Chapter 22
Maya
Maya’s knees shook impatiently as she waited for Faith to answer her comm.
It wasn’t Faith who picked up but Grant, his stress-lined but friendly face filling the screen.
Wow! They’d gotten him to New Rhea in record time!
Only a few days had passed since the incident with the pod.
She didn’t even know it was possible to travel that quickly between the two planets.
It must be in one of those new ultra-speed shuttles she’d been reading about.
The corner of his lips lifted the moment he saw her. “Maya! I’m so glad to see you! When you stopped answering, we started thinking your mysterious rescuer was working with the pirates.”
“No, he wasn’t, but the pirates did find us.”
“Oh, we figured that out too. And we also know who he is now.”
Well, at least one of them knew. Because she was still confused, and Ranek even more so now that he’d lost his memory.
“Things are… complicated, but we will compare notes later,” Maya said. “We managed to get away, and we’re getting ready to leave the planet now.”
“No, no! Don’t lift off,” Faith yelled from off-screen.
“Why not?” Maya asked, raising her voice as if her friend wouldn’t be able to hear her otherwise.
“Because they are waiting for you to lift off,” Grant replied.
They? Who did he mean by they?
Faith bustled into frame. “Maya. You were right, the captain of the delivery ship was in on it. We paid someone to follow him and intercept his comms. He set a course to Fortuna II the second he left, and he was talking to some pirates on the surface. They said they got you and Commander Chaos, and I thought maybe that guy who rescued you was lying and was going to turn you in, but then we found information on him too.”
“But why would the captain do that?”
“Remember the other breeder who lost the bid from Reka 5’s security department? He’s in Vosthea now with a few breeding pairs. We don’t know who’s funding him yet, but someone is. He’s the one paying for Commander Chaos and you.”
“Oh shit. That guy?” Maya tried to remember his name but could not.
“Yeah, that guy.” Faith looked behind her. “Where is your new friend?”
“You mean Ranek? He’s rearranging his shuttle to make room for Commander Chaos and me. It’s not really safe inside for us to lift off, given how crowded things are. A quick flight, it’s fine. But not if we have to break through the stratosphere.”
“Well, you guys aren’t lifting off or traveling anywhere in that tiny-ass shuttle. Change of plans. We’re on our way to get you.”
Maya frowned. “How do you know it’s a tiny shuttle?”
“Because that’s the one that was stolen. So unless he managed to steal a bigger one…”
Maya sighed. The pirates had been right.
“But don’t worry about it; the guy he stole it from was a certified asshole.
Known slaver. Shuttle’s probably better off with him since at least he’s willing to help you out.
But you have to be careful, Maya. I’m not sure if you know yet, but your new buddy has a bounty on him.
It’s not big, but it’s not small either. ”
Maya must be wearing her emotions on her sleeve, because Faith said, “Oh, you already know. At least he’s honest about that. What has he told you?”
Maya hesitated. “Actually, he hasn’t told me anything; I found out through the pirates.
But before you rip him a new one, it’s not his fault.
There have been complications. When the pirates came for us, they knocked him out cold, and he hit his head.
He doesn’t remember anything. He doesn’t even remember that he had a mate once already. He thinks I’m his mate.”
Faith’s eyes went wide. “He does?”
“Yeah. Calls me his ‘love’ and everything. And I feel like shit because I know he had a mate once, because he told me already, but I’ve been enjoying his company so much that I haven’t said anything.
At first I just didn’t want to add more information and influence him.
I thought he’d get his memory back. But now I’m in too deep, and I wish I really was his mate. ”
“Oh, Maya. I’m sorry. You need a hug.”
“I do, and a whole-ass bottle of amberberry wine.”
“Would watered-down Rhean spirits do? We picked up some while we were in New Rhea.”
“I’ll take it.”
“Now I’m going to be that friend, because I love you and care about you.
” Faith put on a stern face. “This guy’s dangerous, Maya.
You don’t really know him. He didn’t just steal the shuttle.
He murdered the guy. I mean, he deserved it, but still.
And he wasn’t the only one either. He left a freaking trail of bodies on his way out. ”
Maya bit her tongue. She’d watched Ranek take out two pirates, upping his head count. But he’d done it to protect her. He hadn’t gone out of his way for violence. He’d even let the unarmed one live. And not once had she felt unsafe around him.
“Maybe he did what he had to do to survive,” she finally said.
“Maybe.” Faith’s face softened. “But we don’t know the details, so please be careful.”
“I will.”
“And don’t lift off the planet because they are waiting for you. That little shuttle is defenseless. Wait for us to get there.”
“Okay, but we can’t stay here either; the pirates will be looking for us.”
“Secure the building and sit tight. We’re almost there.
Gallus sent out a ship and a team when he found out about the delivery captain.
He didn’t appreciate his assets being stolen.
Grant and I tagged along. We left Butterball and Princess Peach with Gallus and Miranda the moment we realized he was going to Fortuna II. We’ll be there in a few hours.”
A Tallean male in a uniform stepped into view. “We must speak to Ranek and make sure he doesn’t ruin this mission. Where is he?”
Ranek
The plan was to “accidentally” broadcast Ranek and Maya’s location to send the pirates and the delivery captain toward the station so that when the rescue team swooped down, they could “kill two birds with one stone,” according to Maya’s friends.
Ranek didn’t like the way Faith looked at him, as if she didn’t trust him at all. He hated even more that she seemed to know exactly what and who he was when he himself couldn’t remember.
He also didn’t like the way the team leader sent by Gallus spoke to him like he thought Ranek was a petty criminal. Even worse yet, he’d offered Ranek credits to stay with Maya and protect her and the pup until they arrived.
It offended him. Ranek did not need payment to do his duty. “Maya is my mate. It is my responsibility, my honor, to keep her safe.”
The male had looked dubiously at him, like he didn’t believe Ranek at all. Ranek wanted to reach through the screen and punch the doubting fool in the face.
Maya must’ve sensed his righteous anger, because she’d grabbed his hand and squeezed it, letting him know that she was there. Then, when the idiot male mentioned again that he needed to stay and protect her when the pirates arrived, she spoke up.
“We already had a run-in with the pirates. Ranek fought them off very valiantly, and I’m certain he’d do so again if he had to. Is there anything else? Because you’re beginning to sound like a broken record.”
The male’s face remained passive, but daggers glinted in Maya’s eyes.
With nothing else to add, they ended the comm.
“Ignore them,” Maya said. “I don’t know your past, but I’ve seen who you are now, and I trust you.”
She placed a calming hand on his shoulder, and he relaxed. Her trust was all he needed.
“I will secure this station. There are only a few ways to enter. It should be quite defensible.”
“I think I remember some supplies in the storage rooms,” she said. “Let’s see if those are useful.”
He followed her since he didn’t remember the station's layout. As they walked, he told her about his call with Kean, omitting the part where his friend had claimed she could not be his.
“Will you come with me to Vosthea?”
Maya hesitated briefly. “I will, but after we figure out what’s happening with Commander Chaos and Gallus.”
Ranek frowned. “What do you mean?”
“I still need to deliver him to Gallus. That’s why he’s so eager to retrieve us. Because Commander Chaos is his. I keep forgetting what you remember, what you don’t.”
Ranek digested the information. “Commander Chaos is not… yours?” He’d wanted to say “ours,” but stopped himself. Disappointment filled him. He was beginning to think of them like a little family.
Hearing his name, Commander Chaos came waddling by, and Ranek bent down to pet him.
“No. But I really, really wish he were. I’m gonna miss him so so much when he’s gone.” She added her hands to the petting. “You’re such a good boy! Yes, you are!”
The pup wiggled happily under Ranek’s hands.
“And what if I tell you I’m currently jealous of this dragus pup?” He’d finally figured out what Commander Chaos was. A dragus!
Maya laughed. “You want to be a good boy too?” Then she reached up to ruffle his hair on her tippy toes. “How about now? You’re such a good boy!”
Her silliness had him grinning so hard it hurt.
As they worked together fortifying their position, the smile didn’t once leave his lips. He was truly happier than he’d ever been in his life. And he prayed to whatever deity he was supposed to believe in now that he could keep Maya forever and ever.
They had his shuttle locked up and the front doors and windows of the station thoroughly barred and secured. They were at the doors to the tunnels when she asked, “Say, do you think I can take one more soak in the hot spring before we block off the tunnels?”
It took him a moment, but memories of them fucking in the hot spring rushed in to fill his head. He grinned. That sounded like a perfect idea.
“Only if we soak together.” He pushed the doors open, shining a light inside to make sure the way was clear. “It’s safe,” he said when he was certain there were no signs of danger.
She bit her lip, her lust spiking, clearly remembering the same thing he was. She sashayed ahead of him, her hips moving sensually from side to side. He was so focused on her ass that he didn’t see the top flung at his face. Maya giggled, and Ranek found more clothes flying toward him.
“You have to catch me first, slowpoke,” she taunted.
For a heartbeat, he watched her naked form skip down the tunnel, lantern in hand. Amusement gave way to the natural instinct to chase her down and claim her. She thought she could outrun him. Cute.
He stalked after her, slow and deliberate, his clothes dropping to the ground as he went. His footsteps echoed down the corridor, and he inhaled through his mouth, tasting her in the air. He let the predator in him control his senses. She glanced back, her eyes bright in the glow of the lantern.
He let out a growl, low and menacing, and he saw the moment she realized she’d roused the beast in him. He was built to hunt, and she knew it. She bolted down the hall, and he gave chase, closing the distance.
She darted around the corner, but he was already there, cutting her off with a snarl. Laughter dissolved into breathless gasps as he pinned her against the wall. She struggled, pretending to fight, but her grin gave her away.
“Run all you want, Maya.” He leaned in to inhale the addictive scent of her lust. “But you’re mine. And I’ll always catch you.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.”
Then he was thrusting into her, right there against the wall. The hot spring could wait until round two.