Mating Fever(30)

By nightfall, this new mystery woman would be transported to the Karter and in Nyko’s bed, soothing his beast. She would wear his mating cuffs and he would be totally, utterly, completely devoted to her. He’d fill her with his cock and his seed, kiss her. She would soothe his beast and he would claim her. Forever.

I knew what being loved and touched by Nyko would be like for her, what I’d be missing. But my time with him had just been a one-night stand. A wild romp caused by battle adrenaline, the remnants of a smoking-hot mating dream making me horny, and his beast riding the edge of Mating Fever. Nothing more. And I was eager for my own mate, perhaps an Atlan Warlord just like the one in my dream. I didn’t need Nyko. Right? I’d survived twenty-eight years without him. I would survive.

Yes, Nyko would be gone, but I’d be matched too, as soon as the doctor pushed the button on her ever-present tablet.

With her free hand, she waved one of her medical wands in front of me. “Is your headache completely gone?”

“Yes.” Head? Fine. Heart? Shit. I never should have touched him. Never. I was deathly afraid that every time my future mate touched me, kissed me, fucked me, I’d see Nyko’s face, Nyko’s lips, Nyko’s intense blue gaze. God, I was in trouble here. I could still smell him on my skin. I wanted him there. Wanted to climb out of this ReGen pod and go rub myself all over him like a cat.

But that was jealousy talking. He belonged to someone else now. And it was only a matter of time before she arrived to claim him.

Doctor Moor leaned back and caught my eye, her brow raised and a very disapproving look on her face. “Doctor Mersan wishes to speak to you now. Alone.”

Mersan. Yes. I knew that name. He was listed as a trusted contact in the Intelligence Core. He knew everything. Him, and the commander, who’d had to agree to have such a dangerous piece of technology walking around on board his ship before I’d been assigned to this mission. Just having me here had been dangerous, a risk to the entire crew. Me. Hive bait.

I nodded and thankfully, there was no pain. The neural implant was no longer making me want to rip my own head off. “Yes. I’ll talk to him now.”

She helped me out of the ReGen pod and walked with me over to an examination chair in a smaller room. Settled there, I was sitting, mostly. Which was fine, because my legs were still a little shaky and I hadn’t figured out how to deal with the giant beast lurking in the room.

Doctor Moor settled me and wrapped her hand around mine where it rested on my thigh. “After you talk to Doctor Mersan, we’ll talk about your future. All right?”

I nodded, but when she tried to release my hand, I held tight to her fingers. If I couldn’t have Nyko, it didn’t really matter who I ended up with. I just needed to get this thing out of my head and get out of the Fleet. I couldn’t do it anymore. I couldn’t fight and scream and kill. I didn’t want to be brave. I never wanted to see another one of those blue-skinned freaks or hear the monotone voice of another Hive Soldier saying the word “we”.

My mother would tell me I was broken, but I didn’t want to do it anymore. I’d hurt and killed and bled enough. I wanted a life. A real life, with family and wine and music concerts and children. Chocolate every night for dessert and hot sex before sleep. I wanted someone to hold me when I closed my eyes and to make me feel like I wasn’t so alone in this shit-hole universe. “Do it, Doctor. Run the brides protocol. Match me. I’m done.”

That earned me a huge smile. “Excellent. I’ll get you settled while you talk to the Doctor Mersan.”

“Good. But I can’t transport directly after the match. I have to make a delivery first.”

She tilted her head, but grinned. “Fine. How long will that take? I think I ought to let your mate know an expected arrival date.”

How long before I could transport to my new mate once I was matched? That was an excellent question. I had to transport to the I.C., meet with Doctor Helion and the Core team, update them on what I saw when we encountered the Nexus Unit, spend several hours in debriefing, go to surgery, get this damn thing out of my head, and heal.

“Five days.”

“That’s acceptable.” Doctor Moor nodded and walked away, humming to herself. I imagined her doing a little hop and a skip on her way to the controls to process me for my matched mate.

As long as I didn’t look at Nyko, I could do this.

Nyko didn’t move, he was like a sentinel nearby. Protecting me still, even though his new Interstellar Bride, his perfect match, could arrive any moment.

My stupid heart didn’t care. I didn’t have the strength to ask him to leave. He wasn’t mine, but he made me feel safe. And I didn’t know Doctor Mersan. Sure, the I.C. said he could be trusted, but I was hurt and tired and heartbroken all at once. I didn’t want to deal with him alone.