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Chapter Twenty-One

MEK

Approaching the Ingenuity , I am glad to see that my mother’s main star cruiser has departed.

Double -checking the atmospheric barrier, I walk off my shuttle onto the main dock, rubbing the burning at my hip.

Looking back at the little moon, I allow myself a moment to mourn Lacie before shaking my head at my own weakness.

“ Master MeK , it is good to have you back on board. I have all your projects on screen in your private quarters, as requested. Would you like me to set a departure date?”

“ Negative , I still have responsibilities here.”

“ Confirmed .”

Sitting down at one of the main consoles, I do my best not to think about everything that has occurred this rising, only to fail miserably as I still have the lingering scent of her skin on my hands.

I will not ever forget the look of horror on her face when Mother suddenly entered.

Never have I been that out of control with another, nor felt the bliss I did when her folds wrapped around my shaft.

Chasing my own release, I turned into an animal, rutting her and mindless to her own reactions.

I know I handled all of this wrong with Lacie , but maybe it was for the best. I would have had to leave her sooner or later, either way.

Melanna would never allow me to bring her back with me, even if I kept her discreetly hidden.

Lord of Light , what kind of male am I to even think such a thing?

Lacie’s bright smile and energy would only be extinguished in my world.

She would be like a sun smothered in darkness.

I fight the urge to destroy everything around me.

I reach for my comm unit because the urge to hear her voice is practically overwhelming, but I stop myself at the last moment.

What could I possibly say that would make her forgive me for my actions?

Running my hands through my hair, I pace the floor.

If I were free to choose, what would I do?

Would I run back to Lacie , begging her forgiveness?

I have no idea, but I just hope that time will lessen her memory in my mind because I am not …

free. My responsibilities have been laid out before me, and there is no looking back.

I started the wheels turning in a future that I know if I was true to myself, I do not really want.

But I fear I will always look back on this moment in time and wonder what would have happened if I had chosen differently.

Just as my thoughts continue on this path, my hip starts burning intensely, and this time, it is not stopping.

Untying my pants, I yank down the side, only to stop dead.

There , glowing brightly is a mark I have never witnessed before.

Pulsing brighter than any of the others on my body, I rub my hand across it, only for it to feel like I’ve been stung.

Confused , I have no idea who to ask. So very few of us were born with these runes of fathers, and none react the same.

“ Ingenuity , can you connect me with SCOUT ?”

A few moments later, he appears on the holo screen. “ Master MeK , how may I be of assistance?”

“ By any chance, would you know what this is?”

“ Of course, it is a mating mark. It is common among Commander DaR’s sons.”

“ How does this happen?”

“ Please forgive me, Master MeK , but the Commander is requesting my presence, and because of the distance, I need to disconnect with one of you.”

Before I can get a straight answer, he is gone. I have just tied up my pants, trying my best to ignore the pain of this mark, only for my main comm unit to go off. And before my father can say anything, I know something is terribly wrong.