After transporting to the Dauntless, they set a course for the new colony. During the short trip, Ram and Eryn spent the hours quietly recuperating from their ordeal. The recovery time would have been hastened if they could have spent it naked in each other’s arms, but their ordinarily cooperative infant daughter, who seemed unaffected by the events of the day, was in a playful, energetic mood and wouldn’t nap. This left the only separation cures available to them fully-clothed, cuddling among the three of them, and never letting the other beyond the reach of their clasped hands. And kissing, lots of openmouthed tongue-tangling kisses which Cierra seemed to find amusing. She giggled or blew bubbles, ruining the passionate mood, and they ended up chuckling against the other’s lips unable to resist the infectious laughter of their adorable baby girl.

Fortunately, this closeness was enough for their symptoms to diminish.

Arriving at New Earth late that afternoon, they transported the other three shaken up, yet uninjured, women and the two pilots down to the planet. Lana insisted on leaving, too, no matter Trask’s exhaustive efforts to convince her otherwise.

When Eryn escorted her friend to the transporter to see her off, the general was conspicuous in his absence. Despite her insistence that she wanted this, Lana’s eyes glistened with unshed tears, and she appeared wounded, like a woman with a shattered heart.

She tried to hide her pain when the technician indicated he was ready to send her home, but the smile she plastered on her face as she said her good-byes didn’t fool Eryn.

“Being with you is always an adventure, Chief.” She took her hand and gave it a hard squeeze. “I’m so relieved Ram came to our rescue, both with the frogmen and before you reached Primaria and faced the council.”

“You were right,” Eryn told her ruefully. “I should have sent word to him. If I had, all this could have been avoided. But if you say I told you so, I’ll smack you where you stand.”

Her friend’s smile brightened a little at her teasing, though it didn’t reach her eyes.

“Lana,” she began, giving it one last try. “You’re leaving with things unresolved with Trask. Are you sure this is what you want?”

“Eryn,” she breathed out wearily. “I didn’t say I told you so. Return the favor by not going there about Trask. My mind is made up.”

“I saw you in the hallway on the alien ship. He wants you, and, from the way you molded against him without a speck of daylight between you, the feeling is mutual.”

Looking away, she murmured, “You don’t always get what you want in life, though, do you?”

“You admit there are feelings there?”

“I never denied it. Nonetheless, we aren’t mates any longer, so how I feel has no bearing.”

She started to argue further but didn’t get a chance because Lana stepped forward and enveloped her in a tight hug.

“I’ll miss you, Eryn, even if you can be a major pain in the ass.”

The affectionate insult prompted a laugh. “Funny, that’s what I always thought about you. But I won’t be gone forever.”

“Yeah, except I’ve been thinking about returning home when the Odyssey leaves for Earth next week.”

Being a few days away from her general was one thing, six long weeks quite another—which explained her melancholy mood.

“You wanted to be a part of the integration,” Eryn reminded her. “Why go now when things are just getting rolling?”

“You know why,” she whispered with a sad, watery smile.

“Don’t you dare leave before I get back.”

“Ah, honey, if things go well with the council, you won’t be back.” She sniffled and, after hugging her once more, entered the transport chamber, taking her place on one of the eight lighted rings. “Take good care of your precious girl. I’ll miss her sweet smile and her wonderful baby smell. She’s like a little piece of heaven.”

With tears glistening on her cheeks, she disappeared in a shimmering haze and a flash of bright light.

Heart aching and missing her friend already, she joined Ram where he waited by the doors, Cierra contentedly tugging on his ponytail. He didn’t seem to notice, his eyes locked on her as he held out his free arm, inviting her in for a comforting hug.

She didn’t hesitate, wanting to be nowhere else.

---

The quiet threesome made their way through the winding corridors of the huge ship, back to their quarters. Eryn appreciated the silence Ram gave her and the strength of a supportive arm around her waist. Cierra was quiet, too, as though sensing her mama’s sadness.

When they rounded the last corner, they found Trask pacing in front of their door. “She’s gone?” he asked first thing, not bothering with a greeting.

His turbulent eyes keyed in on Eryn. She noticed the light bluish green, an extraordinary color normally, had darkened with his turmoil to a deep forest green. Where Ram’s glowed brighter with extremes of emotion—anger, joy, passion—the general’s became as dark and stormy as the oceans back home.

She nodded, jumping the next instant as he exploded in rage and punched a hole clear through the wall in the corridor. Cierra screamed in fright.

“Trask, get control!” Ram demanded as he tried to soothe their daughter.

“I’m sorry.” Immediately contrite, he rubbed his hands over his face and breathed deep. “I’m at my wit’s end and have no idea what to do to convince her she is meant to be mine.”

“Believe me, I know how you feel. It wasn’t so long ago when I stood where you are now.” He passed the sniffling, though much calmer, baby to Eryn then moved to his friend. “Come inside and we’ll talk. I have some aged vilo which will help.”

“I’m not sure I’m in any shape to talk.”

“Then have a drink, and I’ll do the talking. I’ve noticed some disturbing trends that may have something to do with Lana and her refusal to recognize your match.”

“Truly?”

“Yes.” He waved his hand over the sensor, put his arm out for her and Cierra to enter first, and the two men followed them in.

“I need to feed her and put her to bed.”

Ram nodded to Trask’s hand, where blood dripped from his quickly bruising knuckles. “Before you do, bring the emergency kit from the bathing room.”

“His hand needs ice.”

“I was about to see to it, little rebel.”

---

Trask could not sit still, pacing until Ram expected to see a rut forming in the floor in front of the couch. He stopped long enough to bandage his bleeding hand and, at his host’s insistence, used the ice pack, but only for a moment, abandoning it for a tall glass of vilo.

“Tell me about this trend.” Trask drained his first drink and poured another.

Ram didn’t have to remind him about what happened to Eva and Kerr since he bore witness to almost all of it, including nearly losing their Princep. He was also aware of the incident with the poisoning of the males’ food, making them all ill at once, and leaving the women in full control of the Odyssey.

“We know the Purists were responsible for the plot against Eva but never found the culprit behind the poison plot on the females’ ship.” Seated on the dark-gray couch, and finding it not nearly as comfortable as what he’d left behind at the new colony, or at his home in Ariad, he leaned forward, his elbows on his knees, tension over the situation not affording him much opportunity to relax anyway. For several moments, he watched his superior continue to move with restless agitation around the room then got to the heart of the matter. “Roth feels strongly whoever did it set Maggie up to take the blame. And it almost worked. They were still at odds, and he suspected her first when none of the women became ill.”

“Yes, and he had to talk fast to get out of the hole he dug for himself on that one,” Trask allowed.

“If he believed her at fault, even if she was found innocent later, the rift could have been insurmountable.”

Halting mid-stride, the general turned to face him. “You think someone is deliberately interfering between mates? To what end?”

“These early incidents could very well have been the Purists. But the strange occurrences continue with Eryn.”

“How so?” Trask asked.

“Juna suspects the pregnancy tests she used with Eryn were tampered with, and there is the false summons my mate intercepted, conveniently with me gone, and her subsequent capture by the Denastrians who happened to be in the right place at the right time. They’re not known for their intelligence, so I think someone tipped them off. That’s too many coincidences for my comfort.”

“Mine, too,” Trask agreed. He began to pace again, this time slower, appearing more focused. “And you think this has something to do with what is going on between me and Lana? Or rather, what isn’t.”

“Think about it. Someone has been systematically trying to drive us apart. We are all in Kerr’s inner circle, have his ear, and have mates of the original eight. The plot may have changed as time has passed, but the intention is the same.”

Coming to a stop at the window, Trask stared out. Ram followed his gaze to where the green orb that was the earthling’s new planet grew incrementally smaller. His eyes shifted to his friend’s rigid stance, knowing how he must feel, leaving Lana, who he believed was his mate, behind.

“We need to take this to the Princep,” Trask stated, still gazing out, his voice flat without a hint of inflection.

Ram noticed the green planet had disappeared from view. He hurt for his friend, but with this ongoing mystery on their hands, was at a loss how to help him.

---

“Kerr is aware of some of this, but not the new evidence, or that outside entities were drawn into this. It will make a difference with how we deal with the Denastrians. And they may have information about this contact.”

“You mean you didn’t blow them to bits?” Eryn commented from just inside the doorway.

“Not yet.” He held his hand out to her. When she sat down beside him, he wrapped an arm around her shoulders and hauled her up against his side. “Trust me when I say, anyone who had a hand in this, is as you say, toast.”

“Hm, fried frog legs in this case, which I never really cared for,” she replied dryly.

Trask laughed, although he could tell his old friend didn’t feel it, and knew he hadn’t in a long while.

“We’ll meet with Kerr soon after we arrive,” he stated. Leaving the window, he came to stand in front Eryn. Big and formidable most of the time, Ram knew his friend had a soft spot for females. He showed a glimpse of it as he smiled down at Eryn, patting her cheek in a brotherly gesture. “I’m glad you and your little one are safe and back in Ram’s care.”

“Thank you, sir,” she replied, her smile warm and open. “I’ll always be grateful to you and your warriors who arrived like the cavalry with guns blazing.”

This time his amusement was genuine, and he commented with a broad smile. “I don’t know what this is. Since it sounds like a compliment, I’ll take it, adding that your mate had a hand in it, too. A big one.”

“I know. My personal thanks to him are definitely forthcoming.”

He chuckled, while shooting Ram an envious grin. “I’ll leave you to it, lucky bastard.”

After he walked Trask out, he returned to find Eryn blushing scarlet over her candor.

“Sorry. When he isn’t bashing holes in walls, he’s not so intimidating, and rather sweet. I guess my tongue got away from me.”

He barked with laughter. “Sweet? I doubt anyone has ever referred to the general in that way. He is terrifying when the situation warrants, like me. Which leads me to another topic to discuss.” He scooped her up, and suspecting she misconstrued the topic he had in mind when she didn’t utter a sound of protest, he carried her to their bedroom at the far end of the hall, well away from where Cierra napped.

With the door shut, he set her on her feet. “She should sleep long enough for us to take care of this.”

“I certainly hope so.” She slid her hands up his chest.

“Good. If you cooperate with your spanking, we can get on to the other things I want to do to you sooner.”

“My spanking?”

Ah, he had been right. Now would come the protests.

“What did I do?”

“The question is what you didn’t do. You should have contacted me first thing when you got the council’s message, one intended for me, by the way.”

“It was blinking when I came home. I couldn’t leave it like that for two days!”

“You could,” he countered, “and next time you will.” He went on listing her misdeeds. “You lied, using both my name and position to board the shuttle. And bulldozed over both pilots by flashing those big green eyes and your sweet-as-pie grin.”

She opened her mouth to argue.

“Don’t deny it. I had a visit from a very loud, very angry Captain Noran earlier today.”

Caught, she bit her lip, not meeting his eyes at first, which he found incredibly alluring.

“You know about that, huh?”

He considered her for a moment, impressed by her daring. She was also arousing as hell, with her shyness, and her feeble attempts to talk her way out of a spanking she had rightfully earned. And the way her perfect white teeth clamped onto her full lower lip had his cock hard like an iron rod. But he was determined to give this lesson so she wouldn’t do anything like this again.

“You left New Earth without telling me.”

“I did, but I didn’t think I had any other choice.”

“You had plenty of choices. Like contacting your mate instead of taking this on alone, for example.”

“I sent a message.”

“When? A moment before you climbed aboard that shuttle with our daughter?”

She flushed, which told him his suspicion was correct.

“A message which in this case didn’t matter, because I was summoned back from my mission to deal with an emergency and didn’t have time to check. The emergency turned out to be you.”

She looked away, squirming on his lap. Her soft bottom against his thighs and rising erection something akin to torture, because this near, he wanted her already. But this was important, and his need would have to wait until he addressed her risk-taking. Not allowing her to hide from him, he caught her chin in his hand, firmly bringing her face up to his, and forcing her to meet his gaze.

“From this point forward, you and Cierra will stay on whatever planet I put you, until I personally permit you to leave. Here is a hint, little rebel. I intend to be the one to accompany you and keep you safe. If that isn’t possible, I will send a contingent of trusted men to escort you. If it is the latter, however, I will communicate this to you first. Any other means—whether by note, special messenger, or an engraved invitation from the Princep, unless he delivers it himself—should be suspect. Is this understood?”

“It is now, but you can’t spank me for not knowing before. That’s not fair.”

“It was implied!” he replied, just shy of a shout, his anger and the incredible fear that she was lost to him, which he’d masked during the rescue and aftermath, coming to the forefront. “Furthermore, you do not take it upon yourself to sacrifice yourself for me.”

“No, I can agree to staying put, but I won’t agree to this last rule.”

“Why the hell not?”

“Because I love you, and I will do what is in my power to protect you.”

“You have it backwards, little rebel. I love you, too, but it is my job to protect you. I have said so and been trying to do both for months, but your stubbornness and impulsivity keep getting in my way.”

“You said no such thing,” she shot back, her green-gold eyes shining bright.

“I did, Eryn.”

“I would remember, Ram.”

“I cannot count the times when I called you mate or declared you were mine or made it clear I mean to protect you.”

“That isn’t what I meant,” she replied in a small voice, while looking away, which wasn’t like her.

He nudged her chin up with his hand. “What, then?”

“Until yesterday, in the frog commander’s chamber, you never told me you loved me.” A sob catching in her throat made her words come out broken. “In fact, when I told you weeks ago, you said nothing.”

“You are my mate, which I proclaimed from the beginning.” He stated this, certain it was explanation enough. A mate bond was unbreakable, and stronger than a few sentimental words.

“Being your mate doesn’t mean you love me.”

“It does in my world, Eryn. After all this time, how do you not understand that?”

She blinked, gaping at him for a moment. Then a look of clarity crossed her beautiful face. “I think I’m beginning to now, but I’m not Primarian, Ram. It may seem silly to you, but I need the words or else, how am I to know? Men don’t transform like women do. I can’t tell by your hair or a marking, if you love me and have accepted me.”

“I beg to differ.” He reached up and pulled the band from his long hair.

Eryn stared, having no idea what he was up to until he turned and parted his hair in back exposing the thick streak in a lighter color underneath.

“Oh, my God. Your hair. It’s as red as mine. But when? How? I thought only the women…” She stopped gushing when he turned back, frowning down at her. “Why didn’t you tell me?”

“I just noticed it this morning. Besides, it’s embarrassing!”

“To have hair like mine?”

“Yes.” Noting how her face fell, he recanted. “No, I didn’t mean it like that.” Making a

mess of his explanation, he took a breath. “I’m not embarrassed by you, galita, never that, but imagine what it means to be the Master Warrior and the lone Primarian male to my knowledge to have transformed like a female.”

“Oh, honey.” She bit her lip to stifle a giggle.

“It’s not funny, mate.”

“Okay,” she agreed, but couldn’t contain her mirth. It burst from her uncontrollably and lit up her face. As it went on and on, she bent forward, struggling to catch her breath. When she did, he grabbed her wrist and pulled her to him.

“Are we clear on the fact that I love you?”

She sobered. Leaning into him, her hand rose to his cheek. “Yes.”

“Good, because as my mate, you are a part of me, as I am a part of you. We have outward proof with my red hair and your golden eyes, but our intimate connection goes beyond words and signs.”

“Oh, Ram…” She went up on her toes to touch her mouth to his. A sweeter kiss he’d never had from her. He wanted to take more, but they had unfinished business he’d vowed not to put off further.

“With that settled, let’s see this spanking done. Then I’ll show with my body how much I love my little mate.”

In a moment, he had her over his thighs, with her gauzy skirt up around her waist.

“Now?” she protested. “But, Ram, we just had a breakthrough. We should be having makeup sex, not a spanking!”

“You earthlings have an odd understanding of discipline.” He brought his hand down hard, twice on each side. Her rounded cheeks bounced off his palm and a blush of color bloomed on her skin. Beautiful.

“Ow! Not so hard.”

“Exactly my point. A spanking is not foreplay, Eryn. At least not this one. I’ll demonstrate that some other time. For now, I’m trying to teach you something.”

“I’m sorry I laughed at your red hair.” Except her apology sounded insincere since she continued to giggle.

“To be clear, this punishment isn’t for your amusement at my expense. It’s for the rather extensive litany of offenses I just listed.”

Several more smacks followed on each side, his hard palm landing repeatedly in the same spot.

“Ouch, Ram, that stings. At least move them around.”

“Again, mate, I believe you’re missing the point of this spanking.” In a flurry, he rained down swat upon swat, moving up the curve of one globe, turning it a rosy pink then mirroring the same course down the other full cheek. He continued until she squirmed beneath his restraining arm and was appropriately contrite, her giggling stopped.

“Ram, please, I’m sorry,” she gasped. “I vow never to run off again.”

“Now, we’re getting somewhere.”

He placed two more swats low on her backside, where the curve met her thigh, brisk and with sufficient bite she would remember her vow beyond this moment. Then he paused, running his hand across the inflamed skin of her hot bottom and upper thighs, soothing the sting with a light massage.

“What have you learned, Eryn?” His desire for her pressed hard against his pants, and in turn, her belly.

“To stay put, to communicate with you, and you’re the boss, always,” she recapped, a sigh escaping when he dipped his fingertips between her thighs and traced the wet seam between her legs. They trailed upward along her cleft, only to retrace the path in reverse to play over her swollen, dewy lips once again.

Ram didn’t miss when she inched her thighs apart, inviting more. His mate might complain, but a trip across his knees aroused her greatly.

“Very good, little one. Anything else before I let you up and fuck you until you scream my name?”

She wiggled around until she could look at him over her shoulder. “Yes, I’ve learned that even though he doesn’t say it much, my Master Warrior really does love me.”

He flipped her upright, and seated her on his thigh, encircling her in a big bear hug and burying his face in her sweet-scented hair. “I do, galita, more than you’ll ever know.”

Beaming at him, her hands slid up and around his neck, sinking into the long hair in the back. He shifted her until she straddled his thighs. It took him just seconds to release his hard shaft from his trousers then he lifted her again, bringing her down in a slick glide on his erect cock. Her head fell forward, and she buried her face in the side of his neck, groaning her need until it vibrated along his skin.

Unable to wait any longer, he cupped her heated bottom and urged her to move. Clutching his shoulders, she found the pace, gliding up slowly then sinking all the way down, engulfing him with her warmth and wetness.

Since she was doing well on her own, he moved one hand to the back of her head, fisting in her hair and tugging, firmly yet gently, until he could gaze into her eyes.

“If I don’t tell you enough, remind me, mate. I am a warrior, a man of action not words, and this”—he surged up inside her, robbing her of breath—“among many other ways, will show you every day how much I love you.”

“I’m a warrior, too, but a female first, and it would be nice if you said it, too.”

“So noted, mate. Whatever you need.”

“I need you, Ram, and I love you more than I ever thought possible.”

“Thank the heavens for that.”

Hastened breaths and skin slapping against skin became the only sounds from that point on as he tasted and claimed from above with his tongue, while his cock fiercely took from below, both possessing every glorious inch of her.