“Of course, Captain.” I heard the heavy boots of the Prillon tech walking back to his station and trusted that he had the good sense to keep his gaze averted. Still, I wrapped her gently in the warmth of the blanket and lifted her into my arms, amazed at the lush softness of her body’s curves beneath the material. So soft. By the gods, my cock was painfully hard, aching to fill her.
But first, she must accept my collar. My right to woo her. To protect her. I could not leave this room without the symbol of my protection around her neck. I did not want to fight any challengers for what was mine. With the primitive instincts flaring out of control within me at first sight of her, I might kill anyone who tried to take her from me.
I was a rational male. Battle hardened. Cold. I’d been called detached. Calculated. More machine than male. And yet, when I looked at her, that calm didn’t just melt away. It vanished as if someone took a laser cannon to my insides and lit me on fire.
“When will she wake?” I asked. Surely this transport tech had seen other brides arrive and knew how long I would have to wait. Still, my normally inexhaustible patience had abandoned me, along with reason, calm, certainty…
I studied her features, absorbing every detail. Burning her into my mind and memory. All the while, completely absurd thoughts whirled through my mind. What if she opened her eyes and was not pleased with the sight of me? What if I frightened her? What if…
“Usually within a few minutes, Captain.”
Thank the gods. I wasn’t sure I could maintain control for much longer. She breathed peacefully, but she did not move. What if she were injured? Ill?
“Captain, sir. Sorry to bother, but I need to clear the transport pad. We’ve got supplies scheduled to arrive from Prillon Prime.”
“Of course.” I was standing in the middle of the transport area, staring at a small, fragile female. I had lost my senses indeed.
The tech grinned at me as I stepped down and moved toward the exit. “Congratulations, Captain.”
“Thank you for your assistance,” I told the tech as I walked toward the transport door. I nodded and kept walking. Using one hand, I tucked the blanket up around her neck. If anyone was foolish enough to challenge me between this room and my personal quarters, so be it.
5
Trist
* * *
He offered a slight bow before I left the room and moved quickly through the corridors. If anyone thought it odd I carried an unconscious female wrapped solely in a blanket through a battleship, no one said so. Wisely, no one even looked at us curiously as we passed.
They didn’t matter. Nothing mattered but my mate. How had I been upset, just a short time ago, to receive word I had been matched? Why had I not wanted this? How had I been so stupid? But I had no second. No one to protect her should anything happen to me.
I growled as I slapped my hand beside the door to my quarters, opening it. I would find a second promptly.
“Oh,” she said, her voice soft. Sweet.
“Hello, mate.” Happiness and fierce protectiveness swept through me. Mate.
She stirred, tried to wiggle out of my hold.
“Be still. You’ve transported a long distance.”
“I’m heavy.”
I laughed at that but entered my private quarters and moved to sit upon the soft chair I used for reading in the evening before bed. Taking my time, I sat, careful not to jostle her. This was a new experience, holding something so precious on my lap. With her tucked into my arms, I was content.
When we were settled, I looked down to find her studying me. There was no fear in her eyes, only curiosity. Acceptance.
“I am Trist. Your mate.”
“I’m Miranda.” Her gaze dropped to the green collar now affixed around my neck as I rolled her name around in my thoughts.
Miranda.
“Your name is beautiful, Miranda. As are you.”
She smiled shyly, her cheeks turning an intriguing shade of pink as she looked around. My quarters were in order. Everything was clean, organized, appropriately stored and prepared for battle. “I was told I was transporting to a battleship.”
I nodded, studied the pert tilt of her nose, dark eyebrows. “Yes, you are on Battleship Zakar. I am Captain Trist, second in command. These are my—our—quarters. I will put in for a transfer to a larger room once I have chosen a second.”