Page 42 of The Commanders' Mate

; I shook my head. “No, we will modify the ceremony.”

Stepping back, I faced the team of group leaders. “As you’ve probably overheard, Lady Karter and I will be going with the cargo ships to coordinate the battle from the safe zone. I will lead the fighters and she will lead the civilian teams to care for your mates and families. Since we are short on time, you shall witness our modified claiming.”

They moved silently and quickly into a semi-circle around myself, Ronan and Erica. I handed two of the collars to Ronan and I lifted one to my neck, wrapped it around and closed it. While I couldn’t see, I assumed the color went from black to brown, my family color: the Karter family’s, for hundreds of years.

I took one back from him as he affixed his about his own neck. As his collar changed color, I felt the connection, the power of the bond the collars gave us. I felt his emotions, the pride in this moment, his contentment with Erica. The desire, the love, the need. I also felt the pressure of his job, of the Hive, of what was to come, but I pushed all of that down, just as I did with my own thoughts not related to this moment.

I wouldn’t ruin this moment for Erica by focusing on dark thoughts. She would learn the weight of our connection soon enough. Right now, in this moment, I wanted her to feel all the need I had for her. Lust. Love. Desire. Trust. Pride. Everything I felt when I looked at her was tangled up into a knot so tight I had no hope of unraveling it.

I turned, looked to the captains and commanders who surrounded us, the leadership team that would see us through the coming battle, and nodded.

They began to chant, softly, yet in direct accord with the mating ritual. Their voices rang out strong and clear, and soon every warrior in the landing bay, as well as the civilians had joined the chant. To bear witness to a claiming was to be honored, chosen as a trusted guardian and friend to the mated trio. Including everyone here felt… right. She belonged to them as well. Their Lady.

Erica’s eyes widened as the volume rose, but she tilted her chin up, ready. Ronan placed his hands upon her shoulders, turned her to face me directly, then collected her long hair in his hand, held it aloft.

With steady hands, I put the collar about her neck. I was aware that this moment was life altering. Forever. I cleared my throat and looked into her eyes. “Do you accept my claim, mate? Do you give yourself to me and my second freely, or do you wish to choose another primary male?”

“I accept your claim, warriors.” I didn’t know how she knew the words to say, but she did, perhaps from hearing them in the Brides Program testing dream. No matter how she knew what to say, I took the words into me. Felt them. Savored them.

“Then we claim you in the rite of naming. You are mine and I shall kill any other warrior who dares to touch you.”

The group of witnesses—no, fuck that—the entire battlegroup said in unison, “May the gods witness and protect you.”

The sound reverberated off the walls, came from every comm station and communicator. Somewhere along the way, the scene had been broadcast to the entire ship.

One glance at Chloe Phan and I knew who to blame… and who to thank. Not one crew member or civilian in this battlegroup would doubt my devotion to Erica now.

I closed the collar about her neck, the bond complete. Her collar changed from deep black to warm brown. She gasped, her fingers going to the collar.

I felt her then. Felt every part of her being. And now she felt me. Knew the truth about me, how weak I truly was, how terrified of losing the battleship, of leading my people into death. She knew exactly how badly I needed her, and how unworthy I was of her love.

There was no going back. She knew it all.

12

Erica, Battleship Karter, Shuttle Dock 4

* * *

Kaed’s hand was in mine as he led me toward the shuttle that would take us to safety. A group of civilians and non-essential personnel would be joining us. His touch was different, his bearing, even the way he walked. He was in commander mode, the part of him his people needed right now. I understood the difference.

And now I understood part of the reason my mate had tried to deny me his collar.

He had a stone-cold exterior with molten lava on the inside. Makaed Karter was a silent storm, his emotions more powerful than I ever could have imagined. Pride in his people. Honor and humility at being trusted to lead them. Fear that he would let them down. Self-loathing for what he perceived as his own weakness, at his need for something to have for himself.

His need for me.

Ronan approached and I let Kaed go long enough to wrap my arms around my second and kiss him. “Come back to me, Ronan.”

“I will, mate.” The sincerity of his vow, and the depth of his commitment to me came through the collars like a blast of cool wind, wiping Kaed’s need from my mind—and his.

I kissed my second, because I could, because I wanted to let loose my love for these two stubborn warriors at least once before he marched—or flew off—into danger. They both felt it, as they were meant to. Their combined desire and love blasted through me until I could barely stand.

God, if this was what they felt like in the middle of chaos in a shuttle bay, what was it going to be like when we were alone? Naked?

Ronan groaned and broke the kiss. “Mate, you give me another reason to return.” He smiled.

I smiled back. “What’s that?”

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