Reeve couldn’t get into his body.
He could see it lying there, inert on the sensu-bed, could see Olivia and Commander Sylvan speaking as they stood beside his limp form. But he couldn’t get in—couldn’t get past the invisible barrier that had somehow formed between him and it.
Have to get in! Have to get back! He was nearly frantic with worry. Not just because he seemed locked out of his own body, but because of what might be happening to Nallah right now.
What if the bastard hits her or decides to rape her again? What if he kills her? I’m not there to stop him, not there to protect her. Oh Goddess, please…please!
Suddenly a powerful feminine presence was with him in the spirit plane. Reeve felt it enfold him like a warm blanket and some of his fear and anxiety left him.
“Fear not, Warrior,” a voice which seemed to come from everywhere and nowhere whispered to him. “I will help you re-enter your mortal shell so that you can save the one you love.”
“Goddess?” It must be her, Reeve thought, although he had never expected the Mother of All Life to answer him of all people. He’d mostly been praying out of sheer, blind terror.
“You would be surprised how many prayers I get in those circumstances.” There was dry humor in the warm, feminine voice. “But before I help you, I must ask for your pledge in return.”
“Anything,” Reeve promised at once. “Whatever you want me to swear to, I’ll swear it, Goddess. Please, just help me get back to Nallah in time. Help me save her from that evil bastard of a husband!”
“Normally I do not approve of one male taking another’s wife,” the Goddess said. “But in this case, I believe you are justified. However, Nallah is not the only female who needs to be saved from Hascion Five.”
“What do you mean?” Reeve asked, confused.
“You saw for yourself how women are treated there,” the Goddess told him. “How they are defiled and used as objects—such treatment displeases me.”
There was something in her tone that let Reeve know it was an understatement of massive proportions. It would have sent a shiver down his spine if he had been in his body. The Goddess was more than just displeased—if he was a male of Hascion Five he would be in fear for his life right now, hearing her speak that way.
“It’s true,” he said, agreeing with her. “They are female haters and abusers there. Women are treated like objects to be traded and used however the males deem fit. It sickens me.”
“So it should.” The Goddess’s tone was cold as ice, but Reeve was relieved to realize her anger was not directed at him. “I want you to undertake a mission—you and your fellow M-Kindred. Using the gifts that I have given you.”
“Of course, my Goddess. I am yours to command—I’ll do anything you say,” Reeve promised. “And I’ll get my Brothers of the M-Kindred to obey as well.”
“I know you will,” the Goddess murmured. “Very well, listen well before I return you to your body. Here is what I wish you to do…”
* * * * *
Olivia was startled when she heard a gasping sound coming from the inert form on the bed. Running over to check on Reeve, she nearly bumped heads with him when he sat straight up in the sensu bed, his black eyes wide.
“Quickly!” He looked from Olivia to Sylvan and began ripping the tubes which fed him nutrients and saline out of his arms. “Quickly, you have to fold space for me! I have to get back!”
“What happened?” Sylvan came over quickly, frowning.
“I did it—I fried their instruments and ruined their tech—the wormhole generator is dead.” Reeve stood up straight and nearly fell. He had been out of his body for over twenty-four solar hours and it didn’t seem to want to work right for him. With a visible effort, he righted himself and looked directly at Sylvan. “I did what you asked—now you have to help me save Nallah.”
“Nallah is the mate of the male you snatched, right?” Sylvan asked.
“He’s a fucking tyrant is what he is,” Reeve snarled. “Bastard is a rapist and an abuser and I wouldn’t put it past him to kill her. Please…” he grabbed Sylvan, his fists bunching in the front of his pale blue uniform shirt. “Please, help me save her! Please.”
“Of course we’ll help but we need to be careful,” Sylvan said, frowning. “We can’t just appear in their airspace—the Hascions will consider it an act of war and we’ve been trying to keep this whole operation quiet.”
“Hey, did someone here say they needed some stealth tech?” Baird, Sylvan’s half-brother and Olivia’s mate was suddenly lounging in the doorway.
Sylvan looked up, surprised. “Brother? How did you…?”
“Olivia called me.” Baird tapped the side of his head, indicating that the call had been mental, made through the soul bond he shared with his mate. “So—stealth tech?”
“Yes.” Sylvan nodded. “Yes, we need a way to get Reeve here down to the surface of Hascion Five so he can rescue a female he fears is in danger.”
“I don’t just fear it—I know it,” Reeve rasped hoarsely. “When he kicked me out of his body, that bastard Harryx said he was going home to go after her.”
“Kicked you out?” Baird frowned. “Wait a minute—you’re the snatcher Olivia’s been telling me about.”
“Yes, I am,” Reeve said shortly. “But I don’t have time to fight with you right now. Will you help me save the female I love or not?”
“Hell yes,” the big Beast Kindred growled. “Can’t leave a female in danger. But I promise there’ll be all Seven Hells to pay if you try to snatch me.”
“I have no interest in using your body for anything but having you fly me to Hascion Five,” Reeve snapped.
“In that case, let’s get out of here.” Baird gave Olivia a quick kiss. “I’ll be back soon, lilenta.”
“Be careful.” Olivia had a worried look in her eyes. “That place sounds awful, Baird!”
“Don’t worry, sweetheart—with this new tech we’ll be in and out before they even know it.” He kissed her again and then jerked his head at Reeve. “Come on, let’s go.”