Page 39 of Crossing Quinn

A terrified scream had me spinning around. A Tai-Kok with spikes embedded in his skull was ripping the clothing off a struggling human female.

A fierce rage bubbled up in me. The sick freak had to be one of my uncle’s special friends. I prayed to the Goddess they had eaten Dolon. I beheaded the monster.

The sobbing female grabbed the Tai-Kok warrior’s laser pistol. “Die, you motherfucker.” She blasted him. The body disintegrated into a million fireflies.

He was already dead, but I could understand where she was coming from. I said in English, “My name is Xenia. What’s yours?”

“DeeDee.” Her hand was shaking so badly she could barely hold the pistol.

“I need you to free the other prisoners and stay far away from the Katanic shapeshifters. Can you do that?”

She nodded. “But I want to kill those fucking Tai-Kok.”

“Any one of them comes near you, feel free, but no shooting the Katanic. Laser fire doesn’t hurt them. It only makes them angry.”

“Sure. Okay. Good.” DeeDee hurried toward the cells.

I took a quick look around. The shapeshifters were taking multiple laser hits and fighting off a horde of Tai-Kok. Adan’s arrogance had landed us in a heap of trouble.

Quinn grumbled, “Trouble doesn’t come close to describing this mess. Even with your berserker abilities there are too many enemy warriors for you to handle. I can augment your power. We need to merge.”

I knew if I didn’t merge with Quinn, my chances of survival weren’t good. Mami couldn’t live without my father, and if I was killed, who would search for him? I had to protect my parents, no matter what the cost. If I was going to end up with a Coletti mate for the rest of my life, why not Quinn? He could handle my mother. My father I wasn’t too sure about. I liked the way Quinn kissed, and he was smoking hot. Scooping up a laser pistol, I joined my mind to the warlord’s.

With a shocking ease, our powers combined, and we became one psychic entity. Fate had brought us together, and nothing would stand in the way of our victory. Bellowing a truly scary Coletti battle cry, we hacked, sliced, and shot our way through the Tai-Kok, base security forces, and slavers. We were unstoppable.

A heavily tattooed slaver dodged our sword thrust and shouted, “What are you?”

“Death,” we answered and shot him.

The Overlord’s stern voice intruded on our killing frenzy. “Enough. The Alliance enforcers have arrived. They will assume control of Jandjviles.”

We stopped instantly. When the Overlord issued a direct command, you obeyed. A part of me stared at the sword in my right hand, the laser pistol in my left, and the bodies surrounding us in amazement. We did this. Together. It was a bit scary and totally awesome at the same time.

Quinn’s ghostly mouth brushed my lips. “You’re sure you can’t cook?”

“Positive, but I can learn.”

“Break your mind meld,”Zarek ordered sharply in our heads.

Quinn reluctantly slid out of my mind. “Yes, my lord.”

The loss of Quinn’s mental touch was devastating. I felt alone and empty. I ached for his touch. My eyes widened in horror. Goddess, we had bonded. Quinn was my mate. What would my father think? Who cared? I wanted to kiss every inch of Quinn’s hard, muscular body.

“No kissing or touching until you are twenty-one,”Zarek stated firmly.

What! Was he kidding?

“I do not joke about such matters,”Zarek replied.

Why was the Overlord still in my head? “But we’re mated.”

“The bond is not completed until you join in mind and body,”Zarek corrected.

Desire beat inside me. “That’s an easy fix.”

“If the law is not followed, other warriors can challenge Quinn for you. Because of your unique abilities, many would demand the rite of combat. If they win, you would be forced to mate with them,”Zarek stated.

Cold horror swept over me. “I would kill them first.”

---