A loud explosion shook the walls.

“Can you see?” Ava tried to crane her neck forward, only to be shoved down by a burly hand.

“Stay down,” barked Darvish. He might be upset over his recent fight with Barrett, but his focus remained laser-sharp. “Valdus will kill me if he sees even a speck of powder on you.”

She hid an eye roll. Crammed behind the massive rock, there was no way anything was reaching her. No way she could see what was happening, either.

The nearby droids buzzed louder. The hiss of a laser strike.

Another explosion shook the room. “Oh, Janus. That sounded like a droid going down, right? Nothing else.” Terror, thick and viscous, flooded the back of her throat.

Valdus had only just recovered from the effects of her serum. Now, he was out there testing its efficacy. Putting himself directly in the way of the droids to see if they still had the capacity to trigger his tracker and light him up from the inside out. Or if—and she really hoped for this option—her serum had worked.

Please, let it have worked. Please.

“I think we should get a better view of what’s happening.” She gave it her best shot.

Her assigned protector just grunted. He and the others clearly weren’t happy with babysitting duty.

She couldn’t say she blamed them. She hadn’t been too pleased either when Valdus let her leave quarters with him only to bench her behind a massive rock overhang at the first sign of droid buzzing.

But she understood. She hadn’t spent two years practicing how to outmaneuver the droid’s laser strikes nor did she have a potential neutralized tracker inside her veins. The last thing he needed right now was a distraction.

Another explosion.

She twitched in her small space, her head lifting on instinct.

Darvish’s massive hand pressed against her scalp, shoving her down once more—until she saw a figure emerge at the end of the corridor.

Batting her babysitter’s hand aside, she popped up. “Well?”

“It worked.” Something that almost look like a smile twisted Ryker’s face, making him look almost handsome.

Dizzy relief sparked through her. Followed by pure triumph.

She searched the corridor for the only one she wanted to see.

“What the hell happened to your eyebrows?” Darvish’s words drew her attention.

Ryker cursed, his hands flying to his face.

“There were a few kinks.” Valdus strode into view, eyebrows intact, thank goodness. But there was a dark discoloration at his forearm that hadn’t been there before.

“You’re hurt.” Relief forgotten, she rushed forward. “What happened?” Seizing his hand, she turned it over, tracing along the unharmed skin at the sides of the burn. Her already overworked heart couldn’t take another scare like earlier. “Does it hurt a lot?”

“Not with you touching me like that.” His voice was low and husky.

She looked up into hungry eyes.

Another rush of relief, this one of a different sort.

Words could not describe how full her heart had been when he’d woken up and seemed no worse for wear. And then he’d touched her, made her moan and shatter, and she’d wanted to weep with the joy of having his hands on her, his cock deep inside her, his glittering artic gaze locked with hers as they came together. Something she’d been terrified she would never experience again.

“You did good.” Tiny lines at his eyes crinkled as he smiled and her heart skipped, her earlier worries melting away.

“You’re sure the tracker has been fully neutralized?”

“One hundred percent sure.” His grin widened. He was always beautiful, but when he smiled like that it left her breathless. “I watched the droid power up, lock on the tracker, and then nothing. It was working so hard to get a response it didn’t even initiate defensive maneuvers as I hurled my ax and sent it crashing into the wall. Same thing happened twice more.” He picked her up, spun her around. “It worked. You did it.”

She’d done it.

Her heart beat fast.

For the first time, it was beginning to feel real that they might actually have a chance of beating Hollisworth.

And that she’d have her shot at her own serum.

True freedom was finally within reach.

“I’m so glad you’re okay.” Flying high, indifferent to the others’ stares—they’d all heard them earlier anyway—she rose to her tiptoes and, wrapping her arms around his neck, drew him down until she could press her lips to his.

With a groan, he took over, his tongue slipping out to tangle with hers. Wild. Raw. Triumphant.

Together, they were making this work.

When he finally released her, she was dazed, and surprised to rediscover there were others around them. She didn’t even bother blushing. Her Commander could definitely kiss.

“Yeah, I’m fine, too,” grumped Ryker. “Who needs eyebrows anyway?”

She hid a smile. He did look ridiculous.

“Lucky for you, you still have your charm.” Darvish’s straight face, hidden mostly by his bushy beard, gave nothing away.

The others laughed.

Her lips curved up as well.

She wanted more such moments for them all.

The weight of responsibility hit her again.

If her plan succeeded, she’d be able to give them their best chance at freedom. If not, they’d all die.

“We need to return and start injecting the others with the serum.” Valdus was back in commander mode once more. “I’ll want to send someone to the other team as well. We can inject them while they work the mines. As long as we’re discreet, we should be able to do it right under those damn droids’ missing noses.”

“I’ll need to weaken it a bit. I don’t want anyone else experiencing what you did or worse.”

“We don’t have a lot of time to delay.” Concern laced Valdus’s voice. “Nor can we afford to weaken it so much that it doesn’t work.”

“I’ll move quickly. And do my best to ensure the main components are still strong enough to get the job done.” She wasn’t budging on this.

He drew in a long breath. She could feel him weighing the pros and cons, the risks on each side. “Fine. But we move fast.”

“Agreed.” She let out a breath she hadn’t known she’d been holding. “I’d like to collect more to make a stronger batch as well.” She lowered her voice. “One I can use on myself.”

He stiffened. “We’ll discuss this further back at quarters.”

“Are you sure that’s wise? We’ll need to have it figured out before you send more men to get the needed supplies. Time is of the essence.”

She wanted the heat nanotechnology out of her as soon as possible.

“I said we’ll discuss it later.” His harsh bark had her lips flat-lining.

Here, finally, was the chance she’d been waiting for—and he was shutting her down. “We have a deal.”

Valdus nostrils flared, his eyes darker than she’d ever seen.

“What’s going on?” As always, Ryker was ready to pounce on any obvious tension.

She ignored him, her gaze locked with her so-called partner. “I’ve almost given you what you need. You’re free from the tracker and soon your men will be as well.” She rolled her shoulders back. “I want my chance as well.”

He surged forward, looming over her. “You could die.”

Ryker and the others suddenly got very busy elsewhere.

She was thankful for the privacy, even if she suspected they could hear every word.

Gathering her thoughts, she stared up at him. “I could. That’s been a risk all along. One you were willing to take not too long ago.”

Pain flared in his gaze, but it was quickly gone, replaced by fury. “And now I’m not. I thought…I thought I could handle you taking that kind of risk, but I can’t.”

“It’s not up to you.”

“It damn well is.” He stalked past.

She hurried after him, seizing his arm.

He swiveled round so fast she almost slammed into him. “Is my touch really so awful that you’re willing to risk death?”

She drew up short. Shock slamming through her. “It’s not that at all. Being with you…” She lowered her voice, aware of the curious eyes fixed on them, “being with you is the best thing that’s ever happened to me. Your touch, what you’ve showed me…nothing compares,” her voice broke, “but that’s got nothing to do with this.”

His eyes locked with hers. “It could be. If you let it.”

She reared back, surprise morphing into anger. “What do you mean? You know how important this is. I have to try and get it out.”

“Why? You said yourself the serum for the nanotechnology was different than the tracker. Stronger. You saw what happened to me.” Hot accusing eyes bored into her. “You’re risking too much. Some things are not worth dying for.”

She jerked her arm from his hold. “And some things are.”

“If you’re dead, freedom won’t make a difference.”

She tipped her chin. “It’s a risk I have to take.”

“You’re not thinking clearly.”

“My mind has never been more lucid and, even if I wasn’t, it’s not your choice to make.” Anger ripped through her.

“That’s where you’re wrong.” He’d puffed up above her. “I am still in charge.”

The sharp blade of betrayal cut deep. “Are you saying I’m still your captive? That I have no choice? That you’re reneging on our deal?”

Frustration etched itself in the tight lines at the corner of his mouth. “I won’t let you risk your life. I can’t.”

“Are you so sure it’s me and not the men and the mission you’re so worried about?” Anger opened the floodgates, bringing foolish insecurities to the fore. “Afraid I’ll die and you’ll lose your bait if everything goes to shit and you have to trade me after all?”

Fury flared in his gaze. “I’d never do that to you.”

“Really? Because it definitely doesn’t feel right now as if you have my best interests at heart.”

He jerked her close, his breath a caress across her cheek. “I’m thinking of us. Of living without you in this world.”

Her heart stuttered.

“Is the heat so bad if you have someone to share it with?” There was a vulnerability in his stare she hadn’t seen before. “Someone who would do anything to keep you from pain?”

His words tore at her soul, cut into her. Every single word true. He’d taken heat and made it into something beautiful between them.

But Hollisworth’s legacy was still inside her.

“Please,” she looked up at him, “it’s not that easy.” If she didn’t destroy the nanotechnology, her husband would still own a part of her. She’d still carry him inside.

Valdus’s jaw flexed, his gaze shifting away—but not before she caught the flash of hurt. Of disappointment.

Her wounds bled more.

Still, she forced the words out. “Command me not to do this and we’re done.” Her voice low and sharp with conviction. “I’ve had too many people tell me what I can and can’t do.”

Eyes narrowed. “This is about you and me. Don’t bring anyone else into it.”

“How can I not? He is here.” She pressed her palm against her womb. “Inside my blood. A taint, a shadow I can’t shake. Every time I go through the damn heat he wins.” She was desperate to explain, hating the growing distance in her lover’s gaze, the way he felt a million miles away though he was standing right next to her. “He steals a part of me. Makes me vulnerable.”

“You think it’s any different for me?” he growled. “It’s not the heat that makes you vulnerable. It’s the heart.” His fist slammed against his chest. “And it’s too late for me. I’m already at risk. Heat or not, you’re in my blood. A force I can’t resist. A compulsion I don’t want to shake.”

Her heart fluttered, her voice breaking.

She didn’t want to lose him. But she didn’t want to lose her chance to be the woman she wanted to be, either. “I…I can’t be someone’s captive yet again.”

“Even if you’re not the only one?”

Her chin snapped up.

He’d been waiting for her to look at him.

“I’m just as shackled,” he whispered, his lips a fraction from her skin, the look in his eyes…intent.

“I…I don’t understand.”

“You think you’re the only one caught like this? You think you’re the only one consumed with need?” His jaw was tight, his eyes shadowed, as he loomed over her. “I may not have a bind around my wrist or that heat technology in my blood, but it might as well be.” Leaning in, the ridge of his thick cock pressed into her belly. “I am responsible for my men. Good soldiers who deserve my sole attention, who deserve me doing whatever I can to get them out. Brothers who I’ve sworn to protect above all else—and yet here I am.” Hungry eyes dropped to her lips. “Worrying about whether I’ve hurt your feelings. Thinking of ways to make you happy.” He sucked down a slow breath, his voice dropping. “Craving you like you’re the last sliver of fresh air in this hellhole. Like you’re the warm ray of sunlight on my skin.”

The walls around her heart cracked, the dark pain within lighting at the beauty of his words. Not simply when the ferocity of lust and need was upon him, but under the harsh light of reason.

No one had ever spoken to her like that.

Poetry from a brutal, battle-tested warrior.

Like so much of Dragath25, beauty came when you least expected.

He’d shown her the stars and now this.

Fingers trembling, she reached for him. “Valdus…”

He stepped back. “If you take the risk and you die, we have nothing. Think about that before you decide. Think about whether what we have together is already winning.”

Her hand dropped to her side. The distance between them might as well have been a chasm. “I...” She swallowed hard. “I need some time.”

Disappointed eyes met hers. “That’s the one thing we don’t have.”

“Help! Help me!” The frantic words echoed down the corridor. From a familiar voice.

“Pratt?” She was scrambling forward in the next breath.

Only to be yanked back by a powerful hand.

“Careful.” Bright blue eyes scanned the room. Even now, his concern for her trumped all. “It could be a trap.”

She sucked down a breath, tried to reason past the desperation that exploded at the delay. “But what if it’s not?”

Scowl deepening, he drew his weapon and stepped in front. “Stay behind me and we’ll find out.”