Page 40 of Shielded Heart

“It could be anyone.” Arcanthus took the second auto-blaster’s grip in his left hand and settled his right hand on its foregrip. “Anyone. And it doesn’t matter, becausesheis in trouble. You can suit up and come, or I’ll go on my own.”

Drakkal strode forward, throwing his arms out to the sides. He bared his fangs, and his claws protruded from his fingers. “All for that terranji’tas? For a meek girl who’ll be eaten alive by this city the moment you lose interest in her? Maybe try making decisions with your head instead of your cock, you selfish bastard. She’s a piece of meat! You’ll fuck her and move on just like you have all the rest. You’re putting yourself at risk, this operation at risk,all of usat risk for a taste of terran slit.”

The torrent of emotions whirling deep within Arcanthus—emotions he was trying to ignore so he could do what was necessary—surged to the surface. He lunged at Drakkal and clamped a hand over the azhera’s throat, slamming him against the wall. Drakkal grunted, but before he could recover, Arc shifted forward, pressing his chest to the azhera’s and tipping his horns against the azhera’s forehead.

“She’s mymate, you fuckingzhe’gaash!” Arcanthus shouted through clenched teeth. “She’s my mate, and she’s in trouble, so I am going to go help her. You can come along or stay, but either way you’re going to shut your fucking mouth about her.”

“Kraasz ka’val, you really are stupid,” Drakkal growled, grabbing hold of Arc’s wrist with one hand and his horn with the other. The azhera’s muscles strained against Arcanthus’s hold.

Arcanthus released a growl of his own, tightening his hold on the azhera’s throat as he poured strength into counteracting Drakkal’s resistance.

“You should’ve told me sooner,” Drakkal said, “and I would’ve called you stupid one or two times less. You’re supposed totrustme with this stuff, Arc.”

There was hurt in Drakkal’s voice, nestled beneath his anger; it was just strong enough to make Arcanthus realize what was happening, what he was doing. He released his hold on Drakkal’s throat and stepped back.

Drakkal shoved away from Arcanthus and moved to the storage locker, quickly donning his combat armor. He lifted his arm and activated his holocom, creating an open communication channel with the entire security team. “Need everyone who isn’t posted geared up and in the garage five minutes ago. Move it!”

“I was ready to hit you, you furry bastard,” Arcanthus said.

“Good thing you didn’t—I would have had to carry you to the car to save your terran after I showed you your place.” Drakkal pulled an auto-blaster from the weapon rack and turned to face Arcanthus.

“So choking you is totally acceptable?”

“Did it sound like I was choking, sedhi?”

Arcanthus shook his head, willing away the faint tremors coursing through his body. He rarely lost control like he just had. “Grab an extra set of armor for her. One of the smaller ones.”

Drakkal nodded, tugged another suit of armor out of the storage locker, and fell into place beside Arc. They hurried out of the armory and through the halls. Four members of the security team were in the garage when Arcanthus and Drakkal arrived, all clad in armor and carrying auto-blasters—the large, blue-eyed cren, Razi, the two vorgals who usually guarded the entry to the workshop, Thargen and Urgand, and Sekk’thi, a female ilthurii with emerald scales.

“Should we wait for more?” Drakkal asked.

“No time,” Arc replied. “I’ve already informed Kiloq and Koroq. They’re on site but haven’t seen anything.”

He plucked the commlink earpiece from the shoulder of his armor and slipped it into his ear; the others followed his example. “I have no idea who we’re up against, no idea how many there are, no idea what position they’ll be in. Our only goal is to get a terran named Samantha to safety. She is averydear friend of mine.”

“So we’re going blind,” said Thargen.

“Basically, yes.”

“Into a potentially deadly situation,” the vorgal continued.

“Mhmm.”

Thargen whooped. “About time we get a little action.”

Arcanthus pointed to Thargen and grinned. “That’s the kind of attitude we need here. Let’s move.”

His grin faded when he climbed into the hovercar’s front passenger seat. The vehicle shook as the others piled inside. Settling the auto-blaster over his lap, Arcanthus lifted his arm and grasped the handle at the top of the door frame, squeezing. In moments like this, he missed his own flesh more than ever—he missed the feel of his muscles tightening, the pressure in his joints, the ache of exertion. He missed the slight pain that came with landing a solid blow on an enemy.

Please be okay, little terran.

Once Drakkal had situated himself in the driver’s seat, he guided the hovercar out of the garage and through the express tunnels at immense speed, reducing the surrounding lights and vehicles to blurs. Arcanthus’s racing heart seemed eager to match the vehicle’s velocity.

He couldn’t deny that Drakkal was right; Arc had been stupid. Incredibly stupid. He’d let his arrogance and desire cloud his judgment, had let his feelings tear down his guard and instill him with an uncharacteristic carelessness.

I should have brought her to the compound days ago. We would’ve avoided all this…

But would she have come? Even now, would she trust him enough to leave with him, or would she be frightened away by the dangerous people looking for him?

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