Anastasia’s pale orange eyes soften as she turns to look at Shya. Her hand trembles in mine, but nothing in her appearance gives away her strain.
“I was never sick. They played a cruel game.”
I don’t know how she manages such an even tone with the chaos swirling inside her, but outwardly she’s the epitome of calm as she speaks.
Awe at her control sweeps through me, but it doesn’t loosen the anger writhing in my guts. I’m furious over the entire situation and need a target to attack.
“Where’s Vander?” I snap.
They pulled us from our den. There’d better be a damn good reason.
“He was a few miles out. He'll be here any second,” Dirk replies.
“And? Status? What the hell is going on?” I demand, my agitation growing with every second.
I need something to destroy.
“Vander’s mate made an appearance last night,” Seeck snaps out.
That’s my fault. I gave her our location when I opened Anastasia’s file.
I snap my focus to the dashboard before glaring at Seeck.
“Move.”
He stares in challenge for half a second before urging Nova to step sideways with him.
A sheen of wetness coats Nova’s striking blue eyes. The scent of salty tears comes from different places in the room. It takes me a moment to correlate the sources as the females.
Every Omega in the cockpit besides Anastasia looks as though they could break down in sobs at any second.
My fury ratchets higher, my first instinct demanding I protect my lifemate from any sort of stress, but on closer inspection my body freezes in astonishment.
Entire conversations take place in the unseen connections within our hearts. Like a system of tunnels too complex to be understood, they link each person in this room.
My Omega stretches her gentle comfort from her heart’s cocoon, caressing and supporting the upset females staring at her.
Nova’s feminine strength mingles with Anastasia’s comfort, offering her own fortitude as she holds in her tears.
Britani’s fierce loyalty combs through my lifemate’s compassion, adding a touch of stormy animalism into the mix as she cries instead of howling her fury at the injustice done to my Omega.
Shya’s sweet nature hardens as an unexpected blast of hatred lashes out of her. Anastasia catches it with ease, stroking and soothing the intensity with her unwavering tenderness. Once the wave of tempest tapers off, Shya sobs as other emotions rise, filling in the gaps left by the huge outburst. As Shya expresses her grief and fear for my lifemate, Anastasia accepts each one with understanding and love.
Not able to grasp every twist and turn in their interaction, I look from one Omega to another, stunned at their inner beauty. Each one offers my lifemate unending devotion.
There’s still so far to go before they can enjoy each other’s company without a threat hovering over their heads. How can myself and my teammates not do everything in our power to give them a safe place to nurture one another?
I meet Dirk’s eyes as another sob wracks Shya’s body. He strokes her hair and offers me a slight smile, his turmoil over his Omega’s tears battling with the danger heading our way.
Kwame stands as still as a statue, his eyes zeroed in on Britani’s face. Reverence and wonder shines from his eyes as he keeps close watch on her emotions.
Seeck hugs Nova to him, rubbing his chin on the top of her head. He looks as though he’s fighting the urge to purr for her as his attention wavers between her body’s rigidity and the unbelievable beauty taking place between every Omega in the room.
A light blinks on the dashboard.
I drag Anastasia across the room, understanding her reticence but needing to check the controls.
Someone, probably Seeck judging by his proximity to the control panel, began the process of scanning the area and running a system check.
Ninety percent finished, the system check looks exactly as I expect it to.
The area scan shows no landscape change and no large groups of people nearby. The nodes placed around the perimeter have not been tampered with. It continues a more detailed scan.
Vander is almost here.
Whether we need to take flight or join him in a fight, we’ll be ready.
Chapter Thirty-Three
Vander
The dent in the Sky-Flyer door looks the same. Safety protocol has been disabled, but the regular lock secures the hatch.
My fingers hover over the button pad, but I can’t bring myself to input the code.
The hairs stand up on my nape.
My lungs ache from my sprint across the rough terrain, but a new source of adrenaline makes my heartrate skyrocket.
Instincts demand I turn around.
Years’ worth of training keeps me facing the door.
My newfound abilities strain to find the shadowed lifemating bond.
She’s not behind me. I’ve been vigilant.
But she’s close.
Weight slams down on me from the sky, crushing my shoulders and slamming my boots into the gravel. I have no choice but to follow the momentum as I’m wrenched to the side.
Gravel cuts into my exposed flesh as I roll through the impact.
Her scent slams into me, making my cock instantly hard despite the less than favorable conditions.
She smells of stormy skies and tempestuous passion, the heavy scent of feminine chaos too sensual to deny. I fill my lungs with her pheromones, eager to consume every piece of her.
Her elbow meets my ribs in a vicious strike, stealing my breath and strengthening my anger.
Demanding my body respond to my training and not my fury, I hook my arm around her withdrawing one, trapping her bicep within the crook of my elbow.
We tumble another rotation, our momentum carrying us further away from the Sky-Flyer. I glimpse a flash of pearly white teeth as my hip accepts the weight of myself and another, her position above me one of power. Using her closeness, I wrap a leg around her own only to growl as her knee connects with my thigh.
Squirmy little thing.
As the tip of
