A smile escaped and I met Varin’s gaze in approval. He was a worthy second. Strong enough to care for Danika once I was gone. A powerful ally and closer than a brother. I made sure he knew how I felt. We weren’t ones to cry and talk about emotions, but I wanted him to know I loved him, too. Family. He was family and I pushed that knowledge to him through the collars. Hard.
He doubled over and choked. “Enough, Thomar. I know.”
“Hand me the weapon. Now. That’s an order.” Helion stood facing me, clearly not used to being ignored.
“Nope. Not a toy.” I stepped back and placed the rifle on the med counter behind me as I stripped and changed into my armor. “And I don’t take orders from you. You don’t outrank me, Commander.”
“Fuck. Hard-headed Arcas family.”
That made Danika burst into laughter and I grinned back at her, feeling almost normal for the first time since before I’d been captured by the Hive. I would have no issue sharing what Varin and I had learned during our captivity. Had intended to, in fact. But we’d been distracted by a small, beautiful, sexy female to care for. To touch. To fuck. She was a thousand times more interesting than the rifle behind me.
Love poured into me. Pure. Aching. Perfect. Unable to stop myself, I walked across the room and took Danika’s face between my hands. I stared down into her eyes and let everything I was feeling pour into her. Longing. Gratitude. Respect. Love. Desire. Need. She was everything to me. Everything.
“Thomar.” My name was barely a whisper on her lips as I leaned down and took her mouth, not caring who witnessed my need for this female.
Behind me I heard Varin reproach Helion. “Don’t think so, doc.”
I kissed my mate, confident Varin could handle the Intelligence Core commander.
“You do not outrank me, Varin Mordin. You will follow my orders and give me that weapon for inspection.”
“I have direct orders from Commander Arcas not to allow anyone to touch these weapons.”
“Gods be damned.” I felt Helion’s eyes burning into the back of my skull.
Danika was grinning as I ended the kiss and rested my forehead against hers. Holding her. Loving her. “He’s glaring at me, isn’t he?”
She leaned around my shoulder to take a peek. “Yep.” Her smile melted me. She owned me.
I kissed her once more on the lips, quickly, then joined Varin and finished putting on our customized armor. Rifle attached to my back, I looked over Varin’s gear as he checked mine. When we were both satisfied we turned as one to face the doctors, our mate, and the governor and his female who had been sitting quietly off to the side the entire time. Silent. Watching. Waiting.
My pain levels had been lower than usual for several hours. I attributed the change to my connection to Danika, but as I stood waiting to hear what Helion’s plan of attack would be, the buzzing agony rushed over me like a flood.
Danika cried out and put her hands up to her temples. “God, they’re so loud.”
Voices. The buzzing in my head, all this time, had been voices? Crying for help. Screaming in pain. Begging to go home.
Fuck. I could hear them now. The females. Crying.
Helion rushed to stand before her. “What are they saying?”
“I don’t know.” Danika moaned and her face paled. She turned large, pain filled eyes at me. “I’m sorry. I can’t make it stop.”
“Do not apologize mate.” Varin’s tone was soft, calm. “We will end your torment. I vow this to you.”
Doctor Surnen stepped forward with a ReGen wand and waved it over Danika’s head. The action made her pain worse, her agony like a knife spike through our mating collars.
“Stop, doctor. You are hurting her.” Varin spoke once more, his tone clearly a threat. Doctor Surnen stepped back at once, clearly appalled that he had caused harm. I focused on staying in control as my own pain amplified until I felt like I had razors running around on a racing track inside my head.
“Give me that.” Doctor Helion reached for the ReGen wand and a sedative from a nearby tray. “That’s enough. She is a female and she is in pain. She must be sedated.”
“No!” Danika was crawling backward, away from Helion. Her agitation pushed me over the edge. No one was going to frighten my mate. Or hurt her. Or force her to do anything she didn’t want to do.
This male really wanted to die. I didn’t care if I had to kill the fucking Prime himself to protect her. She. Was. Mine.
I blinked and the doctor was hanging, back to the wall, my hand at his throat. He was a Prillon warrior, but I was an Arcas. Royal bloodline. Larger. Stronger. Faster.
Fucking meaner.