Didn’t understand.
“I would know you,” he said, his voice a husky whisper. No command, just honesty. “Know everything. Every hope and thought and dream. Every desire. Every need. I would know your heart, gara. If you would but allow it, I would make it mine.”
I stopped breathing just for a moment. My mouth even fell open in surprise. “Isaak.” I pushed at his chest, and he let me go. Stepping back, I looked up into his dark eyes and fought back the rising tide of hope that threatened to consume me. Hope, I had learned a long time ago, hurt more than almost any other emotion. Hope was a cruel bitch who never stayed. Like Isaak wouldn’t once we were done with Bertok. He’d transport back to his spaceship to roam the galaxy. Damned rebel.
“I don’t understand you,” I said, looking out the window. “You want to go back to space, don’t you? Back out there to hunt more Hive and sell more tech?”
“Yes. Of course,” he said immediately. No hesitation or doubt. “I cannot stay here. My family—”
A loud ding interrupted us, and we turned to face the wall. Isaak hurried forward, pressing a panel. Part of the wall, of the stone itself, seemed to change before my eyes, turned into a flat screen. Ivy and Zenos appeared on the flat surface.
“Isaak of Trion. Please respond.” Zenos’s deep, rich tone would have been intimidating, but his voice was monotone. Completely under control.
“Damn it, Isaak. Answer the fucking phone.” Ivy’s irritated blast made me smile because I doubted Isaak knew what a phone was. That was more like it.
Isaak looked to me, as if asking permission, and I realized he was attempting to protect my modesty. I was clothed, but it did nothing to hide my body. But I’d watched some Trion broadcasts since our arrival. My gown was sheer, beautiful, and not unlike what every other woman on the planet wore. Oddly, I felt at home in the soft gown, despite how much desert air made its way up my skirts, so to speak. I simply nodded and moved to stand in front of the screen. Isaak touched the panel again and moved to stand beside me, his hand on the small of my back like I was his.
More torture, now that I realized how badly I wanted exactly that. Isaak. Mine. Forever. My master. My mate.
Yes. Hope. Still a heartless bitch.
“Zenos, Ivy, we are here.”
“Thank God.” Ivy leaned down as if she were speaking to a very small screen, her cute nose scrunched up as she squinted at us. “Nice dress, Zara. Trion looks good on you.”
“Thank you.” If I’d detected any sarcasm to her tone, I would have fired back. But she was sincere, the look in her eyes kind. “I really do like it here although I haven’t seen much of the place.”
“I bet Isaak’s kept you occupied.” I couldn’t miss her sly grin. “I’ve heard Warden Egara really knows her stuff. I haven’t met one unhappy Earth girl out here.” Ivy blushed, and I wondered for a second why. Then she spoke. “Sorry. I shouldn’t have said that. I forgot about your mate being murdered. You just look so perfect with Isaak that—”
“Female, enough drama and talk of mates. We have more important details to discuss.” Zenos literally lifted her off her feet and pulled her backward and up into his arms, cradling her across his chest without the slightest sign of strain. And I’d met Ivy. She was six foot if she was an inch. But in her mate’s arms she looked small.
Loved.
And happy. God, she gave in to his demands at once, settling her cheek against his shoulder and allowing him to hold her as he spoke of war and death and rage over the top of her golden head.
“It’s been five weeks, Forsian. What took so long?” Isaak asked. The gentle tone he’d used with me was now gone.
Zenos’ jaw clenched, and he glared at Isaak. “I can’t just go to Cerberus legion and knock on the leader’s door,” he snapped. “We must listen, follow the movements of the legion’s members. Have patience.” He added the last intentionally.
Isaak didn’t fall for it. “Well?”
“Astra gave us her assistance, and we tracked down the data source in that crystal,” Isaak replied.
“And?” Isaak asked.
“We discovered plans for an attack on a city called Bakkarholt on Trion. As well as a date and time for the explosion.”
Isaak stilled beside me. I couldn’t even feel him breathing.
“Explosion?”