Page 13 of Guardian's Destiny

As soon as Vraax came closer, the pain receded, same with the heaviness in my legs. "What the fuck?"

"Come," he pulled me back into the room I had just left.

"Explain!" I demanded, pushing my hands into my hips, staring up at him as fury emanated from every fiber of my being.

"Hey, this is not my fault," he said, putting his hands up.

"Well, it's somebody's," I huffed. Then I took a deep, steadying breath. This wasn't me. I was a cool and collected person. I wasn't temperamental. Reason always ruled my brain, not emotion, which was exactly why I was so damn good atmy job. I could analyze any situation and keep a clear head. I had sent hundreds of soldiers to their deaths after the Cryon invasion. Had I not been able to separate my feelings from the mission, I would not have been able to lead another operation. I was always good at outweighing the risks and consequences with the results. Yes, hundreds of soldiers had died, good soldiers. But they had also saved thousands of civilians. Civilians who would have otherwise died because they couldn’t protect themselves. I knew what duty was and how hard leadership could be. I had sworn an oath and so had all those men and women I sent to their deaths. And I wouldn't have hesitated to die right there with them if need be. That was duty.

"Alright," I made an effort to smile at him. "Explain. Please."

"We don't know everything yet, but the Soulweb Glyphs choose the mates, and once they do, there is no changing it. Until we both accept this, they won't let us be apart from one another for more than a few paces."

"Right." I took another deep breath. "Okay." No, that didn't seem to work; my anger was still burning hot in my stomach. "So we have to stay together? For how long?" My mind worked feverishly. I still had time to warn Zapharos or the Pandraxians. Perhaps there was an option of me accepting this Soulweb bond, having sex with him, and going on with our lives. Yes. I could work with that. He wasn't exactly repulsive. I thought I might have even enjoyed it.

He shrugged, his deep, black eyes—and I mean black, there was no iris, no sclera—took me in unapologetically. "I don't know, but if I had to guess… until we die?"

"Until we die?" I faltered. I had never faltered in my life, but I did then.

Take another deep breath. Okay, I can handle this. First things first. "Alright, then you'll have to come with me."

"Go where?"

"Astrionis," I said, managing not to roll my eyes since I'd already told him that and the others before. I was sure he and the others had already talked. They were all Space Guardians, right? Working for the same team? There was no way they hadn't discussed me. That's how units worked.

"We're on our way to Darlam." He declined, actually looking apologetic that he couldn't fulfill my request, which made me even more suspicious of him. "I'm sorry. I'll gladly take you to Astrionis after we're done, but I promised my support."

"What about this fated mate thing? Aren't you supposed to want to make me happy or something like that?" I wasn't above throwing out the guilt trip card, and I had learned a thing or two about the Soulweb, which the Pandraxians called mekarry. I had seen Lord Protector Garth with his mate Silla and the Emperor with his Empress Heather, not to forget Ashley—the reason I was here—and her mate, the Superior Commander of the Imperial Forces, Xandros. All three men were waiting hand and foot on theirfated mates.

Vraax ran a hand through his hair, his black eyes regarded me thoughtfully. "I vowed to be there for them. I'm sorry, Sloane. I promise I will take you to?—"

"Astrionis, when this is over, yeah, yeah, I heard you." I interrupted him, "So what's so important about these Soulweb Glyphs that you have to get a whole mission together?" If I knew more about what the Space Guardians were up to, maybe I could let a snippet or two fall about my mission. Maybe. That was a big maybe because I was sure the Space Guardians wouldn't care one lick about the Pandraxians’ trade routes being attacked by the Moggadesh. Plus, talking about Zapharos was out of the question. Nobody could know about his existence. Nobody. Emperor Daryus had made sure to engrain that into me.

I wished I could have just borrowed a comm and sent a message, but the information I had was too sensitive, and wewere out of range from Pandrax. Otherwise, I would have tried from the space station.

I thought he wouldn't answer me for a moment, but then he seemed to make up his mind, "It's not just about the Soulweb Glyphs, they're part of it, but there is more."

He stopped, and I impatiently waved my hands for him to continue. He threw me an irritated glared—good, I was happy I was frustrating him as much as he was me—petty, I know, but I wasn't in the best state of mind. Zapharos was in danger. More than ever, now that the enemy knew I overheard them. Time was of the essence.

Vraax regained his composure and continued, "Space Guardians have worked for the Ohrurs for thousands of years. I never questioned them or my job until I met Zaarek and the others.

"It began with a simple question: Who are we? I didn't know the answer. Still don't. But we now know that the Ohrurs did something to a planet, Darlam, which looks like it's our ancestral home. I—" he stopped, brushed his hand through his hair again, and against my will, I was mesmerized. His words were heartfelt. I knew a thing or two about loss, but I had always known I was human. I asked myself what it would be like not knowing that and came up short. It had to be devastating.

"I'm not explaining this very well."

"You're doing fine," I encouraged him, like I would have any other informant or soldier under my command. It was important to keep their self-confidence up.

"We discovered the Ohrurs are killing Space Guardians when it's their time to retire. That's our thanks for thirty years of service."

Okay, so maybe there was more to this than Soulweb Glyphs, I allowed. But my mission priority was still Zapharos. Mentally,I did some quick calculations; I did have some time. "How long will this mission of yours take?"

"I don't know."

This man was certainly no help whatsoever. But I recognized a brick wall when I came up to it. I remembered overhearing their discussion about additional ships being towed yesterday, sparking a fleeting thought—I could try to take one. But with these infuriating shackles, the so-calledSoulweb Glyphs, escaping seemed unlikely, let alone piloting a vessel. Trapped, with no clear way out, I glared at Vraax. Seducing him in true Mata Hari—the famous German spy who had seduced men for information—fashion was an option, yet something about that idea didn't sit right with me. He wasn't bad looking and I wouldn't have minded fucking him, but that was just the problem, something inside me stopped me from using this last, desperate card.

Vraax's comm announced an incomingcall. Zaarek's body materialized in the room. This part—and some others—of their technology never failed to amaze me. It made it look as if Zaarek was actually here with us, fusing with a chair he walked through, like a ghost. "Tharaax and Noodar are bringing Possedion in, and the girls are in the breakroom with Nock."

"We're on our way." Vraax looked at me for confirmation, and with a loud sigh, I gave it to him.

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