Chapter 3 #2
Aryk looked at me. I stared straight ahead. The general sidestepped her question. “Your world has already given us three extraordinary Elite Starfighters. Jamie Miller was the first. Mia Becker and Lily Wilson followed. Their bonded partners, and their abilities, changed the course of this war.”
“They’re all alive?”
“Very much so.”
“And Queen Raya?”
“Still alive as well, unfortunately. Her allies abandoned her, but we believe she is rebuilding. We need scouts capable of entering her territory without detection. You are the first reconnaissance recruit from Earth to graduate.”
“Why me?” Priya asked. “There have to be experienced scouts here.”
“There are,” Aryk said. “Most fly single-seat reconnaissance craft. The Wraith was designed for two linked pilots. Vesh has flown her alone since his last partner died, but that is not how the ship was built to operate. The training program identified you as compatible with both him and the Wraith.”
Priya glanced at me. “His last partner died?” Every muscle in my body locked. Aryk saw it.
“That discussion belongs to Lieutenant Vesh.”
“Understood.” She did not push for answers, but I saw determination settle in her jaw and shoulders. I wouldn't be able to evade her questions for long.
The general brought up a tactical display, the hologram hovered in the air above his wrist. A section of Queen Raya’s territory appeared between us.
“Raya should not have enough resources left to threaten Velerion. Unfortunately, someone is supplying her with ships, weapons, and construction materials. We have lost three unmanned probes trying to identify the source.”
“You want us to go where the probes couldn’t.”
“Eventually. First you train.”
“How long?”
“As long as Vesh says you need.”
Priya looked at me. “The General doesn’t think I’m ready.”
“You are not.”
“You could soften it a little.”
“Would that make you ready faster?”
“No.”
“Then it would be inefficient.”
Aryk covered what might have been a cough with his fist. Priya looked around the docking bay. Fighters. Armed warriors. A military base carved into an alien moon. For the first time since I walked into her tower, she appeared uncertain. I wanted to take her hand. I did not. She glanced at me.
“If I do this, we fly together?”
“Yes.”
“And you think I’m ready?”
“No.”
Her brows rose.
“But you will be.”
“Charming.”
“You asked for honesty.”
The general almost smiled again. Priya took a deep breath.
“Okay. I’m in.” My body reacted as if she had accepted me rather than the war.
My heart pounded. My cock hardened. The bond flared between us, hot and satisfied.
She had chosen to stand at my side and fly straight into danger.
She was magnificent. Beautiful. Courageous.
Mine.
I clenched my jaw and reminded myself she had chosen the mission. Nothing more.
“Priya!” A human female ran across the bay.
Priya turned. Her eyes widened. “Jamie Miller?”
Jamie crashed into her and wrapped both arms around her. Priya hugged her back, laughing.
“You’re alive,” Priya said. “Holy crap, you’re actually alive. They both told me you were, but I didn't believe it.”
“Last time I checked.” Jamie pulled back and inspected her. “You’re Priya. Scout. Air traffic controller. Flies like a complete lunatic when she finally stops overthinking.”
Priya blinked. “You’ve been watching me?”
“All of us have. Mia has spreadsheets. Lily brings snacks. We watch you, Gina, and Alisha like our favorite show.”
“That’s not creepy at all.”
“It gets worse. We place bets.”
Alexius approached at a more reasonable pace. “Welcome, Starfighter Anand.” He smiled at Priya. I disliked him immediately. I had known Alexius for years. That did not matter. Priya glanced between them. “So, the whole alien-mate conspiracy was true?”
“Yep.” Jamie grinned. “Sexy alien. Real war. Permanent bond. Universal translator. The whole thing.”
Priya looked at me. “Permanent bond. Interesting.”
I would have preferred another attack by airport security to the calculating look in her gaze.
Jamie caught the exchange and laughed. “He hasn’t explained that part yet, has he?”
“He tried to call us field partners.”
“Oh, that’s adorable.”
“Starfighter Miller,” I warned.
“Relax, Vesh. I’m not going to ruin all your fun.” Her grin said the opposite. “I’ll let Priya torture the truth out of you all by herself.”
Priya’s gaze dropped over my body. Slowly. My cock grew harder.
“Sounds like a plan,” she said.
Jamie turned back to her. “Where are Gina and Alisha?”
“Still on Earth. Gina is close to finishing. Alisha is probably pretending she isn’t.”
“They’ll get here,” Jamie said. “Mia and Lily did. It felt like forever while I waited, but they came. Your friends will, too.”
Some of the tension left Priya’s shoulders. “You really believe that?”
“Absolutely. Earth girls travel in packs. The universe will figure it out.”
“I hope you’re right.”
“You can send them a message through the training system,” Jamie said. “Nothing about where you are or what happened. The program is strict about that until they graduate. But you can tell them you’re safe.”
Priya’s face brightened. “Really?”
“Aryk will authorize it. I nearly drove him insane asking for the same thing when I got here.”
“You did not nearly drive me insane,” the general said.
Jamie looked at Priya. “He was already most of the way there.”
General Aryk sighed and walked away.
“I’ll take you to communications tomorrow,” Jamie promised. “Then Mia and Lily will want to meet you, and we’ll find you clothes that don’t look like you escaped from a bad sitcom.”
Priya glanced at her wrinkled shirt. “I did escape from a sitcom. My friend Alvarez was going to attack Vesh with an office chair.”
Jamie laughed. “You're perfect. You’ll fit right in.”
"I hope so." Priya moved closer to me, although I was certain she was unaware of the small shift.
Jamie's smile was full of mischief. “I’m always right. Ask Alex.”
Alexius sighed. “She is frequently right.”