But he was. He’d proven himself during the attack. Protected our mate. Saved my life, carried me from the battle and taken down the remaining Hive soldiers as we made our way to the shuttle that brought us back to the Zakar. He’d protected me, our mate, and the children who had been entrusted to our care. He was a worthy male.
It was I who was weak. Dying. It was I who’d avoided providing for the safety of a second for my mate because of my assumptions about Brax.
He was a good doctor. A good warrior. He would be a good mate. Better than me since I’d failed Miranda in the most important thing of all—seeing to her happiness without me.
“Stop moving,” Brax snapped. “You can be a bossy ass after you are healed.”
“No. Now.” My breathing was ragged as if I’d been fighting the Hive, not lying about. “This collar. It is for you, my second.”
His eyes flared wide.
“Where is Miranda?” I breathed.
At those words, her head appeared above me alongside Brax. Ah, she was so beautiful, even with a smudge of smoke or dirt on her cheek, her hair long and tangled. She smiled at me, but it didn’t reach her eyes as it usually did. I felt her anguish.
“Do not fear, Miranda,” Brax said, as if he was wearing the collar now, as if he could sense exactly what she was thinking and feeling. “He will be fine if he’d let me lower the lid and let the pod do its work.”
I ignored him and kept my eyes on hers. “I’m sorry, mate.”
She gave me a watery smile. She leaned down close, so close I could smell her. Bright and like the flowers back on Prillon Prime. “There is nothing to be sorry about,” she murmured. “You must heal now.”
I tried to shake my head, but it hurt too much. “Not yet. Brax is your second. I will not allow healing until he is collared. Until I know you are protected.”
Her mouth fell open, her eyes widened like the outer rings of this sector’s third planet. “You want—”
“He is worthy,” I growled, cutting her off. “He is honorable. If something happens to me—”
“Something already has,” Brax reminded, glanced away briefly as someone showed him a scan readout. He nodded, then looked back at me. “It is time.”
“Yes, it is. Put the collar on. You are Miranda’s mate as much as me. I will not allow the ReGen to begin until I know she is safe with you.”
Brax stood to his full height, looked to Miranda. He kissed her forehead, then silently—and carefully—took the collar from my wrist.
Raising it to his neck, he closed it in place. All at once, I felt him as well. His emotions, his drive to save me. His protectiveness of not only Miranda, but me as well.
Miranda gasped, for his added sensations was intense.
Brax nodded once, gravel
y. “You have my word; I will protect our mate with my life.”
I sensed his truth and I was satisfied. I sighed, gave over to the tug of unconsciousness, to the extent of my wounds. “Good.”
“Heal, mate, or I will kill you myself,” Miranda said, leaning down and gently cupping my cheek. Her words were full of threat, but her smile softened their meaning.
“With Brax around, we shall all remain safe,” I replied.
Her fingertips slid gently over my cheek, then she stepped back and the medical officer stepped forward again. The pain killers flooded my system, offering welcome relief. I kept my gaze locked on my female until the lid was lowered. I looked at the two of them through the clear glass, my family, and felt their connection through the collars until the world went completely black.
15
Trist, Private Quarters, Two days later
* * *
I felt them before I saw them. My family. And gods help me, that now included the Trion doctor, Brax. He was not what I expected, the Trion male. More warrior than healer. Fiercely and completely in love with my mate before I knew of her existence.
But I felt their bond, even now, their emotions coming through my collar in a soothing familiarity that I knew my mate needed with me injured. Her pain and terror had been breaking me more than the agony of the plasma burns that covered nearly half of my body. And yet, once I’d accepted Brax, added his mental strength to our family bond, she’d calmed. His iron will and mental walls had wrapped around her and she’d calmed.