They laid down beside me, Nial in front of me and Ander at my back as we all collapsed into exhausted, very satisfied heaps on the bed. They both faced me, their hands on me, petting and soothing me, thanking me and letting me know I was special, precious. Theirs.
I’d never felt so complete, so content in my life.
I didn’t know how long they stroked me in tender silence, but when a loud beep sounded, I jumped like a startled rabbit.
I heard a beep, then another one, then a man’s voice. “My apologies, Prince Nial. An urgent message arrived for you.”
“Speak,” Nial called loudly.
I looked at his face and lifted my hand to trace the sharp angles of his cheek and brow. I stroked the soft, silver skin left by his enemies and allowed my gaze, and my fingertips, to travel farther down his body, over the silver section of his shoulder and down his arm to his hand. He caught mine in his and lifted it to his lips, bestowing a kiss on my palm as we listened to the messenger speak through the communication system. I tried not to cringe as I realized I’d screamed loud enough when I’d come all those times. Surely, every man in the Colony knew what my men had been doing to me just a few minutes ago. Had they been listening outside the door, waiting to activate the message system after we were done?
The thought was mortifying, but I shoved that emotion away. I wouldn’t trade what just happened for anything. Hell, if I had to let a roomful of strangers watch to experience that pleasure again, I would. No question.
“We have urgent news, Prince Nial. If you could come to the command room when it’s… convenient, we can update you.”
“Are we in immediate danger?” Nial asked and I felt Ander tense beside me, his hand on my hip gone suddenly still.
“No, prince. If you’ll come to the—”
“Tell me now,” Nial commanded.
“Very well,” the voice replied. “It’s the Prime. Your father has been killed. His transport was attacked by the Hive on the front. There were no survivors.”
I watched as Nial’s eyes closed a bit too hard, his mouth thin as he clenched his jaw. Ander squeezed my hip, as if in reassurance, but I was not afraid. I was worried at the pain and regret I could feel through my connection with Nial.
“Thank you for the news. Is that all?” Nial asked.
“No. The Prillon high council has declared there will be a Death Match for the right of ascension.”
Ander cursed and Nial opened his eyes with a look that would have made me shiver with fear if it had been directed at me. “When?”
“Tomorrow at dusk.”
“Of course.” Nial looked at me then, our gazes locking as I tried to tell him with my eyes that I was his, that I was on his side no matter what happened. “Have my father’s transport bans been lifted?”
“Yes. We can transport you to the home world whenever you are ready.”
“We’ll be ready shortly.”
“Um, sir, there was one other thing.”
Nial frowned. “Yes?”
“The doctor asked me to remind the princess of her promise to make contact with the Lady Egara on Earth. Word of possible brides has spread and is causing a disturbance among the warriors.”
He looked down at me, a question in his eyes. I smiled and nodded. Of course. Any human woman who turned down a pair of hotties like mine was just plain crazy.
Nial’s grin said he understood exactly why I agreed so readily. “Of course. The princess will make her call prior to our departure tomorrow.”
“Thank you, sir. Comm out.”
Ander pressed himself to my side and rested his head on my shoulder as he looked at Nial. “Are you going to challenge for the throne?”
Nial nodded. “Yes. But I should not have to. It is mine.”
Ander snorted and wrapped an arm around my waist. “Kill them all, Nial. No mercy.”
“I have none to give.”
I didn’t understand everything going on, but I knew what a Death Match usually meant and I felt my eyes tear up with a hundred emotions I could not name as I looked at my mate’s face. I would never tell Nial not to fight. That was not the way of the warrior, but I could worry. And I could offer solace when he returned to me, victorious. For he would emerge the victor. He had to.
I cupped his cheek in my hand. “If you have to kill them all, do it quickly, mate. Then come back to me. You’re mine now.”
He smiled then. “Always.”
I nodded and held back my tears. I belonged to my mates now, body and soul, but once I stopped feeling so damn good, I would find out about Nial’s father, this stupid death battle for the throne, and figure out a way to help Nial defeat his enemies. He was mine, and no one was taking him from me.