“Forsian.” Dr. Helion glanced from me to Sambor, then Ander. “In addition to that, he has full Hive integrations. That’s why you three are here.” His gaze lingered on Ander’s bulk next to me, then on Sambor’s weapon. I, too, could fight like a demon if provoked. I’d thought we were here for diplomatic reasons. To negotiate some kind of deal.
Apparently we were here to be Helion’s muscle against a hybrid Forsian cyborg.
Fuck. Not a fight I wanted to be in. I had much more pleasurable things I could be doing.
“So they eluded you but agreed when Queen Jessica asked for her help?” I used years of practice to keep my amusement from showing in my expression. The idea that a human female had irritated the most pragmatic and ruthless intelligence operative I knew entertained me, despite the fact that her mate was a scary bastard from Rogue 5.
Helion scowled.
Ander ran a hand over the back of his neck. “Exactly. I spoke to my mate, who spoke to Lady Rone.”
I sorted through names. “Rachel? Governor Maxim’s mate?”
Ander nodded. “Yes. She knew Gwen before. They were friends during Gwen’s time on The Colony before she and her mate went rogue.”
“She went rogue?”
“I told you, she and that Forsian of hers wiped out a group of Hive, including a Nexus unit, stole a ship, and haven’t been seen since,” Helion snapped.
“She sounds fucking amazing to me,” Sambor offered, and I knew he was purposely irritating Helion. We had so few opportunities to do so.
“The human will not respond to my request for information or assistance,” Helion complained.
“Why not? Did you make her angry? Betray her trust?” I looked at Ander, wide-eyed, knowing Helion would never answer such a question.
Ander gave me a look, then sighed. “The females do not trust easily. And getting my mate involved”—he gave Helion a dark look—“during her birthing day celebrations was the fastest way I could think of to get this hunt of yours over with.”
“We need her. I need to know what she knows. What she can do.” Helion, as usual, was completely unapologetic.
Ander sighed and shrugged as if to say, See what I mean? Aloud he asked me and Sambor, “Do you wish to spend time with Helion and his Hive Nexus unit for a third day in a row?”
I didn’t respond because I knew it was rhetorical. None of us wanted to be here when we had warm, willing females waiting for us back on Prillon Prime.
“Trust me, Lord Maxim is not thrilled to have his mate involved in issues like this, but Lady Rone was able to get Gwen to come here. If, and I mean if, here was a cargo ship in Sector 437, protected by Commander Karter’s battlegroup, where there was no chance Helion would try to capture her as well.”
Helion’s clenched jaw was all the indication I needed to know that had been his hope. It seemed the Earth female was smart—or very familiar with the IC commander.
“Girl talk, I’ve heard it’s called,” Helion replied as if it was sour in his mouth.
“You are speaking of my mate and your queen. She and Lady Rone achieved overnight what you have yet to accomplish. Tread carefully, Doctor.” Lord Ander spoke quietly, but his words carried the weight not just of Queen Jessica’s mate, but of a warrior who was battle scarred and very protective of his female, as all Prillon warriors should be. And he was here with this asshole rather than at the palace with her.
As usual fo
r the doctor, he did not apologize but continued on. “The human females have disproportionately affected this war.” The speed of his pacing increased. “They seem uniquely adaptable and highly creative. Their minds can handle the effects of the Hive implants and still retain control. It’s remarkable. The brain bleeds are a problem, but with time I’m sure I can solve that obstacle. I simply need more of the females to work with.”
The doctor was obviously thinking aloud. Still I felt my ire rise at the thought of the doctor placing Hive implants in any human’s brain, especially my Lucy’s. “Don’t even think about it, Helion.”
I spoke for all Earth females, not just mine.
Sambor’s rage rivaled my own, the psychic link between our collars making me speak a bit more forcefully than I had intended. I did not lose my composure. Ever.
Helion stopped midstep and looked up at me with surprise. When his gaze dropped to the mating collar around my neck, he sighed. “Fuck. Not you, too.”
Ander shocked me by chuckling. I had never heard the scarred male laugh.
“A human?” Helion asked.
“Yes.”