“Go to yellow alert,” Wulf ordered the command deck crew. “When the unknowns are within a quarter of a light-year, go to battle stations.” The once-silent bridge erupted into controlled and smoothly executed activity. Mel sensed no panic.
While the bridge crew went about their duties, Mel watched over Wulf’s shoulder as he quickly scrolled though the star charts in their immediate vicinity. He was looking for something, something specific. She wanted to know what it was.
And, there it was. She felt the small whirl of excitement, then satisfaction, as it crossed his mind, then was gone. Darn it. He’d shuttered his mind. And pretty damn effectively for someone not used to doing so.
But he had done so too late. Mel knew what he’d seen. The point on the chart was that niggling memory she couldn’t recall earlier. And she knew what Wulf intended to do since it was what she would’ve done. The plan would work. It would be the difference between surviving the upcoming confrontation with the unknown ships heading toward them and sure death. And, she was the one to execute the plan. While Wulf knew that, she sensed, he had instantly rejected it. He would have to learn to stop his knee-jerk reaction of protecting her sooner or later.
Mel was drawn from her thoughts as Wulf asked her a question. “So, Melina mine, do you think these unknowns are part of the rebel plan?” Good question. “Maybe. I’m keeping my options open.”
The bogies could be mercenaries hired by the rebels on Cejuru Prime. But the bogies’ presence was too coincidental, coming right after she and Wulf had destroyed the Antarean raiding party on Obam IV.
She continued, “It could be the Antareans. They don’t like their ships being blown up and their plans spoiled. Before we nailed their asses, the attackers of Obam IV could have put out a call to one of their allies. Most likely the Erians, who’ve have been known to scavenge, or pirate, old Alliance military equipment. The Erians also have the knowledge of how to fake Alliance military codes—they use fake IDs when they are hijacking ships in the space lanes.”
“The codes didn’t fool you,” Wulf said softly, pride glowing in his eyes. “Why?”
“Just a gut feeling,” she said, “along with the knowledge that the Ursa solar system likes to police its own space—and only calls for help in extraordinary circumstances.
Being on the edge of the Cygnus-Orion spiral has taught them to become more self-reliant than the solar systems in the more densely populated parts of the spiral.”
“So, it was an educated gut feeling?”
“Yeah. Wulf—Donte and Regin,”she frowned, “didn’t—couldn’t—sabotage the shield array. So—if the unknown ships are part of a rebel plot—then their rebel bosses sent them on a suicide mission, don’t you agree?”
“Yes.” Wulf smiled, grimly. “In the rebel leaders’ minds, Regin and Donte would be martyrs to the cause.”
“Exactly,” Mel said. “I’m betting they didn’t sign on for that. Think they might answer some questions now?”
Wulf showed his teeth in a fearsome smile. “We can only try, gemate lubha. ”
* * * *
Questioning the two rebels got them nothing but the sense the two were surprised at hearing the shields were sabotaged. It also became clear they were more afraid of the rebel leaders than of their own deaths.
Now more than ever, Mel wanted to get to the bottom of the real reason behind the rebel movement. Donte and Regin might be purist fanatics, and even that was doubtful since neither of them were as adamant about their cause as Prolow and Ullyn had been, but the leaders of the rebellion need not be. They could have far more base reasons; she was betting on power or money—or both.
Leaning against the wall outside of the containment unit, Mel sighed. “Well, that was useless.”
“It was a good idea,” Wulf leaned forward to brush some hair off her face, then gently cupped her jaw. “You look tired. Go, grab something to eat, then rest.” Mel covered his hand and brought it to her mouth and kissed his palm. “What about you? Huw and Iolyn can handle things until we go to red alert. This might be the last quality time we have alone until we get to Tooh 10.”
His eyes smiled at her. “You believe we’ll make it through this, Melina mine?”
“Absolutely,” she grinned. “After all, we are the first battle-mate pair in hundreds of years, right? Who would want to mess with us?”
Wulf chuckled. “Are you beginning to believe the legends also?”
“No. It’s just that we both know how to kick ass.”
Wulf threw back his head and laughed. Mel smiled.
“So,” she whispered as she cradled his hand against her jaw, “would my gemat like to come back to our quarters, take an, um, shower, eat and then rest on the bed with his gemate?”
Wulf leaned in more closely and brushed kisses over her forehead, cheeks, nose and then lips. “He would.”
Chapter Fourteen
Ten standard hours later
Wulf woke with a smile on his lips; memories of the best sex he’d ever experienced had him reaching for Melina in the hopes of revisiting that sexual bliss. He turned and found her gone. The depression where she’d lain was cool to the touch. He sought to touch her mind and found it closed off with thick and impenetrable shields. Sitting up, he checked the time. He’d been asleep for ten standard hours. He’d never slept so deeply or long—ever—while on board ship. Especially not under a yellow alert. He shook his head.
The combination of the warm shower, the sex, the food, and then even more sex was better than any medication ever prescribed for sleeplessness.
He was vexed Melina had blocked her mind again. He thought after all they had shared she would have learned not to cut him off like this. Obviously, she had yet to realize how important it was to remain open to her bonded mate. The mental walls were unacceptable, especially now that they’d bonded fully. He needed to know where—and how—she was at all times, or he wouldn’t take responsibility for his resulting unstable disposition.
Yes, that’s the way to present it to her. She needed to let him in for the safety of the crew and all others. That is something she would understand—the duty to do whatever it took to protect others. Now, all he had to do was find her and explain her responsibilities to her mate. One or the other of his brothers would know where she was.
Hitting the com unit by his bed, he spoke, “Bridge, this is Wulf. Status and whereabouts of Captain Melina.”
“Wulf,” Iolyn spoke over the link. His brother’s voice seemed strained. Any remaining lethargy from just waking disappeared at the disquiet in Iolyn’s voice. “We expected you to sleep longer. Melina said you were particularly tired.”
“Where is she, brother?” Wulf growled. He would have to explain to his brothers that they were not to cover for Melina. It was their duty as well as his to protect her.
“Um, well, you see—”
“Where. Is. She?” Wulf asked, forcing an icy calm he didn’t feel into his words.
“She’s outside the ship with Huw,” Iolyn breathed out in a rush, then added, “—
fixing the shields.”
“What?” So many emotions hit Wulf at once that he’d be hard pressed to single out any particular one. But of them all, anger, fear and hurt churned his gut the most. He took a deep calming breath in an attempt to control the emotions before they controlled him.
“Why didn’t Melina speak to me about this?” Wulf asked his brother.
“You’d have to ask her that, brother,” Iolyn replied.
“I will—as soon as I pull her back into the ship.” Wulf had a sneaking suspicion the answer to that question would be very important to the future of their relationship.
He surged to his feet and headed for the door before he realized he was naked.
Changing direction, he went into his closet and grabbed some clothes, which he pulled on as he left the bedroom, barely remembering to pick up his personal com-unit. “What’s the Galanti’ s current position?”
He was afraid he knew.
As he hit the door leading from his quarters to the corridor, he had his pants on, only partially closed, and was pulling on his shirt.
“An abandoned Volusian space dock orbiting the fourth planet of the star RC888.” Damn her. She’d snuck into his head, figured out his plans, then distracted him with shower-sex, food and more sex. He’d underestimated her. He thought he’d mentally blocked his plans from her. For her own protection, of course—not that she would view it in that light.
He stopped suddenly, swearing viciously. That was the crux of the matter and the answer to the question he’d posed to Iolyn. Melina had been afraid he wouldn’t listen to her, that he’d say “no” to her doing the space walk to make repairs. And, to be honest, she would’ve been correct. His reasons for wanting to do the job himself were excellent and might have convinced her, but she hadn’t trusted him enough to confront him and argue the matter.
“Ansu bhau,” he swore once more, angry at her for her lack of trust and at himself for causing her to feel that way. He signaled Iolyn. “I’m on my way to the Extra-Vehicular Inspection staging area. Connect me to the EVI team’s com-units so that I can monitor their communications.”