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And now, if a human tries anything? A sleazy slaver, like that Spur character?

Well, that reactivated shock-weapon embedded in her right arm isveryfucking lethal, even for a larger human male. She’s safer already.

But areweany safer? Am I leading my triad into death by trusting her?

There’s only one certain way of winning Allie’s trust, and ultimately her heart. Weneedto find her sister – alive.

And, if I can’t do that, we at least need to demonstrate that we’ll work to protect her, and help her for the rest of her life.

Allie’s head suddenly jerks as she almost nods off. She’s drowsy from the painkillers.

“The procedure is over,” I tell her. “Let me help you to your chambers.”

Allie gives me a loopy smile, and I’m happy to see it, even if it’s only caused by the potent painkillers and not because I’ve earned her beautiful smile.

I carefully help her up from the chair and escort her to her bedroom.

My mate will no longer endure the punishment brig – although the prisoner cell isn’t that much better. It’s a simple room – equipped with a bed, and nothing else. There’s a door on the interior wall that leads to the small, functional bathroom with a shower and toilet. Admittedly, it’s much nicer than the punishment brig she’d been in before, but still hardly to the standards of our crew quarters.

I lead her to the bed, gently helping Allie lie down on top of it.

At any other moment, being alone with the woman of my dreams – touching her, smelling her scent – would have driven me wild.

After witnessing her go through all that pain and grief, however – in addition to watching her flesh carved open during that medical process – I feel no arousal.

Because of the sedatives, Allie barely feels anything.

I might not feel arousal, but that’s not to say I don’tfeel. I feel fiercely protective of my mate.

I know I am being naive to think she feels even afractionof the affection my triad has for her – but I truly believe that will come with time – if we earn it.

And, at least, wehavetime, now.

Now she’s Bonded to us, Allie isn’t constrained by the ticking clock of human mortality any longer, like the billions of her race that drop like flies before they ever even witness a fraction of the wonders of the universe.

Allie now has thousands of years of life stretching ahead of her. Long enough for her to grow to care for me and my triad?

Even if we have to wait a century for that – a millennia - we have to keep her safe and alive in the meantime. One day shewillaccept her future. One day, Alliewillgrow eager for her destiny. Her entire life, she’s been used and abused by men for their own pleasure. My battle-brothers and I have to show her that life with my triad will be a totally different experience – and the best fate any woman could desire.

I tuck Allie into the bed.

She mumbles something under her breath, then slowly closes her eyes. I stand and look down on her – watching as Allie falls into a deep sleep.

Suddenly, I imagine two little babies next to her, cuddled up against their mother.Ourbabies – fathered by myself, or one of my battle-brothers. It doesn’t matter; they’ll all beourchildren.

The thought of spawning sons – healthy, vibrant Aurelian babes with magnificent futures ahead of them – is the only meaning my triad and I can have in this harsh universe. For that reason, Allie is the light at the end of a dark tunnel of blood and conflict.

The door hisses shut behind me as I leave her chamber.

I’d rather have stayed – to have just watched her sleep for hours – but I still have responsibilities to talk care of.

I stride up the hallway, back to the cockpit at the front of the ship. Kitos and Hadrian look up from their gunnery stations.

The controls of the two Orb-Cannons don’t have to be manned at all times – we have AI programmed to run general defense – but for a warrior species like ours, it’s a calming feeling to scan the empty space around us with our own eyes; knowing we’re ready to face any potential threat. In times of uncertainty, like these, I too would prefer to have my hands on the trigger of a powerful weapon.

Kitos’ eyes are narrow.

“What was the pain flowing through the Bond, Daccia? What did youdoto her?”