“Yes, sir.”
Another blast sounded and Helion looked up as the door opened. There stood an Atlan Warlord in beast mode. Fucker was massive. And angry. He reached for Helion. “Come. Now.”
“Who is that?” I asked, assuming Niklas would have the answer. He generally knew more about the spies and their games than I cared to.
“Warlord Bahre. He’s IC. Part of Helion’s personal strike team.”
Helion was still standing in place, his boots somehow loc
king him into position on the tilting ship. “I’m fine,” he told the Atlan. “Get down there and make sure that Nexus unit makes it back to command.”
The beast was not happy with the snap in Helion’s voice, but he grumbled and did as he was told, disappearing into the corridor. The door slid closed behind him.
Helion looked at the two of us and Ander. “Get off this ship. We will have to reschedule.”
Reschedule? Like we didn’t realize this meeting was over.
With that, he activated his own transport beacon and vanished.
I looked at Niklas. “Get out of here.”
“Ander first.” Niklas looked at Lord Ander, Queen Jessica’s mate, Prime Nial’s best friend and second, and a general in the Coalition Fleet. I agreed. We could not leave him behind. His guards flanked him, but they didn’t give the orders. They would stay and fight, offer the general protection.
“Get the fuck out of here, Ander,” Niklas ordered.
Ander scowled but gave us a nod and tapped his transport beacon, his body partially translucent as a massive explosion rocked the ship. All at once the inner walls crumpled, the pressure in my ears was instant and excruciating as the air was sucked out of the cargo hold, taking Niklas and I with it.
10
Lucy, Personal Quarters, The Colony
“Honey, wake up.”
I sniffed and rubbed my cheek into the soft pillow. It smelled like Sam, and I smiled, remembering all we’d done the night before. He might be Nik’s second, but he was impressive himself. Everything about him, right down to his cock. I ached in ways and places I’d never expected. Pulling the blankets around my shoulders, I rolled over, reached for Nik, who also had an impressive cock and knew how to use it, but found nothing but an empty bed.
“Lucy.”
The deep voice didn’t belong to either Sam or Nik. My eyes flew open. I was stunned there was another guy in my room, a guy who did not belong here, who was definitely not mine.
Kneeling by my bed was Jessica, her face close, our noses nearly touching. With her was Ander, who stood tall beside her, arms crossed. He was in the same black battle armor Sam usually wore. His face was smeared with dirt and… was that dried blood?
I tugged the bedding up higher to ensure my nakedness was covered. “What’s up?”
“Well, we… um…” Jessica looked to me, then away. She bit her lip, and tears filled her eyes. Then she took a deep breath and met my gaze. “Something’s happened. Let’s get you dressed and we’ll tell you.”
I looked up at Ander, whose jaw clenched as if he were trying to break rocks with his back molars. “Where are Nik and Sam?”
“That’s what we want to talk about. Clothes first,” she said. Her voice was so calm. Soothing, even.
“Talk now,” I countered.
Ander nodded, although somewhat grudgingly.
“Something’s happened,” she said again. “Ander was with Sam and Nik today. They had that meeting.”
I pushed up on my elbow, careful to keep myself covered. “The one with the guy from IC. They told me about it, at least what they could. The follow-up from the one yesterday. That’s why they left early.”
Jessica glanced at the floor, then back at me. “They were all at the meeting, and their ship was attacked. I don’t know the details, but the Hive… well—”