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  But if she doesn’t want to carry my child…

  The thought is too heartbreaking to contemplate.

  “I… I don’t know.” She runs her hands through her blond hair, agitation clear in her movements. “I’ve never even thought of having a child. My own mother—I’ve told you about her. She was a terrible parent. She resented me all my life, she was cruel, she tore me down constantly. She was selfish, petty, and mean. What if I’m like that? What if I’m a terrible mother too?”

  What?

  I gaze at her, the confusion still evident on my face. How could she possibly think that?

  Nothing about the woman I know—the woman I love—could ever make me believe she would be anything less than a wonderful mother to our child. But I can see the fear and worry plain on her face, and I can feel the emotions rush through her, threatening to overwhelm her.

  Pulling her into my arms, I stroke her hair gently. “It’s not just the mate bond that draws me to you, Rose. I see you—you, even without that. I’ve seen you with the other Terran women, how you’ve comforted them and spoken with them. I’ve seen you with your friend, Emma. I’ve seen the care you have for others that you didn’t even know two weeks ago. And I’ve seen the care you have for me. You’ll be a wonderful mother, I’m certain of it.”

  Even as I tell her this, I feel a small twinge of sadness in my chest. The truth is, I have no way of knowing if we’ll be able to produce a child. The soul bond between us is promising, but there’s no certainty that our species are compatible for reproduction. I can’t know for certain until we reach Kalix, and I can talk to Rose about having one of our best doctors examine her.

  That’s a worry for the future though. And I have hope, however small it might be. We’ve bonded, that’s beyond doubt, and that’s the first step.

  And, I think with some humor, I certainly won’t mind trying as often as it takes. If I must claim my mate a hundred times before her belly swells with my child, I will happily do it.

  She looks up at me, her face softening, and I can see some of the fear leaving it. Her body relaxes in my arms, melting against mine as the tension drains from her, and I feel a rush of satisfaction at the knowledge that I can calm her like this.

  I can bring her peace and comfort. I can care for her and keep her safe.

  The thought of her being truly mine, of living side by side with me, of carrying my child—it sends a rush of desire through me, a fresh need to claim her, to bury myself in her and give us every chance for that future. With a low growl, I bend my head, pressing my lips against hers as I wrap my arms around her, pulling her closer. I feel her indrawn breath as my erection surges between us, my hard cock pressing against her stomach, and she moans softly against my mouth.

  Her hips squirm against mine and I groan. “Gods, woman, you’re going to be the reason I start wearing more clothes. I’m practically indecent every time you’re around me.”

  “And I thought you Kalixians didn’t care for modesty.” She looks up at me through her lashes, her lips still a breath from mine, her eyes twinkling.

  “That doesn’t mean I want my men to come up here and see my cock practically out,” I shoot back, but I can’t stop the smile playing over my lips at her teasing tone. I like her like this.

  I like her happy.

  “Then let’s go back to the room, where you can have it out as much as you want.” Her voice is a breathy whisper against my mouth, and blood rushes through my veins. Briefly, I weigh the merits of taking her right here, up against one of the broad windows, with all of space behind us. I could turn her around and take her from behind, our reflection in the glass in front of me…

  My cock throbs, my body tensing with need, and I consider it strongly for a moment more before sweeping her up into my arms. “It’s back to the room with you,” I tell her, turning away from the large windows with every intent to take her straight back to our quarters and ravish her again.

  But just as we step into the corridor that will lead back to the room, a sound shrieks through the halls that makes me forget every lustful intention I just had.

  There are multiple alarms on the ship, and I recognize this one immediately. Our hacker, Harkan, programmed it to alert us in the event of the worst possible danger.

  It signals invasion.

  The Orkun are here.

  23

  Rose

  I don’t know what the sound piercing the air means, but I know it can’t be good. One look at Tordax’s face confirms my worst fears—we’re under attack. Our bliss has been shattered, and as he sets me carefully down, his expression already hardening into that of a fierce gladiator, I know we won’t be going back to the room right now.

  At least, not together.

  I can see every muscle in his body tense as he goes rigid beside me, his gaze sharpening as he scans the hallway. This isn’t Tordax, my mate, any longer. It’s Tordax the warrior—the soldier—and I can see him listening carefully, trying to ascertain what’s happening.

  I can feel the conflict inside of him. To do his duty, to protect the ship and his men… or to stay at my side and defend me.

  “It’s all right,” I tell him softly, keeping my voice low and swallowing down my fear. “I’ll be all right. Do what you have to do.”

  A sound very much like a snarl escapes him. “I’m not leaving you,” he growls, moving in front of me as if to physically shield me.

  And then something strikes him, and a crackling sound fills the air, like electricity humming all around us. Tordax’s body seizes, and he stumbles. A second shot, and he’s on his knees, swaying.

  There has never been anything more frightening than seeing someone of Tordax’s size, a mighty fighter, brought down to his knees in front of me.

  My heart lurches at the sight, terror for him nearly choking off my breath.

  No, Tordax. God, no. Please.

  I look up, trembling all over, and see several Orkun stomping toward me in formation, one of their warlords leading them. He sneers down at Tordax, who has slumped onto the floor, his muscles still twitching from the electrical pulse they’ve shot him with.

  Shit. If they’re already this deep into the ship, they must’ve taken out other Kalixians as well.

  Have they killed them? Or just disabled them?

  I feel like I might vomit, but I shove the fear and panic away, trying to keep my head clear. I have to think. I have to be smart.

  There’s no chance of my escaping, nowhere for me to run. I’m surrounded on three sides, and behind me there are only windows and space. So when the leader laughs at me, grasping my wrists and yanking me forward, there’s nothing for me to do but follow.

  Every cell in my body screams for me not to leave Tordax, to stay with him. To protect him.

  But I’ve been through this with the Orkun before. Fighting will do nothing but get me hurt or killed. Or worse, get Tordax killed. I can’t let that happen.

  I’m not a warrior, but I’m not stupid, either. I have to outwit my captors, since I can’t outmatch them.

  They’ve rounded up the other women already. They’re all huddling in the mess hall, surrounded by Orkun guards. It’s double the amount of guards that were here when I first arrived weeks ago.

  Fuck. They’ve not only returned, they’ve brought reinforcements.

  Most of the women are crying, while some—like Harper—are glaring at our captors defiantly, but none of them are trying to run or escape. We all know better.

  I have to move fast. I don’t think Tordax was killed by the electrical pulse that hit him, but if I wait too long, it’s possible the Orkun will summarily execute all of the Kalixians. I wouldn’t put it past these monsters. The fact that they haven’t even bothered putting the women in a real holding cell could be a sign that they mean to kill us too.

  Gathering what little remains of my courage as I’m shoved through the door, I turn to the warlord leading the troops.

  “Wait! I’d like to speak to Djool,”
I say firmly, raising my chin.

  He snorts and shoves me again, his leathery skin rough against mine. “Get in there, Terran slut,” he snaps. “You’ll stay here with the other women until we decide what to do with you. Rutting with Kalixian trash. Who would have you anymore?”

  Affixing him with a hard glare, I stiffen my shoulders.

  “Djool was meant to be my husband. He chose me from all the other women.” I try to make it sound as if I think this was a great honor, no matter how disgusted it makes me feel to say it. “I would like to return to that arrangement, if it means not being kept here with the other women.”

  The other captive women in the makeshift holding area are all staring at me, incredulous. Emma looks horrified, like she can’t believe what she just heard. But when I catch Harper’s eye, she gives me a small grin and nods.

  Huh. I never thought I’d have anything in common with the hard-edged ex-CEO, but she gets it.

  That’s good. Hopefully, she can help the others if my plan works.

  My mind is racing. I try to remember the layout of the ship, the things I’ve noticed as I’ve explored it over the past weeks. The things Tordax pointed out to me as we went on walks or mentioned in passing when we talked. I’ll only get one shot at getting us out of this.

  The Orkun leader laughs, his dark eyes glittering. “So you’d rather be a warlord’s bride than stay with your own kind now, eh?” He runs his gaze up and down my body lasciviously. “Maybe your time with the Kalixians has been productive after all. Perhaps you’ve learned a thing or two about pleasing your master.

  “I… I have.” My stomach feels like it might rebel at any moment, but I attempt to inject a seductive tone into my voice. “I would like the chance to show Djool how much I can please him.”

  The grotesque alien considers for a moment, then nods sharply. He grabs my elbow, wrenching me out of the doorway and back into the hall. “Well then, come on. Let’s go see the Great Commander.”

  Djool is waiting in the quarters that Tordax and I shared. It sends a shudder through me to see him there, to look at the bed just behind him and think of being forced to lie there with him instead of my mate.

  My mate.

  If there was any doubt left in my mind, it’s gone. I am Tordax’s, and he is mine. I’ll go with him, to Kalix or to anywhere else, because I can’t imagine my life without him.

  I hate that it took this Orkun invasion to show me exactly how deep the bond between Tordax and me goes, but I feel it inside me like a physical thing. The thought of losing him is painful beyond belief, making my chest ache hollowly.

  If I see him again, I think, the first thing I’m going to do is tell him.

  But that’s a big if.

  First, I have to escape. And so does he.

  Djool licks his drooping lips as I approach, shoved toward him by the lesser warlord.

  “Your bride has asked to come back to you,” the man behind me informs him in a gruff voice. “I thought you might like to hear her beg. She does not wish to remain a captive with the other women. She would rather be yours.”

  “Wise.” Djool eyes me cruelly, licking saliva from the corners of his lips. “We’ll make slaves of them. They lost their chance to become honored brides of the greatest warlords in the universe when they remained with the Kalixians.”

  What, should they have run with you? I think to myself.

  As if any of us had a choice, really. And as if any of us would ever have chosen that option, as frightening as the Kalixians seemed at first. Even before I knew them to be good, honorable people, I would’ve trusted them over the Orkun.

  But I keep my mouth shut, trying to organize my thoughts and formulate some kind of plan.

  “Please,” I say quickly, widening my eyes as I take a step closer to the wart-covered alien before me. “I don’t wish to be a slave. It wasn’t my choice to stay. The Kalixian leader stole me away.”

  Djool sniffs. “He’s rutted with you. I smell it. I won’t have Kalixian slops as my wife. But…” he takes a step forward and prods at my breast, his hand cupping and squeezing. He groans, and nods.

  My skin crawls, my stomach churning violently. I hope with everything in me that he isn’t about to order me stripped again.

  For Tordax, I remind myself. Do whatever it takes to keep your mate safe.

  “But you’ll do as a concubine,” Djool continues. “Perhaps it’s a good thing; the gladiator will have prepared you for what it’s like to lie with a warrior. If you thought they were prodigious…” He laughs and grabs his groin, thrusting his hips toward me. “And after all, perhaps there are some places that he didn’t claim?”

  I look down, trying not to start shaking. “There may be some parts of me unspoiled,” I mutter, bile rising in my throat. How am I even having this conversation?

  “Good.” Djool looks satisfied. “Then we’ll start there. If I’m pleased, perhaps I’ll keep you for myself. If not… well, I have a harem on my home planet that I share with guests. Perhaps that will be a place for you.” He gestures at the other warlord. “Go. I’d like some time alone with my new concubine.”

  The second the warlord lets go of my arm, I react.

  I spin away from Djool, kicking out blindly and catching him squarely between the legs. As he groans in pain, I dart toward the door, running as fast as I can without looking behind me. It’s been left open, thank god, and I hear footsteps behind me as I burst through it into the corridor, but I can’t stop. I can only think of one place to go, one thing that might work.

  It might, at the very least, save Tordax and the other women. And if I’m very lucky, me as well.

  I hear blaster bolts behind me, striking the floor and the walls. I can smell the hot metal burning, and one bolt whizzes past my ear, so close that I feel the skin blister. I stumble forward and almost fall.

  Fuck. They’re so close.

  I can hear Djool calling for more of his men, summoning backup as he chases after me, pure rage in his voice.

  My hard kick injured his balls. But more than that, it injured his pride. And just as I suspected, these vicious conquerors are not the types to let any such slight go unpunished.

  More shouts echo through the corridor, new footsteps joining the ones pounding behind me.

  I scramble around a corner as another bolt narrowly misses me. My heart is beating so hard that my chest squeezes painfully, and a stitch in my side makes me gasp. I’ve never been all that athletic. But now, I’m running for my life.

  Finally, I see it in front of me—the short corridor that separates the back part of the ship from the main deck and control room. In an emergency, if the back part is damaged or boarded, it can manually be cut off from the rest of the ship while preserving the front half and allowing that part to continue on.

  If I can just get there…

  Another blaster bolt hits just behind my heel, shattering the metal of the floor. I feel something hot and sharp pierce my ankle, but I keep running. I can’t stop.

  My feet nearly go out from under me as I hurl myself into the small room just past the corridor. Panting hard, I turn to find Djool and his men entering the corridor behind me, closing in on me.

  I don’t think. I just grab on to a large metal bracket that’s attached to the wall. My heart climbs up into my throat as I use my elbow to smash the glass protecting a large red lever—the one Tordax told me never to touch.

  Then I close my eyes.

  And I pull the lever.

  A blast rocks the ship. I feel something dragging at me, and I open my eyes in time to see a blast door slamming shut at the far end of the corridor, blocking off the part of the ship that the Kalixians and other women are still on—exactly what I hoped would happen.

  Another blast comes, louder than the first, and I’m yanked off my feet as a force like nothing I’ve ever felt before pulls at me.

  The narrow corridor between the two parts of the ship is crumbling, large holes appearing as chunks of the walls
are blown away. The Orkun who were pursuing me are caught in the hallway as it becomes a deathtrap, the deep vacuum of space sucking them out in a flash.

  Just like it will do to me, if I don’t hold on.

  But not all of the Orkun have been sucked away. As the ship continues to split apart, Djool crawls forward with a few of his guards, forcing their way down the corridor in the last seconds before the airlock door in front of me slams down.

  Suddenly, the powerful vacuum that pulled at me so strongly vanishes, cut off by the powerful metal door.

  A half-second later, the remainder of the center corridor explodes, and I stumble as the floor beneath my feet lurches. We’re cut off from the other half entirely, separated and floating in space.

  It worked. I got the Orkun off the main part of the ship. Or enough of them to give the Kalixians and the other women a fighting chance anyway. God, I hope they’re okay.

  The rush of wind in my ears has died, but emergency alarms are blaring all around me, so loud that I can’t hear anything, not even Djool screaming at me.

  The warlord stalks toward me as I sink to the floor, exhaustion and leftover adrenaline overwhelming me. My ankle burns, and pain shoots up through my leg.

  Djool’s hands are rough as he grabs me. I hear shouts, but none of it makes sense. It doesn’t matter, I think dazedly. Most of the Orkun, at least the ones following me, are dead. My plan worked.

  Through the small window in the airlock door, I see that the other half of the ship is shooting away, under its own power. All of the Kalixians are on it, and I hope like hell that if any Orkun are left there, they’ll quickly be destroyed.

  But now I’m stuck with Djool and his remaining comrades.

  My own predicament is brought sharply into relief when Djool hauls me to my feet and drags me down the sleek corridors of this part of the ship. Every steps sends pain shooting through my ankle, and I lose track of where we are until he shoves me into a holding cell like the one I first woke up in. He’s pale with anger, his warty green skin ashen, and he hurls me to the floor, advancing on me as I scramble backward.