twenty times in a row. Viken. Prillon. Atlan…and boy oh boy, those boys were big. There were Hunters, whatever that was, and then there were the gangsters from Rogue 5. I stopped asking about them. Every single one of them looked different—hybrids, Isaak informed me—and they all wore arm bands. Different colors but easy to see. Steer clear, that was my policy when it came to those creeps.
Yep. I was still in space on some kind of gigantic, floating space station in the middle of nowhere. I had no clue where we were other than the name, so I had to trust him that we were safe. That the chasing and shooting was over. And that there really would be a woman from Earth at the end of this walk.
The canteen doors were three times the size I was used to back home, but when two of the Coalition guys walked through, side-by-side, I realized the size was a necessity.
“Prillons.”
“They mate in pairs, right?” That’s what Warden Egara and the pamphlets back at the bride testing center had informed me. Two of them. One woman.
Wow. That was a lot of man. Or alien.
“Jealous, gara? Did I not satisfy your needs?” He pulled me to the side of the large doors and turned me to face him as more aliens passed. His dark hair was a little wild, but that seemed to be normal for him and not just a post-sex look. He lifted his free hand and wrapped the base of my neck in his warm, firm grip. God, the things that one simple touch made me feel.
“You know you did.” My pussy clenched, further reminding me that I got hot for things I’d never expected. Domination. Edging. Safe words.
But those things didn’t make a relationship. They made sex hot as hell. Who knew?
Isaak, apparently. He was from Trion. Were all males from Trion like him? If my matched mate had lived, would he have done the same things to me? Made me call him master? Made me writhe and sweat and want to beg?
Did I respond to Isaak that way because he helped save my life? Or were my brain and body somehow hardwired to want a firm twist of his hand in my hair? A rough kiss?
Isaak pulled me to him and kissed me as if he could read my mind. That was it. I was gone. Totally gone. Nothing existed but him. His tongue. His chest pressed to my breasts. His lips demanding admission to my mouth. He devoured me, and I allowed it.
Wanted more.
He pulled away, and it took me several moments to remember where I was.
Shit. I had to stop acting like such a sex-crazed fool.
We were here on this new transport station… together. Not together.
Isaak was not my mate. He was not going back to Trion with me. I was not keeping him.
Pulling away, I moved toward the doors. “Let’s go.”
Strong hands pulled me back and settled me behind him. He was too damn tall, I couldn’t see over his back. “Stay behind me, gara. I will protect you. This station is supposed to be a neutral meeting place, but if Cerberus’ legion is here, they are not known to behave well.”
My female pride was dinged, but I didn’t argue. I bit my tongue because I was scared and nervous and in fucking outer space. And I would admit none of that.
Never appear weak. First lesson when growing up on the street. Never.
Isaak led me inside the bar, and I stayed close, following on his heels to a small table against one of the far walls with four chairs placed around it. In moments, he had entered our order into a screen on the tabletop and another robotic table on wheels had pulled up next to us. Isaak settled a dark red beverage in front of me and another for himself.
“What is it?” I asked.
“It’s nutrient rich and tastes like sweet Atlan wine. It will nourish us and allow us to remain alert.”
“Good idea.” Drowning my nerves and the horror of that last couple days in alcohol was tempting, but I had thought long and hard about my life. I’d fight to death before I’d allow the blue lady, the slimy lizard man, or anyone else take me again. I’d left Earth to escape a shithole life. I’d be damned if I was going to settle for one out here.
Now, we had drinks before us, and another couple moved in close and sat down