I gave him one of my commanding looks that had the newbies quaking in their boots. The doctor didn’t even blink. “From our intel, it appears someone has been drugging you with Rush to make it seem as if your mating fever has overridden your mental faculties.”
I took a deep breath, then another, enjoying the feel of… nothing. For the first time in a fucking long time I felt normal. “You mean someone wanted it to make it appear as if my mating fever was uncontrollable.”
He nodded. “Yes, and to have you executed.”
“You mean premeditated murder. Who?”
The doctor held up his hands. “I am part of the medical unit, not the guards. It was recommended I test you for Rush. You can thank your mate for that. She is a very clever woman. You are a lucky man.”
“What do you mean? My mate asked you to test me for Rush? She’s from Earth. How would she even know of its existence?” Rush had been outlawed more than twenty years ago. Its use was so rare, no one bothered to test for it any longer. Use of the drug on a fellow Atlan was the lowest of low, so without honor that most warriors never even considered the possibility. “Who gave it to me?”
“I do not know, Commander. You will need to ask your mate, or Warlord Dax. But you are now free of the drug and no longer in my care.”
Yes, he healed people. He didn’t arrest them.
“If you proceed down the corridor, the head guard will be waitin
g for you. I am told that two of Warlord Dax’s personal guards are waiting to escort you home.”
The grav-wall was down, so I stepped into the corridor. “Doc?”
He followed, paused when I did. “Yes?”
“What if it wasn’t Rush? What if it really had been the fever?”
The Atlan pursed his lips. “Then I would have signed your execution order.”
I nodded once, then took off down the hall. Whoever did this to me was going to pay. Now I just had to find out what the fuck was going on.
“Guard!” I called, ready to hunt my enemy.
When I reached the end of the corridor, I saw two warriors wearing the colors of Dax’s house and felt my body relax, but not much. As I approached, the older of the two men stepped forward, saluted. He looked about my age, and carried himself, and his weapon, as if he knew how to fight.
“Commander. My name is Rygor.” He angled his head toward the other man. “This is Westar. Warlord Dax sent us to accompany you from your cell.”
I assessed the warriors with my experienced eye. They were both my size, and fully dressed in battle armor, but Rygor’s intense gaze reeked of impatience, rage even.
“Why isn’t Dax here? And where is my mate?”
The guards looked at each other, then at me, but could barely hold my gaze. It was as if they expected an outburst from me. Well, if they didn’t start fucking answering my questions, that was what they would get. I crossed my arms over my chest and glared at them in the way that had new recruits pissing themselves.
Rygor cleared his throat. Instead of replying, he handed me a warrior’s tote. I opened it to see a full set of armor and a weapon.
“What the hell is going on, Rygor? Start talking. Now.” I wasn’t wearing much; I’d stripped the dress shirt off at the doctor’s request, and the pants and soft slippers on my feet were party attire. What Rygor gave me made me feel as if we were heading into battle. Familiar territory.
“Your mate had a reaction to the drug as well. Warlord Dax and Sarah were with her. When she was tested, they discovered the presence of Rush in her system.”
I paused in the middle of pulling on the armor, eyed the senior guard. “Is my mate safe? Was she harmed?” The beast threatened to break through as I waited for his answer.
“Be calm, Commander. She is well.” He cleared his throat again and his gaze met Westar’s, briefly, before darting back to me. “At least, she was when we left your home.”
I pulled the armor on over my chest, quickly settling everything in place. I felt at home in the warrior gear. It was bulky, but familiar. Comfortable even, and it helped me get into the proper mindset for what lay ahead. If Dax was delivering my armor to me, I was headed into a mission. I had to assume it involved my mate, so I was primed to kill. This time, it wasn’t the Hive that was the enemy.
“What the fuck does that mean, ’she was’? And why is she not under Warlord Dax’s protection?”
Westar finally broke his silence as he handed me a small ion blaster. “She wouldn’t allow it, Commander.”
A growl erupted and I felt my face tighten, my eyes begin to change as the beast rushed forward. I would protect Tiffani from all danger, even if it came from herself. I held him back, barely, but my voice had changed as well. My words were a deep rumble. “Explain. Now.”