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Oyaz clambered to his feet the moment the cloth shelter closed. Blood slicked his wrists where the shackles dug into his skin. The sting was negligible. He honed his ears, listening for a whisper, a groan, anything to reveal what was happening inside the shelter.
Their conversation aside, her moans and pleas ripped his control from him. He yanked, tugged, lunged, trying to tear the pole from the rock. His roars and threats went unheard and unanswered.
I desire you, minus cesu.
At Madyx’s ‘little cat’ endearment and the truth in his voice, Oyaz’s vision tainted red. Every sense focused on the male he would kill, old battle-bond or not. “Do not touch her, Madyx. I will kill you for this.” He roared a battle cry, one Madyx would understand.
If he harmed a hair on her head, left a bruise, no matter how small...
If he kissed her...
Claimed her...
Images assailed Oyaz, of her sweet smile, her laughter, of the taste of her lips, the sweep of her tongue. Izzy pinned beneath him, on top of him, against the wall. His malehood hardened, and he grunted, unable to deal with his arousal when her body and life were in danger.
He would never have believed Madyx could behave this dishonorably. For the first time since his sentencing, Oyaz doubted his confession, how Azian had seduced him, then claimed he’d forced her. Doing the same to Izzy implied he might have done so with Azian. Had Oyaz been blinded by their bond? No, he wasn’t a fool.
Ceasing fighting the restraints, he attempted to calm down, to appease the insatiable burn of anger tensing every muscle. Helpless to stop Madyx when he ripped Izzy’s shirt, baring her beautiful breasts. Helpless when he trailed a finger along skin Oyaz longed to kiss and had memories of doing so. Oyaz’s heartbeat thundered in his ears, and if he didn’t slow it, he wouldn’t hear Izzy above it.
“Where’s Izzy?” Miri crouched beside him. Blood trickled down the side of her face, her thick braid had begun to unravel, and blood stained her garments in blue, black, and red.
He nudged his head at the shelter.
Miri rose, checked the red on the blaster, and squared her shoulders.
“Wait.” Oyaz jangled his shackles. “Release me.”
“What do you want me to do?” Miri frowned, her brown eyes darkening.
Oyaz clenched his jaw, wanting to rail at her. He pointed with his chin at the blaster.
She jerked and raised it. “This will free you?”
He flashed a grateful smile. Izzy’s friend was intelligent, brave, and capable.
“Which button?” She pointed to each one until he grunted. Hitting the blue button, she twisted around him and fired at the shackles. They unclicked and fell, the noise loud in the silence of the cavern.
Stumbling to his feet, he took the blaster from her and charged into the shelter. He jerked to a halt, not expecting to find a naked Izzy aiming a blaster at Madyx. The image would remain with Oyaz for an eternity. His breath caught. He had never seen anyone so beautiful.
“Oyaz.” She smiled, placed the blaster on the table, and threw herself at him.
He caught her with one arm and crushed her to him, relishing her softness against his body. Burying his nose in the curve of her neck, he inhaled her scent. A shudder tore through him when she wrapped her legs around his hips. “You’re free.”
She lowered her feet to the ground and pulled away. Pink stained her skin from her breasts to her cheeks. “Oh.”
Spinning, she offered her back and the delectable curves of her backside. She lunged for her pants and yanked them on, ignoring her tiny undergarment. When she slipped on her tunic and faced him, the torn fabric gaped over her. He hovered his fingers over the rise and fall of a breast, the heat of her skin discernible. She was tempting him without even trying. Not that she noticed. Maker. He wanted her to be his. Gripping the blaster between his thighs, he ripped off his tunic, and with trembling fingers, offered it to her.
She blessed him with a bright smile. The joy on her face tugged on his heartstrings, whispering that he had seen her this happy before. When she raised her arms to pull on his tunic, her breasts lifted. His heartbeat pounded in his ears, and he sucked in a breath. Brynr would heal him, and soon, Oyaz could claim her.
Leaning over Madyx’s unconscious body, Oyaz activated the O.D.I. in his limp wrist. “Pilot Krist, this is Supreme Commander Oyaz.”
“Supreme Commander, the ground unit from the Gladio has landed and is almost at your position.”
Oyaz flicked a glance at Izzy. Miri had slipped into the shelter, and the two whispered to each other. “Can you not port us?” The need to be done with this adventure drove him to be a little reckless.
“The rock striations are interfering with accurate porting. Sub-Commander Vorn and Aaro opted for a hands-on approach.”
Oyaz grunted. “Expected arrival of the unit?”
“Two minutes, Supreme Commander.”
So, not long. Oyaz forced his jaw to relax. “Very well, Pilot Krist, we shall await the unit.”
“Do you require medical?”
“Affirmative.” Izzy’s shoulder needed healing, and Oyaz wanted his O.D.I. re-implanted. The stun button glowed yellow from the blaster Izzy had tossed on the table. Madyx would sleep for perhaps ten minutes, maybe longer. They would be gone by then. Typing on Madyx’s holographic buttons, he chose the translator and faced Izzy. “How are you feeling, ensa?”
She raised her gaze, and her mouth parted, revealing the dark pinks depths he craved. “You speak English?”
“Only through Madyx’s translator.”
“Is that his name?” She huffed. “He tried to convince me you were a mean bastard. I was having none of that, Oyaz.”
He chuckled, offering his hand. She slid her delicate one into his without hesitation. “Let us wait outside this cave.”
Izzy grabbed the blaster and allowed him to escort her out of the structure. Clutching her blaster to her chest, Miri followed. They strolled along the bridge to the entrance.
“Oyaz.” Madyx raced toward them, pumping his arms while gripping another blaster. Oyaz shoved Izzy behind him. Miri ducked behind a crate.
“What now? You are determined to pursue this idiotic vendetta? Revenge for what, Madyx? For remaining true to my principles? For declining Azian’s offer? For being your battle-bond even when you betrayed the code? For mourning your death as if you were my blood-bond?” Oyaz shook his head. “Azian served one month on the omeika farms and the rest of the year attending classes we all suffered through as damu. I have not heard of her since.”
Madyx lowered his blaster. “She did?” He raised it again. “I do not believe you.”
“I have no reason to lie. That you imply so means you have fallen beneath your honor. Your males are dead, and a ground unit is en route. You have lost, Madyx.”
Indecision twitched his eyebrows. His eyes darkened, and a pulse ticked at his jaw. He slapped the red button on his blaster and aimed at Oyaz.
A rock bounced off the side of his head. He roared, spun, and fired in Miri’s direction. Oyaz tackled him, grunting when he hit the ground hard. They grappled, but Oyaz was a heavier male and pinned Madyx. Using a sharp knee and a foot thrust, Madyx threw Oyaz back. Before he could scramble into the fray again, Miri fired a blaster at Madyx.
“Miri.” Izzy pressed four fingers to her parted lips. “You didn’t just kill him, did you?”
“Of course not. Yellow for stun, red for kill, blue to unlock. Oyaz, what’s the white button?”
Sitting on his ass, Oyaz’s laughter barreled up from his stomach, consumed his chest, and tumbled free.
“Izzy?” Garix’s voice penetrated the quiet.
She squealed, dropped the blaster, and yanked her comm device out of her back pocket. “Garix? Please... We need help. Those bastard sharks stunned Oyaz’s O.D.I.” Her voice caught on a hitch. She raised her sad gaze to Oyaz.
“Lady Miri said Supreme Commander Oyaz was wounded. I am tracking this device, as well. We are en route.”
“Oh, good Lord. Thank you.” Izzy slumped beside Oyaz, leaning her shoulder against him.
He looped his arm around her, pulling her into the curve of his body.
Miri joined them, balancing the blaster across her thighs. “How does Garix fit into this?”
Oyaz closed his eyes to calm his breathing. Exhaustion drained him, and a rescue was imminent.
“He’s my Etterian friend.” With tear-stained cheeks, Izzy met Miri’s gaze.
Since Madyx sprawled nearby, his translator continued to work.
“You like friends?” Oyaz wouldn’t admit he hated that she had male friends. Not that he had a right to an opinion when she wasn’t his. And by that thinking, he couldn’t be Macy’s friend, for it would displease the king. He rolled his bottom lip. When things had settled, he would comm Macy and ask.
“Yes, life is lonely without them. Garix’s huge where I’m tiny. It gives us a connection.”
Ah. A commonality. What did Oyaz have with Izzy? This misadventure? “But if you have an Eth?”
“What’s an Eth?” Miri frowned.
“Friends don’t come between...lovers,” Izzy whispered, then smiled at Miri. “An Eth is your Etterian soulmate.”
Miri froze then rocked on her backside. “Are you serious?”
“And if Garix is your Eth, Izzy?” Oyaz frowned, not liking that he couldn’t let this subject go. Why did it bother him that Garix might be hers?
Izzy’s smile faltered, and she dipped her chin to her chest. “He’s not. Neither is Ronin. I thought I had found my...” She glanced at Oyaz, then shrugged, wincing at the same time. “I’ll just keep looking.” She straightened her back, as if drawing on inner strength.
“Izzy.” The roar came from outside the cave.
“Garix.” She leaped to her feet and burst into a run.
Oyaz trudged behind her, taking each step as if he faced Adviser Cales. Miri strolled alongside him, the blaster clutched to her chest.
Izzy threw herself into Garix’s arms, laughing and crying as she clung to him.
“You, minus susa, are a pain in my backside,” Garix mumbled, but he didn’t release her.
She chuckled. “You have a big ass, Garix, what’s one more pain?” She gestured to Miri. “This’s Miri.”
“Lady Miri, I am pleased to meet you.” Garix held out his hand and pumped Miri’s three times.
She gaped at the huge male. Her dark gaze darted between him and the arriving warriors falling into formation behind him.
With a cry, Izzy tugged on Garix’s arm. “Sharks attacked, please...help Oyaz.” She rushed to Oyaz and gathered his wrist in her hand to show Garix. “See. Two shots here and his memories were gone.”
Oyaz glaring at Garix was lost on Izzy, whose attention had shifted from Oyaz’s wrist to his shoulders.
“Supreme Commander,” Garix greeted.
“Elite Warrior Garix, clear out the cave, port any Yithians or Maloidians alive, and capture Madyx et Todyx. Hand him over to Sub-Commander Vorn for questioning. Return the cave to its natural state with no sign of our presence.”
Garix barked out orders, then placed a hand on Oyaz’s shoulder. He gestured with a sideways gaze at Izzy. Oyaz laced his fingers through hers, then held out his hand to Miri. Frowning, she grasped it. “Four to port to medical,” Garix spoke into his O.D.I.
They phased in at medical with Medic Brynr rushing around them.
“Place Lady Izzy on that bed,” he instructed Garix.
Oyaz jerked back and held onto Izzy’s hand, keeping her close. She was his to care for.
Garix frowned.
Brynr crowded Oyaz, gestured to the central bed, and activated the med-E.D., forcing Oyaz to release her.
Oyaz stared at Garix’s hands on Izzy’s waist to lift her onto the fold-down bed. He didn’t like the male touching her. She was talking a mile a minute, to which Garix would grumble or shake his head. Their easy comradery Oyaz didn’t like either.
“Where the hell are we?” Miri asked the room in general.
“Oh.” Color exploded across Izzy’s cheeks. “They teleport. We’re on a battleship.”
Miri paled under her darker skin tone. “What?” she squeaked. “Izzy Reeves, you start talking.”
Brynr blocked Oyaz’s view. “I will induce sleep to heal your neural connections.”
His gaze shot to Brynr in alarm. Oyaz didn’t want to lose sight of Izzy. “No,” he said, but the medic ignored his command.
Sleep claimed him with immediate effect.
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