Taking a position behind the door, she waited.
Wulf was a silent, strong presence in her mind. His connection helped her regulate her breathing as he pushed her body to mimic his and produce the hormones that would help her fight to survive. The battle-mate connection was the main reason the Prime had succeeded as a race for so long; it would be a shame to lose the genetics that had evolved over eons because of a lack of female mates for Prime warriors.
The fanatical bastard coming to kill her was a brainwashed idiot, too stupid to live.
She would be happy to send him on his way.
The footsteps that had only been a mere echo in her head now sounded loudly. It wouldn’t be much longer.
Pumped for action, she smiled, a wicked twist to her lips. “You’re messing with the wrong Prime gemate, asshole,” she whispered. She gloried in the pure, undiluted and invigorating rage that filled her mind and body.
“Confirming only one on auditory senses, Wulf. Only one.”
“Go for the kill. No messing around. You are not up to your usual strength.
Whatever they gave you was strong. Do not hesitate. Go for the kill.”
“I never mess around.” She sent him a mental snort. “And don’t worry so much, gemat . No one will take me from you.”
“I’m not worried, gemate . I just don’t like it when you get bruised. I was so counting on our late-night date.”
Mel smiled. As was she. Nothing and no one, especially not the crazy bastard coming for her, would keep her from her first ball—and the celebratory sex later.
The threatening footsteps stopped outside the door.
Silence. Absolute silence settled over the spa once more. It was as if she and the man breathing his hatred outside the door to her hiding place were the only two living beings in the galaxy.
The absolute quiet ruled for long seconds and then into minutes.
The drug fought with her body’s adrenal glands for supremacy. Wulf’s mind-body connection wouldn’t allow her body to succumb. He poured his increasing rage across their connection. He was practically feral now, his low, unceasing growls—the raging ones that made her head hurt and her skin itch—reverberated in her head, forcing her body into survival readiness when her brain only wanted to shut down.
“He’s testing to see if the drug has knocked you out. Stay alert, Melina. That’s an order!”
“I know what he’s doing. I won’t let him win.”
She’d lost the feeling to her feet once again. Damn, the drug was potent. Good news was she could still feel her fingers and the makeshift weapon she held. Her hands were steady and her head was in the game. She wanted to move, to stamp her feet, but couldn’t allow herself to do so. He’d hear and she’d lose her advantage. He thought she was unconscious, helpless. He’d have an unpleasant surprise.
Finally, the door slid open.
A large, booted foot stepped into the room. The body belonging to it followed slowly. Long legs gave her an estimate of where she should aim her attack. She was going for the most blood loss that she could. The carotid would be a nice target and meet Wulf’s requirement of going for the kill.
She held her breath as he stepped fully into the room. His head turned away from her position, his gaze fixed where he’d thought she’d be.
Stupid amateur fanatic. Never enter a room without scanning. Not military-trained, then. Another advantage on her side.
As he entered, she thrust the sharp point of the crystal stem at his neck. She’d read him correctly as humanoid. So the carotid was where it should be. He was definitely the right coloring and size for a Prime male, but softer. Not a warrior. Another advantage for her.
Her movement attracted his attention and he turned to grab her. She automatically adjusted and kept her forward motion. Her weapon connected with the target; she dragged the sharp crystal across his artery. Blood spurted, hitting her and covering a wide arcing area. Definitely arterial spray.
She’d hit it perfectly, but he kept coming.
Why in the hell didn’t he drop?
Stumbling, she managed to get around him into the hallway. He grabbed the left sleeve of her robe and hung on. She swiped the point of the crystal across the back of his hand. He roared in pain and threw a lucky punch that hit her in the jaw.
She fell back against the wall opposite the doorway of the room she’d just left. Still spraying blood, but with a lesser force, he dropped to the floor. Her would-be assassin now attempted to hold in the blood surging from his body. The blood pulsed out of the jagged wound more slowly now as his heart shut down.
If she could’ve caught her breath, found her voice, she would’ve told him that it was a lost cause. Nothing short of immediate emergency surgery and lots of units of blood could save him now.
His furious gaze focused on her as the life bled out of him. His mouth contorted into snarl, but no sounds ever made it past his lips. He slumped to the floor. Dead.
With a moaning sigh, Mel slid to the floor, landing on her butt and leaning against the wall. She focused her bleary gaze on his now sightless one. She’d won; he’d lost.
The sound of thudding footsteps and Wulf’s much-beloved roar sounded in her ears as she finally allowed the drug do what it was designed for and put her to sleep.
* * * *
On the way from the Tooh seaport to the spa
“Can’t this vehicle go any faster?” Wulf rasped, as they raced from the marina to the resort spa.
He’d monitored Melina’s physical and mental status ever since her telepathic cry for help. She was weaker now than before. Even the battle-mate connection wouldn’t be able to keep her conscious much longer.
And the danger was real and imminent. He read through their link that the assassin was close to finding her hiding place.
His body grew cold at the evil he sensed. His mate had downplayed the danger to herself with her usual courage. But it was there.
“Something has to be done about the rebels,” he growled. “We can no longer discount their movement. They have money and inside connections. They’ll not stop until they kill us and anyone who supports the policy to reach out to other humanoid races.”
“Maren understands this, Wulf,” Huw said from the rear seat. “Father and the Council will be made to understand. A report from you and Melina will help, since you’ve had to battle the fanatics personally. With your battle-mate connection fully formed, you have touched their minds. This will hold much sway with the Council.”
“And serve to endanger my mate even more. They will stop at nothing to kill the only known battle-mate.”
His brothers’ grim expressions proved the truth of his conclusions. Melina would be the prime target of the fanatical rebels. Never mind that she was of the pure blood they professed to desire; she was also the symbol of the alliance with the rest of the galaxy.
“Dammit, drive faster, Iolyn.”
“Hold on, Wulf,” Iolyn said. “We’re almost there. We’ll beat Maren and the Alliance Military unit by minutes.”
“She doesn’t have minutes.” Wulf stiffened. “He’s attacking now!” He roared with frustrated anger and pounded his fist against the dashboard of the ground transport.
“What’s happening?” Huw shouted, his hand grasping Wulf’s shoulder.
“Melina has stabbed him in the carotid with a wine glass stem,” rasped out Wulf.
“He’s pursuing—Damn, he hit her … he’s weakening, falling, bleeding out.” Exhaling loudly, he relaxed under Huw’s grasping fingers, his shoulders slumping as the tension seeped out of his body. “He’s dead. The immediate danger has passed. My brave gemate has once again shown what a warrior she is.”
Wulf’s body trembled with relief and the aftermath of the overwhelming fear. He vowed that never again would this be allowed to happen. He’d never let her out of his sight again.
“Ansu bhau,” he swore. “I should’ve been with her.” Huw sighed and patted his brother’s shoulder. “Melina wouldn’t like it if you hovered.”
“Tough,” he growled. “She can learn to live with it.”
“Melina?” Iolyn urged. “How is she?”
“The drug has taken effect. She wasn’t successful in purging all of it from her system.” Wulf shook off post-adrenaline exhaustion. “She’s unconscious. But fine.” Iolyn pulled the vehicle into the drive of the building holding the spa. Sirens from the military police could be heard in the distance.
Wulf was out of the vehicle before it had rocked to a stop. Huw and Iolyn were on his heels as he shoved into the building, roaring Melina’s name even though he knew she was unconscious. He unerringly found his way to where she’d fallen, following the mental map she’d provided of the spa.
She lay in a heap on the cold, white marble floor, her robe gaped to display an overly large amount of creamy white skin.
“Avert your eyes, brothers,” he snarled. He knelt by her side and pulled the lapels of the robe over her cleavage, then closed the garment about her legs.
With gentle fingers he examined the bruise on her face. She looked so small and delicate. The fact that she had once again defeated a male larger and stronger than she amazed and humbled him.
“But, dammit she shouldn’t have to,” muttered Wulf under his breath.