Page 13 of The Rebel and the Rogue

Her words crushed something dark and hungry inside me. She had taunted Barek into biting her. And yet with me, she refused as if I were less. Not worthy.

She would not choose me. She would never choose me. But perhaps I could help Barek and the others. “We must not bite her, Astra. The risk is too great.”

That made Astra’s gaze snap to attention, her interest in my protest immediate.

“You refuse my command to bite her, Zenos?”

Her words were formal, and I knew I was on very dangerous ground. She’d probably known the second the female entered the room that I’d had her. The test, it seemed, was as much for me as for the lieutenant.

“Yes. The risk to”—fuck, I didn’t even know her name—“the Coalition lieutenant is too great.”

“I could have you executed for this,” Astra warned.

I bowed slightly. “I accept your judgment, Astra. My loyalty to you is unchanged.”

“What?” Behind me the female stepped to my side, her face lifted to study mine, but I held Astra’s gaze. This was no small thing, but I would do anything to make sure Barek didn’t touch her. That none of the other Forsians would touch her. I’d rather be dead than watch Barek taste what should be mine.

“What are you doing?” the lieutenant asked. “I’m telling you, it’s fine. Let him bite me.”

“No!” My response was immediate and far too loud.

“You don’t have to protect me. You don’t even know my name.”

Turning from Astra, I looked down at the female. “Does it matter?”

“It does to me. Ivy. My name is Ivy Birkeland.”

Nodding at the honor she’d given to me, I turned back to face my leader. “We will not risk her life, Astra. I cannot.”

“I see.” Astra studied us both as Barek paced behind her, waiting for her decision. His cock was hard, his fangs extended. He wanted to bite a female, but I wasn’t sure whether it was Ivy or Astra driving his need.

Not Ivy. Never my Ivy. Over my dead body.

“Very well.” Astra’s words drained the tension from my muscles, and I noticed Barek relaxed as well. Fucking volatile bastard. But now, with Ivy standing next to me and the mating instinct riding me as never before, I began to understand his struggle with our leader.

Ivy jumped into the silence. “I have several doses of the antidote hidden in a lockbox with a transport beacon attached. Only I have the transport code. Once I am safely on Rogue 5, I will give you the coordinates and you can transport the antidote samples to your labs.”

The breath left my lungs as Astra glared at the human female. She was either the bravest I’d ever met, or the most stupid human ever to transport off planet Earth—and my female was not stupid. Insane, but not stupid. She had the scars that proved it.

“If you fail to deliver the antidote, I will slit your throat myself.”

Ivy nodded. “Fair enough. Let’s go.”

Astra shook her head. “Not so fast.” She looked up at me. “Zenos, because you refuse to bite her, we do not know if she is lying or if the antidote she offers is effective. The only way to test the truth of her claims is for her to be bitten.”

“I will not risk her life,” I repeated. Not my lieutenant. Better to test it first, allow our scientists to examine the formula. “Let the scientists decide.”

“I have agreed to this against my better judgment, but she will be your responsibility, Zenos. You will ensure her safety until we have the transport code. After that, you will present her to the others on Rogue 5 as your mate, your female.”

“What? Wait!” Ivy Birkeland countered.

Astra looked her dead in the eyes, her ultimatum quite clear. “You wish to remain within Astra Legion, to hunt someone from Cerberus? You will not travel alone, nor hunt alone. You are under my protection, and I am responsible for your actions while you are in our legion.”

Ivy was silent, and Astra turned to me. “If her bounty, this Gerian Eozara, as she says, is a member of Cerberus Legion, you will assist her in bringing him to justice. I hate those scum. However, if she lied to us, you will bring her to me. And if she dies while under my protection, you had better be dead first. Do you understand?”

“Yes, Astra.” I understood perfectly. Ivy was mine, but not the way my raging cock wished. No, I had to watch her, protect her, help her and keep her out of trouble until Astra had the antidote. Without biting her. After that? If Ivy told us the truth, she’d be fine. If not? Astra didn’t make idle threats.

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