Page 10 of Guardian's Destiny

Myrescuertook me through a cargo hold, up a set of stairs, and into what appeared to be a breakroom.

"Who is that female?" the other Space Guardian who had opened the hatch for us demanded.

Before anybody could answer, a heavy thud made the giant carrying me turn, and we stared at the Space Guardian I had brushed against a few seconds ago lying on the ground. Had he been shot?

"Ah frygg," one of the other men cursed, staring at the one on the ground, who was now holding his arm in pain. Surprised, I watched black marks etch themselves onto his flesh.

"Serves him right," the man who appeared to be the oldest, chuckled.

"I've set course to where we left the other ships to pick them up. Can you remotely activate them to follow us?" Another alien, this time a woman—I assumed—and the ugliest creature I had ever seen entered the room. It was good that I had been trained to keep my emotions under a tight wrap. Otherwise, I might have exclaimed in surprise. Her skin reminded me of that of an elephant's, rough and gray and filled with folds. She wasn't very tall, but she held herself with a certain grace that was admirable, especially since she was walking on three legs. Her arms were bare, and I noticed the same markings on her that the others had, men and women. Had I walked into some kind of cult? That would be just my luck.

"Yes, Darlam?" a male voice asked. I couldn't have said who because just then, a jolting pain raced up my arm.

The rest of their conversation was lost to me because another spasm ran through my hips and legs, and this time, it was so intense I couldn't stop a moan from escaping my lips.

"Ah, hell!" I heard Nova curse before I closed my eyes to ride out another wave of pain, so excruciating I thought I'd pass out.

VRAAX

"What the frygg,"Noodar exclaimed. His eyes riveted to the screen.

"What?"

"Trouble," he answered, rising and reaching for his blaster.

My training set in instantly, and I copied his moves, following him out of the breakroom and down into the cargo hold. He neither gave me warning nor time before he pulled the hatch open, and I stared astonished at our group pointing blasters at GTU soldiers and vice versa.

I barely had time to get my bearings when my eyes fell on what, or better who, Zaarek was carrying. The most beautiful human female I had ever seen. Red hair surrounded a diamond-shaped face set in a stern expression, and green, intelligent eyes assessed the situation she found herself in. Not in fear, but determination. It was a look I recognized: a threat assessment. She was figuring out how to fight.

Just then, our eyes met, and the first agonizing jolt of pain shot through me.Oh frygg, no, my mind reeled.

Zaarek was already on the move. As he rushed by us, the female's bare leg brushed against my arm, and another jolt ranthrough me, this one not of pain but the most intense pleasure I had ever known.

My blaster shook in my hand as I tried to keep it upright. The voices around me faded, and I shook my head to keep my focus on the potential fight. This wasn't a moment for weakness.

Thankfully, it seemed the threat was deescalating, as the other females, Zoe, Hannah, and Nova, also rushed by me, followed by Raasla and Tharaax.

Noodar and I retreated into the cargo hold as soon as everyone from our group was safely inside, and Noodar slammed the hatch shut. What happened next was fuzzy; voices faded in and out of my head. It felt as if I was carried, but I wasn't sure. All I knew was that at some point, I collapsed on the breakroom's floor.

The first words that reached back into my mind were Raasla's, "If I didn't know what the bastard is going through, this would be funny."

Followed by Zaarek yelling at Nova, "You have some explaining to do."

"Oh, keep your pants on," Nova shot back.

Since they were discussing the female—the reason for my agony—I forced myself to stay conscious and follow their conversation. I had thousands of questions, but my mind had barely enough energy to listen, and I couldn't muster any more to voice my questions. Besides, the others were already asking most of them for me.

"Well?" Tharaax demanded from his mate.

"There's not much to say. We ran into her in the restroom, and she asked us for help," Zoe answered, shrugged, "end of story."

It was a good thing I had already spent enough time with this group to recognize their voices because my eyes kept shuttingthrough the waves of pain searing through my arm, hip, and leg. Frygg, nobody had told me how painful this was going to be.

I hadn't been exactly jealous of the others' marks, but part of me had felt left out. It was hard not to when there were couples all around you. The only other single person in our group was Nock. And Nock was… well, Nock was Nock. I wasn't exactly keen on commiserating with him on our single status. He probably would have streamed the entire conversation. I could already see it:Lonely Space Guardian seeks loveor something equally stupid. No, thank you.

Still, having that kind of relationship the other males were having with their mates looked inviting. Having sex whenever you felt like it? I liked that idea even more, especially from what I had seen of my mate so far. I grinned despite the pain. My mate. Hah. I liked that idea.

Yes, I had listened to the others' stories about how they had fought the mate bond at first, blablabla. This was different, though. They hadn't known what was happening to them. Her and me, we would know. Besides, I was an expert in pursuing females. They always flocked to me. Some told me that I had a devastating smile. I would send that a few times at the human female, and I was sure by the next night we would be sharing a bed and enjoying having wild, out-of-this-world sex.

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