She was swift, efficient, and helpful. Thank fuck.
Warlord Velik came into the room, stopped at the base of the transport platform’s steps. He held up an ion rifle, then tossed it to me. An ion pistol followed, which he tossed to Tane. “You will need these.” I wasn’t sure why they had Coalition weapons on Earth, but I wasn’t going to ask.
“Many thanks,” Tane said.
I checked my rifle, then looked to the transport tech. I did not need the rifle, but I would not refuse the weapon. I fully intended to tear Quinn’s abductor apart with my bare hands. Maybe, once she was safe, I would shoot anyone else involved with this puny rifle, for sport. “Transport now.”
“Goodbye, Warlords. Good lu—”
The warden’s words were cut off by the sizzle and pull of the transport. We were gone from Earth, headed to Transport Station Zenith. My mate was there. I would find her, and then I would never let her go. This was one mission I would not fail.
8
Bahre, Transport Room, Transport Station Zenith, Sector 437
The second we arrived, I stormed down the steps, only to be blocked by Dr. Helion and two Elite Hunters from Everis. One I recognized. He was well-known in the IC, one of Helion’s most trusted and skilled operatives. He was mated, however, and only answered the call when Helion was in a hurry or the stakes were very high.
The other Elite Hunter was new to Helion’s service. I didn't care who they were. They were in my way.
“You’re early.”
“You were insistent.” Dr. Helion knew his presence would prevent me from tearing down every closed door on the station to find my mate. She was here. I didn’t scent her, but the warden’s transport data was accurate.
I had enemies. Plenty of them. I hadn’t been subtle about the discovery of my mate. According to the human police officers who had questioned me, the comm of me kneeling before my female during her news program had been viewed by millions within just a few hours. I had to assume every Rogue 5 legion, criminal faction, and black-market trader had spies on Earth. Dr. Helion did. My actions, looking back, had been stupid. I’d made Quinn McCaffrey from Earth an immediate target for any and all who wished to harm me. They would torture and torment her to get to me. I’d remain whole and unharmed while unspeakable horrors happened to her. My mate.
I would not survive if she was not rescued.
“Out of my way,” I snarled.
We were all the best at what we did. The Elite Hunters were ruthless. Cunning. Fast. Tane was a warlord with deadly fighting skills and Hive integrations. And then there was me, integrated by Helion to be his most dangerous weapon.
“We are your friends, Bahre. I am Elite Hunter Rett. This is Elite Hunter Quinn.” The Everian Hunter I did not recognize spoke to me. “We are here to help you find your mate, but we have our orders. We have a plan—”
The hair-raising sizzle of an incoming transport had us turning. The leader of Styx Legion and his second in command appeared, gave one assessing sweep of the room, and came down the steps.
“Helion,” Styx said. The Rogue 5 leader was covered in tattoos and was mean as fuck. His second was no better. I had dealt with the duo more than once in the past.
“Why are they here?” I had no problem with Styx Legion. Last I’d known, Styx himself supplied information to the Intelligence Core—when it suited him.
Dr. Helion was in full battle armor, which pleased me. However, he did not respond to my question, instead speaking to the transport tech. “Erase all records of transports from the past ten minutes. We are not here. Do you understand?”
The Viken transport tech stared at Helion with a look that said the request was not a new one. “It’ll cost you.”
Helion scoffed, walked to the tech, and showed him a figure on his small data pad. “Will this suffice?”
“Yes.”
“If you betray me, we will find you.”
The Viken transport tech looked at the two Elite Hunters standing behind Helion and nodded. “I understand. You were never here.”
“Good.” Helion was pleased with himself. He always seemed to be pleased with himself. It was fucking annoying.
The tech went busily to work, then nodded. “Done, sir.”
Helion paid the tech no more attention, shifting his gaze to me. “Stand down, Warlord,” he said, coming my way.
Helion was not friendly. He was not nice. Anyone who’d met the Prillon would say he was seven feet of asshole. I hadn’t cared before because he was my commander, nothing more. I didn’t have to like him.
Now? He was the only one keeping me from my mate.
“No.”
“Warlord,” he warned. “Don’t make me stun you.”
“They took my mate.”
Helion looked down at my wrists, and his eyebrows rose. “Really? Then where are your mating cuffs, Warlord?”
My roar would have terrified any normal living creature. Helion was far from normal. “I was simply asking a question, Bahre. No need to get upset. She is not being harmed. Not yet.”
Not yet? How the fuck did he know? “Where. Is. She?”
He shrugged, an action I was familiar with; however, it hadn’t irritated me until now. “I will not discuss the plan out in the open. This station is literally crawling with surveillance tech. All of you, shut the fuck up and follow me.”
We followed in silence. I was directly behind Helion. Tane behind me. The two Hunters, Quinn and Rett, were followed by Styx and his second, bringing up the rear. Using my advanced implants, I scanned the walls as we walked. The doctor had not been diminishing the facts. Within the walls, insect-sized devices crawled and jostled for position. Some attacked others. None were biological in origin. They were all broadcasting to someone. Somewhere. Data on everything seen, heard. Everyone who passed.
“We’re too fucking
