Mating Fever(47)

But they weren’t the only ones. A world had to prove its people wanted peace before the Coalition allowed the weapons and technology used in the Fleet to be shared. Otherwise, the barbarian races would kill each other.

It did no good to save them from the Hive if they were simply going to kill each other regardless.

And then there was Megan’s pack, and the Nexus helmet and squiggly thing still locked away in my quarters. She’d refused to let Doctor Mersan keep it, and he hadn’t argued as she was the one scheduled to rendezvous with the Intelligence Core. He, apparently, was stuck out here, on the Karter. His role in the I.C. was still unclear to me.

I didn’t want to know. I no longer cared what was going on out here in space. I didn’t care about the Hive, or the coming battles. I was done. I’d fought for years. I’d killed until I wasn’t sure the smell of Hive blood would ever wash off my skin. And there were more, younger, eager warriors more than willing to take my place.

Fools, like I’d been, eager to prove their worth to our people, and eager for the riches awarded Atlans who lived long enough to return home. Many did not, and I knew I was lucky. Luckier still to have a mate like Megan. I would take her to Atlan and shower her with gifts, gowns, jewels—weapons—anything she wanted. I just had to get her there first.

I needed to talk to Commander Wulf. He’d mated an Earth female through the brides program. He would show me the lands and homes available on Atlan for returning warriors. All I had to do was choose one and it would be given to me by my people. I’d be wealthy upon my arrival, granted land and title, and more riches than I could spend in three lifetimes.

And it all meant nothing without her. I was nothing without her.

The doctor summoned Captain Mills, who, thank the gods, arrived in just few minutes. He took one look at me and his smile vanished. “What the fuck happened, man? Where’s Megan?”

Doctor Mersan returned to ignoring me. “Take him to Captain Simmons’ private quarters to collect her things.”

Seth froze, his face strangely leeching of color. “Is she dead?”

My beast rumbled, but the doctor answered. “No, she’s in surgery. Get this fucking beast out of here before I lose my patience.”





Chapter Fourteen

Nyko, Planet Atlan, Fifteen hours later



Ten hours ago I’d threatened the life of an Intelligence Core command officer.

I’d survived to tell the tale. But if my mate didn’t arrive safe and well on Atlan, as promised, he would not.

Standing in Commander Karter’s office, I’d stared at the face of the mysterious Doctor Helion on the comm screen, the hint of beast on my features, my voice so deep it sounded like a growl. The beast knew this was the man who had taken our mate, taken her and disappeared. “Where is my mate?”

The Prillon doctor lifted his hand, palm out, as if to appease me even across the vast distances of space. “She’s fine, Warlord. Out of surgery. We removed the implant and she is in a ReGen pod right now, healing.”

Commander Karter held up the Nexus 9 helmet and bag that held the creature’s spinal attachment and I would swear Doctor Helion’s cock hardened at the sight. “I assume you will want this to arrive via secure transport?”

The doctor leaned forward, as if he would touch the items through the screen. “I’ll send coordinates.”

“No.” I stepped between them. “Not until I see Megan.”

The doctor sighed. “She’s in a ReGen pod. I can assure you, she is well. As soon as she is healed, we will transport her directly to your new home on Atlan.” He glanced down, as if reading, then lifted his gaze back to the screen. “Yes. I have the coordinates to the nearest transport station here.”

Which seemed impossible, as I’d just chosen the home a few minutes prior in my meeting with Wulf. “When will she arrive?”

“She needs at least eight hours in the pod. And we haven’t debriefed her yet. Twelve hours.”

Too long. Too damn long. I needed my mate. The nearly constant pain of the cuffs held me in check, but it wasn’t the rage breaking me in pieces, it was my beast’s pain. “Ten. Or I’m coming for you.”

I didn’t care who I had to torture to find him. His agent, the human Tomar, was on this battleship somewhere. There had to be communications technicians who could track this signal. And Commander Karter, Doctor Mersan, the web of I.C. agents was more widespread than I’d ever realized. One of them would break.

The doctor actually laughed, but I did not share his amusement. Commander Karter moved to stand beside me, a grin on his face as well. I failed to see the humor as he spoke. “And this is why you don’t recruit Atlans.”