Page 31 of Guardian’s Destiny (Space Guardian’s Mate #3)

VRAAX

I had always been proud of the tight control I had over my emotions, yet with Sloane, any semblance of control had completely left me. Whenever I looked at her, I was torn between the urge to shake some sense into her and the urge to kiss her.

I missed the easy camaraderie we had enjoyed during the flight here. Alright, so it hadn't always been easy, but at least it hadn't been hostile like it was now. Whenever our eyes met, hers sent flames of hate at me that were hard to ignore or digest.

Who by the Black Abyss was this Daryus? She had never mentioned that name before. Was he waiting for her on Astrionis? If he was, why would we have gotten the damn mating marks? And why had she had sex with me? And not just sex. What we did had been so much more—a connection of our souls. The same questions were tormenting me over and over, churning my anger and didn't allow me to see straight.

I wanted to hit something. Anything. Just to get rid of the pent-up emotions inside me that threatened to sever what composure I might was still holding on to.

Astrionis wasn't that far from here. Maybe a two-day flight. It would be hard to make Craygh understand why we had to detour, but if that was what it took to be rid of her, then so be it. Maybe the mating marks would disappear once she was reunited with her lover. I hoped so. I dreaded it. I didn't want them to. I yearned for it. Frygg, there went my emotions again.

Truth be told, I was sure that even if the mating marks mysteriously disappeared, I would have a hard time letting go of her. She was everything I could have ever wanted in a mate and so much more. I had no idea how I would be able to go on without her. I would have to throw myself into the mission. The Ohrurs would feel my wrath. Yes, I decided, they would make a perfect outlet for my pent-up anger.

The transporter came to a stop, and we exited. Moddekdum's hands were bound behind his back just in case he would have any funny ideas about escaping, and Craygh was never more than two paces from him.

"This way," Craygh pointed through a dark, broken tunnel. It could have been an illusion by the light, but Craygh's aura appeared darker to me than it had been before when we first met. It wasn't unusual for people's auras to change, depending on their moods; I had seen it often enough. Mostly, I disregarded it, more interested in the blackness surrounding real criminals, but for some reason, Craygh's darkening aura aroused my suspicion. Before I had a chance to delve deeper into it, I caught a glimpse of Sloane watching me. Was that regret in her eyes? And if it was, what was she having regrets over? Us? The fight? Whoever that Daryus was?

The tunnel's condition explained why the transporter couldn't take us any farther. Fallen debris cluttered the ground, making it hard to walk. At several spots, we had to climb over rocks littering the ground and, in some cases, creating mounds as tall as me. The climbing was treacherous since the mounds were made of small debris that liked to roll under our feet. When we encountered those spaces, I carried Moddekdum over my shoulder. I would have much preferred it to be Sloane, but once again, the human female proved herself. Craygh, on the other hand, agilely made it over those hurdles without any problems; he must have been used to them.

At least our comms gave up enough light to see by and avoid any pitfalls.

It seemed like we had been walking forever when Craygh held up his comm, illuminating a familiar-looking triangular shaft. It looked just like the one Sloane and I had used when we entered this subterranean world. Craygh went first, followed by Moddekdum and Sloane, I took up the rear, very aware of Sloane's long legs and ass just a few rungs ahead of me.

Frygg, I still wanted her so much it hurt. The one time we had had sex had been merely an appetizer. Had I known it would be the one and only time I ever got to hold her like this, I would have savored the moment even more. Damn that female for getting under my skin, into my heart and brain this much. Damn her.