bond, the mental seduction just as good as the physical. Gwarnon let out a silent roar of victory as her tongue rubbed against his, taking in his blood that would—hopefully—begin her transformation. Gripping her tight rear end, he ground her against his cock, their kiss turning savage.
Her climax drew closer and closer, like a gigantic wave growing in the distance, different from the intense fire of his release. She sucked on his tongue, those lovely little sounds of pleasure she made driving him crazy. His balls tingled, growing tight when the fire of his lust met the huge wave of her release, mingling and crashing together.
Lacey tore her mouth from his with a scream, her back arching so much, he had to steady her with both hands as she writhed with pleasure on top of him.
Right before he went over the edge, a terrible, razor sharp pain screamed through his bond with Chel, making him cry out in shock as his own soul absorbed his blood brother’s agony.
Her scream turned from pleasure to pain, and she stared at Gwarnon in horror as she yelled, “What’s happening?”
“Chel,” he grunted, absorbing another psychic blow to his soul that left him reeling. “Under attack.”
“Help him,” she yelled, then curled into a tight ball with a groan of pain and moaned out. “Help him.”
“Stay here,” he growled at Lacey as he stumbled to his feet, then ordered the room to use all defensive measures against anyone who tried to breech it.
Her protests followed him out the arena, but he ignored her orders that she come with him. He had no idea what kind of threat they faced, and his imagination kept wanting to show him images of his beloved blood brother dead or dying. Racing as fast as he could through the NevShoo ship to the portal leading to his vessel, Gwarnon ran through the various diagnostics and could not find any indication of a breach of any kind. A quick check with the NevShoo and his own crew confirmed that they showed no signs of either craft having been breached.
Sprinting through the doors of the medical quarters where Roxy was currently recuperating after her transformation, Gwarnon stumbled to a halt, mentally canceling the distress call he’d sent out to the crew. At least for the moment. Chel leaned against the table next to Roxy’s bed, shaken but okay. Chel’s gaze met Gwarnon’s, and he sent a wave of calming emotions to Gwarnon, helping him fight back the dark anger that wanted to annihilate anyone who harmed his blood brother.
Roxy stood nearby, her cheeks pale against her dark hair as she stared at Chel, then Gwarnon, then back to Chel again with her hand over her mouth. Behind her stood a very worried Nosa, his amber gaze focused on his bride. At his side, Roxy’s blond future bondmate, Cormac, gave her a deeply worried look. Neither Warrior was injured and showed no signs of having fought anyone or anything.
Frustrated at Chel being hurt and being torn away from Lacey at the worse possible moment, he snarled, “What is going on? Chel, are you all right? What happened? The ship didn’t detect any intruders, and the Baladium swears no one approached or boarded our vessel.”
Chel allowed Gwarnon to help him to a couch, more of his soothing calm attempting to ease the rage and worry burning in Gwarnon’s heart. “I will be fine. Lady Roxy unintentionally used the dreshentah on me.”
His stomach bottomed out as he stared at Roxy, instinctive fear making him take a step back.
Dropping her hand from her mouth, Roxy turned to her men. “What? Someone tell me why you’re all freaking out right now, please.”
Giving himself a slight shake that made his dark skin gleam with purple highlights, Nosa said, “There has not been a Kadothian Matriarch who can cause soul pain since the Great Sorrow took our females from us.”
“And that’s bad?”
He slowly nodded. “Until now, it has been a gift only the Hive possesses.”
Roxy clutched at her middle with one hand as if she’d been hit in the stomach. “That’s bad.”
As Gwarnon got over his initial shock, his ever calculating mind worked out that this new development was in their favor. “This is also good.”
Chel stared at him, “Meaning no offense to my Lady, but how can this be a good thing?”
“You are viewing the situation the wrong way.” Gwarnon ignored their skeptical looks and continued, “The gift is not evil; it is the intent of the wielder which