Chapter 6 #2
There was a bit of quickly smothered amusement from the soldiers and Colvin smiled. “Not right now. I have to save my best trick for special occasions.”
Carrying the boy, Colvin walked with Ivy out of the clearing until the carnage could no longer be seen and then he kissed them both and handed them off to the senior noncom to escort to the shuttle.
He hated being separated from them right now but there was a big mess to clean up and he’d have to spend time debriefing Delain and his security forces, once they arrived on the scene.
When he returned to the clearing, the officer came to meet him. “May I say what an honor it was, sir, to see you make the transition into your beast?”
“First time,” Colvin admitted. “That bastard struck my mate and the regimandane took over. What can I say?”
“We have the DNA in our family line too, sir,” the man told him. “Maybe someday I’ll be as fortunate to find my fated mate and be able to shift.”
“Found a locker of clothes in the shuttle, sir,” said a soldier, running up to them with pants and a tee shirt. “Thought you might want to change.”
“Good thinking, corporal.” Colvin undid the kilt and let it fall away. “Sitrep?” he asked as he pulled on the ill-fitting clothes. He’d have to stay barefoot for now.
“Three tangos KIA, including the leader. Two injured. The one who ran away has been caught, no injuries. The woman is uninjured and already making excuses and begging for a deal.” The captain kept tight control of his expression but Colvin could hear his disgust. “Says she was the leader’s girlfriend and knows plenty of dirt on the Amarotu. ”
“That’s for the civilian authorities to handle, not us.
” Colvin was dismissive although he had to fight a pulse of rage from the regimandane prowling in his DNA, which wanted to punish the woman for stealing Darien.
“We’ll guard them and the shuttle until Delain’s team arrive.
By then your shuttle should be back and we can head to the ship.
I need to be with my mate. Send someone to ride my AGcycle into town, would you?
” He handed over the initiator. It pained him to let anyone else ride his bike but it was necessary.
Hours later he was finally on his way to the Ardannan ship high above in orbit.
Goff Delain and his security forces had shown up at the crime scene eventually and taken charge of the prisoners, the shuttle and the bodies.
Ardannan fighters continued to keep control over the Amarotu ship in orbit to prevent it from leaving but Colvin wasn’t as concerned about that issue.
He and his squad of Special forces had to give statements to Delain’s security chief about the rescue operation.
Delain had thinly veiled amusement at the way the Ardannans termed it a routine training exercise that blundered into a real situation but kept his skepticism to himself.
He’d wanted to interview Ivy as well of course but Colvin put his foot down on the idea, telling her boss he could do a holo interview with her or arrange to come up to the battleship but for now Ivy and her son weren’t setting foot on Resort Planet.
Colvin didn’t think there were other Amarotu stragglers hiding out but he wasn’t taking any chances either.
As Colvin left the shuttle inside the battleship’s huge docking bay, he took a minute to thank the Special Forces team yet again for their help. Captain Degrasay was waiting for him.
“Congratulations on rescuing your mate and the boy,” his friend said as the two men exchanged a brotherly hug.
“Thanks for your prompt action and the team of operators. And for sending me this uniform—shifting takes a toll on the clothing, I’ve discovered.”
“Ivy and her son are resting comfortably in your quarters,” Degrasay said as they moved to the exit. “Both have been cleared by Medical. Will they be remaining on board?”
“If I have anything to say about it, then yes.” Colvin didn’t even want to discuss the idea of his mate and his future son returning to the planet. “Ivy has a strong mind of her own though, so I’m sure there’ll be discussion. I may need an away team to stand security watch on them.”
“Whatever you require, of course.” Degrasay clapped him on the shoulder. “I’ll leave you to it. Let me know if she or the boy require anything else.”
“Will do.” Squaring his shoulders, Colvin proceeded into Officer Country, seeking the relatively large stateroom he’d been assigned. Although it was his own quarters, he knocked before opening the door.
As soon as she saw it was him, Ivy flew out of her chair and into his arms, bursting into tears. “I was so worried something had happened to you down there.”
“Hey, I’m fine. Delain’s paperwork took forever.” He rubbed her back and held her tight, looking over her shoulder to see Darien asleep in a temporary cot which had been brought in and anchored to the bulkhead. “How’s the little man doing?”
“He’s shaken, keeps asking for you and also talking about the big lion.” Ivy gave a tremulous laugh. “You really made an impression on both of us with that trick.”
“I’ve never done it before,” he admitted. “How are you? Did the doctors fix up your blaster burn?”
She glanced at her arm. “It was just a sear, surface only. So the doctor did a topical heal on it. The skin’s a bit pink still but it doesn’t hurt. I have a broken rib and a bruised spleen—”
“Why didn’t they send you through the rejuve resonator?” He was upset by the omission.
“The doctor offered but Darien was clinging to me and I didn’t want to leave him even briefly. The medical staff were very kind.”
“I’ll get you an appointment tomorrow,” Colvin said. “I can keep an eye on Darien for you while they run the treatment. He’s not scared of me then?”
“Oh no, you’re his hero. And mine,.”
He wished they weren’t sharing his cabin with Darien right now because he wanted to make love to her in the worst way, to stake his claim yet again and to ensure for himself she was fine but it wasn’t going to happen with a child literally sleeping in the next bed.
He’d have to arrange babysitting for Darien while they cruised home to Ardanna Prime or go crazy with need and desire.
She led him to the bunk and sat in his lap in the cozy space.
“Tell me everything,” he requested, holding her close but mindful of her remaining injuries.
First thing in the morning medbay was running her through the rejuve resonator or else the physician in charge was going to feel the wrath of General Colvin Lawben.
His mate wasn’t going to walk around wounded when the solution was at hand.
Ivy explained how her ex and his thug had surprised her inside her apartment and described the fight she put up.
He could tell she was glossing over the details but wasn’t going to press her today.
He made another mental note to see if there was a counselor aboard the Famptror in case she or Darien needed to talk with someone.
He told her his half of the story and when he got to the part where he changed into the regimandane, he added context for her.
“Thousands of years ago an alien spaceship crashed on Ardanna Prime and the surviving crew eventually mated with the locals, passing along certain genetic gifts, one of which is the fated mate and closely related to that is the ability to shift into an alien predator of various types. In my family we carry the potential to become a regimandane as you saw—”
“A golden lion with horns,” she said, smiling.
“Yes, but it can only happen after the Ardannan has met and entered into a loving relationship with their fated me.” He rubbed noses with her. “You.”
“When I took my shower this morning I noticed the mate mark had gotten really well defined now.” She pulled aside her borrowed Famptror tee shirt to show him.
He touched it gently and resisted the temptation to trail his hand to where the swell of her plump breast beckoned him. “The danger to you and Darien activated my genetic capability to shift and when the bastard hit you, the lion took control.”
“You seem pretty calm about it if it was your first time.”
“Three of my older cousins have undergone the transition so I knew what to expect to some extent. Although it was an incredible experience. I can do it at will now.” He grinned. “Think Darien would like a ride on a big lion?”
“He’d love it but we mustn’t indulge him too much. Keep it as a rare treat.”
“Delain wants to interview you for the case file. He sends his apologies by the way, for allowing the Amarotu to penetrate his security, and especially for the girl getting hired at the childcare. He promised to tighten up their screening process but it’s a little late now for Darien.”
“He loved the childcare so much but now he says he doesn’t ever want to go back ‘where the bad lady was’.
I have to say I don’t think I can ever set foot in that apartment again and I’m not keen on even being on the planet.
I won’t feel safe there for a long time, if ever.
” She gave him a crooked smile. “Is the invitation to move to Ardanna Prime still open?”
“Hells, yes, nothing would make me happier. Although I’m sorry for the reason you’re suddenly ready to move. If you did decide to stay we could get Delain to give you another apartment and I’d make sure you and Darien had a fulltime Ardannan security detail.”
Head tilted Ivy hesitated, rolling her eyes. “I’m trying to visualize myself at the office and my three-year-old at the childcare surrounded by big soldiers with scary weapons.”
“Not negotiable.” Colvin heard his voice go into command mode. “That planet is a beautiful place but their security is shit and pretty much anyone can come and go, as your late ex proved. I won’t risk either of you there unprotected again.”