“Now tell me in detail what happened. And hold out your arm—I must draw your blood for an analysis.”
Kyron held out his arm numbly. It surprised him somewhat that Sylvan had met him, not in his capacity as Ky’s commanding officer, but as a doctor instead. He was taking his time, checking Ky from head to toe as though the murders he had committed were a medical problem instead of a moral one.
“I used my Touch sense to kill,” he said dully. “I killed two males and was about to kill another when the shouts of my female—well, she was my female—stopped me. There is nothing more to say.”
“Bullshit,” Merrick, who had come along to Sylvan’s office, objected angrily. “There’s a hell of a lot more to say!” He looked at Sylvan. “The first male Kyron dropped was holding his female at knife-point, threatening to cut her throat. The second was threatening her little sister.”
Sylvan nodded thoughtfully as he finished drawing the blood and injected it into a small centrifuge type machine.
“And the third?”
“Kyron didn’t kill him,” Merrick said, frowning.
“I tried to—I would have if Dani hadn’t stopped me,” Ky said bleakly. “I wanted to kill them all…it would have been so easy.” He scrubbed a hand over his face. “The third male was her father.”
“The male who kept Ky chained in a cell and ordered him beaten and starved,” Merrick put in. “Also the male who was giving away his daughters to bastards who were going to beat and rape them. So even if Ky had killed him—which he didn’t—it would have been nothing but justice.”
“All right, old friend. I can see that you feel for Kyron.” Sylvan nodded gravely.
“I just don’t want to see him kicked off the ship for doing nothing but defending his female,” Merrick growled. “I’ve been there, Sylvan—hell, you have too! When the Rage comes on you, there’s not a damn thing you can do.”
“Agreed.” Sylvan nodded distractedly and frowned at the small machine he’d put Ky’s blood into. “These results are…strange.” He looked up. “Did you eat or drink anything out of the ordinary while you were gone?”
Ky shrugged. “Didn’t eat or drink much at all on Goshan Prime. I probably would have died of thirst if Dani hadn’t come into my cell and given me food and water.”
“What about on the Hive planet?” Merrick asked. “You were stuck there for a while before I found you—what did you live on there?”
Ky shook his head. “Well, all my stores were lost when the Goshans blew up my ship so there was nothing to eat. And nothing to drink either except this little stream of water that came from the mouth of the Hive’s lair.”
“You drank liquid that had flowed through their lair?” Sylvan looked at him sharply.
“I didn’t want to, but…” Ky shrugged again. “There was nothing else, Commander. I thought it would be better to risk it rather than dying of thirst.”
“I understand,” Sylvan said, still frowning. He looked at Merrick. “Do you think you could go back to the Hive world and get me a sample of the water Commander Kyron is talking about? I’d like to analyze it and compare it with the anomalies I see in his blood.”
“You think the Hive water could have something to do with what happened on Goshan Prime?” Merrick raised an eyebrow.
“It’s possible. Of course the Rage coming on when a female is threatened could also play a roll.” Sylvan looked thoughtful. “I just want to be certain I have all the pieces of the puzzle.”
“You got it.” Merrick nodded. “Elise and I will go right away.”
“Thank you—the sooner the better,” Sylvan said. “Because even with the water to analyze, it’s going to take some time to sort this all through.” He looked at Ky. “For now, I think we’re finished.”
“All right.” Kyron held his wrists out in front of him. “I’m ready to go to the detention center.”
“I’m not sending you to be locked up,” Sylvan said gently. “I don’t believe you’re dangerous, Kyron. “At least, not unless your female is threatened.”
“She’s not my female anymore,” Ky said dully. “Why would she want to be after what I did?”
“I think you’re underestimating your lady, Brother,” Merrick growled. “I saw the way she looked at you. She might be a little scared and confused right now but she’ll come around. Just talk to her.”
But Ky couldn’t imagine facing Dani again—he couldn’t stop remembering the look on her face when she’d begged him not to kill her father. Of course she didn’t want to see him again—she couldn’t trust him, just as he couldn’t trust himself.
“I can see you don’t feel ready for that yet,” Sylvan said, looking at him intently. “But when you do, just know that my mate, Sophia, and her sister will be taking good care of your female. What did you say her name was again?”
“Dannella—Dani,” Ky muttered. Goddess, now that he’d lost her just saying her name hurt.
“A beautiful name,” Sylvan said, nodding. “Please don’t worry about her. Dannella and her sister and her sister’s mate will be well taken care of.”
“Thank you,” Ky said, and meant it. Even if Dani never wanted to see him again, at least he didn’t need to fear for her well-being. He was grateful for that.
Dani, he thought. I’m so sorry. I hope someday you can forgive me but I understand if you can't.