“ B ourne!” Ahtu burst into the throne room, his eyes averted.
I slid out of Kendall’s body and placed myself in front of her.
No one saw her naked form but me.
Not even my best friend.
“Ahtu.” My voice came out sharper than I intended.
“Apologies. I would not have interrupted if the situation wasn’t dire.”
My tentacles hid my mate’s nakedness as she hastily dressed in her hooman, no human, clothes.
I made a mental note to have the clothes our people wore.
Her small size convinced me an adolescent’s tunic would serve as a dress.
A feral grin crossed my face.
And a dress would allow me easy access to her pussy.
Yes, I would get her a dress as soon as possible.
“Bourne!” Ahtu waved his hands in front of me.
“Yes?” I snapped.
“Bourne. I’m sure your friend wouldn’t have interrupted us.”
“It’s the Trench.” Ahtu’s nervous movements churned a current.
“We have to go.”
“We have warriors stationed there.” I didn’t want to leave Kendall, not after our first mating.
“Haven’t you felt the tremors?” Ahtu asked.
“No. I was,” I paused, not wanting to sound crass.
“Mating,” Kendall supplied.
“Claiming me.”
“Feel the ground,” Ahtu said.
“They’re more active than usual.”
I splayed my tentacles across the floor and listened with my body.
Deep pulses echoed through the water, interspersed with a barely perceptible electric charge.
“Kendall, stay here.” I placed a chaste kiss on her forehead before moving toward the outer corridor.
But she followed.
The corridors of the palace lit with warning lights as guards surged past us, heading toward the Trench.
Kendall looked on in awe at the multitude of languages spoken.
She stayed by my side as I barked orders.
She didn’t insert herself, instead observing with a keen eye.
When the warning lights slowed to a steady pulse, she spoke.
“What’s going on?”
“Come with me.” I took her hand and led her to a hidden room.
My war chamber.
I swept my hand across a glowing map suspended in a bubble.
The projection showed a series of blips, a swarm of Trench creatures.
“They are not here to explore. They are here to devour.” My eyes glowed.
“According to the scouts, they brought weapons.”
“How far are they from us?” I hated the tremor in Kendall’s voice.
I shook my head.
“Can’t be sure.”
“How serious is it?”
“It’s never happened in my reign.”
“If I wasn’t with you, you’d be out there with your warriors, right?”
I hesitated.
“I would.”
“Go,” she urged.
“It’s where you belong.”
“I don’t want to leave you.”
“It’s your duty.”
“I have a duty to you.”
“And to your people. Bourne, go. If you don’t, you’ll never forgive yourself. Because you know what will happen.”
“Because war is coming,” I said, eyes glowing.
“And…”
“And what? What aren’t you telling me?”
“You must decide which world you belong to.”
“I know. I will, soon. I’m not going to argue with you. But I want you to be the leader you think your people need.”
My mate understood duty.
She would grow into a great queen, given time.
“How did they find it?”
“That’s what they do. Seek and destroy.”
“Did my arrival have anything to do with their increased activity?” Kendall’s brow furrowed.
“No.”
“Is that a lie?” she probed.
“It is what I believe.”
“Are you going?”
“No. I must protect you.”
Kendall slipped her hand in mine.
“Let’s get your trident, and we’ll go together. It’s your battle too.”
My mate.
My brave mate.
“You’ll need this.” I brought her over to a cabinet behind the projection screen and retrieved a semi-circular device.
In my hand, it pulsed with soft light.
“This is more than a translator. Only members of the royal families have them.” I adjusted it behind her ear.
“What else does it do?” she asked.
“I will trust you with the biggest secret my realm keeps from the others. Some of the Trench creatures have… abilities.”
“Abilities?”
“They can invade weaker creatures’ thoughts. This will protect your mind from manipulation. It acts as a shield.”
“Well shit. I didn’t expect that. Mind controlling aliens. Fantastic. Didn’t have that on my bingo card for this year.”
“I understood your words, but they make no sense.”
Kendall chuckled.
“It’s fine. Let’s get your armor and trident. When we get there, tell me where to stay. I promise, I’ll listen.”
I donned my armor in record speed, pausing to place my childhood chest piece over Kendall.
She looked ridiculous in my armor, but it would protect her.
We took a transportation pod to the rim.
While I knew my body could withstand the travel there, the potential for fighting and returning, Kendall was an unknown entity.
She was too new to our world.
If she tired and fell behind, she would be at the mercy of the creatures.
And that was unacceptable.
“Stay in the pod,” I instructed.
“If any of the creatures approach, touch here and here,” I pointed.
“The pod will move. Once you’re moving, press this area, and it will take you back to the palace.”
Horror etched over Kendall’s face.
Drone creatures used for the express purpose of destruction carved through our reef walls.
Weapons unleashed shockwaves of electricity against our protective barriers.
“I have to go. Remember, I…” I stopped.
I couldn’t say I loved her, or could I?
Kendall pressed a finger against my lips.
“I know. I feel the same. Now, go kick some Trench creature’s ass.”
With a nod, I barreled into the fray, my tentacles working in tandem to dismantle the front line.
Ahtu appeared at my side, inclining his head in greeting.
With his trident, he gestured toward a creature commanding the invaders.
Together, we headed for the leader in an ambush.
It fought us valiantly, but Ahtu pierced its head with his weapon.
The decapitated creature hit the ground, and the creatures it commanded scattered in varying directions.
Ahtu and I gripped hands in celebration, before heading toward the pod where I left Kendall.
As we approached her position, a crab-like creature mixed with an electric eel emerged from the rift.
“Kendall?” It called.
“I thought you were dead.”
Kendall’s mouth dropped open.
“How do you know my name?”
Shit.
I wouldn’t make it to her in time.
The device I’d placed behind her ear wasn’t working.
Fuck.
Maybe my venom hadn’t fully changed her?
“I’m here to take you back to your people.”
“No,” Kendall whispered.
“You’re trying to control me.”
My hearts soared.
Maybe the device was working.
Or maybe Kendall was strong enough to withstand the mind control.
I tried to send her a telepathic message that I was on the way, to hold on, but I encountered a block.
“Kendall, I want to bring you home.”
“No. I already am.”
I froze.
She’d decided.
And she’d chosen me.