Her Mate’s Secret Baby(21)

I stepped closer to Roark. Their talk of an attack made me nervous, but Roark’s huge bulk made me feel safe. As did the presence of a dozen more equally massive and well-armed males. Each of them was at least six foot six with a wicked-looking sword on one hip and some kind of silver, space gun on the other. I had no idea what a Drover was, nor did I care. Not right now. I only worried that Roark might be injured while fighting them.

My mate looked down at me as his men surrounded us in a cocoon of protection. “Don’t worry, mate. The Drovers cannot reach you here.” He looked calm and completely in control. I believed him, the tension in my body retreating to a manageable level. This was his world, not mine. I would have to trust him. But that didn’t mean I would remain ignorant of the threats around us.

“What are Drovers?”

“Come, mate.” He tugged on my hand. “I will explain everything in due time. For now, I will take you to the transport center. You will be safe there, with the doctor, while I deal with these invaders.”

Roark’s command spurred my feet into action. He’d given me soft sandals that sank into the white sand as I walked. It was warm underfoot, but not scorching hot. I took two steps when a bomb went off.

Before I knew what happened, I was on the ground, Roark’s massive frame covering me.

A wall of fire shot out overhead but disappeared in the blink of an eye. I heard screams and men shouting on the edge of camp, near the tall rocks.

I could barely breathe, and was about to protest Roark’s heavy bulk when he lifted off me.

“Are you injured?” He rolled onto his side, his back to the shouts, protecting me with his body as his eyes drifted over me from head to toe. Fierce, intense, concerned. Gone was the gentle lover.

“I’m okay.”

“What is O-K? Letters? You speak to me in letters?” His gaze intensified and he lifted his chin, never taking his eyes from me. “Doctor!”

His roar hurt my ears but I lifted my hand to his cheek to soothe him. Obviously, the translator thing implanted behind our ears didn’t translate American slang. “I’m fine, Roark. I’m not hurt. Just shaken up a bit.”

He lowered his head to mine for a quick kiss as the doctor he’d summoned appeared, her sandals a few inches from my head on the sand. “Councilor?” she asked.

Roark rose to his feet, pulling me with him. The chain swung beneath my loose dress. “Take my mate to the transport station and protect her with your life.”

“Roark, no…” I didn’t want the woman killing herself to protect me. We were in this together now, the two of us. It was Roark and me against the world, against the Drovers. “Give me one of those gun things. I can fight.”

His warriors surrounded us in a loose circle, swords in one hand and guns in the other. He shook his head. “No, mate. You will go with the doctor.”

“What? Why? Where are you going?”

He turned, his scowl fierce and frightening. I would not want to be one of those Drovers right now. “I must make sure my parents transported back to Xalia. If not, I need to ensure they are protected. Once they are secure, I will kill the Drovers.”

So, parents. Drovers. Then me. Okay. Fine. I could deal. I nodded. “Make sure you come back to me.”

“I give you my word, Natalie. I will come to you immediately once the battle is over. But first I must ensure my parents left yesterday, as planned.” Roark placed a small dagger in my hand, pressing the handle tightly to my palm until I wrapped shaking fingers around the hilt. It was small, not much longer than my fingers, and the blade was a bright, brilliant gold. “Take this. Keep it with you at all times.”

I nod as the doctor tugged on my arm and I took a step in her direction. I had a bad feeling about this. Roark turned from me and ordered two of his men to accompany us to the transport station. The two warriors grabbed each of us by the arm and began to run as a second explosion sounded.

I turned back to watch my mate bellow orders into the chaos. He was a mountain among his men, fierce and strong, and completely focused on finding his parents and securing the camp. He turned, scanning the site with a predator’s gaze. That scrutiny flitted over me, through me, past me, is if I were already forgotten.

“Don’t be a baby,” I scolded myself as I ran with the doctor. She was half a head taller than me, and strong. I was running, but she dragged me about every third step because I couldn’t keep up with her in the sand. She may have been used to running on a beach, but I wasn’t. The transport station wasn’t far, but I was winded and scared by the time the doctor and I ducked under the tent flap. The two warriors with us stood at the entrance, weapons out and ready. The noises outside the tent were nothing like when I first arrived. Calmness ensued then. Now, without even being able to see, I knew something was wrong. Fear, panic, death could be heard through the thin walls.