While I could do nothing but fuck her morning, noon and night and be content the rest of my life, I would not do it on command, and I would not do it for the Hive.
She shrugged. “But they think your beast is dormant. That whatever they did to you in those caves a few months ago is still intact.”
“But you brought out the beast.” I lifted her off my lap and stood, paced the small room. My beast growled to have Caroline back in my arms, but I needed space to think. The feel of her, her scent, the knowledge I didn’t just hold her but our baby as well, clouded my mind.
I thought back to just before Caroline arrived. I’d had no sexual desire. No interest in a mate. It was as if the Hive had cut off my balls. But that was because I was an Atlan and subduing my beast was almost the same thing. I could have fucked, could have gotten a female pregnant with Hive contaminated seed. It wouldn’t have been a true mating, but the contaminated seed could have been brought from my balls, perhaps even against my will.
She came up on her knees, the shine of excitement, of clarity in her eyes. “I brought out the beast, which was opposite of what the Hive wanted. But they don’t know that. They still believe the beast is dead. You have to hide him, Rezz. Keep him under control until we can escape.”
“What you ask is nearly impossible.” The beast raged already. Pacing inside me like a wild thing desperate for vengeance. I was hot, sweating, so close to the edge of losing control that my body shivered hot, then cold, almost as if I had mating fever. “He will protect you, Caroline. I won’t be able to stop him.”
“I thought you never lose control.” The challenge made my beast howl with both frustration and delight. By the gods, our mate was strong. I could not disappoint her.
“I will wait. But if they hurt you—“
“I know.” Her smile was worth the vow I had just given her. She put her hand on her belly, the smile fading. “Do you really think this baby is Hive?”
I had no idea what that would entail, if the child would come out with a cyborg eye like Ryston, or completely contaminated. Silver flesh from head to toe? Would the babe have enhanced strength or intelligence? Or would the child look human? Atlan? The doctor’s scans on the Colony hadn’t discovered any anomalies, but, of course, he was scanning for a baby, not Hive contamination.
“I don’t give a fuck what the baby is. It’s ours. We made it. With love. As mates. There is nothing more pure than that. I love her, as is. And on the Colony, she will be accepted and understood. She will have a home. Family. Protection.”
Tears filled her eyes again. “Oh, Rezzer.”
I went to her then, wrapped my arms around her, kissed her. Gently. Tenderly.
“I want my cuffs back on you, mate.” The weight of mine about my wrists had been the only thing that soothed the beast. She was mine and nothing was going to tear us apart now.
“Shhh. You’re starting to growl. You have to hide your beast,” she said.
It was going to be close to impossible. “As long as they don’t hurt you. I will find a way to hold him back until the ReCon team arrives.”
“We’re being rescued?” she asked.
“Maxim was already working to track your transport when they took me. It is only a matter of time.”
The door to the med room slid open, and I spun about, tucking Caroline behind me. Three Hive walked into the room, stood before me, ion pistols in hand.
“Subject Zero, we will separate you from your female breeder if you defy us.”
My beast growled. Snarled. All but pressed against my skin to grow. I fought down the urge to change, to transform and rip their heads off. I fought the change because Caroline was right. They thought my beast dormant. No Hive would stand this close to an Atlan otherwise.
I offered a small nod, for I didn’t dare speak.
“Female, sit on the table. We must perform further testing.” The dark haired one issued the order and Caroline bit her lip, glancing from me to the blue creature who ignored the others, those black, fathomless eyes staring straight at me. I knew enough about the Hive, had heard whispers of the existence of the Nexus, the original Hive race. They were the control centers, the link between minds. Intelligent. Telepathic.
As strong as a beast.
I put my hands behind my back, gripped one wrist in a tight hold. Restraining myself.
Caroline gave me a quick glance and walked to the table, sat upon it, her feet dangling over the edge. She laid back; the seat reclined halfway.
“Do not touch her,” I said, my voice unreasonably calm considering how I felt.
The trio looked to me.
The golden one spoke, the man once Prillon, now lost in the Hive mind. Their brains were connected. Where one spoke, they all thought. “Defy us and we will shoot the Atlan.”
Caroline paled but didn’t dare look at me. I studied the golden enemy, imagined how satisfying it would be to tear him in half. Decided I would kill him first.