Still, it gave me one last moment of fun. I swung the titan stick up in a wide arc and brought it back down, clotheslining Bertok with the weapon across his chest. His feet flew up, and he dropped onto his back like I’d been a linebacker taking him out.
I grinned down at the asshole. I wanted to zap him again, but I didn’t. Then I thought of Naron and did just that, jabbed the fucker in the side with the sizzling stick. He writhed and screamed in pain. “That’s for my Naron, you fucker.”
“Mate, please tell me all is well there,” Isaak’s father said.
Eela moved to stand beside me, looked down at Bertok. “Everything is as it should be. Bertok is finished.”
I looked to Eela, smiled. “Yeah, it’s all over.”
“Zara?” Isaak’s voice came through the speakers. “Are you unharmed?”
“I’m fine, Isaak.” Fine. One of the worst words in existence. Because I was so not okay, not with any of this.
The guards lifted Bertok to his feet and dragged him away. It was over.
Cerberus was out of Trion’s airspace, their attempt to get revenge on Bertok failed. I had to assume the Rogue 5 leader would be content in knowing Bertok would be in jail for the rest of his life and would have no more issues with the planet. Or with me.
One more reason to get the hell out of here as fast as humanly possible. Reason one? Save myself any future trouble with Cerberus. Reason two? Hide my broken heart. I wasn’t sure which was worse.
Isaak would head back to space. His help was no longer needed. I was free. Able to do whatever I wanted. Isaak wanted to go back to space, to his hunting and running.
His pain was his to deal with. I couldn’t heal him. I couldn’t save him. And I couldn’t convince him that he had a home.
And like it or not, I did too. On Earth. No one said I had to go back to Boston. Maybe I’d find a nice beach somewhere and mind my own damn business. Peace was finally mine, and I would hold onto it.
I was free, but why was I so sad?
One of the Councilors approached me. I bit back a shocked gasp when he kneeled at my feet. “My lady, I am Barron. Your mate, Naron, was my cousin.”
“I’m so sorry.” I had no idea what else to say. This Barron was handsome, young, but not as young as Naron had been. But then, Naron had been a guard, and this male was a Councilor.
“Do not apologize. Today you
have delivered justice for Naron’s murder, saved every member of the High Council, and saved this city from Cerberus.”
Well, when he put it that way… “It wasn’t just me. I had help from Isaak and his family.”
“Ah, High Councilor Henrick and his surviving son.”
“Yes. And Eela.” Isaak’s mother had moved to stand beside me, but she was watching, a strange look in her eye I couldn’t quite figure out. Was this making her happy? Sad? Angry? And what was this, exactly? Why was a Councilor from Trion, an alien I’d never met before, kneeling at my feet?
“Lady Zara, you are brave, intelligent and very beautiful. I would be honored to accept you into my home and offer my protection.”
Oh.
“Your protection?”
He reached for my hand and brought it to his lips. “Yes, and my devotion to your personal well-being and happiness.”
Oh! Shit. Was this guy asking to be my mate? My new Trion mate? What was I supposed to do? Give him a test run? Just say yes? Say no? I had no idea how to react when the bottom line for me was I didn’t want him. My heart and soul already belonged to someone else. Someone who didn’t want a mate. “You are very kind, but--”
“Back away from my mate, Barron.”
Barron didn’t break eye contact with me not for one second. It was like Isaak wasn’t even there, speaking his nonsense. “Gara, you will be honored and protected as my mate. I will adorn you properly and, as your master, see to your every desire.” He kissed the back of my hand again, his lips lingering this time. “Your every pleasure, my lady.”
Why was this guy on his knees? Why wasn’t it Isaak?
Barron was handsome. Built. Earnest. I had no doubt he would do exactly as he claimed. He would take care of me, adorn me, make me have unlimited orgasms.