Prime Selection (42 page)

Getting Dr. Martin and her people to Cejuru Prime and starting a more comprehensive testing of the mating process was more important than ever. “I wanted to kill a lot of men who looked at you before I marked you.” Huw kissed an errant curl touching Nadia’s cheek.

“But you didn’t.” Nadia brushed a kiss over his tense jaw. “I’ll sit with you in the shade. I’ve had enough sun.”

Either the other two women had made the same decision or Wulf and Joen had convinced them, since all six of them now sat at the shady table.

“I’m hungry.” Nadia shot Joen a nasty look when he snickered. “For food, Joen. Get your mind out of the bedroom. It’s not as if you men were suffering…” She shook her head and Huw had to smile at the look of consternation on her face.

“
Cwen
,” he took her hand in his and nibbled her fingertips, “we can do nothing but think of making love to our beautiful women.”

Nadia rubbed her cheek over their clasped hands. “Well, once we’re back on duty …

you’ve got to give us a break. I have work piled up and I can’t drop everything to meet you for sex every freaking three hours or so.”

“More like every fricking hour,” mumbled Mel.

Wulf laughed and kissed Mel’s cheek, which burned bright red. “That’s because we’re on vacation,
gemate lubha
. We men have some control—and you women have all the control. You just say ‘not now.’ We’re not animals to take you when you don’t want to be taken.”

Lia snorted delicately. “But you men will attempt to change our minds.” She added under her breath, “Been there, done that.”

Joen leaned over and nuzzled her ear and whispered something not even Huw could hear with his more than excellent hearing. Whatever the man had said had Lia turning to kiss him on the mouth … and tongue was involved.

Nadia laughed and turned to Huw to say something. She then stopped. Her frown had him turning to see what had changed her mood from amusement to worry.

Iolyn and Mel’s uncle, Tor Maren, walked toward their table. Both men wore scowls.

Huw sensed the auras preceding the two. Something was up and he feared the lovely vacation on Tooh 2 was about to end.

Iolyn spoke first. “Our leave is canceled. The
Galanti
needs to leave space dock within the next twelve standard hours. I’ve recalled the crew.”

“What happened?” Wulf asked. He had his arm around Mel’s shoulder as if he anticipated an attack on her.

Huw for some reason did the same with Nadia. Something was up; the vibes coming from the two men had affected all the mated males in the same way.

Iolyn sat, picked up Wulf’s whiskey and finished it in one gulp, then picked up Huw’s and did the same. Something was very wrong here—and it affected Iolyn.

Tor sat and told the hovering waiter. “Gliesian white wine for me and the ladies.

Whiskey for the men.” The waiter hurried off. “Since Iolyn is attempting to get drunk, I’ll relay what has happened.”

Iolyn snarled and grabbed Joen’s almost empty glass and tossed it back.

Cold fear struck Huw’s stomach. Iolyn had never been a big drinker. Nadia leaned into Huw and soothed him as only a mate could.

“I received word from Admiral Nelson at Alliance Command Dr. Brianna Martin has been threatened … someone attempted to kidnap her,” Tor said. “She managed to escape and went into hiding. She put a call out to the Alliance to come and get her.”

“That’s terrible. Of course, we’ll go get her and make sure she gets to Cejuru Prime safely,” Wulf said. “But why is my brother attempting to get drunk?”

Tor sighed and shook his head. “Dr. Martin is a Lost One … and she is…”

“My mate!” Iolyn pounded his fist on the table. “She sent an image of her marking to the Alliance. She asked that her mate be found and told. She asked that he come to get her.” Iolyn stood up and paced angrily around the table. “I’m clear across the fucking galaxy while my mate had to fight off an attack and run and hide.” He threw his head back and roared the Caradoc battle cry to the skies.

Huw stood as did Wulf; they went to their brother and enveloped him within their arms until he quit shouting. His brother was in full-blown battle rage and would be in lesser stages of it until he had his Brianna in his arms.

“Huw?” Nadia came to him and placed her hand on Iolyn’s shoulder. “How can we help?” He noted Mel had come to stand by Wulf and also touched Iolyn.

Tor, Joen, and Lia used their bodies to ward off the curious glances of the understandably shook up bystanders. The Caradoc battle cry had turned many an enemy’s bowels to water.

“We get to Dr. Martin as quickly as possible.”

Same day, Cejuru Prime, Prime Elder Council Chambers
The man behind the Pure Blood faction sat and listened as Ilar informed the delegates of the Council about Dr. Martin’s attack and the revelation that she was a Prime Lost One. Through his sources at the Alliance Command, he’d discovered her mark had been verified as a match for Iolyn Caradoc.

He swore silently.
Ansu bhau!
The damn Caradoc direct line would not die out and disappear as he’d hoped and planned. Who knew the sons would
all
find potentially fertile
gemates
? And one of them was a Terran!

It looked as if he would have to incite the Pure Blood dupes even more.

His lips twisted and he suppressed the urge to snarl. He had some contacts on Tau Ceti where this Martin woman had gone to ground. He had no clue who had targeted her and made her run and cry for help. But he would be sure his hired killers got to her first and made certain she never made it to Cejuru Prime. He’d double their usual rate to give them extra incentive.

And if his agents failed?—Well, he had other mercenaries and even an alliance with a subfaction of the dreaded Antareans. Accidents could be arranged. Space flight was, after all, wrought with danger.

The End

About the Author

Monette Michaels is the pen name for a multi-published author of suspense/thrillers.

She's been married to the love of her life for far longer than she cares to remember. Her home is in Central Indiana.