony and listened to the vows made, and they weren’t dissimilar. Faithfulness and sharing the good and bad times together, loving and honoring each other. It was all practical terms laid out, and there was nothing displeasing or disturbing.

“This could work,” he muttered to himself. “Sinead could be the one to help me.”

And if she’d invaded his dreams when they weren’t even in the same room, she might be able to block his mom completely when she was next to him. And if they were naked and touching, Talyn imagined he’d find that place of bliss and peace so many Lillips strived for.

A small part of him felt bad at the prospect of blocking his mom. Her illness wasn’t her fault. She’d concealed the fact her mind was crumbling and had a strong ability, so nobody knew how bad things were until her mind splintered.

Talyn had gotten her help as soon as possible, and the best doctors in the business had tried to improve her mind. His mom still had times of lucidness. She always apologized for what she put him through but couldn’t avoid sharing her burden when things got tough.

Talyn let out a breath, and a rare smile crossed his face. Things would be different. With Sinead, it would be different.

He left his room and took his port screen with him as he made his way to Booby. His beautiful, custom designed, Class Two cruiser. Booby was smart, sometimes too sassy for her own good, but always looked out for him.

He opened the docking ramp and climbed aboard. The walls throbbed with a greeting, and a warm amber light lit Talyn’s way as he walked along the corridor.

He patted a wall when he got to the cockpit. “How’s everything looking, Booby?”

“My systems are operational. Do you have a journey planned?” Her voice was low and soft, designed that way so they could talk even when he had one of his pounding headaches.

“No journey. I’m meeting somebody.”

“Your new mate?”

Talyn nodded. He shared everything with Booby. It was hard not to. As a sentient ship, Booby picked up his emotions. She always knew when he was having a tough time. She’d sometimes even sing to him and was currently running through a catalog of Earth blues tunes. Talyn couldn’t decide if he enjoyed them or found them depressing.

“You move quickly.”

He sat in the pilot seat of the cockpit and leaned back. He’d spent many happy hours in this seat, just him and Booby, flying around and exploring distant regions of space.

“I need to move fast. I think I’ve found her. Booby, I’ve met someone who can filter out the noise.”

“You’ve found a Blocker?”

“I think so. But she has no idea the effect she has on me.”

“Tell me all about her.”

Talyn smiled. “Well, she’s human and loud.”