Inwardly, I rolled my eyes. “We’ve been through battle together. Perhaps even more than that.” I lifted my hand to my head, felt relief at the relative quiet of the NPU beneath my scalp, but the buzzing was still there, an indefinable thing that would always connect me to this Atlan, to the other contaminated warriors, and to the Hive. “I think we can skip formality, Angh, don’t you?”
He relaxed slightly, nodded once more. “Yes, Lady Chloe.”
Well, it wasn’t completely without formality, but it seemed to be the closest he could get, and I found it somewhat endearing. He wasn’t one for many words, but I wanted to know he was going to be fine. “You have a chance at a second life. I’ve heard the Colony is a great place to live.” I sounded like a Realtor on Earth trying to upsell a bad neighborhood. The words felt shallow, even to my own ears. “There have been several brides from Earth who now live there. Perhaps you will be tested for one of your own?”
His mouth fell open as if he’d never considered the possibility.
“Like this? I assure you, Commander, I mean, Lady Chloe, the testing will not find a match.”
“Any female would be lucky to have you.” Those words were complete truth and I would fight anyone who said otherwise. “You’ve earned the right to happiness. You are an excellent warlord and veteran in your own right.”
“Thank you.”
Commander Karter joined us, slapped Angh on the back. “The coordinates are loaded, transport is ready.”
Angh offered me a slight bow, then moved to shake a few fighters’ hands. He stopped in front of Seth.
“No hard feelings?” Seth asked. I felt my mate’s concern for the warlord. While I hadn’t been there, he’d told me that Angh had asked Seth to kill him, to end the misery of his life when Seth’s ReCon team had decided to save him, to knock him out and take him off that ship. Angh had been so integrated, he’d asked for death. To die a warrior was perhaps the better outcome for some so heavily integrated by the Hive. But for Angh, the med unit was able to remove some of the integrations, but certainly not all. He could lead a full life if he chose. A mate, children, a new career within the Coalition on the Colony. He just had to want it.
“Thank you for saving my life,” Angh replied. “I haven’t said it before and I apologize for that. The battle has proven that I am more warlord than Hive and that I can still be an asset.”
While he said the words, I wasn’t sure if he truly believed them. I had to hope the others on the Colony, those who’d been through similar horrors and survived could help him in ways we never could.
“Keep in touch, Angh. That’s an order.” The beast actually grinned at me.
Seth put his free hand on the Atlan’s upper arm, the closest thing to a man hug I was going to see on the Karter.
Angh moved down the line, saying goodbye to the others before walking up to the transport pad. Without any fanfare, he nodded and the sizzle and electrical pull made the floor vibrate, made the hairs on the back of my neck stand on end.
Within seconds, he was gone. On to a new life. Safe from the Hive and hopefully in a place where he could find peace and happiness. And if I could connect with Warden Egara, or the human women on the Colony, I might be able to do a little matchmaking, get him an Earth bride
of his own. Perhaps his inner beast would force him by going into his mating fever. I’d heard of that happening before. He’d have to take a mate or he’d be executed.
The thought made me sad, and I vowed to contact the warden as soon as possible. Maybe she could pull some strings. I doubted it, but it never hurt to ask.
Seth’s arm circled about my waist and pulled me from my thoughts. I turned my head to look up at him, saw the easy smile. “Ready?” he asked.
I offered a small nod and he steered me toward Dorian. Everyone, obviously, knew we were mated, but we’d agreed there would be no more PDA. We could be touchy feely and affectionate in our quarters, but that was private. That was for us alone. I loved my mates, but it wasn’t professional for a commander to be making out in the corridors like a teenager. I’d give them everything when we were alone. Out here, I’d told them to hold back, and they had respected my request.
The hand on my hip was a reasonable concession and it felt good.
While we’d been asleep, Commander Karter had put out notice that all who had participated in the Battle of the Beast, as it was being called, had a three-day furlough from mission assignments, although they were expected to work on the ship.
We watched Angh disappear on the transport pad.
“Captains,” Commander Karter called. My mates turned and saluted. Standing between them, I did the same. “I’ve given you all two days leave. The doctor doesn’t feel Commander Phan is ready to return to work. Something about her neural pathways needing more time to recover.”
I frowned as Dorian replied. “Why was I not told? That is unacceptable. I will discuss this with the doctor at once.” He didn’t seem the least bit concerned about mouthing off to the other Prillon warrior, our commander.
“Stand down, Dorian. Why do you think I’m here?”
Seth’s jaw was clenched tightly, his hands in fists at his sides as he shook his head so slightly I barely noticed the action.
“Captain Mills?”
“I’m fine, Commander. But I’m not leaving her side until she has been medically cleared.”
He eyed the duo, then me. “I can’t blame you. Within hours of arrival, I sent your mate on a dangerous mission that nearly got her killed. I understand your need to protect her—”