Iskar twined his fingers with Mari’s as he led her down the ramp. After they’d returned to the Central Galleries in Teluria to retrieve Xalikian and the others, the trip back to base had been short and uneventful. “This is one of our bases on Earth,” he said quietly. “Our core unit is stationed here, but the land itself belongs to a human.”

“Oh?” That surprised Mari. She’d heard rumors of brave settlers who carved out their existences in the desert, but she’d always thought those stories were exaggerated.

“There are humans here. I am not the first Kordolian male to become mated to a human. In time, you will get the chance to meet all of them.”

“This is… amazing.” Shielding her eyes, she looked up at the clear blue sky. A child of the city, Mari had always felt at home with buildings crowding her on all sides. Even the narrowest and dingiest of streets provided some sense of security, a place to hide.

Here, there was nowhere to hide. The merciless desert stretched out around them for thousands of kilometers, and the vast blue sky soared overhead, reminding her that she was just an insignificant speck in the grand scheme of the Universe.

A flurry of activity surrounded the landing-pad. Kordolians wearing sleek black uniforms and dark glasses assembled beside the ship, greeting Iskar with some sort of fist-on-chest salute.

He said something to them in his strange, melodic tongue.

They responded with a single sharp word: “kyai!” At least, that’s what it sounded like. Mari assumed it meant yes in their language. They were respectful, deferent, obedient…

Interesting.

She cast a sly sidelong look at her mate. “What exactly did you say your official title was?”

“I didn’t.” He shrugged, the beginnings of a smile tugging at one corner of his mouth. “But if you must know, these days I am known as the Head of Security of the Darkstar Corporation.”

Head of Security? The reception they’d given him suggested he was much more than that. Mari frowned. “Corporation? This looks more like a military base to me.”

Iskar cryptic smile told her there was more to the place than he was letting on. “We are different things to different people, but you are correct, my love. This used to be a military base, but now that we are stateless, we have become mercenaries.”

Mari felt a little dazed, but in a good way. Everything was happening so fast. There was so much new information to take in, and the wide open space—the damn vastness of the place—was a little overwhelming.

She felt the opposite of claustrophobic—if there even was such a thing.

Iskar must have sensed her mood, because he put his arm around her shoulders. “Fear not, Mari. You are in the safest zone on the entire planet, and you are mine. They can’t touch you here.”

Beyond the landing-pad, a series of domed black structures rose out of the red sand. They were sleek and elegant and utterly alien, resembling the loops of some sinuous creature that was half-buried in the sand. The dusty ground rose into a low ridge, beyond which lay the outlines of various human-built structures. A sliver of green hovered on the heat-smudged horizon, promising a hidden oasis.

Never in a million years could she have imagined that such a place existed out here in the barren wastelands. It was inconceivable.

“Iskar, are you in charge of this place?” A little bit of awe crept into her voice, but Mari didn’t care. She loved unraveling the mystery that was this intense, stern-faced alien.

He chuckled. “I am not. My role is to oversee and co-ordinate the armed forces—mercenaries—operating on Earth, but I answer to a higher power. He and his unit stand alone; they do not answer to me.” The corner of his mouth quirked. “It is… complicated.”

“Huh.” Mari couldn’t imagine who Iskar might answer to. Who could possibly be more formidable than the man by her side?

Red dust swirled around their feet as the warm desert wind whipped at Mari’s hair. Iskar quickened his pace, and a sea of Kordolian warriors parted as they passed through, offering solemn salutes.

Holy moly. She was walking straight into a den of wolves.

The most amazing thing of all was that she trusted Iskar. She, a street thief who had long ago learned not to trust anyone, trusted this man.

“Where are we going?”

“Somewhere private,” he growled, “where you and I can be alone.”

Mari’s pulse quickened. “What about Artoo?”

“He is safe. The human women will take care of him. Knowing them, they will probably spoil him. Now come with me, Maribel, before I die from wanting you.” His hoarse confession sent a thrill of anticipation through her.

She could feel the intensity of his need. He was like a wire, wound so tightly he was about to snap. Tension resonated through his footsteps. It was in the hard lines of his body and in the gentle pressure of his arm as it tightened around her shoulders.

They walked across a straight black walkway that was several inches off the ground. It led to a windowless dome-like structure made of some seamless obsidian material.

At first, Mari couldn’t see a door, but when Iskar reached the edge of the structure, the wall unraveled, and thousands of metallic threads separated to form an oval-shaped entrance.

She gasped.

“After you.” He gestured toward the ominous entrance in a gentlemanly fashion. Beyond was a shadowy corridor. She couldn’t make out what was inside.

Mari froze. She turned and looked at Iskar, carefully studying his face.

I only just met you last night.

So much had happened since then. She’d been caught red-handed and forgiven, injured and healed, and abducted and rescued, all thanks to the man standing beside her.

The self-saboteur in her tried to plant the seeds of doubt. What if he’s tricking you? What if he wants to enslave you, just like that creepy rich man? You know what sort of reputation these Kordolians have.

Don’t be fucking stupid, Maribel. This is Iskar.

There was a reason she’d agreed to become his mate without a second thought.

But what about him?

“What do you see in me, Kordolian?” He was a powerful man with an army at his fingertips. She was just a street brat.

“A survivor. Someone who refuses to lie down and accept the fate that was forced upon her. A woman who is cunning, resourceful, and brave. A worthy mate.”

It was strangely humbling to hear this powerful creature speak of her in such terms, and then there was that expression on his face.

Savage. Possessive. Tender.

It took her breath away, and deep down in her heart, Mari understood that this man would never, ever hurt her.

She smiled, taking his hand as they stepped into the shadows.