Bri frowned as she walked into Nate’s office. She’d been checking in with him regularly but hadn’t had time yet today. Her Admiral had summoned her to discuss Darcone before she’d had a chance to decide what to say about the situation.

“I called you because I’m not sure what to do about this. Darcone is usually the one who stops the fights in the alien area, not the one who starts them.”

Bri nodded tightly. “I know. He’s not being himself.”

“Since I was already in Medical inspecting the damage to the alien he beat up, I checked Darcone’s wounds personally. I couldn’t even get a straight answer out of him. All I got was growling and nonsensical grunting.”

Bri ran a hand through her hair and frowned. “His bad attitude may be my fault. I threatened to throw him in a holding cell if he didn’t behave. He said the other guy insulted his clone—like it was something personal. Who let the word out about Maslin being a clone anyway?”

“Nothing stays sacred nor secret for long on this airship. I’ve learned not to bother trying to track down the gossip starters,” Nate grumbled. “Anyone put below deck is always a hot topic. We’ve gone years without retaining prisoners. Suddenly, in the last few months, we’ve had two. They’re all probably wondering if I’m going to put her to work on the ship as well.”

Bri chuckled and got a glare for her amusement. “Sorry—but you have to admit it’s funny that the aliens would be concerned about something like that.”

Nate snorted. “Any idea where Darcone’s head is right now? My instincts are telling me there’s something more going on with him than Darcone is saying.”

Bri briefly considered telling Nate that Darcone had spent the night with her, but she didn’t want her superior officer ordering her not to do it anymore. Normally, she’d have just blurted out the truth and damned the consequences.

Orders to avoid him weren’t necessary at the moment anyway because she was too pissed to want him back in her bed. But she wanted to keep the option open, in case Darcone got his alien shit together about her.

Maybe her being his first sexual relationship hadn’t meant as much as he’d led her to believe with his sexy whispers and near insatiability. Or maybe he’d been disappointed with her on some level he hadn’t felt able to discuss. Whatever the case, she intended to keep quiet about the change in their relationship until Darcone spilled his guts first. Until that happened, she’d just… well, she’d stall and keep it to herself.

Bri looked at her concerned Admiral. “Whatever else is going on for him, Darcone is definitely working though something concerning Maslin Jones. I’m starting to believe he considers her to be his child.”

“Or perhaps as a potential mate since human females don’t seem much interested in him,” Nate said, jumping to a more masculine conclusion. “He’s waited nearly 200 years for a female. Now here’s one showing up who appeals to him physically and she was supposed to be in the bride program. It wouldn’t surprise me to hear he was looking out for his own sexual interests in protecting her.”

Bri swallowed. She had so not intended to go down this path. “All I can say is I hope like hell that is not where Darcone’s head is about Maslin Jones.”

“Because you’re sexually interested in Darcone yourself?” Nate asked gently.

Bri sighed at his softened tone. “Yes, but please don’t lecture me about our incompatibility. I know I’m not his ideal female—far from it—but neither is Maslin Jones. His people expect him to mate someone docile and willing to be subservient to his domination. Neither of us would ever meet that sociological goal for him.”

“When Darcone growled at Maslin in a certain way, she calmed down immediately. He had a measure of control over her that he doesn’t have with you. You tend to growl back. In fact, you tend to growl back at him in his own language. Do you actually speak it? I always thought that was just an empty brag.”

“I speak it a little,” Bri hedged, leaving out the part about her growling being limited to the equivalent of swearing when angry and issuing a female’s mating challenge often used on his planet. Nate went on anyway like she hadn’t answered him. He was obviously just thinking aloud.

“Despite his recent aggressiveness, Maslin seemed to have a calming effect on his nature. His arrogance softens when he speaks of her. It may have just been me, but Darcone seemed far more contented today than I’ve known him to ever be.”

Damn it. Bri fought not to squirm in her seat. She’d been tortured and never talked, yet the urge to confess was nearly choking her. “What exactly are you saying, Nate?”

Nate shrugged and turned to stare out his window. “I’m saying that I think it bothers Darcone far more than he’s letting on that Maslin is in a holding cell instead of walking around free. If she hadn’t tried to kill you, I’d probably remand her to him.”

Bri studied her hands now folded in her lap. She hated being this introspective. Should she believe it was being with her that make Darcone content or was Nate right? Fuck. She should have just said yes when Darcone offered to kill Maslin for her. The clone was becoming a big pain in her ass.

“I guess there’s only one real way to test your theory,” Bri said, resigned to her fate.

“No, conditions are not right. We’re not turning her loose, Commander. I don’t trust her not to try and kill you again.”

Bri grunted. “Still got the restraints I wore? I can handle her if she has those on her.”

Nate shook his head. “We don’t know what she’s capable of and it’s far too dangerous to let her out of the cell. You have enough to worry about.”

“Like what, Admiral? I’m seeing new operating procedures get written. That’s boring as hell and you know it. Breaking up the fight this morning was the first real challenge I’ve had and that turned out fine. No one gave me any real shit. Hell, I even got a damn marriage proposal before I left.”

Nate’s jaw dropped. “One of the aliens asked to mate with you?”

Bri snorted. “He said his people would appreciate a warrior bride.” A chuckle dragged out of Nate even though Bri could tell he’d done his best not to find the humor in it. “Don’t worry. I told him no. You’re not getting rid of me that easily.”

“Fascinating. How did Darcone react to the alien’s proposal?” Nate asked.

Bri snorted before she laughed. “How else? He growled with menace at the guy. I told Darcone he had no right to growl at anyone. That was pretty much the end of the debate.”

“Do you really believe that was the end of it, Commander? I thought you were smarter than that about men,” Nate said, grinning at her guilty look.

“As I keep reminding my family, Darcone’s not a man. He’s an alien.”

Nate smiled. “Yes, he is, and I’ve learned a lot about aliens in the years I’ve spent on this ship. Intellectual progression of a species does not negate natural aggression. Pursuit of a female is hardwired into most humanoid males. Darcone is like an aggressive Earth male times ten. He’s just never had any reason to show that side of himself before. Don’t underestimate his masculinity if you decide to make him any sort of offer.”

Bri laughed and rubbed her nose. “Trust me, Admiral. I’m very aware of Darcone’s masculinity. I’ve been aware of it since I was in my teens.”

Nate laughed at the confession. “Every creature on this ship is aware of Darcone’s masculinity. How do you think he keeps all the other aliens in line so easily? He’s the alpha male alien. No one has ever contested that. From the stories I’ve heard, even his brother who was a foot taller and meaner looking didn’t get that same level of respect. Darcone is greatly feared by everyone on this ship except you.”

Her smile preceded her eye roll. “I get your point, Admiral. Darcone is the most bad-ass alien on this ship.”

“Ship, hell. He’s the most bad-ass alien visiting this planet,” Nate corrected.

If Darcone was the alpha male among the aliens, what did that say about her choosing him as a bed partner? Feeling the need to distract herself before she bragged about ending the alpha alien’s 200-year-old virginity, Bri nodded and let her gaze roam her superior’s too tiny office space.

Angus and Erin had more room in theirs than Nate did in his. So far she didn’t have an office. Did she need one as Commander?

Bri pulled her thoughts back to their discussion when Nate impatiently cleared his throat. “I guess I better get Darcone’s accidental progeny on our side as soon as I can. I’d hate to have to incarcerate your resident alpha male alien just to prove he has to follow the same rules as everyone else.”