45. Chapter 45
Chapter 45
Rescue: Take Two.
I gripped Serlotminden’s hand and watched the monitor in front of me. It was Xome. I swallowed. I hadn’t expected this to suck as much as it did. Nightmares still plagued me about what had happened and going back… I shook my head. I never wanted to see this planet again, but I had to rescue Vince and the other humans.
It had taken more time than I’d liked, but we’d finally gotten permission to retrieve Vince and any other humans, which was good because I was losing my mind. What if something had happened to him while I was gone?
But we were here, orbiting Xome. We were going to buy the humans from the different people who owned them, but that didn’t help the ones who’d been sold off-world. Kalvoxrencol and the drakcol government, the Cohort, were organizing a reward for humans to be returned to them. It made Seth, Caleb, and me scoff. Humans had been reduced to lost animals, but at the same time, it would allow them to return to Earth if they wanted or stay on Tamkolvanloknol. It would save them, and in the end, that was what mattered.
“He’ll be alright, Bartholomew.”
I squeezed his hand tighter, digging the ring into my skin. Serlotminden had been able to wait all of one week before he synthesized a gold ring. He’d said he would buy me another, but I liked this one and the matching one he wore.
“I need him to be safe.”
“I know, Mate.” He kissed my neck.
Dontilvynsan was leading the mission to retrieve the humans, as he’d refused to allow Serlotminden or I on the surface, no matter how much we both had insisted on going. The sensors had identified ten. Out of everyone, ten humans were left, at least on this planet. So many had died, and xoi had to be stealing more humans from Earth—they had to be. There was too much profit in the sale of humans to stop.
Don’s voice came over the monitor. “I found Vince.”
I sagged into Serlotminden’s arms.
“I am bringing him and the others to the ship.”
“Where?” I needed to see him, explain that I didn’t abandon him.
“This way,” Serlotminden said.
I saw the worry in Mindy’s eyes, but I refused to talk about it. I loved Serlotminden. He understood that. I’d told him I was going to stay. He knew that. I was pretty sure me telling him over and over that he had nothing to worry about wouldn’t help. He had to believe it for himself.
We wound through the ship until we waited outside the shuttle bay. Kal and Seth had joined us. Caleb and Zoltilvoxfyn were resting, but Caleb promised to entertain everyone later.
I rocked on my toes, watching the bay doors. Vince. I hoped he was alright.
Serlotminden hugged me close. “He is here. It will be alright. Everything will be perfectly fine.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
Beside me, Seth looked green and was shaking as badly as I was, though for different reasons. People, as I’d come to understand, weren’t his thing. I almost wanted to laugh, because he was so uncomfortable with people but he was damn good at leading.
Team Human was getting bigger, if people decided to stay, and Seth was leading the charge.
A clank sounded moments before the bay doors closed, and the airlock opened. The shuttle door painstakingly fell open, and Vince walked out. He was skinnier than ever, and his expression was drawn. I had been gone a couple of months, and it looked like that time had been pure hell for Vince.
“Vince,” I called, but my voice was drowned out.
“Seth,” he screamed.
Seth stiffened. The next thing I knew, he was across the cargo bay, hauling Vince into his arms. “Vince.”
Vince gripped the back of Seth’s hoodie, curling in tight.
Pain prodded my heart. Vince and I had been close, but clearly he knew Seth from before. Serlotminden tugged me to his side. “It’s okay, Mate. He’s here. That is what matters.”
Kal growled, tail thrashing.
“Pest,” Mindy warned; Kal ignored him, snarling.
“Vince, what are you doing here?” Seth asked, clutching him.
“I should ask you that.” Vince’s eyes moistened.
“It’s a long story.” They stared at each other, smiling.
“They know each other?” Serlotminden asked.
I shrugged. Vince hadn’t mentioned it, but then again, if he had randomly mentioned an old friend named Seth, why would I remember?
Seth rocked Vince, whispering. Kal was breathing so hard I feared he’d pass out, and light gathered under his scales. Heat came off him in waves, making me sweat.
Serlotminden pushed me behind him. “Pest. Breathe. Seth loves you.”
Seth and Kal could communicate telepathically with the whole Crystal-bound-mate thing, but apparently Seth wasn’t talking.
“I’m so glad you’re here.” Vince cupped Seth’s cheeks and he grinned. Vince pressed closer and placed a kiss on Seth’s lips.
If I thought Kal was freaking out before, he went apocalyptic. Light exploded off him, blinding me, and the moment I was able to see again, I spotted him in front of Seth, wings sprawled and growling. Humans cowered near the ship, but Vince was squaring off. I recognized the expression. He was about to start screaming.
I rushed forward and snagged his arm. Vince blinked, eyes running over me. I said, “I’m here too.”
Kal pulled Seth closer, and Vince demanded, “Let him go.”
“Do not kiss my mate, human.”
“Mate?” Vince asked.
Shit. He sounded hurt. Very, very hurt. Who the fuck was Seth to Vince?
Seth glared at his husband. “Kal, calm down.” Turning to face Vince and I, Seth said, “Vince, this is my husband, Prince Kalvoxrencol, but you can call him Kal.”
Even I could see the absolute devastation in Vince’s whole body as he practically crumbled inward, and I wasn’t alone. Kal growled, Mindy shifted, and Don crossed his arms. The one person who didn’t notice was Seth, who smiled contently.
“Vince is my childhood friend. Remember, Kal? I’ve mentioned him before.”
“I do,” he said shortly, dragging Seth closer.
I draped my arm over Vince, hugging him. “I’m right here too, Vince.”
He smiled, but it was fake, and his eyes never left Seth. Vince said in a forced voice, “Hey, you didn’t vanish or die.”
“Nope.” I pointed to Mindy. “He abducted me. He’s Kal’s older brother. He was trying to help me, but we crash landed on an ice planet. Took me a bit to get back to you. Serlotminden, this is Vince. Vince, this is Serlotminden.”
“We are also husbands,” Serlotminden announced, which made me roll my eyes. They might not resemble each other at first glance, but they sure as hell proved they were brothers rather easily.
Vince’s eyebrows rose. “Well, you two move quickly.”
I smirked. “He’s cute and has a nice ass.”
He gave a chuckle, but his gaze remained firmly on Seth, who grinned. Seth disentangled from Kal and pulled Vince close for another hug. “Let me talk to everyone, then we can catch up. It’s been years.”
Vince nodded.
“Everyone,” Seth said, facing all of the cowering humans, “if you come this way, I will explain everything.”
Seth led the humans away, and only after Don practically ordered Vince and I to follow did I leave Mindy’s side.
I sat in the canteen, drinking. Bartholomew was curled against my side. The new humans were terrified. Most had retreated to their rooms, but a few had braved the canteen, huddling together at a single table. Seth and Vince were in the corner near the long window on the back wall, talking and laughing. Kalvoxrencol was beside them and looked like he’d swallowed a knife.
Dontilvynsan watched the pair with narrowed eyes. He was probably following more than the flow of words, planning how much he would have to protect Pest. If Seth left him, our brother wouldn’t recover, but I didn’t need to read Seth’s mind to know that wouldn’t happen. Seth loved Kalvoxrencol. He wasn’t going to change his mind. Vince was pining for nothing.
Seth pulled out his screen and showed Vince his and Kalvoxrencol’s kid. I grinned. Seth was not going anywhere.
Neither was Bartholomew. He was coming home with me, or so he’d said. But he might change his mind.
No. He was staying. He’d promised. After Dontilvynsan chased Vince and Bartholomew away in the dock, he’d lectured me about trusting my mate. My quick claiming of my mate hadn’t gone unnoticed. My older brother was right. Bartholomew had decided to stay, and I needed to believe him, as I wanted him to trust me. We would puzzle through everything else, my work, racing—and everything it brought—later.
We would forge forward together.
“I’m ready to go to bed.” Bartholomew placed a lingering kiss on my arm.
My cock perked, and I swallowed. Stars above, it took nothing for my mate to stir my body. “Don’t you need to talk to Vince?”
“Later. He and Seth are busy, and to be honest, I don’t have any interest in watching Kal glare at them.”
Zoltilvoxfyn was currently trying to calm Kalvoxrencol while Caleb infiltrated the pair of humans with a sunny smile. It was going to be an interesting trip home with everyone and the high tensions. Though , I thought as I tickled Bartholomew with the tip of my tail, that means we can spend most of it alone . No interruptions.
“Bed sounds amazing. I’m exhausted,” I whispered.
“Hmm,” he said. The indecipherable noise I loved and hated. “So you’re too tired for me to ride you? Too bad.”
I swallowed a groan. “Mate, please.”
He ducked his head. “I love when you beg.”
“Then take me to bed, and I will beg prettily for you and you alone.”
“Fuck, Mindy.”
Laughing, I looked at his groin and noticed a bulge. “Are you having problems as well?”
“It’s your fault.”
I caught his chin and angled it toward me. “I love that I affect you so.” I rested his hand on my own stiffening cock, grateful the table hid us from view. “You do the same to me.”
“We can’t move.”
“No. I am not into public displays.”
“You don’t like holding hands, hugging, or kissing in public?”
“That I do not mind, Flower,” I said. “I don’t have a problem with physical affection in public, but sex, that’s between you and I alone.”
“I agree.”
“Good.” I pressed a chaste kiss to his lips. “I like playing with you in the halls, though.” I had chased him multiple times through the corridors, and I enjoyed racing after Bartholomew and Pookie. The thrill of catching my mate—growling, biting, throwing him over my shoulder—stirred my blood.
“I do too.”
“That is very good.”
“Does it bother other people?”
“Would you care if it did?”
“Perhaps,” he replied.
I kissed his cheek. “No. It does not. We are not the only couple who enjoys chasing each other, and many drakcol run in the corridors for fitness. It is fine, Teddy.”
Standing, Bartholomew took my hand. “I’m tired.”
“Me too.”
He led me out of the tense canteen without a backward glance.