Page 15 of Guardian's Soul (Space Guardian's Mate #2)

HANNAH

Everything that was happening was so far out of my realm of experience that it wasn't even funny. But if there was one thing my job had taught me, it was the importance of pacing yourself and staying focused on the bigger picture. Whether it was building muscle or shedding weight, progress didn't happen overnight, and you couldn't rush it without risking injury or setbacks. Quick fixes rarely worked—they usually caused more harm than good.

This felt like the same kind of situation. The override felt like a trap, something designed to force us to react without thinking. Maybe that was my paranoia talking—or maybe it wasn't. Either way, I couldn't shake the feeling that rushing to change course would play right into their hands. Slow down and assess was something I always told my clients. It applied to more than just fitness, and right now, it was the only thing keeping me grounded.

I had no idea why this tiny voice inside me was screaming don't do it , but for whatever reason, I decided to listen.

"Hold on," I said, stepping into Thrax's line of sight and taking his hand to stop him. His alien skin was warmer than I expected, and a strange pulse passed between us. I ignored it and asked, "How long will it take before we reach Ohrur?"

"A week, maybe," he said, though he didn't sound entirely certain.

I nodded. "Then let's think this through, okay? We have the time for it, right? It's not like they're about to implode us or anything?" I glanced around the ship for reassurance, my stomach twisting at the thought.

He shook his head. "I can stop that."

"Okay," I said, steadying myself with a deep breath. "Then let's do that first."

The lights were dimming already, preparing us for nighttime when Thrax declared everything safe for now at least from being blown up by the Ohrurs.

"What's on your mind?" he asked, sitting in one of the captain's chairs while I sat by another bay of screens. I needed a little distance from him and didn't want to sit in the other captain's chair. During the last couple of hours, my body had been acting kind of funny around him, like the magnetic pull between us was gaining in intensity. I wasn't sure if it affected him, too, but to be safe, I felt better with a bit more distance between us.

"Okay, so your minder… Poseidon?"

"Possedion," he corrected without the biting huff he usually reserved for me when I mispronounced a name.

"He knew about the mating marks." I threw out.

Thrax nodded. "That's the same impression I got."

"And he insinuated something about two other space guardians," I added, not sure where my train of thought was taking me, but actually, for once, I was grateful to Thrax for being the silent type and letting me theorize whatever was brewing in my head. "You said you didn't know about these markings? At least not for your species? "

His hand moved through his thick, black hair. "I don't know what species I am," he admitted.

"Come again?" Now he was throwing me a curve ball.

"I'm a Space Guardian. That's all I've ever been," he said, but it didn't feel like he was talking to me, more like he was talking to himself, as if he, too, was voicing his thoughts out loud. "I've never questioned it. Not once. I like going after the bad guys. It satisfies a certain sense of justice inside me to punish them when nobody else can or dares.

"But lately…"

I waited for him to finish. He brushed his hand once again through his hair, shaking his head. "Lately, I've been wondering."

He drummed his fingers on the console. "You see, the Ohrurs are getting paid for our work. Handsomely so. Ostensibly they're keeping my share under their protection, investing it so that one day I can retire."

That sounded controlling, but… okay.

"The problem is that lately, I've been wondering… I've never seen, met, or heard of a retired Space Guardian."

Wow. I was glad I was already sitting down. "None?"

He met my gaze. "None."

A hollow sensation spread through my stomach. "So you think the Ohrurs… what? Kill them when they retire ?"

"I don't know what to think," he admitted, rising and walking around his chair. "That's just one of the things that bother me. Why don't I know what species I am?"

"You're not an Ohrur," I wagered, had to, even though I knew the answer already.

He shook his head. "Definitely not."

"Do you think… you were grown in a lab?" I drew from the various science fiction movies I liked to watch. It sounded absurd the moment the words left my lips. Still… I mean, we were flying through space on an alien ship.

He stopped. "I don't know. "

Fuck!

"Okay," I stalled, sensing his growing frustration. "All right. So how can we find out? Did they block the entire computer network, or can you hack into another one? Is there an… internet café or something like it around here where we can stop?"

"I only understood half of what you just spewed, but yes, there are other databases I should be able to link up to."

I let the spewed go because he looked frustrated enough to give him a break, but resolved I wouldn't be so generous the next time he decided to be a condescending ass.

"Okay, so let's do that. Also, what about the other Space Guardians?"

"What about them?"

Oh, he was back to being a complete dick. Wonderful. I tried to keep my voice even but didn't think I fully succeeded. "Can we contact them?"

He continued his irritated pacing, round and round the captain's chair, making me dizzy watching him. "Not anymore. Not since the Ohrurs took my access. I don't know who they are."

"What about others?"

He threw me a contemptuous glare, and I returned it in full force.

"What, you guys don't communicate with each other? You don't hang out at the same space clubs ?" I made air quotation marks around the last two words.

"Being a Space Guardian is a solitary job. We operate alone."

Oh, that man. He was exasperating.

"Okay, fine, but you don't ever get together for… I don't fucking know, a barbeque or something?"

He shook his head. "We don't get together."

"So there's nobody who can answer our questions?" I checked .

He paused his circling and stared at a spot on the screen. "The Ohrurs do."

"Okay?" I drew the word out, not understanding what he was suggesting.

"Possedion does." Slowly, his head turned to me, and I didn't like the expression crossing his face at all.

"I just have to get him and make him talk."

"Is it gonna be that easy?" A sinking sensation rippled through my stomach.

He shook his head. "It's gonna be the hardest mission I've ever done. The Ohrurs are holed up under tight security. They keep several Space Guardians as protection."

Great, just great. It sounded like breaking into Fort Knox.

"All right, let me override whatever Possedion programmed into the ship, and then I'll take you to Astrionis before I?—"

I held up my hand, and he stopped. "What?"

"You're forgetting something."

"What?" he repeated.

I sighed. "Would you please go and grab me a drink from the nourishing area?"

He stared at me as if I'd grown two horns or colored my face purple. I could see the resentment over my request washing over his face, and I added, "Please," while batting my eyelashes prettily.

"I don't understand why you can't…" he grumbled but started walking away.

Ten, nine, eight, seven… I counted down in my head to distract myself from the uncomfortable sensation growing over my marks. I got to four before he returned with a furious expression on his face.