Tharion
THARION
T he acrid stench of ozone filled my nostrils, a telltale sign the blaster Grax held was primed and ready to fire. I tensed, ready to spring into action, my muscles coiled like steel springs beneath my gray skin.
Lina’s breath quicked with fear. The scent of her terror mingled with the metallic tang of recycled air in the spaceport corridor.
The odds were not in our favor, but I’d faced worse.
And I’d do it again, for her.
Grax glared at Lina with his reptilian eyes. “There was no secret cache in the market of Adtera, was there?” He spat the words like venom. “You wasted my time and resources with your lies!”
Lina flinched beside me, but I admired the steel in her spine as she held her ground.
Grax’s voice dropped to a dangerous growl. “Tell me what Arin Tal told you before he died. Now.”
“He told me nothing!” Lina screamed, her voice echoing off the metal walls. “I don’t know anything about anything!”
I watched Grax carefully, noting the twitch in his upper left arm—a tell I’d observed during our previous encounters. He was about to make a move.
“I don’t believe you,” Grax hissed. “You must know about the spice planet. Why else would the Obsidian Dawn be after you?”
“Because you’re all idiots!” Lina yelled, her outburst shocking even me.
Silence reigned in the corridor. I glanced at Lina, surprised by her sudden fire. Grax looked equally taken aback, his blaster lowering a fraction of an inch.
It was enough.
I lunged forward, my hand wrapping around Grax’s wrist. I twisted hard, feeling the bones grind beneath my grip. The blaster clattered to the floor as Grax howled in pain.
“Shoot them!” Grax bellowed to his thugs.
I spun, using Grax as a shield as energy bolts sizzled through the air. The smell of burnt ozone intensified, making my nostrils flare. I heard Lina cry out and my heart seized, but a quick glance confirmed she’d taken cover behind a nearby cargo container.
One of the Krelaxian thugs produced an energy net, the crackling blue tendrils of electricity dancing between its strands. I remembered the searing pain from our last encounter, but this time I was ready.
As the net flew towards me, I reached out and grabbed it. The pain was excruciating, like liquid fire coursing through me, but I gritted my teeth and pushed through it. With a roar, I flung the net back at its owner, watching with grim satisfaction as it enveloped the Krelaxian, dropping him to the floor in a twitching heap.
“You’ll pay for that,” Grax snarled, rubbing his injured wrist.
I bared my pointed canines in a feral grin. “I don’t think so. I have a score to settle with you, Grax.”
The remaining Krelaxian thug charged at me, all four arms swinging various weapons. I ducked under a vibroblade, feeling the hum of its energy field as it passed a hair’s breadth away. I countered with a swift uppercut, sending my opponent staggering backward.
But Grax was on me in an instant, his fist connecting with my jaw. I tasted blood, the coppery flavor filling my mouth. I spat it out and grinned, feeling the rush of battle singing through my veins.
“Is that the best you can do?” I taunted, my red eyes locking onto his.
Grax roared and charged, but I was ready. I sidestepped at the last moment, using his momentum to send him crashing into the wall. The impact shook the corridor, and I heard the groan of stressed metal.
The Krelaxian thug had recovered and was coming at me again. I grabbed one of his arms and twisted, using the alien’s own bulk against him. He stumbled, off-balance, and I took the opportunity to land a solid kick to his midsection. The thug doubled over, wheezing.
But I’d forgotten about Grax. Pain exploded in my side as he caught me with a glancing blow from an energy whip. I stumbled, my vision blurring.
“Not so tough now, are you?” Grax sneered, readying the whip for another strike.
I braced myself for the impact, but it never came. Instead, I heard a familiar voice cry out.
“Hey, ugly!”
Lina stood there, holding what looked like a piece of broken piping. She’d emerged from her hiding spot and was glaring defiantly at Grax.
“Leave him alone!” she shouted, swinging the makeshift weapon.
Grax turned, momentarily distracted by this new threat. It was all the opening I needed. I lunged forward, tackling Grax to the ground. We rolled across the floor, trading blows. His fists pummeled my ribs, but I gave as good as I got, feeling the satisfying crunch of cartilage as my fist connected with his face.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Lina swinging her pipe at the Krelaxian thug, keeping him at bay. Pride swelled in my chest at her bravery, but I couldn’t afford to be distracted.
Grax and I grappled on the floor, each trying to gain the upper hand. I managed to pin one of his arms, but he used his other three to rain blows upon me. My healing was already working to repair the damage, but the pain was still intense.
With a surge of strength, I rolled us over, pinning Grax beneath me. I grabbed his head and slammed it against the floor, once, twice, three times. His eyes rolled back in his head, and finally, mercifully, he went limp.
Panting heavily, I staggered to my feet, my body aching from a dozen different wounds. I turned to see Lina backing away from the Krelaxian thug, her improvised weapon held high.
“Lina, duck!” I shouted.
She dropped to the floor without hesitation, and I charged forward. I tackled the Krelaxian, driving him back into the wall with bone-crushing force. The alien’s head snapped back, connecting with the metal surface with a sickening crack. He slumped to the ground, unconscious.
The only sound was our heavy breathing. I turned to Lina, my eyes scanning her for injuries.
“Are you hurt?” I asked, concerned.
She shook her head, her eyes wide with adrenaline and something else... admiration? “I’m okay. You?”
I nodded, grimacing as my body already began to heal. “I’ll live. That was... impressive, what you did back there.”
Lina managed a shaky smile. “Well, I couldn’t let you have all the fun, could I?”
I chuckled, wincing as the movement aggravated my bruised ribs. “We make a good team.”
The heat of battle was replaced by a different kind of heat, one that smoldered between us like a barely contained inferno. I took a step towards her, drawn by an irresistible force.
But the moment was shattered by the sound of approaching footsteps and voices. Security was coming, no doubt alerted by the commotion.
“We need to go,” I said, grabbing Lina’s hand. “Now.”
My grip on Lina’s hand tightened as I spotted the Mkrani Soko’s docking bay.
“There,” I said, nodding towards my ship. “We’re almost there.”
Lina’s breath grew rough as she struggled to keep up with my pace. “, I don’t think I can?—”
I scooped her up without breaking stride, cradling her against my chest as I sprinted the final distance to the ship. The familiar sleek, dark-gray hull of the Mkrani Soko had never been so welcome.
“Ship, prepare for immediate takeoff,” I barked as we walked onto the entry ramp.
The ship’s AI responded in its typically calm tone. “Greetings, Captain. I’m afraid the spaceport administration has requested we wait our turn for departure. There are currently seventeen vessels ahead of us in the queue.”
I growled in frustration as I carried Lina up the ramp and into the ship. “Override. There’s no time to wait. Initiate emergency protocols.”
“Captain, I must advise against?—”
“Now!” I roared, my patience wearing thin.
The ship’s systems hummed to life as I rushed to the bridge, Lina still in my arms. I deposited her gently into the co-pilot’s chair, my hands moving swiftly to secure the safety harness around her.
“, what—” Lina began, her green eyes wide.
“Hold on,” I interrupted, throwing myself into the pilot’s seat and gripping the controls. “This might get rough.”
The Mkrani Soko’s engines roared to life, drowning out the blaring alarms from the spaceport. Through the viewscreen, I could see security forces converging on our position, their weapons drawn.
“Apologies, Captain,” the AI chimed in. “But I feel compelled to inform you that our actions violate approximately thirty-seven spaceport regulations and?—”
“Noted,” I growled, engaging the thrusters. The ship lurched forward, breaking free from its docking clamps with a screech of protesting metal.
Lina yelped, her knuckles white as she gripped the armrests of her seat. “, are you sure about this?”
I flashed her a grin, baring my pointed canines. “Trust me.”
The Mkrani Soko shot out of the docking bay like a bullet from a gun, leaving a trail of destruction in our wake. Warning shots from the spaceport’s defense systems flashed past us as I expertly maneuvered through the departing and arriving ships.
“Hang on,” I warned, pushing the ship into a steep climb. The g-forces pressed us back into our seats as we rocketed towards the upper atmosphere.
Lina’s face was pale, but her eyes sparkled with a mix of terror and exhilaration. “This is insane!”
I laughed, the thrill of the escape pumping adrenaline through my veins. “Welcome to my world, sweetheart.”
As we broke through the moon’s atmosphere, the inky blackness of space enveloped us. The pursuit ships were falling behind, unable to match the Mkrani Soko’s superior speed.
“Preparing for warp jump,” the AI announced. “Course?”
I glanced at Lina, who was staring out at the star-filled expanse with wonder. “Set a random course, maximum distance. We’ll figure out where we’re going later.”
“Acknowledged. Warp jump in three... two... one...”
The stars stretched into lines of light, and with a lurch that always made my stomach flip, we entered warp space. The tension in my body began to ease as the immediate danger passed.
I turned to Lina, drinking in the sight of her. Her auburn hair was tousled from our mad dash, and a light sheen of sweat glistened on her skin. She was the most beautiful thing I’d ever seen.
“We made it,” she breathed, her eyes meeting mine.
I nodded, allowing myself a small smile. “We did. Are you alright?”
Lina took a deep breath, then nodded. “I think so. That was... intense.”
“You handled it well,” I said, unbuckling my harness and standing. “Most humans would have passed out from the g-forces.”
She laughed, the sound I loved the best. Well, one of them. “I’m tougher than I look.”
“I’m beginning to see that,” I replied, offering her my hand. She took it, and I helped her to her feet. “Come on, let’s get you settled in.”
As we exited the bridge, Lina’s eyes darted around, taking in every detail of the ship. “This is amazing,” she said. “I’ve never been on a ship like this before.”
I shrugged, feeling an unexpected surge of pride at her admiration. “The Mkrani Soko isn’t much, but she’s home.”
“Can I get a tour?” Lina asked, her curiosity evident in her voice.
I chuckled. “There isn’t much to see, I’m afraid. The bridge, which you’ve already seen, and my quarters. I don’t need much else.”
We walked down the short corridor to my living space. The door slid open with a soft hiss, revealing a spartan room dominated by a large bed and a small seating area. A few weapons hung on the walls, and a desk in the corner held a collection of data pads.
“It’s... efficient,” Lina said diplomatically.
I snorted. “You can say it’s bare. I’ve never had much use for personal belongings.”
Lina wandered around the room, her fingers trailing over the smooth metal surfaces. “It suits you, I think. But it could use a woman’s touch.”
The implication in her words made me stiffen. I watched her move, my body tensing with an unfamiliar desire.
“,” she said suddenly, turning to face me. “Before we do anything else I need to contact Dr. Heylarth.”
I frowned, a surge of possessiveness rising in my chest. “Is that really necessary?”
Lina’s eyes narrowed. “Yes, it is. He’s important to me. He’ll be worried.”
I struggled to keep my expression neutral, even as jealousy gnawed at my insides. “Fine. I’ll have the AI initiate a call. It might take a while to establish a secure connection.”
“Thank you,” Lina said softly, her hand resting on my arm. The touch sent sparks through my skin.
I cleared my throat. “Ship, initiate a secure call to Dr. Heylarth on Adtera.”
“Acknowledged,” the AI responded. “Establishing connection. Estimated time: twenty minutes.”
Lina nodded, then fixed me with an intense gaze. “While we wait, I think we need to talk about something.”
I raised an eyebrow. “Oh?”
“What did you mean earlier, about taking me as your mate?” Her voice was almost steady. Almost.
I took a step closer to her. “Exactly what I said. You’re my mate, Lina.”
She swallowed hard, but stood her ground. “I’m not some possession, . And I won’t be claimed just for protection.”
I reached out, my gray fingers tracing the line of her jaw. “Is that what you think this is? Just protection?”
Lina’s breath hitched at my touch. “Isn’t it?”
I moved even closer. I could feel the heat radiating from her body, smell the intoxicating scent of her skin. “No, Lina. This is so much more than that.”
“Then what is it?” she whispered, her eyes searching mine.
I struggled to find the right words, emotions I’d never experienced before threatening to overwhelm me. “I want you to be my mate because... because I can’t imagine my life without you in it. From the moment I first saw you, something inside me changed. It’s like my blood knows you, Lina. You are my mate. I just need to claim you.”
Lina’s eyes widened at my words. I could see the conflict in her expression, desire warring with uncertainty. “, I?—”
I couldn’t hold back any longer. I leaned in, capturing her lips with mine. She stiffened before melting against me, her arms wrapping around my neck. A growl escaped me as my hands slid down to her waist to pull her closer.
The kiss deepened, and I felt like I was drowning in her. My tongue explored her mouth, tasting her, claiming her. I trailed kisses along her jaw, then down to her neck. My pointed canines grazed her soft skin, and she shivered in my arms.
“,” she moaned, her fingers tangling in my hair.
I licked a slow path up the side of her neck, reveling in the way she trembled against me. “Tell me you want this,” I murmured against her skin. “Tell me you want to be mine.”
Lina’s head fell back, giving me better access to her throat. “I... I want...”
A sharp beep from the ship’s communication system interrupted us. We both froze, panting heavily.
“Incoming transmission from Dr. Heylarth,” the AI announced.
I growled in frustration, reluctantly pulling away from Lina. She looked dazed, her lips red, her cheeks flushed. It took every ounce of my self-control not to throw her on the bed and finish what we’d started.
“We should... we should take that,” Lina said breathlessly, smoothing down her hair.
I nodded, trying to regain my composure. “Right. Let’s go to the bridge.”
We made our way back, the air between us crackling with unresolved tension. As we settled into our seats, I activated the viewscreen.
The image that appeared made me freeze in shock. The elderly Mondian on the screen was instantly recognizable, despite the years that had passed.
“General Hondarth?”
For possibly the first, and hopefully the last time in my life, my jaw dropped.
The dragon-like being on the screen peered at me, his reptilian eyes widening in recognition. “By the stars,” he rumbled. “? Is that you, boy?”
Lina looked between us, confusion evident on her face. “You two know each other?”