Mia slammed her hand against the door controls once more, useless anger churning inside her. She could hear the rattle of Vek’s breath, and she wanted to scream.

All of a sudden, the door beeped and opened.

“Thank you, Ryan,” she murmured. Beyond the door was like another world. The lush greenery and tangled vegetation gave way to metal walls and a floor in a dull, dark gray. Galen led them inside, the door sliding closed behind them.

Mia took in the rows of workbenches, tools, crates, and cages. Toward the back of the cavernous space, sat rows of hydroponic gardens, with plants floating in fluid underneath strings of bright lights.

Through another large doorway, she saw what she’d hoped to find.

Shuttles.

Mia broke into a jog. “Through here.” There were three ships, but two lay in pieces, with engine parts scattered beside them. It looked like someone was rebuilding them.

The third shuttle had a very different design. It was made of steel and a glass-like substance, in graceful, elegant lines. It had a small dome in the center, reminiscent of the large one in the wreck.

“I’ve never seen a ship like this,” Galen said.

“It’s in good condition.” Mia ran her hand along the side of the hull. There were wear marks, but someone had cared for it. She studied the intact engines. “It is old, though.”

“It looks like the same design as the larger ship,” Harper noted.

Mia moved toward the shuttle door and frowned. There was no control panel that she could see, just the small, engraved image of some sort of flower on the side.

“It’ll be risky to fly out over the desert,” Galen said.

She met his gaze. “It’s worth it. Besides, we’ll head straight back to Kor Magna, and I don’t care if this shuttle is falling apart by the time we get there, just as long as we get Vek back to the healers.”

Galen nodded.

Suddenly, a banging echoed through the space. They all swiveled and looked back at the door they’d come through. Someone was trying to get in.

“Mia, can you fly it?” Galen asked.

Mia looked over to where Thorin was holding Vek’s limp form. He was so still and covered in blood. The cloak hid his legs, but the image of how badly they were injured had already been burned into her brain.

“Yes,” she said. “I can fly it.”

Galen nodded. “Then let’s get aboard.”

Mia turned back to the ship. How the hell was she going to open it, let alone fly it? Every single insecurity she’d ever had poured over her in a rush. She wasn’t smart enough, pretty enough, bold enough, or strong enough. But Vek, the man she was in love with, was depending on her.

She wouldn’t fail him.

She pressed a hand to the metal of the door, trying to think where to start to open it. She felt a faint tingle under her palm and a vague sensation of being linked to the ship.

The door started to lower, and Mia leaped back. She pressed her palm to her thigh and fought back a wave of nausea. The sensation reminded her far too much about being plugged in to Catalyst’s system. A ramp extended out of the shuttle.

“How did you do that?” Harper asked.

“No idea.” Mia’s heart knocked hard in her chest. “But let’s go.”

They all raced up the ramp and into the spacious shuttle. The main cabin contained several rows of elegantly shaped chairs, designed for beings even larger than Thorin. Everything was decorated in shades of cream and green. Mia continued to the cockpit, where two oversized pilots’ chairs sat, facing a round bubble of glass.

“Lie him down here on the floor.” Galen’s voice. “Find some new bandages. We need to put more pressure on those wounds.”

Mia blocked the bustle and conversation out, and leaned over the sleek, cream console. She touched the strange and foreign controls and buttons, but nothing she tried seemed to do anything.

“Mia.” Harper leaned over her shoulder. “Look.”

She peered through the glass at several Nerium and Srinar guards rushing in to the space. Laser fire hit the bubble, and made her flinch. Thankfully, the blasts reflected harmlessly off the ship.

“Can you retract the ramp?” Harper asked.

“No.” She didn’t even know how she had opened it.

Harper pulled her swords. “I’ll make sure no one comes aboard.”

Mia kept trying every combination of controls she could think of. Nothing was working. She slammed a fist against the console in frustration, tears blurring her eyes.

Dammit. Why couldn’t she work this out?

She glanced behind her, and saw Vek flat on the floor, blood pooling beneath his body. And nothing in this damn shuttle was operational.

Suddenly, shouts sounded outside the shuttle. Through the glass, Mia watched a whirling blur come into view, followed by crossbow bolts slamming into the guards. She spotted Ryan’s black hair flaring out behind her, as she ducked and weaved across the maintenance bay. Neve and Corsair followed closely.

“Harper!” Mia shouted. “The others are here.”

“Roger that,” Harper called back.

Seconds later, Ryan sprinted inside, Corsair right behind her.

“Where’s Neve?” Galen asked.

“Right behind us.” Corsair swiveled.

Mia shifted and saw Neve standing at the bottom of the ramp.

“Come on!” Corsair waved his hand.

Neve didn’t head up the ramp. The woman lifted her hand, saluted, then spun and disappeared back into the maintenance bay. Mia saw her fighting her way back through the guards. What the hell was she doing?

Corsair cursed and took a step out on the ramp, but Galen gripped the man’s shoulder. “There’s no time.”

“We can’t leave her,” Mia cried.

“We’re losing him,” Raiden called out.

Mia’s heart lodged in her throat. Vek. She stared at the controls again. Neve had made her choice, and Mia would worry about her later. Right now, Vek needed help.

Mia blew out a breath and cleared her mind. She imagined she was back with Vek in that cave, his hard, warm body pressed to hers, his lips traveling over her skin. She let her hands move over the controls once more, trying to get something to work.

Ryan appeared beside her. “Let me see if I can help.” She sat down in the copilot’s chair beside Mia.

Together, the women quickly worked side-by-side.

“These are the basic controls,” Ryan said, pointing at the console.

Mia swallowed. “The higher-level functions can only be accessed here.” She pointed to a large spike on the console.

Ryan winced. “It looks like whoever designed the ship physically spiked into the system to fly the ship. They must have had some way to physically link in.”

Mia realized she was rubbing at the scar at her temple. Her own reminder of physically linking in. “Can we fly it without doing that?”

“I think so.” Ryan’s hands danced over the controls. “We have no idea what plugging directly into an unknown alien system could do to us.”

The door closed and the ramp retracted. Damn, Ryan was a virtuoso, and a second later, the console flared to life, the shuttle vibrating as the engines engaged.

Ryan grinned at her. “Just don’t ask me to fly the thing. That’s all you.”

“Deal.” Mia quickly determined the ship’s basic controls. Hold on, Vek. “Everyone hold on to something, or strap in. This might be a little bumpy.” She clicked her own harness into place. It was far too big, but it was better than nothing.

As she pushed her palm against a control, the shuttle rose off the ground, the wings shaking, but thankfully not hitting anything. Mia stared straight ahead and focused on flying. She turned the shuttle to aim at the external doors at the end of the maintenance bay.

Ryan touched the co-pilot controls. “Give me a sec. There.” The doors started to retract.

Mia sent the ship forward. Too fast. The left wing scraped against the wall, jerking the shuttle. She heard someone stumble and grunt. “Sorry,” she called, distractedly.

But a moment later, they shot out of the doors and were soaring out over the mountains. The beige sands of the desert lay ahead of them.

“Woo-hoo, Mia.” Ryan leaned over and clapped her on the shoulder. “Nice work!”

“Thanks for the help.” Mia stared straight ahead, her muscles locked tight as she concentrated on flying the ship. “Now, let me fly this thing.” She only had the most basic of controls, but it would have to do.

She didn’t look back at Vek, but in her head, she could picture his pale face, his blood-smeared skin and the terrible wounds. She would get him back to the House of Galen.

She urged more speed from the ship. They hit turbulence, the ship vibrating. The left wing tipped down and Mia overcorrected and the right wing tipped down. They wobbled from side to side, gladiators grumbling, before she smoothed them out the best she could. She couldn’t risk going any faster, or she might lose control of the entire ship.

The minutes ticked by, and she kept her hands tight on the controls.

“His vitals are destabilizing,” Harper yelled. “More pressure, Raiden.”

“His heart’s giving up,” Galen said.

Mia’s heart lodged in her throat. “Keep an eye on the controls.” She unclipped and leaped out of her chair.

“What?” Ryan squeaked. “Mia, no—”

“I’ll be back.” She raced to Vek’s side. The others parted and let her close.

God, his skin was so pale. She rubbed her thumb over his lips and cupped his jaw. “I’m here, Vek. I need you to stay with me. Hold on a little longer.” Please.

She pressed her hand to his chest. His normally strong heartbeat was just a flutter. Tears burned her eyes.

“I can’t lose you, babe.” She started humming an old Scottish folk song, before softly crooning the lyrics. It recalled the escape of a prince after his loss in a battle. The shuttle fell silent as she sang.

“His heartbeat is steadier,” Galen said. “Keep singing, Mia.”

She moved into another song, one of her own. She’d written it a few weeks ago, about taking a long journey, holding the hands of friends. Of carrying on, even when she was weary. Of filling the day with joy and happiness, to carry her through the darkness. Of opening her heart, and letting love free.

Mia let the last note linger, then pressed a kiss to Vek’s lips.

“You have an amazing gift,” Thorin murmured.

“His pulse is steadier and his color is better,” Harper said.

An alarm sounded, filling the cockpit.

“Oh, God,” Ryan cried. “Mia, I need you up here!”

Mia hurried back to the pilot’s chair. Kor Magna lay on the horizon like a glittering jewel. The distinctive walls of the arena were just visible.

“What’s wrong?”

“We’re losing altitude.” Ryan’s dark eyes were wide. “Nothing I’ve done is bringing us back up.”

Mia’s gut clenched. She touched the controls but saw they’d lost some of the systems. The engines weren’t responding and they were slowly gliding downward. She suspected the desert was wreaking havoc on the old ship and her engines.

The pilot in her did the mental calculations. They’d crash into the sand before they reached the city.

Then she heard Raiden’s urgent tone. “His heart just stopped.”

No! Mia swiveled to look back.

Ryan urged her forward. “Just focus on flying, Mia. That’s the best way to help him now.”

Mia’s jaw locked and she nodded, fighting back the tears blurring her eyes.

“Out of my way.” Harper’s voice. “I need to do CPR.”

Mia closed her eyes for a second. No. She had to save Vek. She opened her eyes and stared at the spike on the console. Her throat tightened. Vek was everything to her, and so were her new friends. He’d waded back into his worst fear to save her and she sure as hell would do the same for him.

She sucked in a breath and slammed her hand down on the spike.

“Mia!” Ryan cried.

The pain was sharp, but then faded as information poured into Mia’s head. Again, she felt that connection to the ship. It was stronger than before and in her head, she imagined the shuttle rising up.

The ship obeyed. She searched out where the engines were damaged and set the system to work on containing the problem.

“What the—?” Ryan stared at her.

Mia felt a sense of calm wash over her. She was getting Vek to Medical, whatever it took. Mentally, she turned the shuttle, aiming for the heart of the city.

“We got him back,” Harper called out.

Mia felt a spurt of relief. “Where should I land?”

“The arena.” Galen appeared at her shoulder.

Mia nodded. She adjusted course and they cruised in. Then she felt a sharp pain in her head. She winced, just as the ship listed to one side.

“We just lost an engine,” Ryan said, her head craned to look out the window.

Another pain and Mia felt the second engine faltering. “I’m losing the final engine.” She could see the flames in her head. “Trying to fix the damage.” But she felt her control of the ship slipping away. “I’m losing control!”

The ship started to shudder.

A muscle ticked in Galen’s jaw. “Mia, I need you to patch through a comm call for me.”

A wave of nausea washed through Mia and she swallowed it back. God, they were going to crash into the homes of poor, innocent people. “Where to?”

“The Dark Nebula Casino.”

Mia nodded and mentally placed the call. After a minute that felt like an hour, a woman’s face appeared on the console screen. She was stunning, with perfect features, and pink-and-blonde hair swept up in an elegant twist. She had a smiling, pleasant look on her face.

“Welcome to the Dark Nebula Casino.” Her voice was a modulated purr.

Galen leaned forward. “Rillian. Now.”

The woman’s smile dissolved. “Yes, Imperator. One moment, please.”

The screen went blank, displaying a glowing, silver spiral that Mia assumed was the logo of the Dark Nebula. A wave of pain hit at the base of her skull. She gritted her teeth, fighting to keep some control of the alien ship.

The next thing, a man’s face appeared on the screen.

“Holy cow,” Ryan muttered. “Bare chests and muscles were bad enough, now they are making them so handsome you want to weep in gratitude.”

Mia knew the dark-haired man was Rillian. A wealthy casino owner, and ally of the House of Galen.

“Galen.” A deep drawl.

“Rillian. We need your help.”

Rillian tilted his head. “Go on.”

“We are coming in over Kor Magna in an ancient shuttle that we’re losing control of. Vek’s been badly injured. We need to land in the arena without killing ourselves or anyone else.”

The casino owner blinked his midnight-dark eyes. “Well, the House of Galen doesn’t do dull, does it?” He turned and barked some orders at people out of view. “Hold tight and let me see what I can do.”

“Thank you,” Mia said.

Rillian glanced at her and nodded.

“I’ll owe you,” Galen said.

“There are no debts between friends.” The screen went blank.

Mia’s hand tightened on the armrest of her chair. She was doing everything she could to maintain her connection to the ship, but now pain was exploding through her head. They were flying over the city now, the skyscrapers of the District ahead, and she swallowed. She wanted to help Vek, but she didn’t want to crash land and hurt people, either. She counted each heartbeat as it reverberated in her ears. She kept coaxing the failing engine to keep them in the air.

She was excruciatingly conscious of Harper breathing and pumping Vek’s chest behind her to keep him alive.

All of a sudden, there was a whoosh of sound and two other ships passed overhead. Mia gasped. They looked like spiders flying in the air. They had solid gray bodies, and six “legs”, that were actually articulated crane arms.

“Galen ship, this is Dark Nebula One.” A voice came through the comm unit. “Prepare for attachment. We’ll help you down.”

Relief burst in Mia’s chest. “Acknowledged, Dark Nebula One. Tell me what you need.”

The Dark Nebula pilot talked her through the landing sequence. The two cargo ships locked onto the alien shuttle, making it jolt in midair.

“You’ll need to keep the ship level and the speed steady,” the pilot said.

“I’ll do what I can.”

“You don’t and you’ll crash.”

“I’ll do it,” she said. For Vek.

They started their descent.

Mia ground her teeth together, sweat breaking out on her brow. The ship was fighting her.

“Galen, she’s killing herself,” Ryan said.

“She can do it.” Galen’s tone was filled with assurance. “I know it.”

Hell, yes, she’d do it. She felt a trickle of fluid out of her nose and tasted blood in her mouth. She’d bitten her tongue.

“God, we’re losing him again,” Harper shouted.

Hold on, Vek. Almost there. Mia thought of all the lyrics she’d scribbled in her journals. She started to sing.

About love.

About finding your one.

About Vek.

A hush filled the shuttle and she heard murmurs from the Dark Nebula pilots. As she sang, she poured everything she had into the song and felt the ship stop shuddering.

The oval of sand on the arena floor grew larger and larger. They hit the ground with a hard bump, and Mia was tossed forward, her straps digging into her shoulders. A spray of sand hit the windshield.

But they were down.

“Thank you, Dark Nebula.” Adrenaline charged through Mia. They were down. She tore her hand off the spike. Ryan was there a second later, pressing wadded fabric to the wound.

“Our pleasure,” the pilot answered. “Just hearing you sing is payment enough. I’ve never heard anything as beautiful and touching.” The pilot cleared his throat, sounding embarrassed. “Decoupling now.”

Another jolt, but Mia was already ripping her harness off and bounding to her feet.

“Get him to Medical,” Galen ordered.

She saw that Thorin had ripped one of the seats out. He and Raiden were holding it like a stretcher. Vek was laid out on it, Harper straddling him, pumping his chest.

They moved down the still-descending ramp, and Mia sprinted out after them.

A crowd had gathered, staring at the ship in the middle of the arena with wide eyes. But Mia didn’t pay them any attention. Soon, the gladiators raced into the tunnels, heading for the House of Galen.

Mia was numb as they entered the House and then Medical. Everything around her became a flurry of activity, and she felt removed from it, like she was floating above, disconnected. Even the usually unflappable Hermia healers looked worried, as they started treating Vek.

She tried to get closer, but Raiden pulled her back.

“Let them work,” he said.

Mia could see the full extent of his injuries and tears flowed down her cheeks. The bottom half of his legs were…gone. She tasted bile in her mouth, and fought it down. It was bad. She was well aware that he might still die or lose his legs. All because of her. She saw Winter push in close to Vek, her brow creased.

Before Mia knew it, they were putting Vek into one of the regen tanks at the back of the room.

“All we can do now is hope that we caught his injuries in time,” one of the tall, slender, and genderless healers said in a calm voice. “He is strong, and in good physical condition. If his injuries can be healed, the regen tank will do it.”

Harper slid an arm around Mia. “Come and get some rest.”

She shook her head. “I’m not leaving him.”

Winter appeared, holding some med gel. “Let me see to your hand.”

Mia kept her gaze on the tank and let Winter treat her hand.

Harper hugged her. “I’ll check back on you later. Do you need anything?”

Emotions churned inside Mia, strong and overwhelming. She needed to write and get them out. “There’s a notebook in my room. Where I write down my lyrics.”

“I’ll bring it.”

After everyone had gone, Mia sank down on the ground beside the regen tank, and pressed her face and hands to the clear side. She stared at Vek’s body, hanging there in the blue gel.

“Be okay, Vek. I haven’t told you how much I love you, yet.” Mia closed her eyes, fighting her sobs back. “Don’t leave me.”

* * *

Mia felt strong arms lifting her. The blankets and pillow someone had given her slipped away. She fought back the fog of exhaustion and lifted her head.

Vek’s face filled her vision.

She stiffened. “Vek.”

“Shh.” Golden eyes were pinned on her as he carried her out of Medical.

“You’re okay?” She tried to see his legs. Two long days had passed since he’d been placed in the regen tank. Two excruciating days that he’d been unconscious, the tank slowly regenerating his legs. Winter had spent time talking to her about the incredible gel in the tank and its mix of sugar molecules and proteins that could replace damaged tissue and rebuild muscle. Two days of torment as Mia had prayed for him to open his eyes.

“I said quiet, Mia. I am fine, but you have not been taking care of yourself.” His tone warned her he wasn’t happy.

But Mia was ecstatic. Vek was alive. She stayed quiet, leaning into him and absorbing the heat of his body. When he carried her up some stairs, she realized that he was taking her up to the rooftop garden.

He strode through the greenery, and sat her down on the same pillows where they’d first touched each other. She saw that a tray of food had been set out and beside it was her lyrics journal. How had that gotten here?

Vek shifted and her focus shifted back to him. “You’re really okay?” She reached out and stroked his hard thigh. His trousers were filled out perfectly.

“Yes.” He picked up some succulent fruit and pressed it to her mouth. “I was unhappy to hear that you were not taking care of yourself while I was healing. You spent hours by the regen tank.”

She chewed the sweet, tart fruit. “I couldn’t rest until I knew you were okay. And I spent a lot of that time writing.”

He fed her another piece of fruit. “I know. I had Harper read me your songs.”

Mia felt a flush of…something. Nerves, embarrassment, fear. “What…what did you think?”

“They are beautiful, Mia. Even more beautiful when you sing them.” He cupped her cheeks. “I could feel your love in every word.”

“I love you, Vek.” It felt so good to tell him.

He growled. “I love you, too, Mia. Completely.” It glowed in his eyes as his head lowered.

His kiss was firm, deep, and Mia threw herself into it. When she pulled back, she saw his gaze was hot now. Her gaze dropped down, and she stared at the erection straining his pants.

“I think you really are feeling better.”

“Mia.” A deep rumble. His arms wrapped around her, pulling her close. His mouth pressed against hers.

“I thought I was going to lose you.” Her voice cracked.

“Galen told me you flew an alien ship and got me back here. That you were forced to link with the system, which I know you hate after Catalyst’s violation—”

“I’d do it again in a heartbeat.”

“You saved my life…again.”

She teased his lips with hers. “I guess we’re even, then.”

Vek sat back against the cushions, turning her and pulling her between his legs. She snuggled her back into him. Then he took his time, picking the choicest bits of food from the platter and feeding them to her. In between her bites, his big hands stroked down her arms, across her collarbones.

“Landing a ship in the middle of the arena was kind of a big deal,” she said. “Galen sent a team in to dismantle it and take it to some warehouse that Rillian, an ally of the House of Galen, owns. Apparently, they think the ship belongs to the Creators. The advanced aliens who created life throughout the galaxy.”

“I don’t care about the ship, Mia. I only care about you. I would like to care for you forever.”

Her breath caught, and she craned her neck to look back. “Vek—”

“I have little to offer you. I have no job, no purpose—”

She twisted on her knees to face him. “I only want you, and that’s not a little, that’s everything. I love you, Vek.”

He made a low, growling sound, and pressed his face to her hair. “Will you be my mate, Mia?”

Her chest filled to bursting, that familiar sense of rightness falling over her. “It would be my honor.”

He kissed her again—deep and long. “I don’t remember my world, my people, or my family. But I do recall a tradition to seal a mating.”

Mia saw the heat in his gaze. “Oh?”

“A male must hunt his female down and capture her. If she agrees to his claim, they are mated.”

“Hunt her down?”

Vek lifted her to her feet. “Go.”

Mia looked down at him, her heart beating hard. “What?”

“Run, Mia. Evade, hide, run—” his voice lowered “—but know that when I find you, I will claim you and fuck you hard.”

Excitement flared inside her. “Vek—”

“Run,” he growled.

Mia squealed, spun, and sprinted into the trees. Her breathing was fast, her pulse jumping wildly. She pushed through some bushes.

Behind her, she heard a growl.

She swallowed a cry, and ducked through a row of fruit trees, then around a pair of garden beds. The sweet smell of some flowers hit her nose, and she pushed through a wall of vines.

There was none of the dread of the Srinar hunting grounds here. In this place, the vegetation was all for pleasure.

Mia paused, crouching down and listening. All she could hear was her heartbeat pounding in her ears.

This was fun, exciting. The sexiest kind of play. Everything that she and Vek hadn’t had for so long.

She heard a rustle nearby, and with her blood pumping, she turned and ran.

But she’d only taken two steps when arms grabbed her from behind. They wrapped around her and lifted her off her feet. She squealed.

His hot mouth was on her neck and she felt the scrape of his teeth. She arched into him.

Vek carried her back to the cushions, and then she was being pushed down onto the soft coverings. She watched as he tore her clothes off.

He shoved her legs apart, his big hard body covering hers. “Mia, do you accept my claim?”

“Yes, yes.”

The head of his cock prodded between her legs, and with need driving her, she tilted her hips up. He thrust inside her.

Mia arched her back, a cry ripping from her throat.

“I love you, Mia. Now and always. I will protect you, fight for you, be yours always.”

“Vek.” He was thrusting into her with wild, primal abandon. “I love you, too. Don’t stop.”

It didn’t take long for them to find release. Vek’s deep groan mixed with her cries.

Mia had found the exact place where she belonged. In the arms of her blue-skinned alien.