His graying eyebrows went up at my request.
“New mates? But, you already have three.”
I nodded once. “Yes, I’m well aware of the number of men I was matched to. Trust me. But they aren’t a good fit for me. Your system made a mistake. I need new ones,” I repeated, not backing down one bit. I’d read the damn brochure, signed the stacks of paper. I knew my rights. I was supposed to give my mates thirty days to woo me, but they’d managed to blow this in one. Twenty-nine more was unacceptable.
The man began to wring his hands. “You are the first mate at the IQC that has encountered this problem.”
I took a step farther into the room so the door slid closed behind me. “It’s not a problem. It’s a rule. If I do not wish to keep my mates within the first thirty days, I can request a new match.”
God, was I going to get three new mates? Did I want less? Would I be satisfied with the attentions of a single man now that I’d had three?
The answer, I knew, was no. In less than a day, my new mates had ruined me. But there had to be other Viken trios looking for a bride. Vikens who weren’t saboteurs, liars and murderers. Men who didn’t cheat on their mates in the shower with tall blonde women with big tits and long legs—long, long legs. Much longer than mine.
“Have you been officially claimed? I can’t arrange new mates if you belong to others.”
I felt my cheeks heat, remembering all the things I’d done with my men. It had been dark and dirty, carnal and hot. Wild. But it also had been more. I’d felt a connection and I wasn’t thinking of the stupid seed power or even love. No, it was a bond that went deep. I’d thought the match perfect. But no. All I’d been was used. I’d begged them to take me together, to claim me, and they’d told me no. It was too soon. They’d played it like they were protecting me from a rushed decision, from a lifelong commitment made in the heat of the moment. And here I stood, grateful that they hadn’t given me what I wanted.
I was a fool.
And that was what made tears fill my eyes. At first I’d thought Evon had chosen family over me, that he was so loyal, so proud of his family’s reputation and prestige that he was willing to lie to protect them. But no. It was more than that. He was complicit. He was one of them. And Rager? He wasn’t simply protecting Evon’s sister, he was fucking her.
A fresh batch of tears welled, spilled over. I swiped them away with my fingers.
“No. I haven’t been claimed.” I hopped up into the testing chair and spun so that my legs were settled as I relaxed back into the seat. If he wore a white jacket instead of a warden’s uniform, I’d think I was at the dentist. “Let’s get on with it.” I swallowed hard, tried not to sniff. “I need new mates. I have to go to a hearing in a few hours in front of the commander. Once that’s done, I’ll be free to leave.” I turned to look at him and caught his eye, making sure he saw just how serious I was. “And I’d like to leave immediately.”
“Evon, Liam and Rager are good warriors. Good Vikens.”
I laughed, but without an ounce of humor. “Liam is. The others…” I let the rest hang as I shrugged. I couldn’t blame the warden for his cluelessness. I had been right there with him. Worse, because I’d given them my body, and my heart.
I dropped my head and covered my face with my hands as sobs racked my shoulders. Hot tears seared my palms. Yes, I was hysterical. Weak. Broken. Everything I detested. But I was allowed to have this damn pity party. I’d chosen space assholes over prison only to be fucked in the pussy and ass, then fucked again by their lies.
I heard the warden moving, speaking quietly, but I didn’t look up. It didn’t matter. Nothing mattered besides getting off this stupid fucking station and starting over. Again.
* * *
Liam
“What?” I shouted, even though the warden didn’t need me to be so loud to be heard through my wrist communicator, especially in the dining hall.
The group of guards around me looked up from their plates, some even paused while eating, instantly on high alert. I listened to the warden in the testing center repeat himself.
“Your mate is requesting to be reassigned. She’s here, in the testing center. She’s extremely upset. I think you’d better get down here.”
I stood, my chair sliding over the floor before tipping over with a loud clatter.
My patrol team also stood, the three men ready to do whatever I commanded.
All conversation ceased in the room, turning to see the commotion, but I didn’t give a damn about any of them. Bella was asking to leave me, leave us.
And she could do it. We hadn’t claimed her. She’d asked, begged us to take her, and we’d refused. We’d left ourselves open to this and suddenly I didn’t care if it was right or wrong. I just wished we’d taken her together, locked her to us for all time. Losing her to another now would crush us. She’d be the end of us.
“I’ll be right there.” I stalked out of the room and down the hall, ignoring my lunch, the chair and everyone’s stares. When my team started to follow, I waved them off and they returned to their meal.
Bella wanted to be reassigned? Now? What the hell had happened since I left her? The last time I saw her she was in bed nestled between Rager and Evon, naked and sated from so many orgasms I’d lost count.
Now—just a few hours later—she wanted to leave us completely? Reject our match and be assigned to new mates?
I picked up my pace. Ran. People stepped out of my way, perhaps more from the look on my face than my pace. There was no fucking way she was getting reassigned. Something had happened with Rager or Evon. Or maybe both, but not with me. No, Bella was mine.