Page 27

Grace

THE MOMENT I WOKE UP , I was hit by the distinctive masculine scent of Trex, which was strange considering I couldn’t remember being in his quarters, let alone his bed.

My eyes opened, and I found myself on a firm surface, covered by a blanket. The overhead light was blindingly bright, causing me to squint.

I brought my hand up to cover my eyes when I felt the gentle touch of a hand on mine.

Trex lifted it to his lips, kissing it. My hand tingled as I felt Trex’s warmth seep into my skin.

Sitting up abruptly, I discovered I was in the medical bay.

Glancing around, I observed Riley engaged in a hushed discussion with the medic. Olivia was asleep or unconscious, but Orin’s worried expression was clear as he gazed down at her from her bedside.

When I looked at Trex, his eyes lit up with joy. “What happened? The last thing I remember is Orin yelling at someone outside. Then the door opened and something was tossed into the room....” I rubbed my head. “There was a high-pitched sound...I think it knocked me out.”

Trex nodded solemnly. “The Krilex boarded the ship. They took you and the other females to their vessel.” He cleared his throat. “They tried to take you from me.” His voice sounded strained.

“We retrieved you and dealt with them.” A muscle in his jaw bunched.

He leaned in close, lowering his voice so only I could hear.

“You were the last to regain consciousness. I was afraid you wouldn’t awaken.

” As he touched my head, he ran his fingers through my hair.

With moist eyes, he looked down, his chin pressed against his chest.

He blamed himself for my abduction.

Over hours of talking since our first kiss, our connection had gotten stronger. I shared parts of myself with Trex that I usually kept hidden.

We’d grown close in a short period.

But I was still touched that he was by my side when I woke.

He grimaced, pulling his bottom lip between his teeth.

“K’sha, my sweet, I promised to protect you...and I failed. I hope you will forgive me in time.” His eyes dropped, intentionally avoiding mine, and his inner struggle was evident.

“Don’t worry,” I assured him, taken aback by his self-blame. My stomach contracted until he made eye contact again.

When he looked back at me his throat bobbed.

“It is clear I can’t keep you safe on the ship. I will take you to a human colony. They are protected by their own armed citizens as well as the Protectorate. You will be safer there.”

My head snapped back and my eyes grew wide. “Why? How could you think leaving you is better?” I huffed.

After all that we discussed, did he truly want me to leave him? I clenched my fists, battling my fear of abandonment.

“Leaving is absolutely not an option,” I firmly stated, shaking my head. “Being with you makes me feel safe.” The thought of not being with Trex brought tears to my eyes.

Furrowing his brow, he gently touched my cheek. “I don’t want you to go, but if you were hurt because of me...” his voice trailed off.

My voice trembled at the idea of being sent elsewhere. “You will not lose me unless you send me away. We are fated mates. You said so yourself.” I sniffed back tears. “My being taken is not your fault.”

Placing my hand on top of his, I looked him in the eye. “You rescued me. I’m alright. I am not leaving the ship. Or you.”

He angled his head and pressed his lips, giving me a small nod. I knew he would not force me to leave. Trex, in his own way was trying to do the honorable thing to keep me safe. The gesture only deepened my feelings for him.

When I took in my magnificent warrior, I noticed four deep gashes along Trex’s biceps and the visible part of his chest, which I hadn’t noticed before.

“You’re hurt.”

He emitted a snorting noise. “I’m fine. Rekna has attended to it. It’s nearly healed.”

Tears filled my eyes again. “Oh, Trex.”

He leaned closer and kissed the top of my head, then caressed my cheek. “I would face much worse if it meant keeping you safe, my cherished K’sha.”

I cleared the tears that glided down my cheeks. How can I possibly respond to that?

This amazing Alaran warrior won my heart with just one kiss, and now I can’t imagine my life without him.

Approaching us, Rekna had a smile on his face and his gaze fixed on me. “Thankfully, you weren’t hurt. Whenever you are ready, feel free to leave.” After he finished speaking, he gave a quick nod.

I glanced at Olivia and back to Rekna. “Is she going to be okay?”

“I’m keeping her here to monitor her and her youngling, ensuring the device used left no side effects.”

“Where’s Joele and Avery?” I asked, looking around the room.

“They left with the Drakkari fleet. The Calti woke earlier than any of you other females and informed us that Avery expressed a desire to go with her.”

Trex spoke, reasoning that Joele must be telling the truth because Avery seemed desperate to leave.

“You’re right. She planned to leave with her, anyway. Joele promised to help Avery get home,” I said.

“I hope the human knows what she’s doing.” Trex huffed and his lips down-turned.

“What do you mean?” Confusion filled my voice.

“The leaders and people of Zeynon are not known for being open to other races on their planet.”

My mouth gaped in surprise. “Is she going to be safe?”

A laugh escaped from Trex. “Yes. The Drakkari might not accept her as easily as she hopes, but they won’t harm her. Their warriors are also part of the Protectorate Alliance.”

I took another quick look around, chuckled, and turned my attention back to Trex. “It’ll be a lot quieter without Avery. It’s a shame I didn’t get to say goodbye to them. I hope things work out for her with Joele and the Drakkari.”

Riley walked over, her eyes sharp. “How is it Joele can get her back to Earth, but you guys can’t?” She stared up at Trex.

He had a look of amusement. “I’m unconvinced that she will be capable of getting your friend to the Sol system. It is many galaxies away. The Protectorate’s mission is to protect Alaran space. It is unlikely the Drakkari will venture that far from Zeynon.”

Riley appeared satisfied with the response and glanced at Krin as he walked into the Medi-bay. “I think I’ll go back to my room,” she said, her gaze fixated on him.

Krin nodded and followed her as they left the Medi-bay.

TREX LIFTED ME OFF the bed and onto my feet. A lump blocked my throat as emotions flooded through me, but I swallowed it down.

The depth of feelings shining in his eyes caused my stomach to flutter.

My eyes were locked onto his deep, dark blue eyes, and I was taken aback by a sudden wave of love.

I fought back tears, biting my lip, as I reflected on the close call of almost being taken away from him.

Despite everything, he saved me, and I had this unexplainable certainty that he would always be there for me when I needed him. This was no time to be wishy-washy with my feelings and choices. I wanted a lot more. I wanted Trex.

Being Trex’s mate meant immersing myself in his world, and I was determined to embrace every aspect of what it meant to be his K’sha. It caught me a little off guard that I was prepared to gamble on a relationship with him so soon, but deep down I knew he would never hurt me.

His mouth quirked at the corner, making me question if he sensed my emotions, too. “Are you ready to go?”

Leaning closer, I pressed my palms against his rock solid chest with its soft skin. “Can we go to your quarters?”

He parted his lips and his eyes ignited. “Are you sure?”

“More than ever.” I shot him a flirty smile.

With a seductive growl, Trex scooped me up and carried me to his quarters. I chuckled, encircling his neck with my arms and nuzzling my face against his chest.

When the door shut behind us, he lowered me to the ground and tenderly touched my face. His expression turned serious, and I could see the weight of his thoughts reflected in his dark eyes. The depth of his emotions resonated within me, almost overpowering my own feelings.

“I don’t know what I would have done,” he confessed, his voice breaking, “if I had lost you.”

“But you didn’t lose me.” I put my hands over his.

Looking down, he spoke with a hoarse voice, heavy with emotions. Then, he gently grasped my hands and pressed a soft kiss on the top of each one. When our eyes met again, his gaze held a passionate intensity that sent shivers down my spine.

Releasing my hands, he stood tall and rigid. “Starting now, your place will always be by my side. You will stay in my quarters,” he announced.

Absolutely, yes. I was excited that he suggested it.

Maybe it wasn’t the right time to joke, but I was slightly embarrassed and my knee-jerk reaction was to blurt, “is that an order, sir?”

He glanced at me, tilting his head and raising a brow. “You joke, but I’m being completely serious,” he replied, his face deadpan. “I will not lose you. You mean everything to me,” he said, his voice filled with desperation.

My heart fluttered as I reached up to cup his cheeks in my hands, getting lost in the depths of his soulful eyes.

“You will never lose me,” I said, my voice filled with unwavering sincerity. Life was too short not to be honest about how I felt.

“Now that I’ve found you,” I confessed, “the thought of not being with you is just as unbearable.”

With a firm grip on his imposing shoulders, I lifted myself onto my toes and pressed my lips against his.

Immediately, a rush of warmth and arousal coursed through me. How I’d managed to hold back from having sex with him and only kissing him was a mystery to me.

Trex put his hands on my hips and returned the kiss.