Page 19 of Keeping Freya (Warriors of Arracate #3)

T’Rak

T he night is uneventful, and I spend the entire time altering and adjusting the scanners. Tekrov is only two days away, and I should rest until Fr’Ya awakens.

The minute I enter my room, I am hit by her scent.

It is overwhelming and intoxicating. It is strongest in the bathroom, where I freshen up, but there is still so much lingering on the bed.

I lay down on my back and close my eyes.

My alarm is set, so nothing is left for me to do but surrender to sleep and dream of my mate.

“T’Rak. T’Rak!” A soft voice whispering my name wakes me from my sleep. Something tugs at my arm, and I recognize Fr’Ya’s scent before I open my eyes.

“What happened?”

“There is a light blinking. I didn’t know what to do, but I’m scared. Can you please come check it out?”

The bond pulses, my mate is in need, and came to me. I rise and grab her hands. “Show me.”

Her anxiety sours the air as I walk with her to the command center. My tail automatically slides across her waist, and she sighs contentedly at the touch. Deciding not to say anything about it, I focus on the problem.

There is indeed a light blinking at the console. Grinning, I turn around. “I adjusted the ship’s scanners and shields. This light is new; it means the shields are working.”

Fr’Ya’s pale cheeks turn red. “So, there’s nothing wrong?”

“No.”

She groans. “Sorry, I woke you for nothing.”

Gently, I pull her close, paying attention to how she reacts. When she melts into my hold, I continue and cup her cheek. “If you need me, you call for me and I will be there. No matter how small or how big, I will always be there for you.”

A tear runs down her cheek, and she smiles. “For someone who says he’s not good with words, you sure say all the right things.”

I shrug. “Must have been spending too much time with O’Rec, then.”

She laughs before she rests her head against my chest. “Thank you,” she murmurs.

I do not dare to move, I just hold her, reveling in the feeling of her body close to me. When she gets restless, I reluctantly step away. She has composed herself and gives me an expectant look. “So, what now?”

“We are in the middle of a sleep cycle. Sleep first, talking tomorrow morning.”

She sighs and stifles a yawn. “You go back, I will take watch.”

I give her a stern look. “You need sleep.”

“So do you,” she says.

“We could both sleep, the ship’s alarm is connected to my wrist com.”

“Are you sure?”

I see the way she tries to order her thoughts, but I am tired and I have had enough. “Yes.”

I tug her towards my room. We don’t speak as I take her with me to my bed. She should be protesting by now, but she just yawns and I lie down and open my arms. “Sleep.”

And then she does the unthinkable, she lies down and falls asleep in my arms.

Freya

I wake up from a deep, deep sleep. It takes me a minute to catch my surroundings. I don’t think I’ve slept this well since waking up in space for the first time. I feel relaxed, comforted by the feel of a heavy, soft blanket.

That feeling only lasts for a hot minute, though, because I suddenly realize it’s not a blanket that’s basking me in warmth; it’s T’Rak’s arms! I remember being too tired to protest yesterday, and I fell asleep with them wrapped around me.

“Good morning,” he murmurs into my hair, pulling me against him.

I try to relax against him, but I still feel tense.

Things have been changing between us, and we’re on a fast track to a physical relationship.

He makes me feel things I haven’t felt in the longest time.

Things I thought I wasn’t able to feel ever again.

But still, shouldn’t I feel less at ease with him?

Rationally, I know that this is my journey, and if I feel good with him, it’s my choice to explore those feelings.

He makes me feel safe and secure. Feelings I thought I’d never experience again.

I wonder if I’m just doubting for the sake of doubting, but I keep feeling this slight unrest within me, like that feeling that you know you forgot something, but you can’t figure out what.

“Good morning, I uhm… I need to get up...” Deciding that fleeing is my best option for now, I untangle myself from T’Rak.

He lets go immediately and sits up. “Are you okay?”

“Yeah, I just need the bathroom.” Quickly, I do my business, but I feel very awkward when I return to the bedroom. T’Rak’s still sitting in the bed, with his gorgeous chest on display.

I open my mouth to make some lame excuse, but he opens his arms. “Come here, lie with me so we can talk.”

My feet have a mind of their own, because even though I know it would be better just to sit down—literally anywhere, I still move towards him. He props up some pillows behind his big body, and I lie down against him. Also, against better judgment.

“You feel good in my arms,” he mutters. So soft, it’s barely audible. That little declaration shuts me up and makes me melt into him. My chest feels too tight, and I look up, staring at his mesmerizing eyes.

Reaching up, I touch his cheek, and my curiosity takes over.

“How did you get this?” I gently caress his scar.

“I was still young when I got this, an eager warrior, desperate to prove himself to his father and captain. ”

“Your father was your captain?” I interrupt him as my fingers follow the lines of the thick white skin.

“My father was the greatest captain our fleet had ever known. He was the leader of the king’s special task force and the most formidable warrior our planet had ever seen.

I looked up to him and wanted to be just like him as a young boy.

I completed my training swiftly and as the best of my year, one of the other great captains immediately asked me to join their crew.

We flew for about a year when we were called out to settle a dispute between two rival clans on a desert planet. ”

He pauses for a bit, looking uncomfortable at the next part.

“We were not prepared for the planet's harsh environment, and I was not prepared for how far a desperate person is willing to go. The people were fighting for water and survival, and their battle was brutal. We got caught between a clan war where the winners would survive and the losers would die out. They did not even notice we were there to help when we tried to break them apart. Ultimately, we did, but I got caught in the crossfire. There were certain factions that did not want peace or coexistence. They wanted it all and they wanted to take it.”

He shrugs like it’s no big deal, but I glare because this sounds horrible.

He sighs. “I was trying to be heroic; the need to prove myself was greater than my desire to follow orders. We were attacked, and the male got one lucky strike in. That lucky strike almost killed me, so now you know why I'm so hard on you in training.”

I’m silent for a minute. “Well, that was not the crazy story I thought it would be.”

He laughs out loud. “If you want crazy, I should tell you stories about O’Rec and D’Var and their antics. ”

I grin, liking this simple camaraderie between us. “They sound like good friends.”

“The best,” he agrees. “Although the bond between a crew goes deeper than friends.”

“Like family?”

“Yes.” His voice is soft, and his eyes get a faraway look. “The High Commander killed my brother.”

“The one we are chasing?”

He nods. “That is why I need to get to him.”

I caress his cheek. “I understand. Sorry, I made it harder for you.”

He grabs my hand and kisses my palm. “Every second spent with you is worth it.”