Abby’s expression darkened quickly as she looked over her shoulder at Ruk’s still form beneath the translucent cover. “Why isn’t he waking up?”
I moved to her side and wrapped my warm hand around her chilled fingers. “He is Hyperion. The ReGen tech will work, but it hasn’t been tuned to his physiology. They have been perfected for members of the Coalition of Planets. Hyperion is not one of them.”
“Well, I don’t like it. I’m worried.”
“Do not worry. I will have the doctor speak to you again if necessary. I will not allow you to suffer.”
She chuckled at me and looked up with a smile on her face. “You cannot order me to stop worrying. And I know what the doctor said. I don’t need to talk to her again.”
Gently, I pulled her to her feet and wrapped her in my arms. She melted against me, accepting and soft. She’d said she loved me. I didn’t quite believe it, but I wasn’t sure I knew how love would feel. All I knew was that I did not want to live a day without her. Not one fucking day. She was everything. My life. My heart. My reason to hunt. And kill.
Someone had sold our armor technology to the Hive. Someone was organizing the kidnapping and transport of native Hyperions to Hive integration centers. Someone had tried to kill me and as many members of Styx legion as possible with a bomb planted on Styx’s personal ship. Someone had access to the docking bays at Transport Station Zenith.
Someonehad nearly murdered my mate.
Every cell in my body burned with rage at the thought. No matter how long the hunt lasted, I would find this someone and dismember him. Rip his head from his body and leave any others in league with him a message. Go after my mate, me, or my legion and die a brutal, hideous, merciless death.
Head resting on my chest, Abby sighed. “Are you done with all of your legion business?”
“Almost. Are you hungry?”
“Yes.” She looked up at me, desire making her eyes dark. She licked her lips and I nearly groaned. “But not for food.”
I lifted both hands to her head and held her in place for my kiss. I took her lips with a hunger I knew would never fade. She submitted at once, her body soft and pliant as she wrapped her arms around my neck and pressed close.
My cock had hardened the moment I’d seen her. Always, I wanted her.
Unfortunately, the legion had plans for us tonight.
I pulled away and leaned my forehead down to touch hers. The intimacy of the act had made this closeness one of my favorites. “I will pleasure you tonight, mate. Right now, the legion waits for us.”
“What does that mean?”
“Come. You will see.”
Taking her hand I escorted her to the large gathering area in the center of Styx territory.
We walked into the area through a side entrance and Abby stopped dead in her tracks. “What is this?”
At the sound of her voice, complete silence fell over those assembled.
There, on a raised stage stood Styx, Harper and Blade along with the other Enforcers, Silver, Ivar and Kohn. Standing at attention in front of the stage stood two rows made up of five captains and ten lieutenants. My captains. My lieutenants. Behind them, the legion. Men, women and children. Waiting. Low murmurs of talking and laughter stopped but we had both heard the space filled with happy noise.
Standing center stage was our elder, Scribe. The title handed down for generations to the male or female who kept the legions records, served as a personal advisor to Styx and did all of the tattoo work for our people.
“Come, mate. It is time to meet your new family.” I led my mate up onto the stage and walked to stand before Scribe. Abby looked around, clearly confused until I removed my shirt and bared my chest. “Scribe, this is my mate, Abigail. I would have her name mark my flesh.”
Abby gasped. “But I thought you only added members of your legion. I’m not. I mean, I want to be, but I’m not yet. Am I?”
Styx walked forward and removed his shirt as well. “Scribe, please add my new sister, Abigail, to the names of those I care for and protect. I declare Abigail one of us, mate to Cormac, my sister.”
The people behind the captains and lieutenants cheered and shouted encouragement as Scribe found my name on Styx’s body and added Abigail’s next to it in slightly smaller letters. My brother was covered in ink, thousands of names. He didn’t have a lot of room left. I approved, glad the legion was so welcoming to her, but the letters were too small.
Like my brother, my body was covered with names. Styx and our parents who had taken me in when I had no one. Harper and Blade, my brother’s chosen family. The names of the other enforcers and those of the captains and lieutenants who served under me, part of the system of trade and protection that made our legion strong.
One name was missing, had always been missing. Hers.
Abby was wiping away tears when Styx stood. He walked to her and kissed her on the forehead.