Chapter 18
Drake woke with a start. He was disoriented for a moment at his surroundings, and then the memories started crashing over him.
He’d succumbed to his desires yet again and taken the beautiful Jamie Cohen. Although he couldn’t regret the pleasure they’d shared, he knew that it wouldn’t make things any easier. He’d barely been able to restrain himself from plunging inside her wet heat, but he knew that he had to.
If he’d thrust inside her again, if he’d felt her around him, warm and willing, he would not have been able to hold back his seed. While it may have made things easier in that the frenzy would have been abated, claiming her in that way would bring up a whole new bundle of problems.
Once a Zantharian male claimed his mate, he would never accept another. He would become protective to the point of insanity, not allowing her out of his sight except for short periods. He’d need her as much as he needed oxygen. And that would mean there was no way he’d be able to leave her on Earth while he set off to accomplish his mission.
But there was an even greater risk. If he did release his seed and it took root, a new life form would soon be growing inside of her. He didn’t think Jamie was the type to welcome that news, especially as she was currently engaged to another man. Her life didn’t seem ready to accept a mate who would seem overbearing at best, let alone a half-alien child.
And he refused to make that decision for her. So he’d pulled her away when she’d been ready to take him inside of her. Still, she’d given him such intense pleasure that he’d been exhausted and fallen asleep. And now, the hours fast slipping away, he had to get up and do the hardest thing he’d ever done.
He had to abandon her on Earth while he went to his death to protect their planets.
Rising from the bunk, he made his way out of the chamber and into the bridge of the small ship. He was surprised to see Jamie’s form at the console, and data spinning across the screen. She swiveled around when she heard him approaching, a small look of guilt on her face.
Herman was nestled in her arms, and the robot let out a series of annoyed beeps.
Drake suddenly felt nervous, facing his lover. “I’m sorry,” he said softly. “I hadn’t slept in a couple of days, and I guess it just caught up with me.”
“No worries,” she said, a small smile appearing on her face.
“What are you doing?”
Jamie motioned to the robot. “Herman thought we might be able to help you by reviewing the data you got from NASA and Lakewood’s labs.”
Lights flashed over the robot’s surface. “I believe I have uncovered something of interest, but I need more time for analysis.”
Drake moved to the console and pulled up the navigation display. “Unfortunately, we don’t have much time. I need to get Jamie home.”
“I would not recommend that.”
He was surprised by the robot’s response. Had Jamie spent the time he’d been sleeping convincing Herman to join her side?
“Despite your recommendation, I’m afraid I’ve already decided.”
“Well I haven’t,” Jamie piped up. “I want to hear what he has to say.” She remained sitting in his seat, so Drake crossed his arms and stared down at them.
“Your current plan of attempting a rescue of Dr. Lakewood alone has a high probability of failure. Taking another person with you increases your chances of success by orders of magnitude.”
“Is that right?” What the hell was this robot talking about?
“Yes. I’ve done the calculations repeatedly.” Herman’s lights blinked with authority.
“And did your calculations include the probability of Jamie being captured by the enemy?” Drake couldn’t control the anger that rose up inside him.
“Yes. I will admit, capture has a high probability as well. But your chance of success alone is less than .2 percent.”
“Ridiculous,” Drake said. “What data are you basing this on? I doubt you found anything in the NASA files or Lakewood’s shit to extrapolate that conclusion from.”
“Correct,” Herman replied. “The data I’ve used is your own bio-readings.”
“What?” Drake was shaken. The robot had been scanning him?
“Your readings indicate that you are unable to complete this mission alone in the time you have remaining.”
“Remaining until what?” Jamie’s tone was anxious.
“Until he collapses and likely expires.”
“What the hell are you saying?” Jamie’s face was stricken. “He’s going to…die?”
“Correct.”
The robot’s matter-of-fact tone made the words echo in Drake’s head. Although he knew the end result of an unsatisfied mating frenzy, somehow hearing it from the robot made it all the more real.
“The chance of his expiration before completion of the mission is over 99%.”
Jamie stood at last, setting the robot on the seat she’d abandoned. “What’s he talking about?” She stared at him. “Does it have something to do with your skin color? It hasn’t shifted since it’s turned black. What’s going on?”
Drake shook his head. He hadn’t expected Herman to expose him. Nor had he expected having to explain himself to Jamie. Fuck.
“He’s incorrect. This doesn’t change anything.”
“The hell it doesn’t!” Jamie grabbed his arm. “I know something is going on. Tell me!”
I can’t! he wanted to scream. Instead, he ignored her. Pulling himself from her grip, he moved the robot off his chair and sat down to input coordinates at the console.
“Drake.” Her voice was coated in steel. “You can’t do this.”
“I have to.”
Herman let out a warning bleep. “You have explained the risk to both our planets. I believe I can come up with a plan that will be successful, but it requires more than one person to pull it off.”
Drake shook his head. “I’m not taking her with me, Herman. That’s final.”
“This is bullshit.” Jamie used all of her strength to spin him around to face her. “Where do you get off, being all high and mighty? You can go throw your life away for nothing, but I can’t come with you and give us an actual chance of succeeding? You’re being an idiot!”
“STOP!”
He immediately regretted yelling when he saw her flinch. Drake stood, pulling her into his arms. “Taking you with me is an unacceptable risk.”
“You going without me is an unacceptable risk!” She grabbed his face, pulling him down to her level. “Either you’re trying to protect me, or you’re trying to ditch me—“
Drake shook his head, opening his mouth to interrupt. Jamie slapped her hand over his mouth.
“Either way, this is bigger than me and you. If we’re going to save our planets, we have to get past our petty shit and concentrate on working together. If Herman says you have no chance on your own and he had a plan that takes two, then I’m inclined to listen to him.”
“It’s too dangerous,” he said, his voice coming out muffled against her palm.
“I know it’s dangerous. But so is your failure. We have to do this, and the only way we have a chance is if I go with you.”
Drake wanted to argue. He wanted to make her understand. He’d be willing to let the universe burn, as long as she was safe.
But the look in her eyes was a mix of strength and fragility. She believed that he was trying to get rid of her because he was tired of her when that couldn’t be further from the truth. To let her think so might be easier in the long run, but now, staring into her gorgeous face, he couldn’t give voice to the lie.
Although she was scared, she was also insistent. A swell of pride went through him. His woman was brave, was willing to risk everything to save her people.
Who was he to stand in her way?
Drake peeled her hand from his face. “Okay,” he said after a moment.
“Okay?” she whispered.
“You can come.”
She let out a squeal of joy and leapt into his arms. “Thank you! You won’t regret this, I promise!”
He held back the reply that he already did and set her down gently, returning to the console. His hands shook as he input the coordinates to the Hareema prison planet.
“Okay, Herman,” he said with a sigh. “Let’s talk about the data you’ve analyzed. What have you uncovered?”
“There is a conspiracy among NASA elite.”
Drake laughed mirthlessly. “We already knew that.”
Herman let out an offended bleep. “Correct. But were you aware of another conspiracy? One within the Hareema’s own ranks?”
Drake’s eyes widened as the robot began to speak.