Page 24 of Seized by the Alien Space Warrior (Alien Romance #8)

Chapter Twenty-Four

A va had never been so aware of someone watching her in all her life. All of her senses were attuned to one male, as though he was the centre of the universe. It took all her effort not to run to him and bury herself against his huge, muscular body, to kiss him and herself senseless. The urge had never been this way with anyone before. If this was the effects of this mate-bond, then the more time she spent in his presence, the less she would be able to control herself.

Her chest throbbed, weighed down and tight. She hadn’t liked saying anything like that to Aekon, but there had to be more than one person in a relationship. He was at least right with that.

Her hands trembled as she gathered a sachet of water, a piece of fruit, and some sort of dried bar from the food crate and sat back down next to Zelda. Denu was happily feeding from her breast. There was something peaceful about the scene that made her heart ache all over again.

She handed Zelda the drink and food. “I can get some more if you’re still hungry. Looks as though stocks are pretty good.”

Zelda nodded. “We keep an eye on them and make sure everything is good, just in case, you know…”

“Just in case the worse happens,” Ava said. She peered at Zelda. “Is your mate here?”

Zelda’s face was etched with worry. She shook her head, her shaggy mane flying about her shoulders. “Not yet. But if I know Tarki, he’ll be making sure all of the other bunkers are safe before he comes to me.”

“There’s more than this one?” Ava asked.

“Many more. We’ve built a whole system under the city to keep ourselves safe. Just because the main cavern is no longer, we can still live down here. We’re self-sufficient,” Zelda said with pride.

“That’s amazing. How long have you been living down here?’ Ava asked.

“Many cycles. I haven’t seen my parents in a long time. They’ve never met Tarki. They don’t know about Denu. I escaped before Baxklet became too bad, but I’m glad I got away. I know many beings who didn’t make it,” Zelda said.

“One day, you’ll see them again,” Ava said.

She reached out to hold Zelda’s hand. The fur lining her hand was soft, her skin slightly warmer than her own. These people were real and they were suffering. It would have taken great courage to live down here. Greater courage to fight against an oppressive dictator.

The full gravity of their situation was becoming clearer by the moment. There was no wonder Brenur risked his own safety to keep Aekon and herself from the Forsica. He was desperate. If Aekon was unable to help them, they also might be stuck underground for cycles as well. There was no guarantee that anything they were going to do would turn out either.

Ava’s gaze found Aekon. She was so aware of him, almost as though he was an extension of herself. He was deep in conversation with Brenur. He turned and his golden eyes caught hers. She flushed, pulling her gaze away.

There was a commotion at the door and three Ixod tumbled through.

Zelda gasped, “Tarki!”

One of the largest Ixod Ava had seen headed towards Zelda, eating up the ground with his huge strides. Zelda leapt up. Tarki caught both his mate and their baby in a big bear hug. He pressed a kiss to Denu’s little forehead before kissing his mate.

“Take it into another room,” someone called out when the kiss turned into a longer, more passionate version.

Ava’s face heated and all she could think about was Aekon treating her in the same manner, sweeping her up in his arms and kissing her until she forgot about everything. The couple broke apart but Zelda didn’t look in the least embarrassed. Her grin was wide even as she punched Tarki in the arm.

“You could have sent word you were alive!”

Tarki tucked his knuckle beneath her chin. “I would if I was able, but I have word of topside. I need to speak with Brenur. Urgently.”

All signs of playfulness disappeared. Ava stood, her heart leaping into her throat as everyone huddled around Tarki and Brenur.

“Krono says that Baxklet has tripled the guards around the factory. He’s planning on taking the device off planet as soon as Krono is able to detach it from the main antimatter weapon now that the Dhasu escaped. Of course, Krono is stalling as long as he can, but he can’t keep Baxklet waiting forever without it being obvious. If you’re going to send out a comm to the Council and steal the device, now is the time,” Tarki said.

“So that warrior told the truth.” Brenur cursed and Ava’s stomach hit the floor. She swallowed around a thick lump in her throat. Again, her gaze found Aekon, but he was already watching her.

All her words about going it alone and looking after herself were just words. If something happened to Aekon her life would never be the same. She couldn’t judge Aekon’s reaction over Onda’s death. They were caught in an impossible situation with no winner. It was amazing how clear the mind became when life was held in a tenuous grip. How the little things didn’t seem to matter quite so much. How stupid they were both being.

As though sensing her thoughts, Aekon’s gaze widened. Her heart gave one big lurching beat and the flash of emotion pushed through a barrier. The golden light flared, before it dampened again, snuffed away as though on purpose, but she knew what she’d felt. The rush of emotion was so intense she could never miss it and she knew with absolute certainty that Aekon was suppressing the mate-bond somehow. Taking something so beautiful and breathtaking away from her that he never had the right to do without her consent.

He didn’t hate her. Not at all. In fact, he was so attracted to her, it made him scared .

She was awed by the power and truth of his emotions, and more than a little pissed he’d made the decision about their mate-bond on his own. A flash of anger stole though her. He shook his head, as though to dislodge a thought, taking a step back and frowning. She gasped as another realisation hit her.

“You can feel what I feel,” she whispered. “You asshole!”

Aekon’s shoulders tightened and she knew he’d heard her. Well, good. He deserved that, as well as every particle of anger she threw his way. She had every right to be frustrated and he had every right to feel it too. It was a pity that now was not the time or the place to hash this out—whatever this was.

Brenur barked out clipped orders. Ixod scattered, darting out of the door. The rest were left in tight silence, nerves thrumming through the collective.

Brenur turned heavy eyes to Aekon. “Are you ready, Dhasu?”

Aekon nodded. “Always.”

“I’m coming too,” Ava said.

Aekon lashed his golden gaze to her. “No. It’s too dangerous.”

Of course those would be the first words he would say. “You don’t get to make people’s minds up for them, Aekon. Especially since you aren’t my bond-mate . I’m coming. You can get me to the Sanctuary faster that way.”

“She’s right. We will only have one chance at this. You’ll have to leave quickly and won’t be able to get back here to collect her if she stays in the cave system down here,” Brenur said.

She held Aekon’s unbending gaze, stuffing their connection with as much determination as she could. She wasn’t going to stand down no matter how much he thought he knew best.

“Good. I’m ready,” she said.

“No. You’re not,” Aekon responded.

“I’m coming, whether you like it or not,” Ava said, squaring her shoulders, ignoring the throb of her dislocated shoulder.

“We don’t have time to argue. The female is better off leaving with you. This planet is far too dangerous for a being such as her. That way I’m not responsible for her…of course, if the plan fails you have a place with us – with me, human,” Brenur conceded.

Ava frowned, confused as to why Brenur suggested that she’d stay for him when Aekon snarled. “She’s coming with me.”

Ava’s jaw tightened at the unease that crept through their mate-bond. Whether that was hers or his, it didn’t matter. They were going into danger. He didn’t like it, but he didn’t have to. There were two people in a mate-bond and she was still her own person who could make her own decisions, danger or not.

“Weapons check,” Brenur called.

The remaining Ixod snapped into action, unpacking several crates that lined the walls.

Ava turned to Zelda and gave her a quick hug. “I will see you again one day. When this is all over.”

“Look after yourself, and your mate. They can be pig-headed but they come around. Eventually,” Zelda said.

“You heard…?”

“You were talking too loudly for me to sleep, but you still needed the privacy. One day I’ll tell you about my Tarki and the resistance he put up. You could write a book about that.” Zelda smirked.

Ava’s lips curled. She was sure there could be a lot of books written about stubborn, alpha aliens. Aekon approached her, carrying a thick jacket and boots. He’d changed into the same clothing he held for her. Zelda smiled at her and went to look for Tarki, leaving Ava with Aekon’s dominating presence.

“You will need to wear these, female.” His gruff voice wove through her like a caress despite his bossy words.

She slipped her arms through the sleeves. The coat swamped her and was quite heavy from the reinforced plating on the shoulders and on the front and back.

“Does this have an in-built bullet proof vest?” She rolled her shoulders, distributing the coat over her back.

“Of course.” Aekon adjusted the jacket around her. His expression was tight as he deftly worked the fastenings closed.

“I’ll be fine, Aekon.”

Worry was etched into the lines around his eyes and mouth as he peered down at her. “That is yet to be seen, female.”

He was so much taller than she was. His body broader. He was undeniably more powerful. Pure masculinity. She was becoming a little dizzy that he stood so close to her.

“Don’t be so sure, male.” Her words were a little breathless. A little needy.

Aekon sent her a long, heated gaze and he finished the last tie. When he was satisfied with the jacket, he knelt and guided her feet into the boots. She was amazed he could tie delicate things with such sharp claws. Then again, he’d handled her with such delicacy, the last thing she’d been worried about was her safety in light of the mind-bending orgasms he’d given her.

She put her hand on his shoulder for balance. His body heat seared her palm. She tried to stop the flush that crept up her neck to stain her cheeks, but they heated as though they were on fire. Liquid arousal pooled between her thighs and her nipples prickled as her body called out for the exquisite touch of his skin on hers. To be held in his arms. To have his cock inside her.

His shoulders tensed beneath her touch and his fingers slipped from the boot fastenings. She drew in a quick breath, embarrassment swamping her. The mate-bond. Of course he knew what she was feeling. The mate-bond thrummed with the gravity of what they were about to do. If there was one thing she knew how to do, it was to not back down from a challenge.

This challenge might be a bit more dangerous than she was used to. Who was she kidding, this was life and death, but she had to try. She had to do this. Concern washed through their connection. She felt it no matter how hard Aekon tried to mute his emotions. No matter how hard he tried not to feel anything. She knew he was worried. She knew this was bringing up his past and the grief he’d not yet worked through.

She was not Onda.

She tapped his arm, feeling his hard biceps squeeze. “I know you will protect me. Just know, I will protect you right back.”

She walked towards Brenur and the small group of Ixod that she was going with but not before she noted the shock that washed over his features and the resounding thud that echoed in the middle of her chest.

There were things to settle between them. She just needed to survive this battle and she wasn’t sure exactly what they were going to find up there.