Page 53 of Hooded (Gladiators of the Gryn #5)

FERN

Klynn smells like burning, his torso covered in burn marks and the rest of him coated with a thin film of the gray dust which is everywhere on Hatul. A planetoid my systems assured me used to be filled in life.

Now a wasteland.

Although not completely, given I’ve found Klynn here. I knew I needed him. I didn’t know how much my body was craving being close to him. Despite everything, his feathers still exude the spicy scent I adore, and with my hands deep within them, I’m enjoying every second of being in his arms once again.

Danger be damned. I’m here with him, and everything will be okay. He might move worlds, but I will destroy any which stand between us.

Including this one.

“Little fury,” Klynn hums with pleasure from my touch. “Destruction is not in your nature. Let me do the destroying.”

Ah, the thoughtbond, the intermittent psychic leap between us, always popping up at an inappropriate moment.

“I need you, Klynn. The baby needs you,” I say.

“Regardless, I battle, and you get to direct,” he replies. “I am your sword and your champion, use me as you will.”

Warmth flows through me with his offer, knowing how long I spent at the mercy of others until I was able to become the galaxy’s worst bounty hunter. I don’t want to be left out and he knows it.

“The galaxy’s worst bounty hunter wouldn’t have been able to track down her mate and bring an army,” he murmurs in my ear. “And fate wouldn’t have chosen a mate incapable of these things. Don’t let me catch you thinking ill of yourself ever again,” he growls.

This time it’s a frisson of desire which runs through me. Klynn believes in me and he is the only one who matters. And he’s also thinking about my bottom and what it would look like bared to him.

“When you are ready, warrior,” Strykr says, “we have a worm to destroy.”

“It wanted me because of the mutations the Drahon gave me,” Klynn says, squaring his shoulders and opening his wings slightly, making himself look bigger than ever.

He is daring the rest of the Gryn to challenge him.

“Mutations?” Strykr queries.

“I can manipulate tech, provided I’m close enough,” Klynn responds. “Nothing complicated like bots, but other things, like forcefields.”

“And locking mechanisms,” I add.

Ayar flares his wings and looks to Vypr. Jay and Mylo nod with interest.

“It is as we thought,” Strykr says. “The Drahon were experimenting on Gryn for a purpose, not just for credits.”

“What do you mean?” I query.

“We defeated the Drahon, got them confined to their planet, partly due to the Galactic Council but mostly because the rest of the galaxy didn’t want to have anything to do with them,” Jay says. “But there had to be a reason they continued working after Proto was apparently destroyed.”

“The fact it wasn’t?” I release Klynn to fold my arms.

Strykr stands taller. “We defeated Proto. But what it did was never going to be undone in a few short nova-years.”

“It’s time to finish it,” Klynn growls. “Give me a sword, and I will do what needs to be done.”

The other Gryn look at each other, and a smile spreads over Strykr’s strong face.

“You prefer a sword, warrior?”

“I’m still alive because a sword is all I need,” my mate says.

“Mylo.” Strykr turns to the Gryn who looks like he’s about to fall down. “Get a lock on Proto’s location, and for the love of vrex, get yourself to the medi-bay. Jay, help him. Ayar, get this warrior a sword. The rest of you, make ready for battle. We’ll be facing joykills and most likely guardbots.”

He turns back to us.

“Your mate is welcome to remain in her ship. I can provide a security detail,” he says to Klynn.

“This mate is going with you.” I pull the pulsar from my pocket, where it’s always been. “Because I’m not missing out on the fun.”

A deep chuckle rises from the Gryn behind Strykr.

“I thought I gave some orders,” he says over his shoulder as they finally scatter.

“If that is what you wish.” He inclines his head.

“What I wish is to nest for my mate and not be disturbed,” Klynn says. “If it means my and I have to kill a half-blood space worm to get what I wish, then that is what we will do.”