“Do something!” Royce Marsden screamed as the Fearless suddenly changed course and headed straight for Jason’s ship. Royce knew the other commanders would mutiny if he gave command of the ship to Jason, so he “borrowed” the ship for this one mission. He figured he’d let his son play with the new toy for a day or two before assigning it to one of the top commanders. But the mission hadn’t been routine as he expected. Their adaptive camouflage was only working intermittently and the Fearless hadn’t retreated when Royce made it obvious they could now detect the rebels even with their covert shield generator engaged.

Jason suggested the crossfire maneuver, knowing their new shields were capable of absorbing massive amounts of energy rather than being harmed by it. Again, the commander of the Fearless had reacted unpredictably, charging Jason instead of trying to avoid the crossfire.

“Engines are off line,” the pilot snapped. “I told you that.”

That was the problem with new technology. It was almost always buggy. “Well, fire on them before they’re out of—”

The tail section of the Fearless clipped the hull of Jason’s ship and both vessels went spinning out of control. Royce stood, heart slamming against his ribs. Jason’s ship was twirling like a leaf caught in a tornado, but miraculously it remained parallel to the ground.

“Follow them!” Panic made his voice shrill and sweat broke out all over his body.

A warm hand squeezed his shoulder and he snapped his head to the side. “Engines are off line,” Fowler, his first officer reminded. “We’re dead in the water, sir.”

“There has to be something we can do.”

Fowler motioned toward the bridge crew who were frantically navigating through control panels and holographic interfaces. “They’re doing everything they can.”

“Increase magnification.” As long as Jason’s ship stayed airborne, there was hope. The image gradually zoomed in as the ships flew farther away. The Fearless kept pace with the spinning ship, but were they trying to help or shoot it down? Fear and anger cramped Royce’s gut and his nails bit into his palms.

Suddenly, the Fearless fired, then fired again. The bastards would die for this! There was no reason to fire on a helpless ship. The shots flew harmlessly past Jason’s ship. Thank God. The targeting jammers must still be functioning.

His relief was short-lived, however. The trajectory of Jason’s ship gradually lost altitude until the ship slammed into the ground. It bounced like a rock on water, then plowed across L.A.’s sprawling suburbs and right into the heart of the city.

“Turn it off.” A sickening cold settled over Royce’s soul as he turned away from the main display. He couldn’t watch it. There was no denying what he’d just seen. Jason was dead. He knew it, could feel it. His only child was dead, and the rebels were to blame. “Find out who commands the Fearless.” His voice sounded oddly calm.

“Yes, sir,” Fowler said. “Shall I take the con?”

He nodded and walked off the bridge, shock mercifully numbing his emotions. The passageways blurred as he made his way to his cabin. His mind blanked and white noise filled his ears.

The door to his cabin slid closed behind him before reality came crashing in. His chest burned and fury gathered inside him, demanding a release. Grabbing the nearest breakable item, he pitched the lamp across the room and watched it smash against the wall. The outburst did nothing to ease his pain, so he frantically searched for a different strategy.

He tried to think, but emotions overwhelmed his logic. His son, his only child, lay dead or dying in a twisted pile of metal. His legs shook and sobs tore from his throat, though his eyes remained dry. Grief rose inside him like a flashflood of agony. His knees buckled and he screamed in fury and disbelief.

For endless minutes he knelt there, unable to move, barely able to breathe. Then Jason’s image formed inside his mind, smiling and full of life. Royce sobbed, trying to imprint the precious memory on his shattered mind.

“So what are you going to call your new ship?” Those were the last words Jason spoke to him.

Royce had only shrugged and told him he hadn’t decided, but the perfect name came to him now. He would call his ship Vengeance, and he would not rest until Jason’s death had been avenged.

* * * * *

Arton closed his eyes as grief washed over him in icy waves. His vision had just come to pass, as he knew it would. He felt fear and death all around him, like tar sinking into his skin. Why the creators chose to reveal events that could not be changed, he would never understand. If nothing could be done to prevent the tragedy, why torture him with the knowledge of what was to come?

He left his cabin on the Relentless, where he’d been meditating for the past few hours, and went to the command center. Kage spotted him and moved away from the control hub. The overlord’s rugged features were tense and pity shone in his dark eyes.

“Which city?” Arton asked. It was the only detail that hadn’t been clear in the vision.

“Los Angeles.” Kage locked his hands behind his back and retreated behind professional detachment. “I’m sorry. I know how these things upset you.”

“These things?” Arton shook his head, horrified by the indifference in Kage’s tone. Even knowing it was a survival mechanism, Arton found it callous. “Hundreds of thousands of people are either dead or dying. That should upset all of us.”

“That’s not what you’re upset about.” As usual Kage wouldn’t allow anyone, including Arton, to deflect from the truth. Kage was frighteningly perceptive and had no patience with excuses or justifications.

“You warned them and I warned them, but none of it did any good.” Arton glanced away, not wanting to take out his frustration on his friend. “Did I miss something, or…”

“It wasn’t the battle born, at least not directly.”

Arton snapped his gaze back to Kage. “What do you mean? Was my vision fulfilled or not?”

“A large spaceship crashed into a human city, but the ship belonged to Solar Warden, not the battle born.”

Silent and still, Arton filtered what he already knew through the lens of the new information. Had they warned the wrong people? Could this have been prevented if—

“Stop it.”

Kage’s command jarred Arton out of his useless contemplations. It had happened. Whatever they might or might not have done meant nothing now.

“It wouldn’t have made a difference,” Kage insisted, echoing Arton’s thoughts. “First of all, it was an accident. I watched it happen. The Fearless was attempting to escape from Solar Warden’s two new ships when they inadvertently collided. If anyone is to blame, it’s Solar Warden. Secondly, you sensed that the event was absolute when you first had the vision. One way or another, this was going to happen.”

Arton nodded. Many times in the past he’d frantically tried anything and everything to prevent unchangeable events. Nothing had worked. Life was filled with choices, but certain events in time were simply inflexible. “Is there anything we can do now?”

“The battle born have dispatched half their fleet. Anything we do would just put us in their way.”

Arton wasn’t sure he agreed, but he didn’t argue. His main focus right now was distancing the Outcasts from the conflicts raging on Earth. Insisting they become involved now seemed hypocritical. He nodded, acknowledging Kage’s statement. “I’ll be in my cabin.”

“Any new developments in our exit strategy?” Kage moved closer and dropped his voice. “The more I think about it, the more I agree with you. We need to move on before this blows up in our faces.”

Surprised by Kage’s sudden reversal, Arton wished he had more to report. “I spoke with Rex again. The researchers are still arguing over which planet will serve our needs better. The good news is either will support life. The rest of my plans are coming together as well, but there are a couple of significant obstacles.”

“Let me know what you need to speed up the process.” He glanced at the devastated city smoldering on the main viewscreen and shook his head. “This will bring Earth and the battle born one step closer to war. Humans will blame the battle born, and the battle born will blame Solar Warden. The Outcasts cannot be drawn into another pointless conflict.”

Emboldened by Kage’s attitude, Arton revealed a detail he’d been dreading, one of the major obstacles he’d mentioned before. “If every Outcast needs a human female to be transformed, we must take three thousand women with us when we leave.”

Kage looked at him, clearly understanding the nature of the complication. “And recruiting that many compatible females could take months, maybe years.”

“I’ve been working with one of our engineers and we’ve developed a scanner that will allow us to locate compatible females from shuttles or a small ship. But ensuring that each one is willing to leave Earth permanently would be time-consuming and labor intensive.”

Kage nodded, looking physically encumbered by the weight of the decision. “Kidnap our mates or risk being trapped by another war that doesn’t concern us.” He straightened his shoulders and took a deep breath. “Start locating the females. It’s time. The Outcasts will have a planet of their own.”

* * * * *

The next two weeks transpired in a blur of depression and regret for Jakkin. The battle born forces gradually withdrew from the devastated city that had once been L. A. as hostilities between humans and Rodytes escalated. Solar Warden didn’t officially exist, so the rebels became a convenient scapegoat for the human military. According to the reports plastered all over Earth’s media, the collision had taken place between two battle born ships during a failed military coupe. It was absurd, of course, but terrified people tended to believe whatever allowed them to sleep better at night.

The death toll climbed steadily each day, creating more and more reasons for grieving humans to act out. Riots became a daily occurrence. Looting, vandalism, and other crimes spread along the West Coast until the authorities had no choice but to call in the National Guard. Worldwide demonstrations followed. And all of it was blamed on the battle born.

The Fearless was ordered to Lunar Nine and the transformation project came grinding to a halt. Royce Marsden leaked Jakkin’s name to several influential reporters and soon human media was buzzing with demands for his apprehension and execution. Earth would not rest until someone paid for the devastation.

Jakkin wasn’t surprised when a summons from General Lux arrived sixteen days after the tragedy. He performed his usual grooming, then donned his formal uniform, emotionally bracing for the worst possible news.

“Wow, that’s fancy.” Kelsey had been amazingly supportive in every way, despite his quick temper and emotional remoteness. The affection and worry he sensed from her, helped keep him from total despair.

“I’ve been summoned before General Lux and some sort of council. Earth is demanding that action be taken, and I have a horrible feeling I’m about to be sacrificed to defuse hostilities.”

“That’s ridiculous.” She shook her head, stubbornly optimistic to the bitter end. “Rebels don’t bow to the irrational demands of misinformed humans. General Lux would not abandon you like that.”

Jakkin forced a hollow smile onto his lips. “I hope you’re right.” He gave her a quick kiss then left the cabin, anxious to find out what was waiting for him aboard the Triumphant.

An armed guard was waiting for Jakkin when he bio-streamed onto General Lux’s ship. The Triumphant was massive, and Jakkin had never been aboard before, so the escort could be a courtesy. He could also be a foreshadowing of what was to come.

Jakkin tried to shake the pessimistic thoughts as he followed the guard down the seemingly endless corridors. Loyalty and honor were paramount to the battle born. They didn’t leave people behind in battle and they didn’t buckle to outside pressures. He tried to convince himself Kelsey was right. This would be an exchange of information or perhaps a brainstorming session regarding the new developments. Unfortunately, no one explained the concepts to his body, and by the time they reached General Lux’s office, Jakkin’s gut was tied in knots.

The guard announced Jakkin, but stepped aside as the door parted before him.

Jakkin nodded his thanks, then turned his attention to the occupants of the room.

As befitting the first battle born general, Sedrik Lux’s office was large and luxurious. The man, however, was all no-nonsense soldier. Adorned in a simple black-and-gold uniform, he made Jakkin feel overdressed. There were only two other people seated with Sedrik around the small round table. Jakkin wasn’t sure if he was comforted or intimidated by the fact. He’d expected this meeting to take place in a conference room with a dozen or more commanders present.

Sedrik motioned him toward the empty seat, then began the introductions. “This is Director Morgan Hoyt.” He indicated the attractive red-haired female in a business suit. Jakkin had heard the name, knew she ran a human taskforce focused on alien interactions on Earth. Her reputation was solid, but this was the first time Jakkin had interacted with her.

He shook her hand. “It’s nice to meet you, Director Hoyt.”

“I hope you still feel that way when you learn why I’m here.” The taskforce she commanded was staffed primarily with humans. However, Jakkin didn’t know her planet of origin. She looked human, but appearances could be misleading.

Sedrik nodded toward the somber-faced Rodyte seated on Morgan’s right. “This is Torrin Havier. I’ll let Morgan explain his role.”

Intrigued by the general’s ambiguity, Jakkin looked at Torrin more closely. His black hair was bound at the nape of his neck, making his features appear even more angular. His eyes were neither gray nor green, but a smoky mix of the two. Faint gold phitons ringed his pupils, but Jakkin wasn’t convinced he was full-blooded Rodyte.

“Because Solar Warden is, and has always been, a secret operation, we are left with few alternatives regarding the L.A. tragedy.”

Morgan spoke in a calm, professional tone that made Jakkin want to throw something at her. “Don’t you mean the L.A. massacre? That’s what the human media is calling it.”

Her cringe was subtle, but Jakkin felt slightly vindicated by the reaction. “You have every right to be frustrated, and I’m here to assure you that U.S. officials know Royce Marsden is to blame for the tragedy. You will not take the fall for his rash behavior. At least, not permanently.”

“Director Hoyt has been given control of Solar Warden, as well as Shadow Leader’s other projects,” Sedrik told him. “She is now our contact and a sort of liaison between the battle born and the U.S. authorities.”

“Congratulations.” Jakkin tried to keep the sarcasm out of his voice and failed. “I’m sure you’ll do a better job than your predecessor.”

“Because of the emotional fallout from the disaster,” Sedrik drew Jakkin’s resentful gaze away from the female. “The human authorities have asked that we agree to the secrecy they originally proposed. I heard from the Triad and Apex General Nox this morning. They are all in agreement.”

“If I may.” Jakkin didn’t wait for permission before he continued, “Humans know aliens exist now. What’s the benefit of denying the existence of Solar Warden?”

Morgan sighed. Jakkin couldn’t tell if he had frustrated her or if the secrecy itself inspired the reaction. “I happen to agree with you, but I follow orders just like everyone else. Admitting that Solar Warden exists is also admitting that the U.S. government has been perpetrating a public fraud for several decades. Simply put, that’s not going to happen.”

“So I remain the villain?”

“For now,” she agreed. “But we have a bigger problem on our hands.”

Bigger than his honor and reputation? Those things might not be important to her, but they meant everything to Jakkin. He no longer had just himself to think about. Everything he did also affected Kelsey. His dishonor, even if it was undeserved, also fell on his mate.

“Royce Marsden has gone rogue,” Sedrik told him.

“Worse,” Morgan interjected. “He’s in control of a brand-new ship that… Well, you encountered two of them. You know they’re unlike anything the Evonti have provided us before.”

“Did they just provide two? I was told there was a third ship there that day, even larger than the other two.” Jakkin looked from Morgan to Sedrik and back. “Have we learned any more about the silent observer?”

“It was the Relentless,” Sedrik told him. “I have no way of knowing if Kage was supposed to attack and didn’t, or if the Outcasts were simply observing. All I know is they made no move to hinder or assist either side.”

“Then the alliance between Solar Warden and the Outcasts is definitely over?” Solar Warden was enough of a nuisance without being backed by Outcast firepower.

“That’s what we were told.” Morgan drew his attention back to her. “Unfortunately, we’re not sure how accurate our information is anymore. Marsden is leading the insurrection, but most of Solar Warden’s agents have joined his side. None of the commanders were pleased when I was chosen to take over the program instead of one of them.”

Jakkin just nodded. These were fascinating developments, but he wasn’t sure what they had to do with him, or the sharp-eyed Torrin. There had to be a reason the general had summoned him here. There had already been an official debriefing on the disaster.

Either anticipating Jakkin’s confusion, or seeing it in his eyes, Sedrik answered the unasked question. “The irony is the only human organization with spaceships and advanced weaponry is Solar Warden, so they need our help regaining control of the rebellion.”

Jakkin laughed. He couldn’t help it. Earth needed Rodyte rebels to squelch a human rebellion? And the head of the taskforce had the audacity to single out the Rodyte they’d thrown to the wolves because of their irrational dedication to secrecy.

“I’m glad you find this amusing.” The warning in General Lux’s tone was unmistakable.

Calming himself with a deep breath, Jakkin regained his composure. “What do you need from me?” He looked at the general, not trusting himself to remain civil if he looked at Morgan again. She had nerve. He had to give her that much.

“Morgan believes the other commanders will fall in line if we remove Royce Marsden.”

“Remove?” Jakkin glanced at Torrin. Was that why the silent stranger was here? Was he some sort of assassin?

“I’d prefer we didn’t make him a martyr,” Morgan stressed, “but it’s unlikely Marsden will allow himself to be captured. It’s much more his style to go out in a blaze of glory, and we really need to recover the new ship.”

Of course. Marsden currently controlled the most advanced ship in the Solar Warden fleet. No wonder she was so anxious to snuff out his rebellion.

“According to your reports,” Sedrik said, “Marsden was able to detect you with your covert shields engaged. My engineers would like to know how that was possible.”

Jakkin nodded, reliving the surreal events leading up to the actual collision. He’d had over two weeks to analyze every detail of what took place. “Those ships were fast and maneuverable, and they had some sort of field or pulse that scrambled our targeting systems.” He finally looked at Morgan. “Will we be allowed to examine the ship if we neutralize Marsden?”

She smiled, her expression relaxing for the first time since he walked into the office. “Do you honestly think we’d be able to understand the technology without help from your engineers?” She paused, likely hoping he’d return her smile. When he didn’t, she accepted his resentment and went on, “Allowing the misconceptions to continue is extremely unfair to you. I understand that, but—for the time being—it’s necessary. Once Solar Warden is under my control, and the West Coast has calmed down, I will insist on full disclosure to the public. We will restore your reputation.”

Jakkin wanted to believe her, but he didn’t know her, and humans tended to do whatever was best for humans. “And in the meantime?” He shifted his gaze back to Sedrik. “What is my role in all this?”

“We’ve been granted permission to resume processing volunteers, but orientation will now take place at the Bunker.”

They’d been “granted permission” to claim their mates? The general didn’t seem bothered by the situation, so why should he care? “I’m not familiar with that location.”

“It’s the unofficial name for my headquarters,” Morgan told him. “Human females will feel less threatened by a location on Earth and—”

“You’ll now supervise the process?” Bitterness crept into his tone and his phitons stung. No doubt they were starting to glow. Everything about this felt unnatural, like the battle born had just exchanged one master for another. Was he to be stripped of command as well as his purpose?

“We’re trying to avoid a war with the people we need most,” Sedrik reminded him. “You’re not being demoted, just reassigned.”

He dipped his head, acknowledging the statement without agreeing or disagreeing. “What’s my new position?”

Sedrik smiled, a rare happening. “I would think that was obvious. You’re going to hunt down and apprehend Royce Marsden and recover his fancy new ship.”

Easier said than done if they managed to fix their stealth shields. Was he being set up—again? “Apprehend, not neutralize?” Again, he glanced at Torrin. The man had yet to speak and the others didn’t seem to be in any hurry to explain who, and what, he was.

“Our one advantage is Royce Marsden can’t keep his mouth shut,” Morgan explained. “I’ve received numerous reports that he has sworn vengeance on you for his son’s death. We’re hoping you can use that to your advantage.”

Jakkin froze. He didn’t think he could feel any worse about the tragedy, but a new hole was torn in his shredded heart. “His son was aboard the ship that went down?”

Morgan nodded. “If the stories are accurate, Marsden gave his son temporary command of the ship, which could explain why he was unable to regain control after the collision. Jason Marsden was on a joyride. He was not qualified to command any spacecraft, much less one as sophisticated as the one we lost.”

The information rang true, but it made Jakkin feel empty and cold. “How old was he?”

“Twenty-seven,” Morgan admitted, compassion shining in her blue eyes. “But this is on Marsden, not you. He was being self-indulgent and reckless, and his bad decisions resulted in a horrendous tragedy.”

“Somehow, I don’t think he’ll see it that way.” Jakkin sighed, a fresh wave of frustration momentarily blunting his grief.

Sedrik didn’t allow Jakkin’s anger to build. Instead he drew Jakkin’s attention back to him. “There are two ways we can approach this. I can assign you to supply runs or guard duty until Marsden is neutralized. I honestly thought you’d prefer a more direct approach to the situation.”

“So I’m to be bait as well as assassin.”

“You’re bait. I’m the assassin.” Torrin finally spoke, confirming Jakkin’s assumption. Menace emanated from the man for a reason. “I’m not technically part of the military, so it gives you guys deniability.”

“Why do we need deniability? Marsden created this disaster.” He looked at Sedrik, then back at the assassin.

It was the general who finally replied. “We know that, and Morgan’s people know it, but it’s going to take some time for the human public to accept the truth.”

Jakkin ran his hand through his hair, still unsure if he was relieved or infuriated by the turn of events. “How do you want me to proceed?”

“That’s entirely up to you and Torrin. Your mission parameters are simple and I don’t particularly care how you accomplish them. Apprehend Marsden if you can, neutralize him if apprehension is impossible, but most importantly, recover that ship.” Sedrik looked at Morgan and asked, “Do you agree?”

Her gaze shifted from Torrin to Jakkin before she answered. “I agree.”

* * * * *

“He won’t talk about it.” Kelsey looked at Indigo and sighed. She hated talking about Jakkin behind his back, but he needed help and she wasn’t sure how to give it to him. Not only did Indigo participate in the orientations, she was also a counselor-healer. “He hasn’t shed a tear or punched a wall. He’s keeping all his feelings bottled up. That can’t be healthy.”

“Have you encouraged him to talk?” Indigo asked.

They sat at one of the tables in the officers’ dining hall. Kelsey wanted their meeting to seem casual, maybe even spontaneous, if anyone saw them together. “I’ve tried, but he’s so withdrawn he hardly talks at all.”

After a slight hesitation, Indigo lowered her voice and asked, “Are you two still intimate?”

“Yes.” She didn’t offer any details. The sex was still intense, but he kept his end of their transfer link shielded, muting his emotions.

“That’s encouraging. If he’s not shutting you out completely, you have a much better chance of breaking through.” She looked past Kelsey, lips pursed, nose twitching, clearly deep in thought. “Try provoking him. Males, especially alpha males, will often give in to anger even when they have the rest of their emotions locked down.”

Kelsey tensed. Jakkin and she had argued and wrestled, but their “fights” had been fueled by sexual frustration rather than real anger. Did she really want Jakkin furious with her?

“He won’t hurt you. You’re his mate. A Rodyte male would rather die than harm his mate. But you can give him an outlet for everything that he’s feeling. Unless he’s an absolute sociopath, which I don’t believe for a minute, he needs to do some serious venting.”

As if summoned by their conversation, Jakkin and another man walked past the dining hall. They were deep in conversation and didn’t notice the females.

“Who was that with Jakkin?” Indigo asked with a shiver. “Don’t think I’d want to tangle with him in a dark alley.”

Kelsey agreed with the assessment. The stranger had looked intense and dangerous. “He wasn’t wearing a uniform.”

“True. I wonder what he’s doing here?”

Kelsey smiled. “I think I’ll ask the commander.”

“Good idea.” They both stood, but Indigo caught Kelsey’s wrist when she turned to go. “Wait until you have plenty of time to deal with the aftermath. Once he starts letting it out, he probably won’t be able to stop for quite a while.”

“I understand.” It was hard to imagine Jakkin completely out of control, but she was ready to go there if what was what it took to start his healing.

“Let me know how it goes.” Indigo waved her on.

Jakkin and his mysterious guest were nowhere in sight when Kelsey reached the main corridor. The cabin she shared with Jakkin was the only place she was willing to try Indigo’s strategy, so she decided to wait for him there. She’d gotten good at entertaining herself, but eventually she needed a purpose, some sort of occupation to fill her free time.

She scanned open the door, thrilled that she now had the ability to come and go as she pleased, and found Jakkin pacing the living room. “Hey,” she greeted with a tentative smile.

“Hey, yourself.” He looked tense and agitated, yet still very much in control.

“Who’s your badass friend?” His confused expression made her chuckle. “You walked past the officers’ dining room with him a few minutes ago.”

“Ah, you mean Torrin. He’s on special assignment for my upcoming mission.”

“What sort of assignment?” She closed the distance between them and placed her hands on his chest. “What does this Torrin do?”

He smiled, but his gaze remained cold and shuttered. “Anything I need him to do. We’re going after Royce Marsden.”

Her hands closed into fists and then she took a step back. “You’re going to capture him? Or is Torrin an assassin?”

“That’s up to Marsden.” He shrugged, though his indifference wasn’t believable. “We’re going to try to capture him, but we can’t let him destroy his ship.”

“They’re expecting him to resist being captured.” It wasn’t a question. She was thinking out loud. “That’s why they gave you Torrin.”

He nodded, then tried to pull her into his arms. “Anything is better than loitering here and watching news feeds of how I murdered hundreds of thousands of humans.”

She twisted away, easily agitated enough to start a fight. “They want you to murder someone in cold blood? And you’re okay with that?”

His gaze narrowed and tension rolled across his shoulders. Clearly, he’d expected compassion, not criticism. “I will attempt to capture him. If he’s determined to die, I will hurry him on his way. He’s the person to blame for the crimes they’ve blamed on me. How can my attitude surprise you?”

It was torture adding to his pain, but Indigo knew what she was doing. Kelsey had heard from numerous people how amazing Indigo was at healing emotional wounds. “Hasn’t there been enough bloodshed? They’re still dragging bodies out of the rubble down there.”

“I’m aware.” He ground the words out between clenched teeth and his phitons erupted with emerald intensity. “I don’t need the news feeds to remind me. I see the bodies and smell the smoke night and day.”

“Are you sure?” She took a step forward, hoping she looked angry and not horrified by her own actions. “You haven’t seemed affected by any of this. It’s just another day at the office for a battle born soldier!”

He charged so suddenly she couldn’t prevent her instinctive defense. She jabbed her elbow into his ribs and stomped hard on his instep.

“I thought we were beyond this,” he snarled as he tangled his hand in the back of her hair.

“We’ll never be beyond this.” She brought her knee up hard, but adjusted her aim so she hit the inside of his thigh.

“I thought I’d tamed my little hellion.” He spun her around and wrapped both arms around her torso, trapping her arms against her chest. “Guess not.”

She kicked and twisted, knowing from experience that she couldn’t break his hold. “I will not sleep with a murderer.”

“Fine with me.” He used his knees to buckle hers, then took her down with the weight of his body. “I don’t want to sleep.”

It was hard to keep struggling when desire throbbed through her body. He was anything but emotionally distant right now. His anger and pain blazed into her mind as his hands moved over her body. He ripped open the front of her dress, then tossed the skirt to her waist. His aggression excited rather than frightening her. Indigo was right. Jakkin would never hurt his mate. With one violent yank, he rid her of her panties, then urged her legs apart.

“I need you.” His voice was raw, his chest heaving against her back, but he didn’t thrust into her. He paused to make sure she was willing, always thinking of her first.

“Yes.”

His fingers dug into her hips and he rested his forehead on her back. “I don’t want to hurt you.”

“It hurts me more to see you like this.” She pushed up against him. “Take me. You need this, and so do I.”

A harsh sound, part groan, part sob, tore from his throat as he drove into her from behind. He wasn’t gentle. She knew he wouldn’t be. He took her fast and hard, releasing emotions with each violent motion. There were no words, just blast after blast of staggering feelings. Grief, seemingly endless, filled her mind first. She fought against her instinctive need to shield herself from the deluge. The wound wouldn’t heal until they drained the infection.

She braced her knees and kept her head down, far more effected by the mental exchange than by the frantic colliding of their bodies. As the grief finally began to dissipate, a dizzying combination of guilt and anger twisted through her. She understood the anger, but what did he have to feel guilty about?

His rhythm sped and his fingers dug into her hips. She surrendered to the intensity, letting his conflict sweep her along. He came suddenly, crying out as his cock bucked inside her. His emotions gradually calmed and he wrapped his arms around her, rolling them to their sides on the living room floor.

“I’m so sorry,” he whispered into her hair. “This was not… I didn’t mean to take this out on you.”

She snuggled back into the heat of his body, enjoying the intimacy of having him inside her. “You’ve kept everything bottled up since it happened. Something had to give.”

“I won’t use you as my whipping girl. This isn’t fair.” He tried to separate, but she reached back and pulled him closer.

“I’m your mate. Your pain is my pain. There’s no escaping that.”

For a long time he just held her, stroking her hair and warming her ear with his breath. “Let’s take a shower, then I’ll make this up to you.”

She shook her head and squeezed him with her inner muscles. “Not until you explain why you feel guilty. The destruction was devastating. I understand why you feel grief and anger, but you have no reason to feel guilty.”

He sighed, his hand settling over one of her breasts. “Everyone keeps telling me this wasn’t my fault. On some level, I know they’re right. But I keep feeling the collision. My ship hit his, so how is that not my fault?”

“You were trying to escape a trap Marsden set for you,” she objected. “He started the fight. You were trying to avoid it.”

“If I’d ordered the dive half a second sooner, we would have cleared Jason’s ship.”

His banked emotions flared as he spoke the name, so she asked, “Who is Jason?”

“Marsden’s son.” Gradually, Jakkin regained control of his emotions, drawing the flames back down into smoldering embers. “He’s the reason Royce is so determined to find me. It was—”

“A horrible, horrible accident. You were trying to avoid a madman and his spoiled offspring. The rest just happened.”

“I didn’t say it was entirely rational.” The words were familiar. She’d said them to him not that long ago. His thumb stroked her nipple through the thin fabric of her bra and sparks of desire rippled across their link. “If we lay here much longer, round two is going to be similar to round one.”

She arched her back, taking him deeper. “You can make it up to me with round three.”

He chuckled, but his hand drifted across her abdomen and into the juncture of her thighs. “You’re at least going to come this time.” He found her clit with his middle finger and she gasped. “In fact, you’ll catch up before we get started.”

Excitement tingled down her spine at his commanding tone. She shouldn’t be aroused by his caveman tendencies, but she couldn’t suppress the shiver. She turned her upper body, careful to keep their hips flush. His mouth sealed over hers and their tongues began to curl and slide.

He angled his free arm down from her shoulders and caressed her breasts, while his finger kept up the careful orbit around her clit. Just having him inside her was arousing enough, she didn’t need much encouragement. Soon she was panting and rocking against his hand, sliding her core over his shaft in the process.

Come for me, hellion. Let me feel you come around my cock.

The graphic command, combined with his skillful touch, set her senses on fire. She gasped into his mouth and shuddered in his arms, as her inner muscles rippled around him.

 

Jakkin swept Kelsey beneath him and pulled nearly out of her slick heat. She was flat on her belly this time, utterly surrendered to her mate. The thought was so exciting, he felt his balls tighten and threaten to spill his seed. With utter determination, he pulled back the pleasure and began moving in long, slow thrusts.

She was right to provoke him. He’d desperately needed the emotional release, but he would not use her again. Not even if she were willing to be his whipping girl. She was too important, too precious to him. He concentrated on the slide and the snug grip of her core around his aching shaft.

“I love you, hellion. Do you know how much?” Before she could answer, he opened his mind and flooded her with affection and tenderness.

She gasped, then moaned and her inner muscles contracted with aftershocks of her recent climax. “I love you too.”

He moved faster, slipping one hand beneath her so he could caress her breasts. She pushed up a bit, making more room for his hand. Then she tilted her hips, offering better access to her depths. She felt so good, and his emotions were so damn exposed, he knew he wouldn’t last long. No matter how hard he tried to fight it off.

Knowing the battle was lost, he slid his hand lower and covered her sex. She moved her legs farther apart, making room for his hand. He touched her, loving the way her folds stretched around him and how wet she’d grown with her building arousal. His fingers settled over her clit as his thrusts grew more demanding.

She cried out softly and tried to get her knees beneath her. He held her down, needing her like this, spread out beneath him. It was a harsh and primitive instinct, but he let her feel it, let the urge flow into her mind. She shook beneath him, then moved her hands to either side of her head and stopped struggling. Her legs were open, her body wet and welcoming. She was surrendered—submitted—to her mate, and it thrilled him as nothing before.

He released his hold on his desire and thrust faster and harder. She pushed her pleasure and excitement into his mind, but remained open and still beneath him. Her acceptance, her willingness to give him what he needed, even though it was strange and uncharacteristic for such a strong female, aroused him beyond enduring. He cried out as he thrust his entire length into her hot, wet core. His seed escaped in shuddering bursts and he felt her body echo his spasms.

For long, blissful minutes they floated together in a sensual haze. Contentment flowed freely in both directions across their link. They were physically sated and emotionally satisfied, which made it hard to want to move. Still, he had to be crushing her, so reluctantly he eased off her and then helped her to her feet.

She turned around and smiled up at him. “Feel better?”

“Was this one of Indigo’s tricks?”

She laughed and shook out her skirt. “In a way. She suggested that I provoke you, see if I could make you angry enough to let it out. I’m not sure this was exactly what she had in mind.” Her dress was still unbuttoned. In fact, several of the buttons were missing, but her breasts were covered by her bra.

“She’s a newly mated female. This is probably exactly what she expected to happen.” He held out his hand and she took it.

“Where are we going?”

“I owe you a nice long shower, and then round three will be entirely focused on you,” he promised with a sexy smile.