3013: GENESIS

3013: THE SERIES

Laurie Roma

The 3013 Series

3013: MATED by Laurie Roma

3013: RENEGADE by Susan Hayes

3013: CLAIMED by Laurie Roma

3013: STOWAWAY by Susan Hayes

3013: SALVATION by Laurie Roma

3013: MENDED by Kali Argent

3013: TARGETED by Susan Hayes

3013: CHAOS by Laurie Roma

3013: ALTERED by Kali Argent

3013: FATED by Susan Hayes

3013: GENESIS by Laurie Roma

3013: GENESIS

Mya Spartan has lived a privileged life. She has a family who adores her, work that fulfills her, and enough credits to have everything she’s ever wanted. However, what she really wants isn’t something that can be bought…

Alphas of their pack, Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro, have created an empire with no equal. As a traveling sanctuary, New Vega exists beyond Alliance regulations, where the Adaros’ word is law. The three Krytos brothers are strong, capable leaders who rule their world together, but nothing could have prepared them for the little female elite who would come to rule their hearts.

Destiny may have led her straight into the arms of the Krytos who want her as their mate, but Mya fears she might not be a match for the three powerful males. When a threat turns the floating pleasure palace into a dangerous prison, everything they love is at risk. Will Mya find the courage to fight by the Adaro brothers side, or will her uncertainty lead to the downfall of an empire?

An Erotic Romance Novel.

3013: GENESIS by Laurie Roma

First E-book Publication: December 2015

Cover design by Sloan Winters

Copyright © 2015 by Laurie Roma

ISBN: 978-1-942979-02-9

Kindle Edition

ALL RIGHTS RESERVED: This literary work may not be reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means, including electronic or photographic reproduction, in whole or in part, without express written permission.

All characters and events in this book are fictitious. Any resemblance to actual persons living or dead is strictly coincidental. It is fiction so facts and events may not be accurate except to the current world the book takes place in.

DEDICATION

To all of you who have asked for the Adaro brothers’ story.

I hope I’ve done you proud…

***

PROLOGUE

The year is 3013.

Earth barely survived the Alien Wars that have ravaged the planet, and an unknown virus had nearly wiped out the entire population. On the brink of extinction, humans struggle to rebuild their civilization, although nothing would ever bring back what once was.

Enforcing martial law, a new age of mankind is born, where warriors rule and women are the ultimate prize. Only the elite earn breeding rights and are granted leave to claim a woman in pairs. Men dream of the day that they will be able to claim a woman to love, but for those chosen being claimed means the end of their freedom and a beginning to a lifelong bond with two strangers. The warriors may have the choice, but the battle for their woman's heart has only begun…

***

CHAPTER ONE

I can do this…

Mya Spartan braced her hands together in her lap as the private shuttle she was in made its way through the congested flow of traffic in the Capital. Glancing out the window, she looked down at the crowded streets below.

Despite their slow progress in the air, she preferred hovering in the streamlined flow rather than being stuck on street level where the mass of people on the sidewalks added to the chaos. The color blue was all the rage this season. Especially royal blue, so the citizens walking on the streets made up a sea of the rich, vibrant shade, mixing in among the austere steel-gray and black uniforms of the elites.

Living in the largest, most prosperous city on Earth had its advantages, but there were also a lot of drawbacks. Over the last few years, the familiar metropolis had become a prison of sorts to her. No matter how beautiful the city was, a gilded cage was still just that…a cage.

And Mya was ready to break free.

“You’re up to something,” Pia Colter muttered from her seat across the shuttle.

Without looking over, Mya said, “I don’t know what you mean.”

“I call bullshit.”

Mya glanced over to see Ryland Colter glaring at her from his seat next to his chosen. Ryland and his twin brother, Mikal, had been Mya’s personal guards since she turned fifteen. Three years ago, when they’d claimed their chosen, she had been added to their detail. The three older elite soldiers might have been under orders to protect Mya, but they had become more like family during their time together.

Because of that, they knew her too well for her to deceive to them.

Plus, Mya totally sucked at lying, and they knew it.

With a sigh, she shifted in her seat so she was facing the others. Mikal might have been in front of the shuttle where he was operating the controls, but she knew he could hear everything that was being said. He was an elite with advanced hearing, after all.

They all were.

The dark-blond twins had been chosen as her guards right after they’d graduated from the Academy. They had been top ranked soldiers, so it might have seemed odd that the two highly skilled men had been delegated to what essentially could be called babysitting duty. But then again, Mya wasn’t just an average woman.

No, Mya Spartan was the daughter of three powerful parents, and sister to two extremely protective brothers who would destroy worlds if anything happened to her.

Her mother, Donna Spartan-Rollins, had created a fashion empire she’d named Starlight Designs before she had been claimed. Now, she ran the company with one of Mya’s fathers, Jack Rollins. Together, they were a corporate powerhouse that catered to some of the wealthiest members of the Alliance, on and off planet, as well as many D’Aire that had a taste for human fashion.

Due to their business, the amount of credits Mya’s family had would have made her a target in itself, but the fact that her other father, Ian Spartan, was a member of the Alliance Council of Regents made it imperative that she be protected. The Regents were all retired military commanders from all of the territories on Earth. They were the governing body of the Alliance, and although Earth was at peace now, there were still individuals who would try to use family members of a regent to gain the upper hand.

Mya didn’t really worry about that, though. In truth, she pitied whoever was stupid enough to come after her, since her oldest brother, High Commander Jax Spartan, would rain down the wrath of God on them. Some of his soldiers had even classified his legendary temper as the Wrath of Jax, and it was totally fitting. Talon, her other older brother, was stealthier in his approach at handling an issue. He would track anyone who came after her to the ends of the universe and cheerfully slit their throats.

And that was nothing compared to what Regent Ian Spartan and former Commander Jack Rollins would do. They would use the full force of the Alliance against anyone who struck out at their family, and they wouldn’t stop until their enemies were nothing but bloody dust…if there was even that much left.

Even Conner—her younger brother who was in the Academy—thought he could boss her around when it came to her protection. Because of her family’s obsession with her safety, Mya hadn’t complained when she was given a protection detail. It was for their peace of mind as much as it was for her own safety, since, even though she had been trained as an elite in the Academy herself, Mya was very aware of her own limitations.

After she’d been tested when she was ten, she had been given the enhancements that made her an elite. She had inherited the intuition that made her father and her brother such good leaders, however, she had also inherited her mother’s empathic talent. Both abilities weren’t of much use to Mya, since neither ability was very strong, but they were enough for her to know she could never be happy living the life of a soldier.

Still, that didn’t mean she wouldn’t kick butt when it was necessary.

“Fess up, Princess Starlight,” Mikal called out from the front of the shuttle. “Tell us what you’re up to.”

Mya didn’t even bother to wince at the nickname her friends had given her years ago. “I was going to wait to speak to you about this,” she said carefully. “I want to talk to my mother to see if it would be possible first before I drag you guys into my plan.”

People always assumed that her regent father was the one who was in charge of her family, but she knew better. It was her mother who held the position of power in their household, and if Mya wanted to get anything done, it was Donna Spartan-Rollins who would help her make it happen.

Ryland’s dark-brown eyes narrowed suspiciously. “What plan?”

Giving into his intense stare, Mya sighed again. “I’ve decided to leave Earth.”

She waited for the explosion, but it never came. Instead, Pia and Ryland both just looked at her expectantly.

“So, where are we going?” Pia asked.

Mya’s eyebrows shot up. “You…want to go with me even though you don’t know where?”

Pia rolled her eyes. “Well, duh.”

“You don’t have to,” Mya told them. “I mean, you’ll be given a choice—”

“Stop being stupid, and tell us where we’re going,” Mikal called over his shoulder.

Before she could speak again, Pia slouched down in her chair and sent Mya a crooked smile. “It’s taken you long enough to make this decision. You’re suffocating here. Have been for a while now.”

Ryland glanced at both women before saying, “This isn’t about what happened last week, is it? Damn it, I knew we should have killed those two assholes at Cathica after they tried to claim you.”

Mya thought back to the night last week when they had gone to Cathica, a Tarin restaurant owned by friends of her family. A drunk director and his buddy had tried to drag Mya with them after seeing the solitary tattoo on her face near her right eye, which designated her as one of the coveted fertile females who hadn’t been claimed yet.

She had worn the damn scroll mark since she’d been tested when she was ten, and knew exactly what it meant for her and the other women that had been similarly branded as potential breeders.

It meant trouble.

Upon her seventeenth birthday, Mya’s fathers had gotten her exempt status, which meant that no males could claim her without her express permission. Usually, all it took was telling any interested males about that exempt status to make them back off. If they were more persistent, informing them of who her fathers and brothers were was enough to make them run for cover, but the director and his friend had been too drunk to give a damn about what they were told.

Mya waved a hand in the air. “I’m not worried about that at all. And I have to admit, it was sort of fun kicking that guy in the balls.”

Pia laughed. “It really was. I liked breaking that other asshole’s nose just as much.”

“You two are a menace,” Ryland muttered.

Pia ran a hand over her sleek bob of dark-brown hair as she smirked at her bonded. “You got to punch them, too.”

“Because they wouldn’t shut up.” Ryland sighed again, this time with pleasure. “I really love being able to hit higher ranking officers with no repercussions. Still, we wouldn’t have to so often if Mya didn’t attract so much attention.”

Mya’s shoulders hunched a bit as Ryland turned to glare at her as if she could somehow control the way she looked.

Pia slapped his arm before saying, “You two see Mya as a little sister, but she’s a beautiful woman and shouldn’t have to apologize for it. Just because some idiot elites think they can claim her without permission, that doesn’t mean she’s to blame.”

Ryland grimaced. “I’m not blaming her.”

“I’m just me,” Mya said softly.

Pia nodded in agreement. “And that’s all it takes. Honey, face it. You’re absolutely gorgeous, and you’re a scroll. Plus, you’ve got all that long, silky black hair that makes them want to touch it, and your eyes…they mesmerize men. It makes men go a little crazy with lust.”

“Stars, don’t talk about lust,” Mikal snapped. “Subject change. Now.”

Mya wouldn’t mind shifting the subject. It always made her uncomfortable to hear someone praise her for her looks, because it wasn’t something she had any control over. She had the same steel-gray eyes as her oldest brother, Jax, but while his were cold, she had been told hers made her look almost mystical. Still, she didn’t understand the fascination men seemed to have with her. She was pretty, but not enough to cause anyone to try to claim her in the middle of a damn restaurant.

Pia rolled her eyes. “As I was saying before we got sidetracked, you’re suffocating here because you want to travel, see new places and get new inspiration, don’t you?”

“Yes,” Mya said a little desperately. “I really do.”

“I’m up for a new adventure,” Ryland stated.

“Same here,” Mikal added as he maneuvered their shuttle out of the flow of traffic so he could set down in front of their destination.

Pia smiled. “Not to mention, what other job could we get within the Alliance where we can wear whatever the hell we want and not get stuck in those boring uniform?”

That made Mya laugh. Because her guards were supposed to blend in, Pia, Ryland and Mikal were always dressed in normal clothes whenever they went out. Since they’d put up with Mya and her antics for years, she was always creating new clothes that matched their personalities as a way to thank them.

And besides, the elite uniforms really were boring as hell.

Mya felt her heart lift as she thought of all the possibilities for her future. Added to that, she was overwhelmed by her friends’ faith in her. She had worried about that part of her plan. Pia, Ryland and Mikal would’ve been given a choice to stay on Earth if they wanted to, but Mya would have missed them desperately if she had to take other guards with her when she left.

A sharp pang of envy struck her as she watched Ryland glance down at Pia with a tender look. It was something that had been happening more often lately, and it made her feel horrible each time she felt jealous of her friends’ happiness. Pia was right, though. The opportunity to travel, to see the stars and other planets was something Mya had always wanted.

But more than that, she wanted to start living her life on her own terms.

And maybe she’d finally have the chance to find the love she’d always dreamed of.

When their shuttle touched down in front of the building, the two security officers in front didn’t bother to move from their posts since they recognized them. As they got out, Mya declined Mikal’s offer to carry the bag she’d brought with her and slung the strap over her own shoulder. She sent the officers an absentminded wave, and forced herself to remain calm as she walked up the front steps of the Starlight Designs headquarters.

The large, white building that housed her family’s fashion empire was located in the heart of the Capital. It had always reminded her of some sort of modern-day castle. And if Mya was considered its princess, her mother was definitely the queen.

She only visited the headquarters about once a week. Most of the time, she chose to work in her studio on her family’s estate right outside of the city proper. The studio was a large building, separated from the main house so that it allowed her the peace and quiet she needed to design. Still, Mya could appreciate the vibrant energy that swamped her the second she stepped into the Starlight Designs building.

Mya and her guards paused to check in with security at the massive U-shaped front desk. When they were passed through, she wasn’t surprised to see her father, Jack Rollins, stroll down the hallway to meet her. He might be the company’s numbers man now—dealing with the financials and backend of the business—but he still kept up with security. And given his military background, she was never surprised that he knew exactly who walked into the building.

Jack Rollins was a tall man, with wide shoulders that Mya knew she could always lean on. A wide smile spread across his handsome face as he opened his arms. “There’s my baby.”

She rushed forward, embracing him hard. “Hi, Daddy.”

Mya felt the love he felt for her rush through her as soon as she touched him. Her empathic skills didn’t work all the time, but touching did help give it a boost. The feelings she sensed gave her comfort and a security that she was grateful for.

Before she had been born, it had been established that she was actually the daughter of Ian Spartan, as was her oldest brother, Jax, but Jack had loved them as his own, just as Ian claimed Talon and Connor, even though they had come from their other father. It was the way of Alliance bonded units, and something that Mya had always taken for granted.

Having two fathers just meant more love.

Jack glanced over at Ryland, Mikal and Pia and smiled in greeting. “I’ve got her from here. Go relax somewhere.”

Training had all three guards saluting to the former Alliance commander, placing their right fists over their hearts. Then Ryland turned back to Mya and pointed to his wrist unit. “Just tag us when you’re ready to leave.”

She nodded, then linked her arm with Jack’s as she let him lead her toward the private lift that would take them directly to the floor where her parents’ offices were located. “I’m glad I ran into you. I was hoping to speak to you and mom about something.”

“She’s in a meeting with Thorton right now. For some inexplicable reason, he’s currently obsessed with trying to bring back polka-dots.”

Mya laughed. “I don’t see that happening.”

“Neither do I.”

A smaller man with round glasses rushed over, gripping a tablet tight to his chest. “Madam Mya, thank the stars! We just got the new shipment of material in for your celestial line, and it’s—”

“Not now, Fredricks,” Jack ordered.

“Oh, but, sir! The cerulean we requested isn’t as bright as we need—”

Jack shifted his gaze over, making the smaller man scrambled back a few steps. Mya held back a laugh and squeezed her father’s arm.

“Go talk to Dora,” Mya said kindly, mentioning their requisitions manager—which was a fancy name for the woman who ordered their material. “She’ll get it sorted out.”

Fredricks bowed to them before heading away at a slight run. As Mya and Jack started walking away again, she leaned into his side. “Did you have to scare him?”

Jack winked down at her. “It’s good to know I’ve still got it.”

Mya laughed. “You mean the death stare? Yeah, you certainly do.”

He pressed his hand to the palm plate, then they entered the lift after the doors slid open soundlessly. He gestured her to enter before him, then he placed his palm on the inside scanner and gave the verbal command for the floor he wanted. Leaning against the wall, he folded his arms across his broad chest and eyed her.

“So, you’ve finally decided to tell us what’s been on your mind?”

Mya fought the urge to duck her head. “Was I that obvious?”

Jack reached out and tugged at a lock of her hair. “We know you. Not to mention, you’ve been avoiding everyone at the house for the past few weeks.” He paused for a moment, then asked, “You’re not pregnant, are you?”

“Holy nova, Dad! No!”

Jack snorted out a laugh. “I had to ask. You look so damn serious.”

Mya knew her father had a weird sense of humor, but his question had made her want to cringe. He knew she wasn’t in a relationship, and never had been. How pathetic was that? Hell, she was the only twenty-year-old virgin she knew, not that she would mention that to her father.

But she was damn well going to do something about that…and soon.

She was extremely relieved when the lift came to a stop and the doors opened. Instead of jumping out and running away like she wanted to, she slowly stepped out of the lift, then led the way around the corner and came to a stop in front of the two assistants who guarded the hallway that led to her parents’ offices.

Unlike the rest of the building that was a filled with bold, bright colors, this floor was furnished in a more sedate fashion, with glossy black floors, dark-gray walls and silver desks. The only splashes of color came from the video screens on the walls that alternated different images every few seconds.

The stylish assistants manning the desks looked like they belonged in the fashion house, but few people actually knew that both were highly-trained, skilled former-officers. Douglas and Veronica Levin were one of the rare, elite single pairings. Since Veronica was a scroll, Jack and Ian had gotten them a special exemption so she and Douglas could bond without a third. Loyalty had Douglas and Veronica following Jack into the private sector when he’d retired, but the change had worked out well for them.

Douglas shot Jack a look as soon as he saw their approach. “Your chosen has some pretty ominous plans for you since you left her in that meeting with Thorton alone.”

Jack sighed. “Better she be mad at me for that than for me strangling the man.”

“True,” Douglas said with a laugh. “Nice to see you, Mya.”

Before Mya could return the greeting, Veronica cut in.

“Mya! Have you heard the good news? I’m expecting again.”

Mya’s eyes widened. Veronica and Douglas had four kids together already, and hearing they were having another baby made something inside of her ache with longing. “Stars, the two of you are going to repopulate the Earth all by yourselves. Congratulations!”

Jack waited patiently while Mya exchanged hugs with both Veronica and Douglas. He might not have the abilities that his chosen had, but he’d seen the look on his child’s face before she’d masked it behind the joy she felt for the couple. What he’d said in the lift had been meant as a joke, but he realized it wasn’t something that he should tease her about.

Taking her arm again, Jack began to pull Mya down the hallway. After taking a few steps, he turned back toward Douglas and said, “We’re kicking Thorton out. Make sure we aren’t disturbed.”

“Got it, boss.”

Mya could sense that something had changed in Jack as he led her down the hallway. He pulled her to a stop before they got to the office door and cleared his throat, suddenly looking uncomfortable. “We haven’t given you much opportunity to meet anyone, have we?”

Stars, did he really want to discuss this? Now? Talk about awkward.

“Dad…it’s…let’s not…”

He reached up and cupped her face. “If we’ve kept you too close, it’s only because we love you so much.”

Tears stung her eyes. “I know, and I love you, too. But…I need more now.”

Jack nodded curtly. “Then I’ll help you get it.”

***

CHAPTER TWO

Mya always felt as if she were stepping back in time whenever she entered her mother’s office. The room was filled with old-fashioned furniture made of dark wood with cream-colored leather accents. One side of the room was made up entirely of windows that looked out at the city, while the rest was painted a rich gold that provided a nice backdrop to the authentic paintings that hung on the walls.

At the intrusion, the glazed look of boredom in Donna Spartan-Rollins’ dark-brown eyes immediately changed to sheer pleasure. She rose from the chair behind her desk and rushed across the room. “Mya!”

Mya had a few seconds to appreciate her mother’s beauty before she was wrapped in a warm embrace. Breathing in the familiar scent of her mother’s perfume reminded her of all the times she’d been there for her in the past. Even though Mya was set on her course, it made her miss her mother already.

Donna pulled back abruptly. “Thorton. Our meeting is over.”

The man sitting across the room sputtered for a moment, then he ran from the room when Jack barked out the command for him to, “Get out. Now.”

Pulling on her hand, Donna guided Mya over to sitting area and forced her down on the couch next to her. “Your emotions are all over the place. What’s going on? Why are you feeling so guilty?”

Mya stiffened and pulled away. “Stop reading me.”

“I’m sorry,” Donna said as she patted Mya’s thigh, then she winced as she pulled her hands back and clasped them together in her own lap. “You know I can’t help it, especially when something is bothering you.”

Pausing for a moment, Mya considered how to begin, then decided to just jump in head first as soon as Jack took a seat in a chair next to Donna.

“I want to open up a store on New Vega. For two reasons, really. The first would be increasing our clientele. By setting up a location that caters to the various races that visit there, especially those who are ready and willing to drop credits, it’s the perfect location. I know you’ve wanted to keep the Starlight Design shops exclusively on Earth as an added incentive for the D’Aire to come visit, but we’re losing out on all those who have no intention of coming here.”

Jack stroked his chin thoughtfully. “I see what you’re saying, but most of the other races don’t care about fashion.”

“They don’t yet, and that’s partly because we don’t offer anything that interests them. The reality is that most of the other races tend to stick to leather, or material that is similar to what a warrior would wear. Partly for the flexibility it provides, but I also think it’s for the practicality of it. They don’t have to worry about what they wear. But I think we can change that.”

Donna leaned back against the pillows behind her on the couch and tilted her head to the side. “And how do you suggest we do that?”

Mya tried hard not to babble as she always did when she was nervous. Taking a deep breath, she answered calmly. “By giving them what they’re used to, with a twist. People are fascinated with the Dragon Warriors, especially after Katra Tesera’s visit—”

“She’s Lady Tor now,” Donna corrected.

“Right. I forgot she just mated Skylar’s father on Tartarus. But the Dragon Warriors—male and females—have a certain look. So do the Krytos, the Helios and the Tarins. I saw that when Lord Jaden Tor came here with his warriors for Skylar, Dom and Arik’s claiming ceremony.”

Mya saw the interest on her parents’ faces, and prepared to pitch her idea…hard.

“I’ve been wanting to do a new line of leather warrior gear. Something that takes a little bit of inspiration from each race, but making it something different…something unique that all the races would be comfortable wearing. By creating a new look, it will allow them to wear it without feeling as if they are copying from another race. Added to that, perhaps we can even get them to consider other colors, like red or blue leather instead of just black or brown. In fact, I’ve started making some design samples that I think you’re really going to like.”

“Mya, I think…” Donna began carefully, then her lips curved into a smile, “…that this is a brilliant idea.”

Mya sighed in relief, feeling victorious…until Jack spoke.

“What is the second part of your plan?”

Turning to meet his gaze, she said, “I think I can do this. No, I know I can. But in order to do it…I want to move to New Vega and head this project myself.”

Donna gasped, but before she could say anything, Jack raised up his hand, never taking his eyes off Mya’s. “This is what you really want?”

Mya nodded, letting him see the truth in her eyes. “Yes. It is.” Her gaze drifted over, and her heart ached at the sight of the tears glistening in her mother’s eyes. “I don’t mean to hurt you…”

Donna sniffled a little, then cleared her throat and squared her shoulders. “You surprised me, that’s all. Of course, you would want to do this yourself.” Her eyes narrowed as she glanced over at her bonded. “Did you know about this?”

Jack shook his head. “This is the first I’m hearing about it. But I agree with Mya. It’s a damn good business plan.”

Donna reached out to grab hold of his hand. “I’m sorry I snapped at you, my love.”

A grin spread over Jack’s handsome face. “I’m used to it.”

Mya saw the love on their faces as her parents looked at one another. It was something that had always been there throughout her entire life, and Mya hoped to one day share that same love and devotion with her own bonded.

“I know I need your permission to open the shop on New Vega, but that’s business. Even if you decide against it, I’m going to go. I need to. I don’t mean to sound ungrateful, because I’m not. I appreciate everything you’ve ever done for me. You’ve given me everything I’ve ever needed, but now what I need is something I can only get for myself. I don’t even know what that is, really,” Mya said with a hint of irritation in her voice. “But I know I won’t find it here.”

Donna and Jack exchanged a long look, then she said, “No, you won’t find it here. Have you already found a location on New Vega?”

“I’ve tried, but the Adaro brothers have made it impossible to do so from here. They require a face-to-face meeting with all three of them in order to get clearance to rent any retail space on their vessel.”

“That doesn’t surprise me,” Jack said. “I’ve heard those three Krytos brothers are pretty ruthless when it comes to protecting their home, but Jax says they are good males with a strict moral code. They might not exactly follow Alliance rules, but Jax wouldn’t respect them if they weren’t trustworthy.”

“I have no doubt you will convince them to give you the space,” Donna said with a gleam of pride in her eyes.

“I really appreciate you backing me on this,” Mya said softly.

Jack snorted. “Sweetheart, you’re gonna make us a shit ton of credits.”

“You know that’s not what I mean.”

“Yeah, well,” he grumbled. “I’m trying not to think about the missing you part of all this.”

That had Donna sniffling again. “I know you have to go, but I think I’m entitled to be a little sad that my daughter is leaving the planet. I also got a little weepy when Jax and Talon left, didn’t I? And the universe knows those two can handle themselves…more than I’m comfortable thinking about. But I miss all my children when you leave.”

Jack reached out and took his chosen’s hand again. “That just means we’ll have to go visit her.”

Donna nodded. “True.”

Mya laughed, then sobered as a dark cloud intruded on her happiness. “Dad Ian won’t like this. Neither will Jax or Talon.”

“Don’t worry about that. Let us handle your father. And your brothers don’t need to know about any of this until it’s a done deal,” Donna added with a small smile.

“You’ll be taking guards with you,” Jack ordered, leaving no room for argument.

Mya nodded. “Ryland, Mikal and Pia have agreed to go with me.”

“Good. Now, tell us more about this plan of yours.”

Mya pulled out her tablet from the bag she’d brought with her, and handed it over. As her parents looked over the outline she’d drafted, it was difficult to keep her voice calm as she talked them through the details.

This was what she’d wanted, and it all seemed almost too good to be true. She wasn’t just setting up a new business, one that she would be in charge of.

It was the beginning of something…something new and exciting.

And Mya was damned determined to make the most of it.

* * * *

Tavius Adaro wasn’t pleased.

And when he wasn’t pleased, someone usually ended up getting bloody.

But this time, he really couldn’t complain about the situation he was in since he was the one who’d agreed to personally welcome their newest VIP guest to New Vega. Actually, his agreement was more a matter of self preservation than anything. Out of the three Adaro brothers, Tavius was the only one who had any semblance of charm.

That was, if anyone could ever describe any Krytos as being charming.

While Maddox was the undisputed leader of their group and Daimon was the organized one, Tavius was the natural born spokesman of the trio and the only one who had any patience for diplomacy. Maybe it came from being the youngest of the group, but despite that, Tavius was just as dangerous as the others when riled. Only, he preferred to keep his opponents guessing as to what he was thinking so they wouldn’t see the ass kicking coming.

But even with his polished veneer, there was something untamed about all the Krytos that couldn’t be hidden behind a smile and some charisma.

With black eyes, pronounced canine fangs, and large, muscular bodies, all the Krytos were an intimidating lot, and that was nothing compared to their battle forms. They were a shifter race, but unlike the Helios that could transform completely into their animal form, the Krytos changed into a hybrid beast, growing sharp, lethal claws and long fangs ideal for combat. When in a rage, their black eyes turned red and their voices deepened into an animalistic rumble.

The Krytos lived in packs, led by the strongest and most capable. The Adaro brothers were somewhat unusual, since Maddox, Daimon and Tavius Adaro could have each been pack leaders themselves. But Tavius and Daimon had chosen to follow their oldest brother instead of breaking up their family.

They had lost far too much already.

As a race that had lost their home world when the Zyphir attacked and destroyed their planet almost a century ago, the Krytos had scattered across the stars, seeking to find new places to call home. But the Krytos’ struggle was far from over, and peace came with a heavy cost.

After the Adaro brothers’ mother and fathers had fought alongside the humans during the Alien Wars to defeat the Zyphir that attacked Earth, the Alliance had given them a shuttle for their aid. They had started transporting cargo instead of settling on one of the space stations or on Earth like others had, and Maddox, Daimon and Tavius had been born on that shuttle. Born into a life of freedom—something all of them would protect until their dying breath.

For the Adaro pack, living under someone else’s rule didn’t appeal to them, so they had created the dream that would one day be New Vega. They’d wanted a world of their own, where their word was law…somewhere no one could take from them.

The first few years had been difficult, but they had saved every credit they’d earned and poured it back into their business. As Maddox, Daimon and Tavius had gotten older, they were able to contribute to the family business, finding new ways to expand it and thrive. Over time, they were able to purchase a decommissioned destroyer-class vessel from the Alliance. It had taken a lot of hard work and countless hours of repairs, but they had eventually been able to make their parents’ dream a reality.

Now, New Vega was theirs, and it was a world unlike any other.

Most people thought of it as a floating pleasure palace. Although they adhered to the general guidelines of Alliance rules and regulations, New Vega wasn’t under United Federation Alliance Command control. Because it was a privately owned enterprise, the Adaro brothers enjoyed pushing the boundaries of propriety, making New Vega a luxurious destination where one could satiate a number of vices all in one central location.

But in reality, it was so much more than that.

In memory of all the friends and family they’d lost, the Adaro brothers had turned New Vega into a traveling sanctuary, making it a haven for all the different races that chose to visit. No expense had been spared to outfit the vessel with defenses, as well as powerful weapons, making it an almost impenetrable fortress that kept its clientele safe. They updated the ship often, keeping up with the latest and greatest technology the worlds had to offer.

It was their home, and they would protect it at all costs.

The large ship was made of a sleek, black metal and dark tinted glass so that it glittered like a dark jewel against the inky backdrop of space. The many lights that shone from the various levels were beacons of welcome for the visitors that arrived on a daily basis, but they could also run on stealth mode when needed.

As he strode through the crowd of people in the main lobby, Tavius looked around at the employees that mingled amidst the countless visitors. Since they had launched New Vega, hundreds of Krytos had reached out to the brothers and had asked to become part of their pack. Those members helped keep the vessel running smoothly, but they weren’t the only people who worked there.

Over the years, members of other races had asked the brothers for employment for the simple fact that they’d wanted the chance to travel the stars in luxury. Others had wanted to open up shops on New Vega, creating an eclectic collection of places to enjoy while onboard. Currently, the waiting list for retail space was a mile long, which allowed the brothers to be damn selective on who they allowed onto their home.

Now, Tavius had the irritating responsibility of meeting one of those visitors so he could escort her to her room like he was some sort of freaking lackey.

Glancing around again, Tavius briefly considered asking someone else to take on the task of meeting their VIP guest and her entourage. No, Tavius thought with a sigh. He couldn’t leave this duty to anyone else, especially not his brothers. Maddox would say something to the little elite that would probably make her cry, and Daimon’s taciturn nature would be considered rude to the visiting VIP when he refused to speak to her.

Why the hell did someone like Mya Spartan want to start a business on New Vega anyway? Well, it wasn’t like she was creating a business, really. Starlight Designs was an established enterprise already, but Tavius couldn’t see the reigning princess of the company coming to New Vega to be a shopkeeper.

The mere thought was laughable.

Overall, it was a wise business decision on both sides, though. Tavius had read the report Mya had sent along with her request for a meeting with them. Opening a shop on New Vega would give Starlight Designs a whole new clientele, while the Adaro brothers would benefit from the well-known business increasing streams of consumers onboard.

That was, if the business was run properly.

Tavius doubted that this would be more than just a passing hobby for the only daughter of the Spartan-Rollins clan. Despite what people thought, Tavius and his brothers worked their asses off to keep New Vega running. Because of that, he valued hard work and dedication. He’d seen little of either from his past dealings with the pampered elite scrolls that came to New Vega. They came to shop, to visit the spa, to gamble and to party. Some of them visited with the goal of hooking up with someone in one of the sex clubs or with another visitor who was there for the same reason.

What happened on New Vega, stayed on New Vega.

Hell, he couldn’t count the number of times he’d been hit on by a scroll who wasn’t happy with her bonded, and each time, he felt a little more jaded about relationships. It made him angry when people cheated. Tavius had his share of bed partners over the years, but he’d never made a true commitment to a female. He’d certainly never lied to someone he’d been intimate with, and he always made sure they knew not to expect anything serious before he touched them.

Krytos males usually mated in pairs or trios to one female, and when they did, they were completely devoted to their chosen mate. It wasn’t the norm, but Tavius and his brothers had decided years ago that they would mate the same female since they were so close. Each of them was fiercely protective of one another, and it just made sense that they would only trust one another with the person that would become the center of their world.

But they hadn’t found their mate yet.

And Tavius was beginning to doubt they ever would.

He made his lips curve into a smile he wasn’t feeling as he passed by a group of females that giggled foolishly as he walked past them. There was no point thinking about any of this, since all it did was put him in a shitty mood. Besides, it wouldn’t do him any good getting even more pissed off when he had to greet the VIP in a few minutes.

Tavius nodded to one of the New Vega security team that called out a greeting to him as he passed the security checkpoint, then he made his way down the hallway that lead toward the landing bays. Once he was there, the automatic doors slid open, then shut behind him again after he’d entered, closing out the sounds of laughter and music that he barely noticed anymore.

He’d timed it right, and saw that the space cruiser carrying Mya Spartan and her guards had just landed. Maybe she wouldn’t be as bad as he expected. Tavius knew her oldest brother, Jax, and even liked the surly elite…most of the time.

His mood lightened as Tavius considered just how pissed off Jax was going to be when he found out his little sister was on New Vega. A few days ago, he’d received a vid call from the lovely Serra Spartan-Archer. He liked and respected the geeky little scientist, and he vastly enjoyed the way Jax Spartan and Sullivan Archer both bitched and complained about the Adaro brothers’ friendship with their chosen.

Serra had explained that Jax and his other brother, Talon, hadn’t been told that Mya was moving to New Vega. She and her mother-in-law had thought it was best to allow the young woman to establish herself and her business before they were told. Tavius thought the idea was daft, but he was always up for a little mischief, and so he’d agreed to keep quiet about the subject…and to the other favor Serra had asked for.

Usually, he would have just laughed at such a request, but he owed Serra for when she’d been kidnapped from New Vega by some crazy bitch and the mercenaries that worked for her. Serra didn’t blame the Adaros for what happened, but they took responsibility anyway.

Tavius and his brothers always paid back their debts. And so, he had somehow found himself talked into watching out for the little elite scroll while she was on New Vega…like a damn babysitter.

Sometimes having friends just sucked.

***

CHAPTER THREE

Mya was so excited she was all but vibrating.

She bounced out of her seat the second the space cruiser landed in the docking bay on New Vega. Upon approach, she’d been mesmerized at the sight of the big, black vessel, and she couldn’t wait to see if the interior of the pleasure palace was as impressive as it looked from the outside.

“Come on! Let’s go!” Mya pulled at Pia’s arm, making her friend laugh.

“Relax. We still have to let them check the cruiser over before they let us disembark.”

Mya huffed out a breath. “I hadn’t thought of that.”

Pia stood up and stretched. “I spent the first couple of years based on Alpha Station: X3 after I graduated from the academy. We had the same protocol there.”

“That was before you came back to Earth and met us,” Mikal said as he wrapped his arm around Pia’s waist.

Pia laughed. “True. I always forget you guys have never been off planet before. Weird.”

“Not really when you factor in that my family went nova every time I suggested it. And these two poor guys were stuck with me, so they never got to go anywhere,” Mya corrected.

Ryland frowned at her. “Is that what you really think? Mya, we had vacation time. We could have gone anywhere we wanted to, but we chose to stay with you. You’re not just a damn job or duty to us. You’re our family.”

Mya smiled up at him, touched by his words.

One of the crew came to the door of their sitting room. “We’ve been cleared and can leave the ship whenever you’re ready, Miss Spartan.”

“Thank you, Officer Jones. We can head out now.” Mya waited until the officer hurried out of the room before she sighed. “I still don’t understand why it’s so hard for them to call me by my name. It’s been driving me crazy this entire trip.”

Mikal snorted. “Yeah, like any elite is going to be so informal with you. They’re afraid it will get back to your fathers or brothers. Just deal with it.”

Mya glared at him. She knew that, and had dealt with the same formal treatment all of her life back in the Capital. A little part of her had hoped that things would ease once they boarded the space cruiser, but perhaps that had been foolish of her. The crew still answered to the regents and higher ranking commanders.

But now that they had arrived on New Vega, everything would be different.

With that in mind, Mya grabbed her small bag she always carried with her, and followed Ryland and Mikal off the ship with Pia at her side. She couldn’t help but feel disappointed as she looked around the stark gray landing bay. But then again, it was a room that was more functional rather than for show. As she got to the base of the ramp, Mya had the oddest feeling that someone was watching her. Turning, she glanced over and found her gaze locked with a pair of penetrating black eyes.

Holy nova, the man was sinfully hot.

No, not a man, she corrected herself. He was male Krytos in his prime, with a face almost too perfect to be real framed by long dark-brown hair that fell to his broad shoulders. The old-fashioned dark-gray suit he’d paired with a lighter gray shirt did nothing to detract from his muscular frame. There was something in his piercing black gaze that hinted of the savage nature he hid beneath his civilized attire, but it only added to his appeal. The intensity of his dark gaze made her palms go damp, stirring something inside her she’d never felt before.

It was…unnerving.

Mya realized that she’d stopped at the bottom of the ramp when Pia bumped into her. Grateful for the distraction, she pulled her gaze away from the sexy Krytos and focused on the elite soldiers that were beginning to unload her belongings.

“Careful, I think you might be drooling,” Pia whispered.

“Shut up.”

Pia chuckled softly, then said, “Brace yourself, hon. He’s coming over here.”

Mya stiffened slightly and made herself turn back around. Stars, he was even better looking up close. That was so not fair. She wanted to groan, but smiled instead.

“Ms. Spartan? I’m Tavius Adaro. Welcome to New Vega.”

Crap.

She’d been lusting after one of the owners of this massive space vessel. That was so not good. How the hell was she supposed to have a meeting with this male in a few hours and focus on work? And if he was this good looking, what did his other two brothers look like? She was going to be a rambling idiot, she just knew it.

That is, if she could speak at all.

Mya had never gotten so tongue-tied by a male before, and didn’t know what to think about her reaction. Usually, she couldn’t make herself shut up, but right now her mind was completely blank. She’d noticed his fangs when he’d spoken, and imagined how it would feel to have them scrapping over her skin. Just the thought made her body quiver. Fangs shouldn’t be sexy…but they were on him. Her eyes widened as she realized he was simply looking at her as he waited patiently for some sort of response to his greeting.

Double crap!

“Hi!” The word burst out of her. “It’s just Mya. I mean, please call me Mya. I’m sorry. Since this is my first time off planet, I guess I’m just a little overwhelmed.”

“Really? I’d think someone with your status would have traveled the stars.”

“Ah…well, I work a lot.”

Tavius was intrigued by her response, but he kept his face expressionless as Mya introduced him to her guards. He’d been told she’d been bringing a protection detail with her, so he wasn’t surprised by Ryland, Mikal and Pia’s presence. But the easy way they acted with one another told him they were close, and they weren’t just there because of duty. Although they carried blasters at their sides, they weren’t dressed in uniforms. Then again, elites in uniform tended to stand out on New Vega, since most humans that came there were on vacation.

What did surprise Tavius was his reaction to her. All enhanced elite females were physically attractive, but there was something special about Mya Spartan. The second her eyes had locked with his, he’d felt as if she could see into his very soul. The thought was slightly disconcerting, but he hadn’t been able to tear his gaze away from hers.

By the gods, she was lovely.

Those crystal clear gray eyes were mesmerizing, and Tavius knew they’d haunt him after he left her presence. Her beautiful but delicate features made her seem almost fragile. However, instead of disgusting him as weakness usually did, it roused his protective side so that he felt the beast within him stir to life.

Uncomfortable with the turn of events, he focused on the various containers the elite soldiers were unloading from the cruiser. “I see you were serious about moving here.”

Mya let out a laugh. “I am, but most of that isn’t my stuff. Well, it is, but it isn’t.”

“That makes it clear.” His lips twitched, but he held back his grin when she blushed.

“Sorry. I meant it’s mostly for my work.”

“Your work?”

“I’m a designer, which means I make clothes. In order to do that, I need equipment, material and a whole slew of other things. The blue containers are filled with work stuff. The rest are personal items.” Her gray eyes sparkled with a hint of mischief. “Did you think I just slap my name on my designs and let someone else do the real work?”

Tavius found himself smiling down at her. “I have no idea what goes into what you do, but I look forward to learning more at our meeting later.” Calling out to one of the males standing watch over the unloading, he said, “Joran, see that the blue containers are moved into a secured storage area near the shopping pavilion. The rest goes up to Ms. Spartan and her guards’ living quarters.”

“Yes, Alpha Tavius. I will see it done.”

Tavius gestured to Mya and her guards. “Your things will be brought to you. I’ll show you the way to your rooms now.”

Mya glanced back at the containers. “Oh, but…”

Amused, he said, “I assure you, your things will be safe until you need them.”

She glanced up at him through thick lashes. “I still haven’t gotten permission from you and your brothers to open my shop. Do you think it’s wise to store my stuff so close to temptation? Are you trying to drive me crazy?”

Tavius grinned at that. “I’m sure you won’t have a problem convincing us.”

“I hope not,” she said softly as she walked with him toward the automatic doors. The sedate gray of the landing bay gave way to the opulent cream and gold interior of New Vega as the doors opened. Laughter and music drifted through the perfumed air, and Tavius found himself watching Mya for her reaction.

He wasn’t disappointed.

Mya’s eyes went wide, and she tried to take in everything at once as she and her detail were led toward the security checkpoint. It made her a little nervous as she and her guards were checked in and their biometrics were put on file so they would be able to access the bio-locks onboard, but the process was quick, and they were soon heading out into the main lobby. The sight of it made her jaw drop in awe.

She glanced over as another set of doors slid open down a hallway, then watched as several people entered. Male and female greeters waited to welcome the newcomers. The male greeters wore sarongs wrapped around their waists, and their bare chests were oiled to a gleaming shine. They greeted the female guests with leis of pale-pink flowers, while the female greeters placed leis made of white flowers around the male visitors’ necks. The female greeters’ ample breasts were on display through the semi-transparent sarong dresses they wore, and they flaunted their considerable assets as they pranced around the group.

“What the…?”

Tavius turned back to see Pia scowling at the two men beside her who were staring at the female greeters. He’d noticed the star mark on Pia’s face near her right eye, but also saw that she had the initials of both of her males on the other side of her face, signifying that she’d been claimed.

Mikal winced as Pia’s elbow plowed into his solar plexus, and Ryland cursed softly as he was given the same treatment. Mya coughed to cover her laughter, and amusement sparkled in her eyes when she grinned up at Tavius.

“Your employees are certainly…friendly here. And impressive.”

Tavius laughed. “Indeed, they are.”

“Yeah, they are impressive,” Pia said as one of the bronzed-skin muscular males lifted up one of the giggling female visitors and carried her away from the group.

Mikal and Ryland scowled down at Pia, and the three of them started arguing in whispered voices. To give them some privacy, Mya took a few steps away from them. Tavius followed, then one of his eyebrows winged up in surprise when she spoke.

“So, don’t I get lei’d?”

“How remiss of me,” he murmured, feeling his blood begin to heat at the double entendre. “I assure you, that can be arranged.”

She smiled. “The surprise factor is gone now. I do love flowers, though. They look so pretty.”

That gave him pause. The way she was innocently smiling up at him made him think she hadn’t meant her words as they’d sounded. Or perhaps he’d just been hoping that she was issuing an invitation. “I’ll have to remember that.”

“Okay,” Pia announced as she and her bonded stepped over. “We’re done being stupid. We can go now.”

Mya laughed. “I love how your fights always last for less than five minutes. I don’t know how you manage it.”

“Easy,” Ryland said. “We argue for a few minutes, then Mikal and I tell her we’re sorry and that she’s right, and all is well again.”

“And sometimes we grovel,” Mikal added.

“Exactly,” Pia agreed with a grin.

Tavius couldn’t imagine groveling for any female. Dismissing the ridiculous notion, he started walking again, leading them across the massive lobby. A few seconds later, he heard Mya gasp. From their position, they were finally able to see where the lobby opened up into the shopping pavilion. There were five tiers various shops and restaurants, with gilded gold balconies lining each floor.

Satisfaction surged through him as he watched his guests’ eyes go huge with awe.

“Oh, wow,” Pia said as Ryland and Mikal let out identical low whistles.

“I’ve seen images and vids, but I hadn’t realized just how massive this place really is. It’s like a full city in here!” Mya exclaimed.

“This is only the beginning. You haven’t seen anything yet. New Vega is big and there are a lot of levels here, but it’s pretty easy to get around once you get used to it.”

She flashed a grin at him. “We have a saying on Earth—bigger is always better.”

And Tavius would welcome the chance to show her just how true that saying really was. He lowered his voice. “I would be interested to see if you truly believe that…”

That got her attention, and she blinked at his seductive tone. They stared at one another, locked in an intimate moment where the sounds around them were blanked out. Tavius felt that strange sensation of falling under her spell again, and he wondered if she realized the power she held over him with her gaze.

Mya’s voice was breathless as she tried to speak. “I…”

“Hey, Mya, look! There’s an empty shop there on the third level, right in front,” Mikal said, breaking through the connection between Tavius and Mya.

From the look the other man sent him, he knew that Mikal had done it deliberately. Tavius wasn’t the type of male to let anyone get in his way when he wanted something…and what he wanted was more time to figure out just how he felt about the pretty little elite. When Mikal smirked, Tavius had the irrational urge to slam his fist into the guard’s face. Instead, he took a moment to gather himself while she spoke to her guards, taking deep breaths to fight back the anger surging through him.

Mya distracted him away from his brooding when she put her small hand on his arm. That small gesture seemed to calm him somehow, and it made him wish he would have worn something that left his arm bare so she was touching him skin to skin.

“It’s amazing,” she whispered. “Truly. Tavius, you must be so proud of what you’ve built. You and your brothers have something really spectacular here.”

Tavius was shocked at how much her praise touched him. He was a male who didn’t need anyone else’s approval. Well, except his brothers, and even then, Tavius still stayed true to his own heart and mind.

But her words made him swell with pride.

“This is the central shopping area, but there are more storefronts on the decks below this one. There are also several pools, fitness centers, theaters, gaming halls, clubs and other businesses scattered throughout New Vega.”

“What stores are on the lower decks?”

His lips curved into a smile. He could see the worry that clouded her pretty eyes, and instantly knew she was concerned about. “Don’t worry, little Mya. We won’t put your shop in the dungeon. The lower levels are for shops that cater to…more selective clientele, which is why they are located on the same levels as the bars, sex clubs, and mature-rated holo-galleries and VR stands.”

Mya’s cheeks flushed a little. “Of course.”

Tavius’ wrist unit buzzed, but he ignored it. He didn’t mind stopping their progress to let her look a little longer, even though he should get the hell away from her for his own peace of mind. Her sheer joy and wonder was something he found himself wanting to savor. It gave him pause to realize that he’d genuinely smiled and laughed more in the short time he’d been with her than he had in the last month.

That was definitely something to think about.

“We have a few hours before we have to convene with my brothers for our meeting. Why don’t I show you around a little?” The words were spilling from his mouth before he could think to hold them back.

Mya smiled up at him. “I would love a tour, but I really think I need to freshen up a bit before we have our meeting. It was really sweet of you to offer, though.”

Sweet?

Holy nova, when in all the worlds had anyone ever called him sweet before? Never, that’s when. Tavius didn’t know how to feel about her rejecting his offer. No wasn’t something he heard often. In fact, it never happened. Countless females would kill for five minutes of his time, and yet this little elite had waved off his invitation for a personal tour as “sweet?”

He didn’t know if he wanted to kiss her…or strangle her.

“I’ll show you to your rooms, then,” he said curtly, cursing himself for a fool.

Turning away from the shopping area, he headed straight for the elevators, leading them down a large hallway, past several gold elevators. At the far end were two private elevators with black doors, with a security panel on the right side of each.

“These elevators are for VIP access only. You’re on the second level, room two-oh four,” he told Mya. “The rest of you have the room across the hall. Two-oh-five.”

“Interesting that the VIP rooms are on the second floor,” Ryland commented.

Tavius didn’t usually share information about their protocols with strangers, but since Mya was related to some very powerful elites that already knew the details, he didn’t mind telling them a little. “It’s closer to the escape shuttles in case anything should ever happen. It’s also closer to security.”

He was about to press his palm to the scanner when a Krytos security officer hurried down the hallway toward them. Argos cleared his throat, then said, “I’m sorry to bother you, Alpha Tavius, but there’s been an incident at Sanctum. Again.”

Tavius sighed. “What has Kahla done now?”

“Ah…she put three elite soldiers down after a brief scuffle.”

It took effort to hold in the vicious curse that wanted to spill out. Damn that troublesome cousin of his. “Explain,” he demanded through gritted teeth. “Are they still breathing?”

“Yes, Alpha Tavius. The three males are currently in the medical unit.” Argos smiled. “But I think it’s safe to say they’ve learned their lesson.”

Tavius turned back to Mya, ignoring her guards as he stared down at her. There was something that sparked between them again. “I have to see to this.”

“We can find our way upstairs,” Pia said. “Thank you for meeting us.”

He kept looking at Mya for another few seconds before saying, “I’ll see you soon.”

Mya watched as he turned on his heels and strode away, releasing the breath she didn’t know she’d been holding. “Ah…”

“Oh, yeah,” Pia said.

Ryland scowled. “That one is going to be trouble.”

“Oh, yeah,” Mikal repeated in a much darker tone than his chosen. He slapped his hand down on the scanner next to the elevator, then ushered their group inside when the doors opened.

Mya blinked as if coming out of a trance when the doors closed, obscuring her view of Tavius’ retreating form. Oh, yeah, she thought.

Things just got a whole lot more interesting.

***

CHAPTER FOUR

Maddox Adaro didn’t like being caught off guard.

In fact, he absolutely hated surprises, and this damn day had been full of them.

First, he’d been woken from only a few hours of sleep to a notification that some drunk assholes had managed to break one of the pools onboard. How anyone could bust through the reinforced plating of the pool was beyond him, but they did.

Damn those Helios.

Too bad the rumors about cats and water wasn’t true, because those damned shifters were always breaking shit in the pools that were designated for their use. They got rowdy as hell when they were playing around in their cat forms, and it seemed like a cleanup crew was always needed afterwards.

The broken pool had leaked down to the next level, soaking the gym below. That section of the ship had to be closed off until repairs could be made, but the crew was already hard at work fixing things.

A few hours later, Maddox got word that a few of the vendors that were scheduled to be part of the Tech Convention in a few weeks had backed out. This was the first year the TechCon would be held off Earth, which made some people a little nervous. Everyone else seemed excited by the upcoming event, and New Vega would be filled to capacity for two full weeks while the TechCon took place. Maddox had no doubt he could fill the spots of the vendors who’d canceled since there was a waiting list a mile long of people who were interested, but it was a hassle he didn’t need.

Not to mention, he hated when people went back on their word.

Maddox had only begun looking over the list of potential replacements when Tavius had showed up in his office with news that their cousin had put three elite officers in the medical unit. Tavius told him that he’d reviewed the security footage, and had just come from speaking to the officers personally. He’d assured Maddox that Kahla had been justified in teaching the humans a lesson…even if it was a little more enthusiastically done than necessary. That meant Maddox would have to have another talk with Kahla about her temper sometime later today.

Lucky him.

There had been something about the way that Tavius had lingered in Maddox’s office that told him that his brother was up to something. He just hadn’t known what it was, and Tavius—the bastard—hadn’t offered any hints. Tavius had been quiet and contemplative, and when that happened, it was never good.

Whatever it was made the back of Maddox’s neck itch.

Now, sitting across the conference table from Mya Spartan, Maddox knew exactly why Tavius had been so evasive earlier.

As the oldest of the brothers, Maddox was the leader of their pack. Even though Daimon and Tavius were thought of as alphas by the rest of their people, between the three of them, Maddox’s word was law. It was something they had sworn a blood oath to when they’d decided to run New Vega together. Part of that oath had also included the promise they had given each other to mate the same female.

Since no male could be with their mate all the time, it was the Krytos way to mate in pairs or trios to ensure her safety. All three of the Adaro brothers were possessive to the max, and they depended on one another to protect what belonged to them. They would never be able to trust another male with their female, which is why it made sense for them to bond with the same mate.

But they hadn’t found a female that all three of them had been interested in.

Until now.

When Mya Spartan arrived for their meeting, Tavius made his interest clear the moment he’d introduced her. He’d looked straight at Maddox and said, “Alpha Adaro, may I present Mya Spartan to you.”

The words had been more than just an introduction.

They were a declaration of interest…for a potential mate.

It was something they had established when they’d made their pact. They had decided that only time Tavius or Daimon would ever address Maddox as ‘Alpha’ was when either of them found someone they wanted to bring into their family.

Not their pack…their family.

It wasn’t hard to see why Tavius was attracted to the little elite. She was a beautiful female, with lush lips that made a male think of kissing them, and pale, ivory skin that someone would want to touch just to see if it was as soft as it looked. Added to that, there was something almost mystical about her pretty gray eyes. Maddox certainly wasn’t the type of male to wax poetic, and the way he was doing just that made him uneasy.

Looking at her was enough to stir his lust, but there was more to a mating than just physical attraction. One of his greatest assets was the way Maddox was able to read people, and so far, what he could tell was that Mya Spartan was open, honest and had a sound business plan. That would have been enough for him to grant her the space for her store, but there was more at stake here than just business.

He really didn’t care about the details of what she was going to do, but he was interested in learning more about her…personally.

Maddox could tell she was nervous by the way she rambled on about her plans, trying to convince them to give her the retail space she wanted. They were used to people being edgy around them.

One Adaro brother made people tense.

The three of them together was enough to scare the shit out of anyone.

And yet, Mya seemed to be more anxious about whether or not they would accept her business plan than actually fearing being in the presence of three Krytos males. That was a good start if there was any chance of them taking her as their mate.

Maddox felt someone kick the back of his leg under the table and thought Daimon was trying to get his attention, but when he glanced over at his brother, he wasn’t even looking at him. No, Daimon was busy staring at Mya as if she were some puzzle he was trying to figure out. Daimon hadn’t said anything since Tavius had introduced Mya to them at the beginning of the meeting, but that wasn’t unusual. Maddox almost snarled when he was kicked again, but then he heard Tavius’ low voice.

“Stop glaring.”

“Kick me again, and I might just kill you,” Maddox growled back under his breath.

Mya was so nervous, she felt like she was going to throw up. And so, she kept talking, babbling to fill the void. She knew she was telling them far more than they wanted to know about her, but she couldn’t make herself stop.

Holy nova, these males were intimidating as hell.

She had made the decision to attend the meeting alone, much to her guards’ dismay. It had been important to her to show the Adaro brothers that she was a serious businesswoman, but she was regretting that decision right now. She wished Ryland, Mikal and Pia were there with her instead of waiting for her out in the hallway.

Mya had wound her long, dark hair up in an intricate chignon in an attempt to give herself an added boost of confidence. She had dressed with care for the meeting, wearing a perfectly cut suit the color of night fog. Underneath, she wore a sky-blue blouse that reminded her of the lake that rested behind her family’s estate back on Earth, and the matching heels that gave her a few added inches of height.

Not that it had mattered much. Mya was tall for a human woman, but all three of the Krytos brothers had towered over her by at least a foot when they’d met her at the conference room entrance.

Their harsh male beauty was similar enough to mark them as related, but their own personal style choices told her much about their individual personalities. She had been prepared to see Tavius again. Or so she’d told herself. But the sight of the three of them together made her heart pound and her pulse speed up.

Unlike the elegantly dressed Tavius, Daimon was wearing olive-green cargo pants with a black t-shirt that was stretched tight across his broad chest. His casual attire told Mya that he was most comfortable in an informal setting. Since he hadn’t spoken a word to her, she believed that Daimon would rather let his brothers take control while he sat back and observed.

Mya’s gaze flickered over to the male who sat directly across from her. While Daimon and Tavius had dark-brown hair, Maddox’s hair was black as midnight. He tied the long strands back at the nape of his neck with a thick leather strap. He was formidable looking in black leather pants and matching shirt that molded to his muscular frame. It might have been traditional garb for the Krytos, but on Maddox, it looked anything but ordinary.

She hadn’t needed to be told that he was the leader of the pack. It was something she could tell just by being in his presence. As someone who had been around powerful men all her life, she could sense that same magnetic energy from Maddox that she’d felt around the leaders of her world. In fact, all the brothers had that same vibe, but intuition told her that Maddox was the strongest of the group.

Mya rebuked herself. She was being fanciful, when she should have been focusing on the business at hand. Perhaps she should stop talking now.

Then she realized she already had.

Crap.

There were some whispered words between Maddox and Tavius that she couldn’t catch even with her enhanced hearing, and that only made Mya feel even more uncomfortable. They were probably trying to figure out the best way to boot her out of the room so they wouldn’t have to deal with her any longer.

Folding her hands together on the table top to stop them from shaking, she tried to figure out what she’d been saying while she’d been studying them. It was no use. She couldn’t remember a word. Sighing, she said, “So, that’s my plan.”

There was a long pause of silence, then Maddox spoke. “And will you be happy living here on New Vega?”

Mya hadn’t been expecting that question. It took her a moment to answer since his deep voice had made her a little breathless. “Oh, yes.” She laughed a little. “Of course there will be things I miss, like my family and seeing the seasons change. I love watching the snow fall, not that I get to see it that often in the Capital, but there are cities further north that…and that’s not what you meant.”

She could feel herself flushing with embarrassment, and was eternally grateful when Tavius smiled at her.

“Acclimating to life on a space vessel can be difficult, but there are things that can make up for what you will miss,” Tavius said carefully.

Mya relaxed again. “Of course. I’m actually looking forward to all the new opportunities I’ll have here. I’m ready for a change, and I’m determined to make this work. New Vega seemed to have every luxury available. I’m sure I will be very happy.”

“You’re not planning to run this shop yourself, are you?” Maddox asked.

She shook her head and smiled. “I’ll spend some time in the store, but most of my time will be spent designing. I have a crew on standby back on Earth, waiting until I have approval from you. Most will come to help me get the store ready, but there are a few of them that will stay to work in the shop. With something as fun and exciting as this, it’s always better to do it with a group.”

“Well, it seems like you’re ready for it.”

Shit. Maddox’s own deep voice had roughened with invitation without warning as images of inappropriate group activities flickered through his mind. He watched her eyes widen, and he held back a vicious curse. Out of the corner of his eye he could see Tavius grinning behind his hand, while Daimon just looked at him with an incredulous expression on his usually stoic face.

“You…you mean you’re going to give it to me?”

Maddox wanted to groan, but he cleared his throat instead, then glanced at his brothers. After he got their nods of agreement, he said, “We aren’t giving it to you. You have a good plan, so I’d say you’re going to earn it.”

Her gray eyes sparkled with her joy. “This is so totally and completely iced!  I’ve wanted this for so long…and now…I can’t thank you enough. I promise, you won’t be sorry.”

“No, I don’t think we will be,” Tavius murmured.

Mya was all but bouncing in her chair as she asked, “So, do you just decide where I get it, or do I get to choose?”

Maddox’s lost his ability to speak again as more lustful images danced gleefully in his head. He felt his cock jerk in his pants at that thought, and saw that both of his brothers had similar reactions to her words when they shifted in their chairs.

“She’s trying to fucking kill us,” Tavius whispered, and Maddox couldn’t help but silently agree.

Mya blinked. “I’m sorry, what did you say?”

“Nothing.” Tavius shifted in his chair again. “We have a few retail spaces available, so you’ll be able to take your pick of locations.”

She beamed at him. “Wonderful. I’d love to see that storefront on the third floor we saw when you met us earlier. Three is sort of a lucky number for me.”

“Three is definitely a good number,” Tavius agreed, barely holding back a laugh. He started to rise from his chair. “Why don’t I—”

“Daimon will show her the spaces that are available,” Maddox declared. The tone of his voice warned Tavius not to argue. His youngest brother sat back down with a frown as Daimon raised a brow at the order. Maddox glanced toward Daimon. “Have her fill out the forms we need after she decides which location she wants.”

Mya smiled at all three males. “Thank you again.”

Maddox nodded, then waited until Daimon had escorted her from the room before glancing over at Tavius. “I have some calls to make.”

“That’s it?” Tavius glared at him. “Come now, Maddox. What did you think?”

He knew what his brother was asking, but Maddox didn’t have an answer for him yet. “She is…interesting.”

Tavius huffed out a breath. “Watching a Helios shift is interesting. What did you think of her?”

“She’s beautiful, but it’s far too soon to tell if she is the one for us,” Maddox answered honestly. “Besides, it won’t matter what I think, unless Daimon feels the same as you do.”

“Which is why you sent him with her now.”

Tavius understood that his oldest brother wouldn’t allow himself to even consider getting to know Mya Spartan better until Daimon also expressed a wish to have her considered as their mate.

Maddox held his emotions under ruthless control, and he’d never allowed himself to fall for any female before, but Tavius had seen the interest gleaming in his brother’s eyes when he’d looked at Mya. He would give her a chance if both Tavius and Daimon wanted her, but more than that, Tavius was confident Maddox wouldn’t be able to withstand Mya’s charm once he spent some time with her alone.

Standing, Tavius stretched his arms over his head. “I have no doubt he will see what I did, but I’ll be interested in what Daimon says when he gets back. While we wait, I think I’m going to go—”

“No.” Maddox didn’t wait for Tavius to finish what he was saying. “What you are going to do is contact the commander of whichever space station those elites in the medical unit are stationed on, and explain the situation.”

Tavius scowled. “Why the hell do I have to do it?”

“Because right now I have to review the wait list for the TechCon vendors, and make calls to fill several spots for the humans that were too cowardly to come to New Vega. After that, I have to go talk to Kahla and explain why she can’t keep trying to kill the damn elites that piss her off.” Maddox paused for effect, then added, “Would you like to switch duties?”

Tavius held up both hands in a conciliatory gesture. “Oh, no. I will gladly contact the commander. You deal with our cousin.”

“I thought you’d feel that way.”

Walking backwards a few steps, Tavius said, “I’ll make the call from our suite, then I might head down to the gym to relieve some stress.”

“From what? All you’ve done today is meet a VIP guest at docking and have a meeting. How stressful your life is,” Maddox said dryly.

Tavius flashed him a grin. “You’ll understand once you spend some time with our little elite alone. Later, brother.”

Shaking his head, Maddox watched Tavius stroll off before he headed down the hallway in the opposite direction. He ignored the employees that tried to avoid his notice by keeping their heads down as they diligently worked at their desks. Although their pack members treated all of the Adaro brothers with the respect of Alphas, Maddox was the one they feared the most on an instinctual level.

He kept himself distant from most people, and he preferred it that way.

Climbing the stairs to the second level of the section of the ship they considered their headquarters, Maddox left the public area behind. The first level was mostly for show—with a bright cheerful reception area, elegant conference rooms, several offices that were designated for each of the managers of the different sectors on New Vega, along with other various employees that kept the inner workings of the ship running.

But the second level was where the real work was done.

Unlike the first level, the second level of their headquarters had a more sedate and serious feel to it. Maddox nodded curtly to the security officer that sat discreetly behind a high desk. There were two hallways on either side of the security desk. One led toward the brothers’ offices, while the other led to the elaborate security center that Maddox liked to think of as the heart of New Vega.

Usually, he could spend hours inside the security center even though he could access the security feed at his own desk, but right now he had other things to deal with. He walked down the hallway that took him to his office. Each of the brothers had their own private office space that reflected their own style, just like they did in their private quarters, which were also located on the second floor.

As he sat down behind his massive desk, Maddox scowled as he considered that Mya Spartan and her guards were also staying in suites on the second level. His mood darkened as he thought about having temptation so close. However, nothing was set in stone yet. He didn’t know Mya, and he wasn’t sure he even wanted to.

But change was in the air.

He could feel it.

Destiny was a fickle bitch. Still, Maddox had always been master of his own fate, and he wasn’t about to let that change now. Pushing aside thoughts of Mya Spartan and her lovely gray eyes, he got back to work.

Everything else could wait…at least for a little while.

***

CHAPTER FIVE

Daimon felt like he was being tortured.

Part of that had something to do with Mya’s light, sweet scent that teased his senses. It matched her personality, and made him want to get closer to her. Made him want to pull her into his arms, and press his head into the gentle curve of her neck just to breath her in. But that wasn’t all he wanted to do…

He’d never worried much about taking a mate before. In truth, he never thought that he and his brothers would ever find a female that would appeal to all three of them. Maddox would need a strong female who would be able to stand up to him and wouldn’t cower when he got all snarly, while Tavius needed someone playful, who would be able to understand his slightly skewed sense of humor, and who could see beneath the polished veneer he showed the world.

Daimon had agreed to their pact to mate the same female, but he was unsure that any female they chose would ever learn to love him the way she did his brothers. He understood the benefits of a group mating. Still, there was a little part of him that feared he would always be left in his brothers’ shadows when it came to their mate’s affection. That would have certainly been the case if they had mated a Krytos female, since most of them were attracted to powerful personalities.

Quieter, more contemplative, and far more sensitive than he liked to admit, Daimon was different than his dynamic siblings. He carried all the traits of a strong alpha, however, he didn’t believe he had to be forceful to get his way. Because he didn’t talk much, when he did have something to say, people listened. His quiet nature was seen as a flaw by some—especially to the Krytos that didn’t know him—but it was a mistake to underestimate him. However, that didn’t make it easy for him to connect to people…which was why he preferred to spend most of his time alone.

Then he’d met Mya.

Walking around New Vega with her was an experience. At first, he’d been angry that Maddox had ordered him to show her around. He knew his older brother had set it up so Daimon would have a chance to get to know her better after Tavius declared that he wanted her to be considered as a potential mate. Still, the situation felt a little too much like an audition or something for Daimon’s tastes.

Mya had instantly appealed to him on a physical level, but the more time he spent with her, the more he liked everything about her. He enjoyed listening to her chatter about whatever she was thinking at the moment. The sound of her voice was pleasing. It was ultra-feminine with a husky, seductive quality that stirred his blood, yet he found he was actually listening to every word she said when he usually tuned others out.

Besides being beautiful, Mya showed that she had a backbone of steel when she’d come to the meeting earlier alone. She had a goal, and would do what she needed to in order to see it was accomplished. He could tell she was nervous about it, but her excited energy was infectious, and he found himself smiling as he listened to her.

After spending a few minutes in her company, it had been easy to see why she had captured Tavius’ interest. Her bright, bubbly personality would compliment his brother well, and there was something sweet about her that called to Daimon as well. He wanted to spend more time with her…alone, where he could have her all to himself.

“I think I’d like being on top.”

That drew Daimon’s attention with the impact of a comet. “W-what?”

Mya stopped walking and smiled up at him. Damn, she was really beautiful when her lips curved like that. He imagined her on top of him, smiling down at him as she rode them both to completion, and his body instantly hardened. But that couldn’t be what she meant. Hell, they were standing out in a public area and—

“Ah,” he said as he forced his brain to start working again. They were on the top floor of the shopping pavilion outside of one of the empty storefronts. He had to get his shit together, or she’d think he was an idiot. “Would you like to go inside?”

Mya peered through the window of the storefront, then shrugged. “Being on the top floor would be fun, but I think I like the location on the third floor better.”

“There are still several sublevels you haven’t seen yet. I can take you down—”

“No,” Mya said quickly. “I would rather stay here in the main area, if that’s alright.”

“Third floor it is, then.”

She beamed that smile at him again, and Daimon had to focus on not tripping over his own feet as he led her through the crowd of shoppers on the top level. As they walked, the crowd immediately parted for them. Daimon placed his hand on the small of Mya’s back to ensure that she didn’t stray from his protection. She didn’t seem to mind his touch, which pleased him, but what he really wanted to do was push her into some dark corner where he could kiss her until they were both breathless.

Mya noticed that several people nodded to Daimon as they passed, and she could see the respect in their eyes when they looked at him. She also saw their curiosity as they glanced her way, but she didn’t mind it. She sensed that Daimon wasn’t the type of male that was seen walking around New Vega with a human woman that often.

There was something so serious about him. Some might have considered it a brooding silence, but she found a quiet comfort in being with him. His composed nature appealed to her. She also liked the way he looked at her when she spoke as if he was really listening. She liked being with Daimon, just as much as she’d liked spending time with Tavius earlier, but there was something about both of them that made her feel awkward and unsure of herself when she was with them.

A guard paused in front of them and bowed slightly. “Alpha Daimon.”

Daimon nodded at him before the guard moved on and continued to walk his rounds. Mya glanced up at Daimon curiously. “May I ask you a question?”

“You may ask whatever you wish.”

“I noticed that people address you as Alpha, and they did the same thing with Tavius earlier. Most of the Krytos I know back on earth only have one alpha per pack or family clan…”

“And you want to know how we can both be alphas?” Daimon finished for her. After she nodded, he said, “My brothers and I share the responsibilities of running both our pack and New Vega together.” He explained how their partnership worked as they walked. “We’re usually of the same mind when it comes to pack issues, but we’ve split the duties of New Vega based on our strengths. Maddox deals with most of the executive decisions, while Tavius handles the client meetings. I like to work with my hands, so I take care of most of the maintenance issues.”

Daimon stopped moving as she took his hands in hers. He was so startled that all he could do was stare down at her. His large hands were more than twice the size of her small, pale ones. The contrast should have highlighted their differences, but all he could think about was how gently she held him as she studied his palms.

“They are good hands,” she said softly. “Strong hands.”

He felt the stroke of her thumbs against his flesh zing up his arms, straight down to his cock, where it left him hard and aching. He shouldn’t want her like this, not so soon after just meeting her, but he did. He wanted her soft hands stroking all over his body, soothing his heated skin with her gentle touch.

“My hands are callused,” he said, his voice rough with his desire for her.

“So are mine. See?”

She flipped her right hand over palm up. He touched her skin lightly and felt the hardened areas between her thumb and forefinger, and on her fingertips.

“What are these from?”

“From sewing and from using my cutting shears.” Her gray eyes sparkled as she looked back up at him. “As I said in the meeting, I make a lot of my own designs.”

“I remember.” He frowned as he looked back down at her hands. He didn’t like seeing the tiny calluses marring her soft skin.

“So, should I call you Alpha Daimon?”

He wanted to tell her to call him whatever she wished, but ended up just saying, “Daimon will do.”

Confused by what she was making him feel, he dropped her hands and took a step back. He almost bumped into someone behind him, and when the shopper let out a sound of protest, Daimon turned and pulled back his lips in a silent snarl. The shopper squeaked in fear, then grabbed onto his companion and hurried off.

“Come,” Daimon growled.

Not giving her a chance to protest, he propelled Mya forward with a firm hand at her back, getting her moving again. He could feel the eyes of her guards on his back as they continued walking toward the glides that would take them down to the lower levels. Daimon didn’t like knowing they’d seen his unguarded moment with Mya.

Mya had introduced him to Ryland, Mikal and Pia as soon as they had left the conference room. She’d sent Ryland back to their suite to begin making vid calls to the crew that would come help get the store up and running while Mikal and Pia accompanied Mya on her walkthrough. The two elites had followed along as Daimon showed her several shop locations, but the guards had stayed a few paces away to give them a little privacy.

Daimon didn’t like that he’d forgotten he and Mya were being watched, though.

They made their way down to the third level again, and he uncoded the lock on the door to let them into the shop Mya had chosen. She let out a little happy sigh as she looked around the empty space.

“This is perfect.”

“Fine. Good.” Daimon shoved his hands into his pockets. He pulled them out again and took a small tablet out of his back pocket and keyed in a few codes. “I’ve keyed you and your guards into the system for this location. You just have to use your palm print to work the lock on either side of the door.”

“That was quick.” Mya laughed a little breathlessly. “What about the other people I’ll have working here?”

“Once they’re cleared through security, you can authorize them.” Daimon fought the urge to shuffle his feet. Damn it, he needed to get the hell out of there. He had things to think about, and couldn’t do it around her since she clouded his mind with lust. “I have to go.”

Mya blinked at the urgency in his voice. “Don’t I have to fill out some forms?”

“I’ll send them to you, and you can get them back to me later.”

“Oh…okay.” Before she could say anything else, he was gone. She turned towards her friends after the door slid shut. “I’m not sure if he really had somewhere else to be, or if I just annoyed him.”

“Honey, you had that big, bad beast on the run,” Pia said wryly.

“What do you mean?”

“Sometimes you are the most oblivious person to the most obvious things. Really, Mya. How can you be so business savvy, yet have no clue about men?”

Mikal blew out a breath, then said, “Pia’s right. He bolted because you made him uncomfortable.”

“I didn’t mean to.”

Pia laughed. “It’s not something you did, silly. He wanted you.”

“He…I…what?” Mya asked, wide-eyed. “Oh, wow.”

“Oh, yeah. The sparks between you two were scorching. Actually, they were the same as they were between you and Tavius earlier.”

“I don’t want to hear this shit,” Mikal complained.

“Then don’t listen,” Pia ordered without sympathy. She shot her bonded an amused glance as Mikal stomped across the room with his hands on his hips. Both he and Ryland thought of Mya like a little sister, and due to circumstances, they’d never had to worry about her love life before.

But they were going to have to learn to deal with it now.

The people in Mya’s life had always sheltered her, to the point of smothering her and keeping her from really experiencing everything life had to offer. Pia wanted more for her now…and this was her chance. With two Krytos brothers interested in Mya, Pia wondered if the third brother’s reaction had been similar when he’d met her.

If it was, Mya was in for one hell of a ride.

Walking over to join Mya across the room from where Mikal busied himself looking around, Pia lowered her voice as she said, “You interested in getting to know those Krytos brothers better?”

Mya bit her lower lip as she considered Pia’s question. “I…guess I am.” She let out a little laugh. “Stars, who wouldn’t be? You saw them.”

“Oh, yeah. They’re definitely hot,” Pia said with a grin. At Mikal’s growl of displeasure, she cleared her throat. “Perhaps we should wait to talk about this. Are you still meeting Reva later?”

“Yes, I’m supposed to contact her when we’re done here. I just want to take a few measurements and get some images to send to the crew before we leave.”

“Pia and I can get the measurements if you want to start imaging,” Mikal suggested.

Mya agreed and used her wrist unit to scan the rooms of the store as she walked through the shop. Daimon had given her the full tour earlier, and had explained that it used to be another clothing store until Maddox had discovered that the previous shopkeepers had been scamming their customers. They’d been using a siphoning program that allowed them to take an extra percentage of credits from their customers’ data chips each time they rang up a sale. After they’d been found out, they were booted off of New Vega, but the Adaro brothers made sure they regretted their actions before they left.

The set up was simple enough. There was the main showroom, where Mya would set up her designs on elegant displays for patrons to peruse through. The sales desk was located in the right corner, which Mya planned to remove and replace with a circular counter in the center of the room.

She left the main room and walked into a large dressing area that had been stripped. Mya would fill the space with plush benches and mirrors.  There were four individual changing rooms, and Mya planned to take the ugly doors off and substitute them with thick curtains in bold colors.

After she finished scanning the dressing area, she went into the back room that would be for employees only. She made a few mental notes, then decided she had all she needed to get started. She forwarded on the scans to her crew, then sent a message to her friend Reva, asking where she wanted to meet. A few seconds later, she had a response, and Mya went back into the main room to rejoin Pia and Mikal.

“We’ve got what we need,” Mikal told her. “I’ll send the measurements out to the crew. How soon do you think we can get this place up and running?”

Mya bit at her lower lip. “When does the TechCon begin again?”

“In a little over two weeks.”

Mya nodded. “Then we’ll be ready in two weeks.”

Mikal whistled out a breath. “That’s…optimistic.”

“It’s doable,” Pia assured. “Are we done here for now?”

Mya nodded. They left the store and she relocked the door before they merged into the shopping traffic. “I’m supposed to meet Reva at the sanctuary called Sanctum in a few minutes. It’s been a long day and I think we deserve a drink.”

Mikal looked wary. “I don’t know if I want to be a part of that.”

Pia laughed. “You weren’t really invited anyway.”

He looked like he was going to argue for a moment, then he sighed. “I’ll escort you. You should be safe enough inside, but contact me or Ryland before you leave.”

His chosen glared at him. “I’m capable of guarding Mya by myself. I don’t—”

“Just do this for me,” he said, taking her hand in his.

They took the glides down, and Mya tried to block out the sound of their voices as her friends spoke softly to one another. It was an old argument, and one Mya didn’t need to listen to in order to know that there was never going to be a real winner.

The sanctuary was located on the first sublevel, and Mya was struck by how different the area was from the golden splendor of the floors above. It reminded her of a dark alley, complete with cobblestone lining the floors and low lamplight. She worked her way through the crowd of people, heading toward the large bar off to the right.

Sanctum’s sign was done in black marble, and was back lit by glowing purple light. It hung over two massive double doors that were guarded by two hard-eyed Krytos males. The guards were huge, and wearing the traditional garb of black leather pants and matching vests, they were an intimidating sight.

“Maybe I should come in with you,” Mikal whispered.

Mya patted his arm. “We’ll be fine.”

At least, she hoped they would be.

“Are you seeking sanctuary?” one of the guards asked in a low, deep voice.

She shook her head as she walked closer. “We’re just here to meet a friend for a drink. I’ve never been to a sanctuary before, do we need to ask for sanctuary to be let in? I’m new here, and will be opening a store in the shopping area upstairs on the third level.” She smiled. “I’m Mya, and these are my friends Pia and Mikal.”

“Stars, Mya. They don’t want to know all that,” Pia whispered.

The guard ignored Pia as he smiled down at Mya. “Hello, Mya. We will have to make sure to stop by your shop once you open.”

“You don’t need to ask for sanctuary unless you need it,” the other guard added. “We were informed two Tarin females who are seeking sanctuary are coming in soon, so that’s why we’re waiting out here.”

“I’m not sure about this…” Mikal said with a frown.

The guard who had welcomed Mya shot Mikal a hard look. “All who enter these doors are safe. We ensure it.”

“We’ll be fine,” Pia stressed. “I’ll contact you when we leave, or perhaps Reva will come with me to escort Mya back to our rooms.”

Mikal relaxed a little. He knew that Reva Golaris was more than capable of guarding Mya and his chosen. She was a vicious fighter that few people would ever mess with. “Fine, but contact me if you need me.”

Leaving Mikal behind, Mya smiled at the guards again before walking through the doors when they opened them. Because the hallway had been dark, her eyes quickly adjusted to the dim lighting inside the bar. There were large black squares all over the ceiling that were back lit with the same purple glow that the sign had been.

A hard, throbbing beat played over the speakers with the techno music that the Krytos seemed to favor. To the left was a black bar, where dozens of patrons sat on bar stools, and to the right were two separate seating areas. The first area was more casual, with square tables and chairs, while the other area had comfortable black leather chairs and couches centered around small, square tables that were like glowing purple cubes.

Along the far wall were several booths that would ensure more privacy for the people who sat there. There was a wall of mirrors behind the high leather booths that reflected the purple lights coming from the ceiling. Small candles sat in the center of each table, but that section of the sanctuary still remained cloaked in shadows.

Mya noticed that the booth at the end was empty, so she headed over to it. Once they were seated, she saw by the tightness around Pia’s lips that her friend was angry. “Does it bother you that Mikal and Ryland seem to forget that you’re also a guard?”

“A little,” Pia admitted with a sigh. “I was part of the security force on X3 before I met them. Back in the Academy, I excelled at hand-to-hand combat and weapons training. Now, they act as if I can’t do anything on my own. I guess it’s the price all chosen pay for being claimed.”

Mya let out a little laugh that was anything but humorous. “I wouldn’t know about that, but then again, I’ve had guards my entire life.”

“And that won’t change once you get claimed.” Pia paused for a moment. “Have you considered that getting involved with a Krytos male would be even worse than having a human man on your ass all the time?”

“I’m not getting involved with anyone at this point,” Mya insisted.

Pia blew out a breath. “All I’m saying is, this is your chance to finally have what you’ve never had before…freedom. Don’t waste it. Get to know some males. Human, Krytos, Helios, hell, maybe even try out a D’Aire.”

“The D’Aire don’t sleep with anyone beside their keepers.”

“True, but if they know you aren’t their keeper, they won’t go all possessive on you. What I’m trying to say is, just try to have some fun.”

Mya understood what Pia was saying, but as soon as she thought about being with anyone, the images of Maddox, Daimon and Tavius’ faces popped into her head. As if she’d conjured him up with a wish, Maddox appeared around the side of the booth from somewhere behind the wall of mirrors. She froze in her seat as their eyes met.

“What are you doing here?”

“I-we’re meeting a friend,” Mya stammered out, startled by his harsh tone. She saw a female emerge from behind him, and Mya felt her heart drop as she looked at the two of them standing together.

Maddox’s harsh male beauty was complimented by the gorgeous female. Her long, black hair was a riot of curls, with thick streaks of bright purple woven into the strands. She was wearing a tight-fitting black, leather-like corset top with matching pants. The look in her dark eyes was assessing as she studied Mya, and the proprietary way she hooked her arm in Maddox’s said it all.

Foolish, Mya thought. It had been foolish to think that a male like Maddox Adaro wasn’t already involved with someone, and the female Krytos was his perfect match. Mya was glad she was sitting down. She would have felt small and insignificant standing beside the taller female.

Maddox ignored the female at his side as he frowned down at Mya. “Did you make your choice already?”

“I did,” Mya said primly, trying to sound composed when his intense gaze made her pulse race. “Daimon was very patient with me, and he took me to several sites, but I ended up choosing the shop on the third floor.”

“Fine. Good.” He paused for a moment, and his eyes bore into her when he asked, “Who are you meeting?”

“Reva Golaris.”

Maddox seemed to relax a bit after hearing that. He turned to the female at his side and said, “Put their drinks on my tab.”

“Got it.”

“Enjoy your evening,” he said to Mya and Pia before he turned his head to press a kiss to the female Krytos’ forehead. “You behave.”

“Never.”

He snorted out a laugh as he said, “If only that wasn’t true.”

Maddox had already turned to leave when Mya remembered her manners. “Thank you for the drinks,” Mya called out. Before she could stop herself, she added, “It was nice seeing you again.”

He turned around and opened his mouth to say something, but closed it again before any words left his lips. He stared at her for a few seconds before nodding curtly.

Then he was gone.

***

CHAPTER SIX

“Well, well. Wasn’t that interesting?”

The female Krytos sauntered closer to their table and braced her hands on her hips as she studied Mya. After a long beat of silence, she said, “I guess I owe you for cutting my ass-chewing short.”

Mya blinked in surprise. “Excuse me?”

The female’s lips quirked up into a sly grin. “My cousin’s lectures usually last forever, but as soon as he saw you on the security feed, he forgot all about scolding me about my behavior.”

“You’re Maddox’s cousin?” Pia asked in surprise.

“Yes. I’m Kahla Adaro. And you’re the elite VIPs that Maddox told me about.”

Mya gasped as she looked at the beautiful female. “You’re the one who put those three elites in the medical unit?”

Kahla narrowed her eyes. “How did you know about that?”

“We were with Tavius earlier when he was given the news by one of the security guards.” Her mood considerably brighter than it had been a few moments ago, Mya asked, “Would you like to join us?”

“Sure, but first let me grab us drinks. I’ve got something in storage that will do.”

Mya shared a look with Pia as the Krytos female walked away. “I thought…”

“So did I,” Pia said. “And I’m a little worried about what she’d going to bring back.”

“How much you want to bet it’s something expensive since Maddox is paying for it?” Mya waited for Pia to stop laughing before she said, “So, what did you think of him?”

Pia let out a sigh. “You’re not going to take my advice, are you?”

“What advice?”

They glanced over as Reva Golaris walked up to their table. Mya had met Reva back on Earth at their friend Skylar’s claiming ceremony several weeks ago. Skylar and Mya’s sister-in-law, Serra, had met Reva when the three females had been kidnapped together. Since then, Reva had become a good friend to all of them.

From the jungle planet of Helix, Reva Golaris was a Helios shifter who could change into the form of a massive saber tooth tiger-like creature at will. She was a tall female, standing at a few inches over six feet, with golden skin and long hair a few shades lighter that she’d pulled back into a tight braid that ran down the center of her back.

Dressed in a brown leather vest and matching pants that showed off her generous curves and corded muscles, Reva looked like a warrior, but few knew just how deadly she really was. As one of her mother’s guards, Reva had been trained in all forms of combat. Her mother, Solange Golaris, was one of the Helios Ambassadors that worked closely with the Alliance, and it was Reva’s duty as one of her guards to protect her mother as they traveled to various space stations.

Reva took a seat on the bench beside Mya without waiting for an invitation. Mya moved over to give the other female more room and smiled at her. “It’s good to see you again, Reva.”

“It took you long enough to get your asses out here. It’s going to be so much fun having you both on New Vega. My mother has said we are going to remain onboard for the next several months and make day trips to the space stations when necessary, so we will have plenty of time to cause mischief together. Mya, is it true your brothers don’t know about your move yet?” Reva asked with a grin.

“Nope, they haven’t been told,” Pia said gleefully.

Reva threw her head back and laughed. “By the gods, I wish I could be in the room when Jax finds out.”

Mya silently thought that was a horrible idea, but didn’t bother saying it out loud. “I’m sure he’s going to be…angry.”

Pia rolled her eyes. “That’s putting it lightly. His head is going to explode.”

Reva nodded in agreement, then glanced down at their empty table. “Why don’t you have drinks yet?”

“Kahla is bringing us something.”

“You’ve met Kahla? Good. Actually, she is the reason I wanted you to meet me here. She is a good ally to have here. I’ve gotten to know her well since I’ve been on New Vega. If you ever need help or have any questions, you should ask her. So, what advice are you disregarding?”

Pia leaned forward and whispered, “Advice about males.”

Reva grinned. “Ah! Have you found someone who has sparked your interest, little Spartan?”

“Maybe,” Mya hedged. “What about you? Last time I saw you at Skylar, Dom and Arik’s claiming ceremony, you didn’t seem too eager to meet anyone.”

Reva kept her expression blank as she thought back to her recent visit to Earth. She’d spent most of her time there hanging out with Mya, Pia and a few other females instead of finding a male to entertain her.

In fact, she hadn’t really been herself since she’d gotten back from her trip to Tartarus a few months back. Still, Reva wasn’t about to admit to her friends that no male had caught her interest in quite some time, except for one stubborn, irritating Tarin lord with an attitude.

Finally, she said, “I’ve been too busy with my duties to focus on being in a relationship. Males are annoying, and take too much time to deal with.”

“Damn right,” Kahla agreed as she walked back to the table carrying a slim sapphire blue bottle and four long stemmed glasses. “Males are a pain in the ass…figuratively as well as literally.”

Mya glanced at the three snickering females as Kahla sat down on the bench beside Pia. She obviously didn’t understand the joke, but chose not to ask about what she’d missed. Instead, she glanced at the bottle and smiled. “Is that a bottle of ahava?”

Ahava was a wine made from the ahavanni berry found on the D’Aire home world. Because the D’Aire weren’t effected by alcohol, they rarely made the brew, but other races had learned to love the sweet, dry wine.

Kahla nodded as she opened the bottle and begun pouring the pale-blue liquid into the glasses. “One of the shopkeepers on level two has a cousin who makes it back on their home world, so we’re able to get shipments whenever we travel by there.” She looked between Reva, Pia and Mya, and asked, “So, how do you know one another?”

Reva explained how she’d met Mya and Pia as Kahla passed out the glasses of wine. A spark of interest entered Kahla’s eyes when Reva mentioned who Mya’s family was.

“Ah, so you’ve suffered the same fate as I. Having a powerful family can be both a blessing and a curse.” Kahla sighed. “My two brothers, Rogan and Lucian, have always been fascinated by humans. So, when they left to open up a sanctuary on Earth, I thought my circumstances would get better, but nothing has changed since my three cousins are far worse about watching over me than my brothers ever were.”

“I didn’t know Rogan and Lucian have a sanctuary on Earth,” Reva commented.

“It’s called Exodus, and it’s located in Zion.”

“I’ve been there!” Pia exclaimed. “Stars, that place was amazing.”

Kahla smiled. “They would appreciate that you think so.”

“Do you run this sanctuary by yourself?” Mya asked, curious to know more about Maddox, Daimon and Tavius’ cousin.

Kahla shook her head. “My older sister, Zorah, and her mates, Faust and Nyle Bomar, run Sanctum, even though I’m considered a full partner. Our parents were killed a few years after New Vega launched. It happened when a group of rogue Krytos tried to take over the vessel. That’s why my cousins are so paranoid about safety measures now.”

“The security here is impressive,” Reva said before drinking some of her wine.

Pia shot her a look. “You still think that even though you were kidnapped with Serra and Skylar?”

Reva shrugged. “People are assholes. It was greed and corruption that caused the breach in security here on New Vega…not the actual protocols that are in place.”

“Things have drastically changed over the years. Maddox, Daimon and Tavius continuously do upgrades on the systems here to try to ensure everyone’s safety” Kahla told them. “I think it was difficult for my brothers to stay here after our parents died, even though they love New Vega.”

“I’m impressed by what I’ve seen so far,” Pia said.

“I love it here, too, but I wish I had more freedom,” Kahla added with a sigh. “It’s hard to have any fun when the males of my family are constantly threatening to break the faces of any males I get close to. I still manage to do whatever I want, but I hate having to sit through lectures afterward.”

Mya couldn’t help but laugh. “I know the feeling. Meeting men isn’t something I really had a chance to do back on Earth.” She sighed wistfully as she picked up her glass. “Sometimes I envy the D’Aire and Dragon Warriors for having fate choose their mates for them.”

Reva snorted. “Fuck that. I wouldn’t want anyone to determine my destiny but me. Can you imagine if fate stuck you with someone you couldn’t stand?”

“I don’t think that’s how it works, but I agree with you,” Kahla said with a laugh.

Pia frowned. “I thought you guys could sense your mates or something.”

“The Helios don’t have mates. We use our instincts to pick our companions. We rely on our sense of smell, physical attraction, and personal preferences. If we feel strongly about our companions, we can choose to life-lock with them. But ultimately, the choice is still ours, just like it is for humans,” Reva explained.

“Same with the Krytos,” Kahla added. “Some of my race may mate to form alliances, some for political or financial gain, but most of us look for love. If our emotions are involved, we are fiercely protective and possessive of our mates, and that bond only grows stronger over time. But I’m not ready for all that yet. I can have sex with a male without having to mate him.”

Mya studiously avoided Pia’s gaze as she asked, “So, are Maddox, Daimon and Tavius’ parents still alive?”

Kahla’s expression turned sad. “No. My uncles Dalcor and Kagan and my aunt Brita were killed the same time my parents were.” She sipped some of the sweet wine before she said, “I really wish my cousins would mate someone soon, even though they say they aren’t ready yet. Maybe then they would stop worrying about me so damn much.” She paused to look over at Reva. “I received another lecture today.”

Reva winced in sympathy. “About what?”

Kahla filled Reva in about what had transpired earlier that day. As she did, she considered how similar her own situation was to Mya Spartan’s. Kahla never would have thought she’d have anything in common with a human elite, but Mya had escaped the confines of her powerful family the same way Kahla planned to one day soon.

As she finished explaining what Maddox had said to her during his lecture, Kahla noticed that Mya looked down at the table and blushed every time she mentioned her cousin’s name.

That was an interesting development.

She thought back to Maddox’s reaction at seeing Mya on the security monitors while he’d been giving her hell for putting those stupid elites in the medical unit after they’d harassed one of the servers. His attention had immediately strayed, and he’d forgotten all about Kahla when he’d stormed out of the office that was behind the wall of mirrors.

Maddox hadn’t been angry to see Mya in Sanctum. He’d been concerned, and completely focused on the little elite. Perhaps Kahla would get her wish for her cousins to mate sooner than she thought. And if that was indeed the case, she’d do everything in her power to help make it happen.

Interested in getting to know the human better, Kahla asked, “So, Mya…what do you think of New Vega so far?”

Mya expression brightened as she animatedly spoke of her day. Kahla hadn’t realized that Mya and Pia had only arrived, but they’d already experienced a lot in the short time they’d been there. Kahla couldn’t help but be pleased with how often Mya mentioned each of her cousins, and by the worried expression on her guard’s face, she wasn’t the only one who noticed Mya’s fascination with them.

“I can’t wait to see your new line of clothes,” Reva commented after Mya finished telling them about her store.

“A warrior line sounds interesting,” Kahla said as she refilled everyone’s glasses.

Mya flushed. “Actually, both of you could help me on opening day, if you have the time...”

The Helios and Krytos females exchanged a look, then Kahla asked, “What do you mean by that?”

Reva’s eyes narrowed. “This is going to be something that pisses me off, isn’t it?”

Mya smiled mischievously. “No. It will be fine. You’ll see. Now, I propose a toast.” She lifted her glass in the air. “To fashion, friendship and fun. And to exciting new adventures, wherever we can find it.”

Kahla smirked as they all tapped their glasses together. “And remember…what happens on New Vega, stays on New Vega.”

* * * *

Time meant very little on a space vessel.

Because New Vega was constantly traveling around Alliance-controlled space, there was no actual day or night. Most of the ship ran on a standard time schedule, but there were several screens scattered on every level that listed the times on each planet so visitors could keep track.

Even though Mya had been on New Vega for a few days now, she was still struggling to acclimate to the new system.

After her night out with her friends, she’d spent most of the day in bed sleeping off a wicked hangover. They’d finished the bottle of ahava wine, then Kahla had thought it would be a good idea for Mya and Pia to try several of Sanctum’s signature drinks. Ryland and Mikal had to come to the bar hours later, and had watched the chaos unfold. By the end of the night, they’d had to carry Mya and Pia back to their rooms.

Since she’d slept all day, Mya had spent the rest of the night working on finishing up some of the samples she wanted ready for the store opening. Her designs were usually replicated back on Earth at one of their manufacturing plants once she scanned them into the company’s system, but her new line wasn’t complete yet. She’d been ready to go back to sleep when she’d gotten a message that her team had arrived earlier than expected.

So, instead of getting some rest, she’d gotten dressed for the day.

A surprise had greeted her when she’d opened her door. A single perfect flower had been placed on the floor right outside her doorway. It was something she’d never seen before, with pale-gold petals and a bright crimson center. She’d picked it up and sniffed at it’s lovely, sweet fragrance.

Going back into her room, she’d put the flower in an empty water bottle. She recalled telling Tavius that she liked flowers, and the thought he had done something so sweet for her made her smile.

After she collected her guards, they headed down to the docking bay to meet her team. The crew included those who would help fix her store, as well as several sales people who would also make alterations and help with custom orders.

Mya tried to insist that they take a day to get settled, but everyone had been ready to work. After everyone checked into their rooms, they’d all met at the store where Mya had explained her vision. Then they’d kicked her out of the store so she wouldn’t get in their way. She hadn’t felt bad about it. There was only so much she could do to help with the construction part of the project, and she knew that they would get more done without her there.

Hours later, she was still awake. Needing a change of scenery, she’d left her room and headed down the hallway of the second level to the lounge area she’d discovered earlier that was close to her room. She’d settled in one of the comfortable chairs with her tablet and stylus, and lost herself in working on some new designs.

“What are you doing up?”

The sound of Maddox’s deep voice startled her so bad that her stylus flew out of her hand. It rolled across the floor, stopping at his feet where he stood in the doorway. He bent down and picked it up, then slowly walked over until he was towering over her.

Mya’s pulse sped up at his nearness, and she felt her cheeks heat with embarrassment at how sloppy she looked. Her long hair was piled on top of her head in a haphazard bun, and she was wearing gray lounge pants and a matching zip-up jacket with a bright pink tank top underneath. Though she rarely wore facial enhancements, her face was scrubbed clean and she didn’t even have anything on her lips.

Crap.

Why hadn’t she put on some lip shimmer or something?

Her gaze slowly rose, taking in the traditional leather outfit he wore until she reached his face. The first thought that came to her was that he looked tired. She immediately wanted to tell him to go to bed, but it wasn’t her place to do so. His inky black hair wasn’t pulled back like it had been the last time. Instead, it hung loose down to his shoulders, and she had a strong desire to run her fingers through it.

She saw a hint of amusement enter his dark eyes, and realized she’d been staring at him in silence. When he looked at her with that focused stare of his, she had a hard time keeping any thoughts in her head.

“I’m sorry, did you ask me something?”

Maddox held back a smile as she blinked up at him with clear confusion etched across her lovely face. He knew he’d startled her when he’d walked into the lounge. In truth, he’d stood in the doorway for several minutes before he’d spoken. He’d liked watching as she concentrated on her work, and found her serious expression appealing.

Since she was curled up in her seat, Maddox sat down on the ottoman at the end of her chair and held out the stylus to her. She glanced down at it as if she’d never seen it before. After a long pause, she finally took it and looked back up at him.

“Thank you,” she whispered.

He’d felt the heat of her fingertips brush against his, and he’d had to fight the urge to jerk his hand away. He leaned forward and braced his forearms on his knees. “What are you doing in here alone, Mya? Where are your guards?”

“They’re sleeping. You and your brothers said this level was secured.”

“It is,” he conceded. He still didn’t like her sitting out here alone, though. Maddox had seen her leave her room on the security feed, watching her on the monitors in his office while he tried to get some work done.

He’d found himself doing that a lot over the last few days. It distracted him, but he couldn’t seem to help it. He frowned as he studied her. “You look exhausted. You’re too young to have such dark circles under your eyes. You should be in bed, not working.”

His breath caught as her face lit up and she laughed.

By the gods, she was beautiful.

“What can I say to such flattery?” She laughed again. “Honestly, Maddox, your compliments are going to make me blush.”

“You seem to blush quite easily, tava.” The word came out before he realized it. It startled him for a second, but then he realized how right it felt.

Her smile wobbled and her brow creased. “Did you forget my name?”

Exasperated, he said, “No, Mya. I didn’t forget.”

Her gray eyes sparkled with mischief again. “I just thought I’d ask. You know, since you are older than me. I thought I might have to remind you.”

A grin spread across his face. He liked that she’d turned the tables on him, paying him back for his comment about her being young. “Are you implying I might be losing my memory?” he growled playfully. “Do you dare?”

She batted her eyelashes at him and tried to look innocent. “I don’t know what you mean.”

His sharp bark of laughter caught him off guard. “You are an impertinent—”

“If you call me young again, we are going to have words.”

His brow rose at that. “Are we?”

She gave him an exaggerated nod. “Oh, yeah. What does ta—”

Maddox didn’t give her a chance to finish her question. He reached out, wrapping his large hand around the back of her neck. Pulling her close, he settled his mouth over hers and drank in her gasp of surprise.

He used the parting of her soft lips to stroke his tongue inside her sweet heat, groaning at the sheer pleasure of the experience. Her taste was sweet, intoxicating. It made him want more. Made him want to strip her down so he could feast on every inch of her soft, creamy flesh.

He growled low in his throat when she let out a soft, seductive moan. Taking the kiss deeper, he stroked his tongue against hers, coaxing her to respond to his gentle demand. When she moaned again, he felt it vibrate straight through his entire body, right down to his cock that went hard as stone. He wanted to strip her bare and take her over and over again until neither of them could move.

But this wasn’t the time or the place.

When he felt her hands glide into his hair, he realized that he’d jerked her out of her chair, onto his lap. Struggling to regain control of himself, he grabbed hold of her shoulders and pushed her away from him.

He was arrogantly pleased by the dazed expression on her face, and it made him want to kiss her again. Fighting the urge, he helped her to her feet as he stood. He let go of her, then gripped her firmly again when her legs almost buckled.

When she could stand on her own, he bent down to retrieve her tablet and stylus that had fallen to the floor. Without looking at her, he took her hand in his and pulled her out of the lounge.

“Wh-where are we going?” she asked, a little breathlessly.

The lust burning through his system made his voice sound harsh when he answered her. “You are going to bed.”

“Oh.”

He gritted his teeth against the disappointment in her tone. He wanted to join her in bed, but the strength of his need for her made him refuse to give in. Not tonight. It was too soon. But he couldn’t deny the attraction that sparked between them like an electrical current. It was intense and slightly disconcerting, and he knew thoughts of their kiss would keep him awake for a long while.

And keep him hard.

Needing to get away from her, he pulled her with him as he stormed down the hallway. Stopping in front of the door to her suite, he shoved the tablet and stylus at her. “Go inside,” he ordered, giving her a little push. “You need sleep.”

He turned away from her and had only taken a few steps when she called out his name. For a second, he thought about ignoring her, but discovered that he just couldn’t do it. Something about her called to him. Turing, he frowned at her in defense against her power over him.

“That word you called me. What does tava mean?”

“It’s a Krytos word,” he said, evading giving her the answer. “Go to bed, Mya.”

With that, he stalked away from her, heading toward his own suite…and away from temptation.

***

CHAPTER SEVEN

Three days later, Mya came to a conclusion.

Males—no matter their race—were confusing as hell.

It had taken her long hours to recover from the passionate kiss Maddox had given her the other night. He’d completely rocked her senses, and she still hadn’t fully recovered. Maddox couldn’t know that it had been her first real kiss. It had been more than she’d ever dreamed, but the aftermath left her confused.

Mya hadn’t been able to talk to Pia about the kiss—or the ‘incident’ as she liked to call it—since she would have had to admit to going to the lounge alone after everyone else had gone to sleep.

Her guards hadn’t said she couldn’t, but Mya knew they wouldn’t be happy with her either, even though the second level was secure. Her plan had been to immerse herself in work so she wouldn’t think of all the reasons she hadn’t been able to sleep, but she wasn’t able to escape the reason for her frustration.

No, it wasn’t singular. It was plural—specifically, the Adaro brothers.

As if they knew she didn’t want to think about them, the three males kept popping up everywhere, but their encounters didn’t help her understand them any better. Daimon had showed up at her store the morning after the incident. He hadn’t spoken to her much, although that didn’t surprise her. What had astonished her was that she’d immediately felt guilty seeing him after kissing his brother.

She was even more shocked when Daimon started working with her crew. At first, she was a little tense with him there, but it was fascinating to see how effortlessly he took over as the leader of the workers. When they had questions, they went to him. He didn’t say much, but all the men and women deferred to him whenever he did speak.

It would have upset her if Daimon had just taken over completely, but whenever there were decisions to be made or if part of the project was completed, he came to her for approval. He usually stayed in the shop until early afternoon, but by the third day, Mya had grown comforted by his presence, and started missing him after he’d gone.

Daimon might have had a rough exterior, but he was fair and kind. He treated everyone with respect, unless they did something not to deserve it. When Mya discovered that he had a sweet tooth, she made sure to bring him something extra special when she and her guards got the crew lunch every day. It was a small way to thank him for his help, and she liked the way his dark eyes lit up in appreciation when he ate whatever she brought him.

Tavius came by the store a few times during the afternoon after Daimon left for the day. He told her he was interested in seeing the progress, but only stayed long enough to fluster her with a few quietly spoken compliments and to make sure she didn’t need anything. She thought Tavius did it simply to drive her crazy. After he accomplished that goal, he’d disappear, only to do it again a few hours later.

He had simply smiled when she’d thanked him for the flower, and every day since, she’d discovered another bloom outside her door. The gift was sweet, but it confused her because she didn’t know what it meant. She’d found a beautiful vase in a store near hers yesterday when she’d gone in to introduce herself to her neighbors. It was important to her to keep the flowers in something that was worthy of their beauty, and the store carried one-of-a-kind glasswork that were pieces of art.

Mya had only spoken to Maddox once after the kiss they’d shared. Actually, he might have spoke to her, but she’d been too overwhelmed by his sudden appearance that it had left her tongue-tied. It was during the second day after the incident when he’d stormed into the shop late in the evening, followed by several servers carrying large trays.

“Eat something,” he’d growled at her.

She hadn’t eaten all day, and somehow he had known that. Mya had glanced over to see the servers uncovering trays of some of her favorite Tarin dishes, and by the time she’d looked back up to thank him, he’d already left.

He seemed to have a really bad habit of doing that.

For some inexplicable reason, Mya had sensed Maddox close by several times over the last few days, even though she hadn’t seen him. The few times she had caught sight of him as she’d been exploring some of the other shops in the pavilion, they had only been brief glances that left her unsatisfied.

Everyone she met in New Vega couldn’t say enough about how wonderful the Adaro brothers were, and with all the stories she heard about them, it just made her want to know more. They cared for their people and kept them safe. Owning New Vega and being the alphas of such a large pack kept the brothers busy, and she couldn’t imagine the weight of responsibility each of them were burdened with. But the strain didn’t show, and she had to admire them for that.

On the third day after the incident, Mya was exhausted and cranky. She still wasn’t sleeping well. She’d tried taking hot baths, counting stars, reading boring histories of the different worlds on her tablet, but nothing seemed to help. If this kept up, she was going to have to take a sleep aid, even though she hated taking medication of any kind.

When she walked into the shop with her guards, Marvin, the head contractor for building Starlight Designs locations, took one look at her and visibly cringed.

“Uh oh. We have an irritated Spartan on our hands.” he called out to the rest of the workers, who all let out a loud collective groan. “Sound the alarm!”

Mya frowned at Marvin, but he just grinned back at her. Marvin had known her since she was a baby. He was a close family friend as well as an employee. He treated her with the respect due her position, but there was enough friendship and familiarity between them that neither of them worried about formality.

“She still isn’t sleeping well,” Ryland said.

Marvin scowled in concern. “Well, go back to bed, girl. Your fathers will kick my ass if they think I’m working you too hard, and I don’t wanna think about what your momma will do to me if she sees how tired you look. You look a little…rough.”

“She’s seen me already, thank you very much, “Mya said dryly. “I had a vid call with her last night. Everyone needs to stop commenting about how damn tired I look.”

“Uh oh, she said ‘damn,’ which means she’s really not feeling well,” Mikal said.

“I hate all of you right now.”

“Which is why you need to go back to your suite.” Marvin rushed to add, “We’re going to be painting over the next few days, so people need to clear out anyway.”

Mya eyed him suspiciously, but she was distracted when the door opened. Daimon strolled in, looking too damn handsome for her own good, and well rested enough to make her envious. His pleasant expression changed into a fierce scowl that made all the workers back up a step. He ignored everyone as he stalked toward Mya. She was startled as he took hold of her chin to forcefully tilt her face up.

“This cannot go on any longer. I refuse to let you work today. You need to rest.”

Irrationally angry by his high-handed tone, she frowned. “Let me? How dare—”

Her words were cut off on a gasp as he wrapped one of his strong arms around her waist and carried her into the back room where they had a little privacy. Ryland started to come in after them, but Daimon turned and growled at him to stay back. Ignoring him, Ryland glanced over at Mya as he stood in the doorway. When she gave him a nod, he backed away and left them alone.

Daimon put her down, but didn’t move away so she had to tilt her head back all the way to look up at him. When he growled at the empty doorway in irritation, she jabbed a finger in his chest. “Stop that. Ryland was just doing his job.”

“He should know it is unwise to challenge me.”

“Challenge you?” Was he kidding?

“Yes,” he snarled. “I told him to stay out.”

“You told him?”

He frowned at her. “Why are you repeating what I say?”

“Because you aren’t making any sense. You can’t just pick me up and carry me off without one of my guards objecting.”

“You are safe with me.”

Mya didn’t know what to think about the offended expression on his face. He obviously didn’t get it. Trying to find the patience to explain, she said, “I know I’m safe with you, but that’s not the point.”

“It is the point,” he growled.

That was it. She poked him in his chest and snapped, “It isn’t. They are my guards. They—” poke, “—don’t—” poke, poke, “—work for you.”

Mya poked him one last time, then winced as her finger started to sting. Poking the damn male in the chest was like jabbing her finger against solid concrete. Daimon scowled down at her, but he was gentle as he flattened her hand against his chest.

“Stop doing that or you’ll hurt yourself.”

She didn’t bother telling him she already had. Distracted by the feel of his hard, warm chest beneath her palm, she wished he wasn’t wearing his dark-brown shirt so she was feeling his bare skin instead. She sighed. “That didn’t hurt you at all, did it?”

“No. You aren’t taking care of yourself,” he accused.

“Hey, wait a—”

“You’re ill, Mya. You have a sickness that some people get when they aren’t used to space travel. Due to the change in gravity, the air pressure, the movement of the vessel, and the lack of sunlight, your body is having a difficult time adjusting. You cannot sleep, you’ll get headaches, mood swings, and your appetite will suffer. It will pass, but you will acclimate quicker if you can sleep more.”

“I’ve tried, damn it,” she insisted.

“Try harder.” He released his hold on her chin to stroke his hand down over her hair. “Little star, you need to rest.”

“Umm…”

Gah! Mya wanted to slam her head against the wall in hopes it would get her brain working again. His gentle touch and the use of the endearment weakened her knees and made it hard to think. He was still holding her hand against his chest, and she could feel the steady beat of his heart pounding beneath her palm. Her gaze trailed down from his eyes to focus on his perfect lips, and she couldn’t help but wonder what it would be like to feel them pressed against hers.

Daimon let out another low growl. As if he’d read her mind, he leaned down and took her lips with his. He didn’t devour her like Maddox had, but Daimon’s kiss was just as powerful. She melted into him, reveling in the way his mouth seemed to fuse with hers so perfectly. His arms wrapped around her waist again, and he hauled her up against him, holding her tight to his hard body.

Stars, it felt so right to be in his arms. She let out a gasp when she felt the hard ridge of his erection pressing against her stomach. He jerked away from her, releasing her so quickly she stumbled back a step. Unsure what had happened, she whispered his name.

“Leave, Mya. Go rest.”

She flinched as if he’d slapped her. One second he’d been kissing her breathless, and the next he sounded as if he couldn’t wait to get away from her. He obviously regretted touching her, and the rejection stung.

Without saying a word, she left the room.

Head down, Mya walked over to her friends. “I’m going back to my suite now.”

Mikal opened the door for her, and she left the shop. When Pia tried to talk to her, Mya simply shook her head. She couldn’t talk about what happened. Not yet. Before she entered her suite, Mya promised her friends she was going to try to sleep for the rest of the day. She could see the concern in their eyes before she closed her door, shutting them and the rest of the world out.

The tears didn’t begin to fall until she was curled up on her bed. Two of the Adaro brothers had kissed her, and both of them had turned away from her after, leaving her feeling as if she’d done something wrong. Maybe it had been her fault. They could probably sense her interest in them, but she’d never kissed anyone before and didn’t know what to do. Maddox and Daimon were probably sickened by her inexperience.

Mya let herself wallow in self pity for awhile, then she took a long, hot bath. When she started getting a headache, she thought about eating something, but didn’t have the energy or the desire to get up to see what was in the food console. After a few more hours, Mya finally gave in and took a sleep aid.

She woke up the next day feeling groggy and still not quite herself. As she put her wrist unit back on, she noticed she had missed several calls, but didn’t bother to check any of them. She wasn’t in the mood to talk to anyone. Deciding to avoid going into the shop today, she made a quick decision to work on finishing some of her sample designs.

The warrior line was basically a vest and pants with a matching utility belt, but the design was a combination of Dragon Warrior, Helios, Krytos and Tarin styles all in one, made out of a material she’d never worked with before.

When her brother and friends had been on the planet Tartarus visiting Skylar’s father, Mya convinced them to bring her some of the korogati leather that the Tarins made most of their clothes from. The korogati was similar to a cow, however, the animal was able to camouflage itself by changing its skin to adapt to its surroundings.

After some experimenting, Mya discovered that she could treat the leather with heat and dye in order to bring forth an interesting effect to the material that made it look like it was constantly changing color.

Using the room link, Mya called down to the VIP concierge in order to see if there was a quiet space where she could work that she’d have access to a large sink and counter space. The helpful female immediately told her she could use the private laundry area on the second level that was located a few doors down from the lounge.

After thanking her, Mya collected the things she needed and put them in a large bag with wheels to take with her. She knocked on her guards’ door, and after a brief conversation with them, Mya headed to the laundry room by herself.

The laundry area was large, and exactly what she needed. She laid out all her supplies and got straight to work after she programmed her wrist unit to start playing her favorite music playlist. Despite using gloves, the dyes she used were very strong and stung her hands a little when she was working with the heat element since she also had to massage the ink into the leather to make the color mixture come out properly. Her hands were usually slightly red and a little itchy for a few hours after she finished working. It was irritating, but didn’t hurt much.

Mya was just finishing up with the second garment when she saw someone in the doorway. When she glanced over, her heart stuttered as Maddox walked in. She thought he looked good, and seeing him again made her remember the kiss they’d shared. But he’d walked away and hadn’t really spoken to her since, hadn’t he? And now he stood there looking annoyed with her? Turning back to her work, she tried to pretend he wasn’t there so she wouldn’t start rambling like some lovesick idiot.

Right. She had as much chance of ignoring him as she did taking a ride on a comet.

“What are you doing in here?”

Not answering would be childish, but that didn’t mean she couldn’t be a little caustic. “What does it look like I’m doing?”

Mya felt a healthy dose of satisfaction when she could all but feel his irritation. A few seconds later, she was immediately hit with a wave of guilt. It wasn’t his fault he didn’t want her. Besides, she had commandeered a room on his vessel for her own use. Perhaps he was there to complain about that. With that in mind, she removed her gloves and turned off her music.

“Sorry,” she said, turning around to face him. “I asked the concierge if I could use this room. I can be out of here in—”

“What in hellfire have you done to your hands, woman?”

His voice thundered out in a loud boom. His anger surprised her enough to have her blinking at him. She looked down and saw how red her hands were, but she wasn’t shocked by it. Raising them up in front of her, she said, “Oh, this? It’s just the side effect of the dye I use. It will—”

Her words trailed off into a loud squeak as he scooped her up in his arms. She lost her breath as he started running. He carried her as if she weighed nothing. She put her arm around his neck in defense of the jarring motion as he sprinted down the hallway, and simply enjoyed the ride.

“Voice override, Adaro-alpha-one. Open elevator doors!” Like magic, the doors to the elevator immediately slide opened upon his command. He bounded inside, then barked out, “Activate horizontal shift. Priority level, red. Medical unit one. Now!”

“Maddox, this isn’t necessary. Really,” Mya tried to explain as she felt the elevator car moving. “I’m not really hurt. I—”

“Quiet,” he ordered.

She was about to protest again, but the doors of the elevator slid open, directly into a medical unit. Two human men wearing white shirts and pants ran over to meet them.

“We heard the alarm code. What’s her status?”

“She injured her hands. Fix her,” Maddox demanded.

“I’m fine,” Mya said. He was so sweet to worry about her, but she was embarrassed that she’d caused him the hassle of taking her to the med-center. “This always happens when I—”

“Fix her now,” Maddox growled out again, sounding even more furious.

“Yes, Alpha Maddox!”

He obviously terrified the med-techs since they immediately jumped into action to do his bidding. Maddox followed one of the men who led them to a med-bed sectioned off from the rest of the room as the other man ran to get a tray of instruments ready. Mya sighed as Maddox sat her down on the bed. He hovered over her like a dark cloud, his expression grim as he folded his arms across his broad chest.

Mya gave into the urge to roll her eyes as Maddox growled when one of the male med-techs reached for her hands to check them. “You told him to fix me, remember?”

“I changed my mind. Where is Dr. Deveaux?”

“Right here,” a stunning redhead said as she walked over to join them. One brow rose as she met Maddox’s glare. “Scaring my staff again, Alpha?”

Maddox just grunted, then he jerked his head in Mya’s direction. “Heal her.”

Dr. Deveaux turned away from him and smiled at Mya. “Hi. I’m Dr. Devin Deveaux. Can you tell me what happened, then we’ll see about treating your injuries.”

The doctor was warm and friendly, and she listened patiently as Mya explained what had happened. Maddox grew even angrier after hearing her explanation, and Mya was shocked when the doctor ordered Maddox out of the treatment area and he actually left. She could see him pacing the floor just beyond the screen, but appreciated being able to speak to the doctor without him hovering over them.

“I really am fine,” Mya said quietly. “In a few hours, I’ll totally be back to normal.”

Dr. Deveaux nodded thoughtfully. “That may be, but I have a salve that I can put on your hands that will cut that down to a half an hour or so.” She lowered her voice. “Let’s get this taken care of so the big guy out there stops freaking out.”

“I heard that!” Maddox yelled.

Mya bit her lip to hold in her laughter as Devin rolled her eyes, and the two women shared a grin. Feeling slightly silly, she sat quietly as the doctor coated her hands with a pale green gel. Instantly, the thick gel soothed the irritating sting on her hands and left them feeling tingly and cool.

“This salve is made of minerals from Avox, along with aloe and some other excellent healing aids. I suggest you leave it on for about a half an hour. After that, you should be good as new. Actually, your skin will be softer than ever. Some people use this on a regular basis as part of their beauty regiment,” Dr. Deveaux said as she finished wrapping bandages around Mya’s hands.

Mya thanked the doctor for treating her injury and for the jar of the salve she was given to take with her. Before she could get down from the med-bed, Maddox was there, lifting her back into his arms. She thought about protesting, but liked him carrying her too much to bother.

Once they were back in the elevator, Mya sighed as she wrapped her arm around his neck and leaned her head down on his shoulder. They rode back to the second level in silence, but she didn’t mind it. She felt cared for as he cradled her in his strong arms, and was surprised how relaxed she was. Expecting him to put her down when they arrived at the door of her suite, she said, “Thank you, Maddox.”

Her head lifted as he gave the voice command to unlock her door and walked inside as soon as it opened. Carrying her, he strode into the living room area, over to the large sofa. The room was decorated with a combination of pale-gold and rich cream, as most of the VIP suites were. He sat down, holding her firmly when she would have moved off his lap.

“How are you feeling?”

“Fine,” she said softly. “I’m fine.” She finally looked up at him and saw him staring at her with an intense expression that made her pulse speed up. Remembering the aftermath of the last time they’d kissed made her want to move away from him, but her desire for him was stronger than self-preservation.

Titling her head back, he met her halfway so their lips touched. It was a soft kiss, sweet and simple. He brushed his lips against hers, once, twice, then took it deeper with a low growl of hunger. She opened for him, parting her lips to welcome his tongue inside to duel with hers.

Wanting to run her hands through his hair, she raised her arms, but the stupid bandages wrapped around her hands made that impossible. Before she knew what was happening, Maddox picked her up and set her aside on the couch. She looked up and saw that he was already on his feet, ready to bolt from the room.

Mya sighed.

Stars, it was happening all over again.

He was going to leave her, and this time, she might just kill him.

***

CHAPTER EIGHT

“Did I do something wrong?”

“No,” Maddox said tightly.

That made Mya’s shoulders slump. He was sure acting like she had. Giving up, she said, “Go ahead and run. I know you want to.”

Maddox scowled down at her. “I don’t run from anything.”

Her laugh sounded bitter. “You did last time you kissed me, and you look ready to do it again right now.”

“You’re injured, I should let you rest,” Maddox stated, though, even he could admit that the excuse sounded weak.

She leaned back against the pillows and waved him away with her bandaged hands. “Yeah, whatever. I’ll rest. Just go. I just wished I knew what I’m doing to make you Adaro males run.” She shook her head and smiled wryly. “Oh, right. You don’t run. You just walk away…very quickly. If you dislike kissing me so much then why did you do it again?”

Maddox stared down at Mya in disbelief. Not like kissing her? Was she crazy? She did look tired, and her hands were wrapped in bandages, but that wasn’t the real reason he needed to get the hell away from her. Every time he touched her, his body responded with a vengeance. He was hot, hard and aching. He’d been seconds away from ripping her clothes off so he could take her right there on the couch, but that wasn’t what she needed right now.

He didn’t seem to have any control when it came to Mya, and that was something he wasn’t used to. Instead of giving into his desire, he’d wanted to leave before he scared the hell out of her. Maddox could tell Mya wasn’t very experienced, and he didn’t want to rush her into anything even though staying away from her was becoming impossible.

Maddox sat down on the couch again, but made sure he wasn’t touching her. “I want you, Mya. Make no mistake about that.”

“So, you kiss me, then leave because you want me?” She sighed. “I don’t understand you at all.”

He wanted to laugh at the baffled confusion on her face. “Mya, I’m trying not to rush things. We’ve been…courting you.”

Her eyes widened. “Courting me? We? You mean…why haven’t any of you said anything? I thought you didn’t like kissing me…and when Daimon and Tavius…I’ve been feeling so damn guilty!”

“What in all the worlds would you feel guilty about? Most of your elites are paired with more than one male. A multiple relationship shouldn’t be shocking to you.”

“Yes, but the men make it clear that they are interested in pursuing a relationship together with a woman. You, Daimon and Tavius are never together.”

Maddox saw the error in what they’d been doing then. They’d each wanted to allow her to get comfortable around them in their own way. Daimon wanted to be useful by helping her with her shop since that was one of his talents. Tavius had been flirting with her, keeping her slightly off balance as he enjoyed his game of seduction.

And Maddox…well, he’d taken a more straightforward approached. Or at least he thought he had. They’d been careful not to be around her at the same time, but he’d never considered that she would have felt as if she would have to chose between them.

“We’ve obviously been going about this all wrong,” he admitted.

“I don’t know what to think. After you and Daimon kissed me, I—”

“Daimon kissed you?” Maddox smiled. He thought Tavius would have been the one to kiss her first, since he had already made his intentions clear. Daimon usually took longer to express his interest in a female, but there was something about Mya that had captivated all three of them. He knew neither of his brothers would claim her before he did, but it warmed his heart to know that Daimon wanted her just as much as he did.

Mya blushed. “He did yesterday.” Then she frowned. “Don’t you three talk?”

“We do, but we’ve all been so busy with work, we haven’t seen each other much over the last few days. That’s partly why we have been taking turns being with you during the day.”

“I don’t understand.”

“New Vega is a large vessel, and we each have many duties to see to every day. Daimon wanted to spend time with you, but he is most pleased when he feels useful, so he has been helping you around your store. When he leaves to see to other duties, Tavius came by to see if you needed anything.”

“And what about you, Maddox?” she asked softly.

He hesitated for a second, then decided to tell her the truth. “You might not have seen me, but I’ve been around, watching over you.”

“That’s…kind of creepy. So, you were stalking me on the security feed instead of just coming to see me in person?”

“I wasn’t stalking you. I was making sure you were safe while I took care of other work. It’s called multi-tasking.”

Mya thought that was just semantics, but she didn’t say it. Anyone else would have been pissed about what he’d done, but Mya was used to being watched over. Actually, she thought what he’d done was a little sweet even if it was sort of strange.

Maddox sighed. “You confuse me, Mya. I shouldn’t want you this way so soon. I thought to give you time to decide how you feel about us, but I can’t be around you and not touch you. I leave because if I stay, I’m going to take you and make you mine.”

There was a heartbeat of silence before Mya whispered, “But what if that’s what I want, too?”

His chest tightened with some foreign emotion. He could see that she was nervous as she waited for his reaction, and he felt the imaginary tethers holding his control in place snap. Jerking her to him, he slammed his mouth down on hers, taking her lips with a brutality that stunned him.

Maddox wanted to devour her, consume her. He was drowning with the desperate need to have her, and he wanted to take her deep into the dark depths so she would never be free of him. He stood, never taking his mouth from hers as he carried her into the bedroom. Laying her down on the bed, he covered her smaller body with his. Aware of his strength, he made sure not to press his full weight on her.

She pulled her mouth away from his, panting as she said, “We have to take these bandages off.”

“No. You still need to heal.”

“I’m fine,” she argued. “I want to touch you.”

“Consider this your punishment for injuring yourself.” It made him angry again just thinking about it. “You will not do anything so foolish in the future.”

Mya stared up at him incredulously. “Seriously? You want to fight about this now?”

“We aren’t fighting. I’m telling you that you won’t do anything to injure yourself,” he growled. “I won’t have it.”

“You have got to be kidding me,” she muttered, then glared at him. Her hands had stopped stinging and knew she was completely healed. “My hands are fine. I have to use that dye to—”

“Those gloves you wear are complete crap. We will find something else to wear so you won’t hurt your hands anymore.”

“Fine. Can we get back to kissing now?”

Mya’s heart fluttered as he leaned down and kissed her again. It felt so good kissing him she could barely think of anything else. She wanted to touch, to taste, to feel every inch of him, but she didn’t know what to do so she was content to follow his lead…for now. Her head swam as the passion built inside of her, and she thought that if this was a dream, she never wanted to wake.

No, she wanted to live in this moment forever.

Maddox wanted her, and so did his brothers. That was something she would have to worry about later. Right now, she was solely focused on the massive male doing his best to kiss her breathless. She moaned as her body heated, and the sound of his answering groan made her giddy with feminine power.

One of her shoes fell to the floor, so she kicked the other one off and heard it land on the ground with a thunk. Wrapping her legs around his, she arched up against him, feeling the steel-hard spike of his desire press against her core. Anticipation tingled along her skin like an electrical current as she thought about what it would be like to have him inside her. He felt so big, she worried she wouldn’t be able to take his full length into her body, but she was determined to try.

Maddox pulled away from her lips, his hot mouth trailing down to her neck. A whimper of need escaped her parted lips as he nipped at her earlobe with his fangs. He was so pleased by the sound, he immediately repeated the action. She tried to grab onto him, but her bandaged hands slid off his shoulders. He sucked and nipped at her neck, hard enough to sting, but not enough to break the skin with his fangs. When she reached for him again, he grabbed both of her hands in one of his and raised them over her head.

“You’re driving me crazy! I want to touch you,” she pleaded.

“Not yet. Keep them here,” he demanded.

Maddox was determined to make Mya his. To seal her to him with passion and pleasure so thoughts of any males in her past were wiped away. Thinking about that, he plastered his body against hers again. Slamming his lips down on hers again, he ravaged her mouth. He kept kissing her until he couldn’t hold back any longer.

He needed to claim her now.

Unable to bear anything between them any longer, he rolled off of her to jerk his boots from his feet. They needed to get naked. He would drive them both to a quick, hard climax, then he would take his time getting to know every inch of her body after he’d taken the edge off his lust for her.

Mya had a few seconds to collect herself while he was in the process of removing his shirt. She was momentarily distracted by the sight of his muscular chest. Massively built with thick, corded muscles, he was damn impressive. “Umm…Maddox?”

The anxiety in her tone must have signaled that something was wrong, because he paused while reaching for the waistband of his pants.

“Maybe this would be a good time to tell you that I haven’t done this before.”

His eyes went wide. “You’re a…?”

Uh oh. That wasn’t a good sign if he couldn’t even say the word. Sitting up, she hurried to explain. “I just didn’t want you to expect, well, you know. I don’t know if I’m any good at all of this. And if I did something wrong or you wanted…crap, I’m saying this all wrong. I just thought I’d tell you, because I figured you might notice when—”

“Oh, yeah. I think I’d notice.”

His dry tone made her blush, despite telling herself she had absolutely nothing to be embarrassed about. Still, he was sitting next to her, staring at her like she was some alien creature he’d never seen before. Flattering, it was not. She looked down and began to trace the subtle pattern on the pale-gold bedspread with her finger.

Maddox gently cupped her face, and his thumbs rubbed her cheeks slowly. He could see the worry in her beautiful gray eyes as she watched him. She bit at her lower lip in a nervous gesture, and his gaze dropped down, mesmerized by the sight. He wanted to bite that lush lip, then soothe the sting away with his tongue, but he held back.

“Why have you never been with a male before?”

She shrugged. “With my family watching over me, it wasn’t really possible.”

He frowned at that. “You want to have sex because you have freedom now?”

“No! I mean…yes and no. I’ve just I never found a man I was interested in enough to…to pursue that kind of relationship with. Until I met you and your brothers, I never wanted someone that way. I’ve been waiting to feel the zing people always talk about, and you make me… ”

“Feel a zing?”

Mya wondered if she should be offended by the amusement in his tone, but his slow, sexy smile distracted her. “I’m very particular about my shoes, why wouldn’t I be about this?” she asked defensively as she waved her hand to encompass the bed. “Stars, do we have to discuss this now? Can’t we just get on with it?”

“It?”

Was he trying to be obtuse? “You know, the sex. If we keep talking about this, I’m going to get more nervous, then I might freak out, and trust me, we don’t want that to happen. It could get ugly.”

“No, we don’t. Let’s focus on that zing I make you feel instead.”

Maddox was overcome by a surge of possessiveness. He would be her first. No other male had touched her. And no one would, besides his brothers. Ever. He imagined how beautiful she would be held between the three of them, but that would come later. Right now, he’d be the one to introduce her to lovemaking, and he’d enjoy every minute of it. Quickly rethinking his plan, he pulled her close enough to brush his lips against hers.

She blinked up at him. “Does that mean you still want to do it?”

He couldn’t help but laugh. “Yes, I do.”

“Good. That’s good. I was worried you wouldn’t. You know, with me being a…”

Gods, she was adorable. He finally understood the hesitation he’d felt from her before. She was innocent…far more than he’d realized, but that only made him want her more. He had never been with a virgin, but knowing that he would be her first filled him with pride. It was an honor he didn’t take lightly.

She would belong to him, in every way possible.

“Mya, there is no power in the universe that would stop me from having you. It just means we have to do things a little differently.”

“I don’t understand what you mean by that.”

He wasn’t about to tell her that he’d been seconds away from tearing her clothes off. Instead, he said, “If you hadn’t told me, I could have hurt you. We have to get you ready for me first.”

“I’m ready.”

“No, you aren’t. But you will be.” He reached for her hands and slowly began unwinding the bandages. Glancing up, he was glad to see the sparkle of humor replace her wariness.

“So, you’re finally ready to take these things off me?”

“I’m going to take everything off of you,” he promised darkly, and was pleased to see her answering blush. He loved seeing the rosy hue on her cheeks. “But first, I want to make sure you are healed.”

When the bandages were removed, Maddox could see her hands were back to normal. Giving a nod of approval, he tossed the bandages on the floor, then reached for her shirt. He kept his gaze on her as he pulled it up, only breaking their connection when he tugged it over her head. Tossing the shirt aside, he reached out and pulled her hands down when she instinctively moved to cover herself.

“No, don’t hide from me.”

She was sheer perfection. His mouth watered at the sight of her full breasts. He wanted to take her nipples into his mouth and suck them until she cried out, but simply brushed the back of his hands against the silky skin of the swell of her breasts instead.

He smiled when she shivered in response. Her breath caught as his lips came down to meet hers, and he was pleased when she immediately opened for him, even angling her head, trying to get closer. He gently pushed her back down on the bed as their tongues met, touching, tasting.

Moving lower, he kissed his way down her neck again, using his rough tongue to lave each of her nipples. He felt her shiver again when his fangs scrapped over the hard peaks, then he moved lower, kissing a trail down her flat stomach. Despite his frayed control, he removed her pants slowly, taking her pale-pink panties off with them.

When he was done, he looked down and simply stared at her naked body laid out before him. She had a body made for loving, and he couldn’t wait to touch every inch of her. And he would, with his hands and his mouth. Her waist was small, but her hips curved out slightly, creating a sexy contour to her body. His gaze lowered to her bare mound. He could see the proof of her desire for him glistening from between her thighs, and he growled low in his throat when she tried to close her legs to hide from him.

“Mine,” he snarled as he pulled her thighs apart wider so he could see her pussy.

“Maddox,” she gasped out.

Boldly reaching down to cup her, he ran one finger along the seam of her wet heat. “This is mine. Never hide yourself from me. Do you understand?”

Mya’s heart thudded in her chest, and her blood roared in her ears as his eyes met hers, blazing with a hunger that made it hard for her to breath. She gulped before nodding. When his eyes narrowed, she found the strength to say, “I understand.”

He grunted with satisfaction. “Now, I’m going to taste you. To lick up all your sweet juice until you come just from having my mouth on you. Then I’m going to do it again, until you are so desperate to have me inside you that you beg me to come to you.”

She didn’t think it was a good idea to tell him she was ready to beg now. Keeping silent, she watched as he slid off the bed to stand in front of her. Her eyes widened as he removed his pants and she saw his huge, hard cock jutting out from between his thighs. The mushroomed head was large and red, and the thick shaft seemed to pulse with life every time he breathed.

Maddox knew he kept in shape, but the way his female was looking at him pleased him more than he expected. It made him feel like he was a god. She reached out to touch his cock, but he stopped her before she made contact. If she touched him now, he would lose control. He needed to make this first time good for her.

“I want to—”

“You can touch me later,” he promised. “Right now, I have to get you ready.”

He didn’t bother to explain, figuring she would understand once he began. Hooking his hands beneath her knees, he slid her body down to the end of the bed, then knelt between her parted thighs.

Maddox inhaled, taking in her sweet scent as he looked at the pretty pink flesh of her pussy. Hungry for her, he leaned forward and used his tongue to lick at her juices. He heard her cry out in shock, but didn’t stop. Testing her readiness, he pushed one of his fingers into her hot hole. He pulled out, then parted her tender folds with two of his fingers, stretching her open for him. She was tight, so tight he knew he would lose his mind as soon as he shoved his cock inside her. Needing her slick with release before that happened, he moved his mouth up to suck on her small pleasure nub.

Her entire body shook as she came, and her cry of release was music to his ears. Mya arched off the bed, her back bowed as he drove her to another hard climax before she’d even recovered from her first shattering release.

“Holy nova, it’s too much!”

Maddox was tempted to show her that she was wrong, but he’d already waited too long to have her. His hard cock was throbbing painfully, and he was ready to claim her. Pulling his fingers from her, he rose to his feet. He reached for her waist and moved her back up on the bed so she was lying in the center.

He moved over her, covering her perfect body with his. She parted her legs, instantly welcoming him into the cradle of her thighs. Maddox released a rumbling growl at how good it felt to be skin-to-skin with her.

“Tell me you belong to me. Tell me this is what you want, Mya.”

“I want you, Maddox.”

“That’s not enough. Once I take you, you’ll belong to me. Tell me you understand. I want to make you mine.”

Mya could feel the turbulent emotions racing through him as she touched his skin. He wanted something from her, and she would give him whatever she had. She reached up and cupped his face between her hands. “Maddox, I already am yours.”

He let out a groan against her mouth as he thrust his hips forward, driving the head of his cock into her pussy. He drank down her passionate cry and felt her nails score his back. That quick bite of pain only enhanced his pleasure.

“Maddox…”

Lifting up on to his elbow, he looked down at her. “Did I hurt you?”

Her parted lips were swollen from their kisses, and her eyes were glazed with passion as she shook her head. “No, it’s…I feel…”

“Tight. You feel tight.”

“And full. It’s so good. You feel so good inside me. I never—”

Watching her face, he let himself sink deeper, sliding the full length of his cock into her until he was seated to the hilt. She gasped and instinctively raised her legs up to wrap around him. He pulled back, then started thrusting his cock inside her using a slow, steady rhythm.

Her soft moans drove him crazy, and he lost control as she tilted her hips up to meet his. He pulled back, then slammed his cock into her, repeating the motion over and over again, lost in the pleasure of feeling her tight pussy wrapped around him.

When she whispered his name, he could hear the fear in her voice. He knew she was frightened by what she was feeling. His own release was building with an intensity that he’d never experienced before, and knew the passion between them would be overwhelming to someone as innocent as Mya. But there was nothing he could do to stop it, and he wouldn’t even if he could.

“Come for me, tava,” he commanded. “Come and take me with you.”

He didn’t give her a choice. Pounding into her, he pushed her further toward the edge, needing her to find her release before he gave into his own pleasure.

“Maddox, I’m scared.”

“Don’t be, Mya. Just let go…I’ll keep you safe.”

She held onto him, her arms wrapping around his neck tight as she let out a wild cry. Shudders racked her body as she came, and he couldn’t stop himself from coming when her pussy clenched down around his cock. His muscles tensed as his own release tore through him. He let out a loud roar as he exploded inside her, filling her with the hard, hot pulses of his seed.

Maddox held her close as he continued to pour his essence into her. He knew she could feel every hard spurt since she shivered each time it happened. His head rested in the crook of her neck, and he breathed in her sweet scent. He didn’t want to leave the haven of her body, but he worried that he might be crushing her.

Wanting to ask if she was okay, he lifted his head, but when he saw her face, he just smiled. Mya had a soft smile on her face, and her lush lips were slightly parted…and his little elite was fast asleep. His tava had become so precious to him in such a short time. Loving her was a little scary. He wouldn’t have believed someone could claim his heart so quickly, but Mya had done it with an ease that shocked him.

Pulling his cock from her, he instantly missed the heat of her wrapped around him. It made him smile as she slept through his gentle cleansing of her body. When he was done, he eased down on the bed beside her again. She let out a soft little sigh as he wrapped his arms around her, pulling her back to his front.

Mya was right where she belonged, safe and secure in his arms.

And he was determined to keep her there…forever.

***

CHAPTER NINE

Mya woke feeling better than she had in weeks.

As she stretched, she smiled to herself. It had been real. The slight soreness of her body confirmed that the night of making love with Maddox really had happened.

She hadn’t just been dreaming.

After the first time, she’d fallen into a deep slumber. She would have blamed it on exhaustion, but she thought it might have had something to do with the amazing orgasms Maddox had given her. Mya had experimented with sex toys before, but she’d never been able to make herself climax like he had. It had been like he’d had a direct connection to her pleasure center, and she’d loved every second of being with him.

She had woken a few hours after that first time to find herself being carried into the bathroom where Maddox had filled the large tub with scented water. It hadn’t surprised her to find he’d added a healing aid into the water to help with her soreness. Taking a bath with a male was a new experience that she’d enjoyed immensely, and she loved the way he’d held her as they’d soaked in the fragrant water.

After they’d finished their bath, he’d dragged her into the living room where he’d had a meal sent up for them. She’d been surprised to find some of her favorite dishes from a popular D’Aire restaurant downstairs. When she’d asked him how he knew what food she liked, he’d just shrugged and told her he’d hacked into her accounts to see what she usually ordered.

With anyone else, something like that would have made her furious, but with him, she’d just had to laugh. He seemed determined to take care of her. He might have gone about it the wrong way, but his heart had been in the right place. Still, they were going to have to talk about his stalker tendencies. It wasn’t something she wanted him to continue. He was going to have to learn to talk to her and simply ask questions instead.

They’d both eaten with gusto, then Maddox had carried her back to bed where he’d made love to her again before she’d fallen asleep with him curled around her. It had been like he’d been trying to protect her even in sleep.

Despite her bravado about wanting to lose her virginity, she hadn’t been prepared for how she would feel after the deed was done. Pia had tried to warn her that women usually fell for the first man they were with. It was something most females experienced earlier in life, but Mya had been serious when she’d told Maddox that she had never wanted a man enough to do it before.

But after being intimate with Maddox, Mya knew that Pia had been right.

She’d fallen in love with him.

It could have been because he’d been her first, but she knew it was so much more than that. She’d felt a connection to him before he’d kissed her that first time. And now, she wanted to be with him…always.

He’d been so gentle with her, so patient. It was such a turn-on to have such a powerful male touch her with such reverence. Wanting to be close to him again, she reached out for him. Mya’s smile faltered when her hand connected with the cool sheets beside her, and not Maddox’s warm body.

Opening her eyes, she frowned at the empty space next to her. The warm, happy bubble she’d been basking in popped as if it had never been. Here she’d been thinking about a future together with a male that left her in bed alone after their first night together. How silly she’d been. Flopping onto her back, she let out a loud sigh.

Then she let out a loud gasp as a voice spoke from the corner of her bedroom.

“That was a heavy sigh.”

Holding the covers to her chest, she jerked to a sitting position and saw Tavius sitting on one of the chairs in the small sitting area. He put the tablet he held down on the small table next to his chair. When he stood, she saw he was wearing perfectly tailored black slacks and a dark-gray tunic sweater. It only took him a few strides to reach the bed. He smiled as he gently pushed her back so she was laying down again as he sat next to her.

“Happy risings, Mya.”

Tavius leaned down and brushed his lips gently against hers, pulling back before she could respond. He’d wanted to sink in, to take the kiss deeper, but he was determined to keep it light and friendly rather than let passion take over.

“W-what are you doing here?”

Tavius pulled the covers up so the end was right beneath her chin. He took his time smoothing the fabric down as he answered. “Maddox was called away to an important meeting. He said you were exhausted so he didn’t want to wake you, but he also didn’t want you to wake alone.”

Mya thought that was sweet of Tavius to offer to be there, and would have been more welcoming if the situation she was currently in wasn’t so damn awkward and confusing. She’d just realized that she’d fallen in love with Maddox, and the rush of excitement she felt seeing Tavius that made her feel disloyal.

He smiled at her. “I would have loved to join you in bed, but I thought that might be rushing things a bit.”

“Slightly.”

Tavius laughed. “Exactly. How are you feeling this morning?” When she just blushed, he laughed again. “I meant how do you feel after finally getting some rest? We’ve been worried about you. Space sickness can take a while to get over.”

Damn, she looked beautiful, all soft and sexy from sleep. Tavius hadn’t been joking when he’d told her he wanted to be in bed with her. He’d specifically braced one of his knees up on the bed to hide his erection from her gaze. She didn’t need to deal with his lust right after spending the night with his brother.

Not when Tavius hadn’t solidified his own relationship with her.

When Maddox had asked him to watch out for her today, Tavius had known his older brother had expected him to wait in the living room until she’d woken up. But he hadn’t been able to resist the temptation of entering the bedroom so he could watch her sleep. He’d tried to get some work done, but he’d found it impossible to look away from her. She’d looked so lovely with her dark hair spread out over her pillow. It had taken all of his control to stop himself from curling up with her.

Twice she had stirred, her brow furrowing as if she’d been having some sort of bad dream. He’d been at her side before he had even thought about it, and he liked the way he’d been able to calm her with a simple touch.

Although Maddox had been the one to claim her first, Mya now belonged to all three of the Adaro brothers. She just didn’t know it yet. When Maddox had woken him to explain the situation, all it had taken were four little words to tell Tavius everything.

“Protect our tava, brother.”

And Tavius had known that they had finally found their mate.

Now, looking down at the small human female they’d claimed, Tavius was filled with satisfaction that he’d been smart enough to recognize she was the one for them. He had no doubt that Daimon and Maddox would have been attracted to her if they’d met her first, but Tavius was planning on taking credit for bringing her into their lives.

“I appreciate your concern,” Mya said carefully. “Could we possibly continue this conversation out in the living room or something?”

He grinned at the blush staining her cheeks, and decided to take pity on her. “Why don’t you go take a nice, hot shower. I’ll order us up some breakfast, and wait for you in the living room. Since they’re still painting your store, I thought you might like to accompany me today. Some of the vendors for the TechCon have arrived early, and we’ve started setting up in several areas. I don’t think you’ve seen the whole vessel yet, so I thought we’d take the tour I promised you.”

“I’d like that.”

“Excellent. I’ll let you get ready.”

Tavius collected his tablet before leaving her bedroom. Using the room link, he contacted one of his favorite human restaurants. Over the years, he’d grown fond of several of the breakfast dishes, and thought that Mya might like a little taste from home.

A few minutes later, the food console pinged with their incoming order. Tavius took the time to arrange the food on the dining room table, placing the beautiful vase filled with the flowers he’d been giving her in the center. The bottom half of the vase was made up of every color of the rainbow that blended into a solid amethyst neck. The glass had been treated to spiral in the opposite direction that the colors swirled, making it artwork instead of a simple functional piece.

He took his seat to work a bit while he waited for Mya. When the door to the bedroom opened, his breath caught at the sight of her. She was wearing a dress of various shades of cream, tan and brown that fell to mid-calf, with dark-brown boots that disappeared beneath the hem of her dress. She’d left her hair down so it fell like a waterfall of black silk past her delicate shoulders. There was a thick gold necklace around her neck, and matching earrings dangled from her earlobes. Tavius fought the urge to frown. He didn’t like her wearing jewelry he and his brothers hadn’t given her.

Crossing the room, he held out the flower he’d brought her. “It can’t possibly compare to your beauty, but I thought you’d like it.”

Mya looked down at the gift and gasped. The flower was magnificent, with a bold sapphire blue center and silver petals shaped in a star. “This is gorgeous.” She glanced up at Tavius, and asked, “Where do you find all these wonderful flowers? I’ve never seen any of them before.”

“We travel all over the galaxy. Whenever we’re close to a planet, I like to take a day trip to explore a little on one of our shuttles,” he explained as he led her over to the table. “We’ve allowed a team of elite scientists to set up a lab on one of the sublevels. They collect specimens from the different planets to study. Give that one a sniff.”

Mya did, and her head spun with a feeling of euphoria. “Oh my…”

He took the bloom from her and placed it in the vase with the others. “This one is rare since it’s scent can give someone a high. It doesn’t last long, but it’s something that’s made it necessary to put it on a watch list.”

After smelling it for herself, Mya agreed. The feeling had already dissipated, but she could see how that feeling could become addicting. Tavius held the chair back for her so she could sit.

“Thank you for your gifts,” Mya said softly.

He reached over and squeezed her hand. “It is my pleasure. Now, let’s eat.”

Mya was glad that he kept the conversation light as they ate, because just being with him made her nervous. After they were done, she took a few minutes to freshen up before he led her out of her suite, to the elevators. Tavius had already talked to her guards, and while they weren’t happy about it, he’d insisted that they took the day off.

He and Mya decided to start their tour on the far end of the ship, where she hadn’t visited yet. Taking the long way, they walked through the main shopping area, down long corridors past restaurants, shops and clubs. Being with Tavius made Mya feel giddy, and she knew she was rambling as they walked, but couldn’t make herself stop. He didn’t seem to mind, though, and after a few minutes she began to relax.

At the far end of New Vega, there were a few ballrooms and several conference areas of various sizes. Most of the rooms would be filled with mini-tents and tables that vendors would personalize for the duration of the TechCon. A few of the conference areas would be set up for interviews of vid stars of series and films. A stage was being constructed in the largest ballroom where live entertainment would play each night.

“This is very impressive,” Mya said as she looked around at the crew of people working on the stage and putting the tents together.

“I like that you think so,” Tavius whispered into her ear. He looked forward to having Mya all to himself for the day. He wished they could just be alone, but he still had work to do. Taking her hand in his, he squeezed. “I hope you don’t mind, but I have to talk to a few people while we’re here.”

“Go. Do your thing. Can I wander around a little? I noticed that there are some vendors already setting up in the tents that are finished.”

He seemed hesitant, but finally said, “Sure, but stay in the room.”

Mya nodded, then watched as Tavius gave an imperious wave of his hand to several people that had been waiting for his attention. She hadn’t noticed the crowd, but took a step back now to leave him to his work.

Glancing around the room, Mya could only imagine how crowded the large area would be once the TechCon actually began. She walked over to one tent and saw a Krytos couple setting up several stands of different sizes. The female smiled in greeting.

“Hello,” Mya said, returning the smile. “I’m sorry to bother you. I was just curious about what you’re doing. I don’t really know what a TechCon is.”

“If you’ve never been to a TechCon before, you’re in for a treat.” The female came out from around the table to stand beside Mya. “My name is Natima, and this is my mate, Abrom. My other mate, Han, is at our store on the fifth level called The Edge. I’ve been begging my mates to come in early so we can figure out how to set up.”

“Even though we have days to do it,” Abrom said as he smiled as his mate.

“It never hurts to be prepared,” Natima said primly. She turned back to Mya. “The TechCon is essentially a mixture of fantasy, entertainment and technology. People dress up and wear crazy costumes, while others come to check out the latest gadgets and games, and buy all kinds of wares that are for sale.”

“It sounds like fun.”

Natima nodded. “It really is. Usually, we travel to Earth every year, but this is great being able to be so close to the event. Our sons have a shop on Alpha Station: X1. They’ll be coming here in a few days for the convention. We brought a few samples down to see how they will look on the stands. If we wanted to, we could set everything up now since security is so tight, but we still haven’t decided exactly what we are going to bring. Would you like to see what we brought with us today?”

“I’d love to.”

Mya watched as Abrom lifted the box onto the table. He unlocked it and lifted the lid. There were a variety of items tucked into a foamy substance that kept them in place. There were a few daggers similar to the ones she’d noticed all Krytos wore. There were also a few wicked looking curved ones, along with others that had decorative hilts. A dagger with a handle made to look like a claw caught her attention. She reached out to touch it, and when she hesitated, Abrom took it out of the case and handed it to her.

“Be careful,” he told her. “The blade is sharp.”

Mya nodded to him, then pulled the dagger from its sheath. The metal gleamed in the light, but what really fascinated her was the intricate work on the handle. “This is excellent work. I’d like to buy this,” she told them. “I have a brother whose birthday is coming up soon. My name is Mya Spartan. I’m opening a new store on the third level.”

She handed the blade back to a stunned Abrom.

“Spartan? As in Regent Spartan and High Commander Spartan?”

“By the gods, you own Starlight Designs!” Natima gasped.

Mya held back her sigh. Since she’d been on New Vega, she’d forgotten how most people reacted when they found out who her family was.

“It would be an honor to have you buy one of our pieces,” Abrom said.

Making a quick decision, Mya said, “Actually, all my brothers and my fathers would love your work.” It looked like everyone would be getting something sharp for the holidays this year. “Do you think you could hold this for me at your store until I can come take a look at what else you have?”

“Of course!”

Natima practically bowed to her as Mya thanked her and told them she’d be by their shop to see them soon. After she left their table, she walked over to speak with all of the other local sellers that were there. She introduced herself to them and praised their wares, then promising to stop by later to visit their shops.

When she was done, she turned around, she almost ran right into Tavius, who was standing right behind her. There was a gentle expression on his face as he looked down at her that made her heart beat a little faster.

“Sorry, I didn’t know you were finished yet,” Mya blurted out, startled by his closeness.

“No worries.”

She bit at her lower lip. She felt foolish and didn’t know why. “There are so many wonderful people here on New Vega. I haven’t been able to meet everyone yet, but I would like to try to get to know all of them.”

“I’m sure they will love to meet you.”

Tavius led Mya toward the entrance as pride swelled inside him. She didn’t know it, but Mya had acted just as an alpha female would have. He’d been watching as she spoke to his people. Her gentle bearing put them at ease, and he noticed she had a kind word for everyone. It pleased him that she wanted to get to know them, and he made a mental note to introduce her to more locals whenever he had a chance.

They checked out four of the conference rooms and two of the smaller ballrooms before heading down to the ballroom on sublevel five. “This level is for mature audiences only,” Tavius explained as they took the elevator down. “The ballroom actually takes up level four and five since it’s so big. This is our last stop, then we can go get something to eat.”

Like sublevel one, the hallway of sublevel five was lit with lamplight sconces, with cobblestone lining the floor. There weren’t as many people walking around, however most of the stores on this level weren’t the type that encouraged window shoppers.

Mya paused to read the signs of the shops closest to them, and tried to contain her shock. Obviously, sublevel five had been deemed for mature audiences only because this was where the hard-core sex clubs, brothels, mature-rated holo-galleries and VR stands were located. There were more security officers patrolling the level, but that fact didn’t make Mya feel more comfortable.

She was grateful when Tavius took her hand in his when a group of Helios males walked by them. Unable to help it, she moved closer to his side. To her relief, the males nodded to Tavius, but ignored her. Tugging her with him, Tavius led her to the end of the hallway, where a set of two huge black doors had been propped open.

Unlike the elegant splendor upstairs, this ballroom had dark walls and an almost gothic feel to it. Even the chandelier lighting didn’t help make the room brighter. On the left side of the room were several large temporary holo-rooms. Next to those were a dozen VR stands. Across from those were tents for vendors, but what struck her as odd were the chaises and plush couches that had been set up in the center of the large room.

Mya didn’t feel the need to wander around as she’d done upstairs, even though this room’s setup seemed almost complete. Instead, she held tight to Tavius’ hand.

“You know I would never let anything happen to you,” he whispered. She nodded, but didn’t say anything in response to his statement. Pulling her to a stop, Tavius cupped her face with his other hand. “You are safe with me, Mya.”

“Okay,” she said, but didn’t sound very convinced.

Pulling her closer, Tavius motioned a few of the crew members over. After he introduced them to Mya, they updated him on the setup. Mya was distracted from the conversation by watching some of the vendors set up. Her eyes went wide as she noticed what they were selling. One of the tents showcased a variety of sex toys, while another had whips made of different materials on display. A third had paddles with what looked like spikes on them.

Tavius heard Mya gasp softly. Following her line of sight, he cursed when he saw what she was looking at. Dismissing the male he’d been talking to, he all but picked Mya up and dragged her toward the exit.

Stupid, he thought. He’d been monumentally stupid bringing her down there. For some reason he’d thought Mya would be amused by the setup on this level, but he’d made a huge error. He just wanted her to see the contrast to the ballroom upstairs, but since she was so innocent, he hadn’t considered that the lower levels might scare her.

He called for the elevator using the priority code, overriding anyone else that tried to use it. A few seconds later, he was pulling her inside the car.

“You don’t ever have to come down here again,” he promised.

“Sorry, all of that just took me by surprise.”

“Don’t be sorry. I only wanted you to come with me because this was a chance to see sublevel five when you’d know you would be safe.”

“I’m fine, really. Sublevel five is…interesting. But I don’t think I want to go down there again.”

“And you don’t have to,” he swore. “I mean it, Mya. And if for some reason you ever do need to, you won’t go without me or one of my brothers. Promise me.” After she nodded, he pulled her into his arms. “I’m sorry you were frightened. If it makes you feel any better, Maddox might kill me when he finds out I took you down there.”

Mya leaned into him and relaxed. “I wasn’t frightened.” Not exactly true, but she wasn’t going to admit that. She was touched that he was so worried about her, but she didn’t want him to think she was weak. People came to New Vega for all sorts of entertainment…and now she understood exactly what kind of amusements were  offered on the lower levels.

Large hands stroked her back, and she felt her body reacting to his gentle touch. She could sense his sincerity and guilt since they were touching. They must have been really strong emotions for her to be able to read them. Pulling back, she looked up at him and smiled. “What’s next on our tour?”

“Lunch?”

“Sounds perfect.”

Tavius’ wrist unit beeped, and he sighed after reading the incoming message. “A friend has stopped by unexpectedly. Do you mind coming with me to meet him? He doesn’t come here often, and I just want to see him before he takes off again.”

“Sure, I’ll go with you.” Mya thought a distraction after the debacle downstairs would be good. She’d just been caught off guard by what she’d seen, and now she felt completely foolish.

Stars, she’d acted like a scared child.

When the doors of the elevator opened on the main level, Mya breathed a little easier. Tavius held her hand as they walked toward the lobby, and she found herself curious about who they were meeting.

Tavius looked around the large lobby, scanning the faces of the people passing by for his friend. He heard his name being called, and turned around to see D’Aire Ambassador Orion D’Sil walking toward him.

His smile of greeting froze as Mya jerked away from him. Letting out a cry of joy, she ran toward the D’Aire male, whose eyes widened in surprise before he bent down and caught her into his strong arms with a tight embrace.

Fuck it.

Friend or not, Tavius was now going to have to kill him.

***

CHAPTER TEN

“Let go of her.”

Tavius let out a vicious snarl, baring his fangs as he stalked toward them.

Orion gently set Mya back down on her feet, and it enraged Tavius when the other male pushed her slightly behind his back as if to protect her.

From him? The son of a demon thought he had to protect her from him?

Yeah, he was totally going to have to kill the winged bastard.

“Tavius, my friend. This isn’t exactly the greeting I was expecting.”

Mya chose that moment to push forward, coming between the two males. “Tavius? you know Orion? This is the friend we’re meeting?” She frowned. “Why do you keep growling at him?”

Tavius took a deep breath, then another to try to calm himself. Rage had caused his vision to blur, and he fought back the change that tried to take over him. For fucking star’s sake, he’d almost shifted into beast mode and attacked a friend for touching her.

“Oh, Uncle Orion, it’s so good to see you!”

Orion brushed his hand down her hair. “It is always a joy to see you, little one.”

Tavius sputtered for a moment. Wait…what? “Uncle?”

Orion studied him for a moment, then the D’Aire’s iridescent blue eyes shimmered with understanding. “I’ve been friends of the Spartan-Rollins family for years, and have known Mya Spartan since she was born.”

Mya smiled up at Orion. “He’s not actually my uncle, but I’ve called him that for as long as I can remember. My mother went into labor while she was at an event with my fathers. Orion was there and flew her to the med-center before my fathers could freak out. He saved everyone a lot of worry.”

“Ian and Jack still acted pretty crazy until they had you safe in their arms,” Orion said with a laugh.

Tavius wanted to slam his head into something hard. Not only had he frightened Mya, but he’d almost killed her uncle in front of her. He was supposed to be the smooth, charming one, damn it.  But he couldn’t seem to do anything right today.

He opened his mouth, intending to apologize, but that wasn’t what came out. “Mya, stop touching his arm,” he snapped. “Come here.”

Shit, shit, shit!

What in the nine moons of Rivos was wrong with him?

Even knowing he was acting insane, he jerked her away from the other male, holding her to his side. It wasn’t necessary to look down to know she was staring at him as if he’d lost his mind. Instead, he focused on his friend, and the satisfaction gleaming in the D’Aire’s eyes confused Tavius. “We were going to eat. You should join us.”

“Perhaps I will,” Orion said with a grin.

Mya glared at Tavius, and was ready to blast him, but she stopped as she realized that he was jealous. She could sense it, feel it by touching him. It struck her that she’d been able to read him whenever she touched him. It had always been easier for her to read those closest to her. Perhaps her ability was growing since she’d opened her heart to Maddox last night, and her feelings for Tavius were growing just as strong.

The three of them went to eat at a place owned by a D’Aire couple on the second level. Mya waited until they were seated and they ordered their food before she asked, “So, how do you know each other?”

“As an ambassador for the D’Aire, I have to travel a great deal. I’ve been to New Vega many times, and have had the privilege of getting to know the Adaro brothers well over the last few years.”

“Usually you inform us before you visit,” Tavius said. “Why the change this time?”

“Technically, I’m not supposed to be here.” Orion grinned. “I was just on Earth a few days ago, and imagine my surprise to find that my favorite little designer was missing.”

Mya frowned. “My family knows where I am.”

“Some of them do,” Orion corrected. “And some of them have not been told yet.” He chuckled when he saw the guilt etched into Mya’s face. Knowing her family well, he knew exactly why she hadn’t informed her older brothers of her move.

Orion had been escaping his own past when he’d become an ambassador. He had known the Spartan-Rollins family for many years. After he’d lost his own family, he’d become a mere shadow of who he once was. His lack of emotions had served him well in his duties, but then he’d visited Earth and had been made godfather to a tiny human infant. Suddenly, he’d felt a glimmer of hope again.

And now—even though it was years later—he was ready to focus on finding a little peace for himself. Since there was nothing he could do about that yet, he pushed aside thoughts of that and smiled at the woman he’d come to think of as family. “If they give you any grief, you might want to ask Talon why he hasn’t mentioned giving up his post on X4 in order to take a position with a strike force team.”

Mya gasped. “Seriously? Oh, my mother is going to be so pissed!”

Tavius watched, slightly fascinated as she did a little happy dance in her chair. “Aren’t you worried about your brother doing such dangerous work?”

“Of course I am, but now my mother will be too focused on being pissed at Talon to worry about me.” Mya waited as their server came back to their table to deliver their food and drinks, then asked, “Do you have any goods on Jax I can use against him?”

Orion chuckled. “You are mercenary, little one. But I think you brother is too busy right now to worry about your new business venture.”

Worry clouded Mya’s gray eyes. “Is everything okay?”

“Yes and no. A new race has been discovered outside of Alliance territory. Actually, they aren’t new. They are an ancient race called the Xenon. They’ve just cloaked their planet, Xenthian, to keep themselves isolated all these years.”

“Oh, wow. That’s exciting!”

Tavius didn’t share Mya’s enthusiasm. What he wanted to know was, “Are they a danger to us? How were they discovered?”

“So far, we do not think they want war. They’ve closed themselves off for so long that their race is not used to interplanetary travel anymore. In the past, they would search the stars for intelligent life, but for some reason, they stopped. But recently, an Alliance vessel was fired upon by an unknown ship, and they crash landed on Xenthian. It is a world of magic, and there is still much we need to learn about them.”

“Were the Xenon responsible for the attack?” Tavius asked.

“They say they weren’t, and Commander Ivy Dalton’s report confirmed that. She is now the soulmate to the Vasili—or king—of their planet.”

Mya’s eyes widened. “Well, that’s one way to form an alliance with a new planet.”

Orion laughed. “True. The Alliance will be inviting the Xenon to participate in the Ministry of Nations. It’s a good idea to find out how they feel about connecting with other races as soon as possible.”

Mya turned to Tavius. “You’re the chancellor for the Krytos, aren’t you?”

“I am, but it’s not really a thing. I mean, no one else wanted to do it. The Krytos aren’t exactly an organized group since we’re all so scattered.” He shifted uncomfortably in his seat. “I’m just doing it since my brothers and I can get the word out to all the Krytos easier than others could.”

“Right,” Mya stressed playfully. “You just don’t want to admit that you’re a leader of your race.”

He grumbled before shoving food into his mouth.

Orion also paused to eat a little, then he said, “I have more news. I’m officially retiring soon, but I have one last assignment to complete before I do. I stopped here on my way to the grand opening of Alpha Station: X21.”

“I heard a rumor about that. Now it all makes sense.” Tavius slapped the table top. “That station was supposed to replace an existing one, but it’s being moved to a different location near that Xenthian planet, isn’t it?”

“It is,” Orion confirmed. “I said I would go for the party as the official D’Aire representation, but I’m also going to see if there is any sign of Quilla Rego on the new station.”

Tavius’ expression darkened. “That female needs to die.”

Mya was startled by his harsh reaction. “Who is Quilla Rego? Is she related to Lord Malik Rego?”

“She’s his sister,” Tavius explained. “For years, we have been searching for Korsek, who was the leader of the slave trade on Tartarus. He was said to be behind all the females that have been kidnapped and taken to Tartarus. Jaden and Katra Tor just discovered that Quilla Rego is actually Korsek.”

In an instant, Mya’s attitude shifted. She was utterly outraged. “A woman was behind selling other females? She really does deserve to die.”

Orion couldn’t help but agree with them. “She escaped Tartarus before they could capture her, and she’s been hiding out somewhere in the galaxy. Since I’m a seeker, I’ve been searching everywhere I go to for any sign, but so far there has been no trace of her anywhere.”

The D’Aire had the ability to do mind scans on people. It was a dangerous practice that required permission from the participant or it could do more damage than good. Some select few were able to sense the thoughts and emotions of others without touching or even being close to them.

They were called seekers, and Orion D’Sil was one of them.

“She must have help,” Tavius said. “There is no way she could have gotten away without being found if she didn’t have some aid. It’s a good thing the war is almost over on Tartarus, though.”

They spent the rest of the meal talking about war and all the changes that were happening on Tartarus. Mya personally thought that watching a female Dragon Warrior take over a planet that was dominated by male Tarin warriors would be worth paying to see with her own eyes.

When the conversation circled back to the search for Quilla and strategies on how they could find her, Mya excused herself from the table for a few minutes. Orion waited until she left before he gave Tavius a sharp look.

“Before she returns, I feel I have to mention something. If you hurt her, I’ll have to kill you. And that’s if I get to you before her brothers and fathers do.”

“I have no intention of hurting her,” Tavius said.

“Intentions don’t mean shit when it comes to family,” Orion countered.

Tavius met the other male’s eyes, letting him see the conviction in his gaze. “She is our mate, Orion. Maddox, Daimon and I will protect and care for her until our last breath. She just doesn’t know it yet.”

The D’Aire visibly relaxed and smiled. “I’ll offer you my congratulations…and luck in getting her to agree.”

When Mya returned to the table, they left the restaurant together. Orion told them he was going to stop by to see Maddox, Daimon and a few other friends before he left New Vega. Before they parted ways, Orion made both of them promise to come visit him on the D’Aire home world. Tavius immediately said they would the next time New Vega went by his planet.

Mya liked thinking that she would still be in a relationship with the Adaro brothers when it came time to visit Orion. After they watched the D’Aire walk away, Tavius turned to Mya and said, “There is something that I’d like to show you. Will you come with me?”

“Sure. Just as long as it’s not on the lower levels,” she said jokingly.

After he assured her it wasn’t, there was a companionable silence between them as they took the elevator up to the second level. Mya was curious as they walked to a section of the floor she hadn’t been down yet. They stopped in front of a set of large double doors, and she saw from the plaque off to the side that it was a private holo-room strictly for VIP guests.

Instead of entering the room, Tavius paused and took her hands in his. “I’ve messed up quite a few times today—”

“No, you haven’t. Tavius, I’m so sorry about overreacting earlier. Spending the day with you has been wonderful, and I—”

He smiled as he put a finger to her lips to stop her. “I’m glad you feel that way. Now, I want to give you something. It’s something that I’ve been working on over the last few days, and I’d like to share it with you.”

“You have me curious now.”

He pressed a button on the control panel next to the door. “Begin Alpha Tavius, Mya program one.”

“Program is activated and running.”

The door to the holo-room slid opened, and they stepped forward into a winter wonderland. Mya let out a little gasp and her boots sunk into the snow as she looked around. She was so delighted by what she saw, she barely heard the doors slide shut behind them, closing them into a whole different world.

The sky wasn’t just a dreary gray that so often occurred when it snowed, but had a silvery cast to it. The pale sun shone behind puffy clouds, providing enough light to give the setting a magical glow. Evergreens with snow covered tips surrounded the small clearing. The trees looked like sentries, creating a natural barrier that protected them from the wind that made the flakes dance through the air.

Mya lifted her hand, catching a few snowflakes on her palm. They stayed perfectly formed for a few seconds, then they turned into droplets of warm water that slid off her skin. That surprised her. Actually, her entire body was comfortably warm despite the cold, wintery scene. She turned to blink at Tavius, and watched his lips curve into a smile.

“You said you missed watching the seasons change. Especially snow. I figured I could give that to you, but thought, why deal with the cold?”

Mya’s eyes filled, blurring her vision. His gift was so unexpected, so sweet and thoughtful that her throat constricted with emotions. “I…this is…”

Tavius’ smile faded as he saw her eyes were swimming with unshed tears. “I didn’t mean to make you sad. If you want me to end the—” His words were cut off as she threw herself at him. She pressed her face against his chest as her arms wrapped around him, holding him in a tight embrace. “So, does this mean you like it?”

“Like it?” She sniffed. “No, I don’t like it. I love it. Thank you.” She lifted her face up so she was looking up at him with drenched eyes. The tears made her gray eyes sparkle like twin stars.

“I don’t like seeing you cry. Even happy tears,” he murmured as he stroked her cheek. Unable to help himself, he leaned down. He was pleased when she rose up to meet him halfway so their lips met in a soft kiss.

Wrapping his arm around her, he pulled her closer. Fire flashed through his body as she pressed against him, her soft body molding against his hard frame. His tongue teased the seam of her lips and she opened for him, allowing him entrance into her sweet heat.

His body shuddered as he took the kiss deeper. Need burned as their tongues tangled, teasing and tasting. He slid his hand into her long, black hair, holding her still for him as he plundered her mouth, stroking his tongue deep, over and over.

When she pulled back they were both panting for breath. “I’m all wet.”

Thank the gods.

In an instant, Tavius’ cock was rock hard. He wanted to strip her naked to feel just how wet she was for himself. He’d use his fingers and his tongue and—

His lustful thoughts were cut off when she laughed and playfully shook her head, sending a shower of water droplets cascading out. It took him a moment to realize she’d done it again. Her innocent comment had gone careening into his head, turning into a seductive invitation that he was desperate to act on.

A low growl of need escaped him before he could hold it back. She looked so damn beautiful, with her hair slightly wet from the snow, and happiness shining from her gray eyes. Mya was a temptress. One he was powerless against.

He was struggling to regain control of himself when she bit her lower lip nervously. “You can’t do that,” he growled softly.

“Do what?”

“Bite that pretty pink lip. It makes me want another taste, but I won’t stop there.”

“You...you won’t?” she asked breathlessly.

He slowly shook his head. “I want you, Mya. I want your skin against mine, your legs wrapped around me. There won’t be an inch of you that I won’t touch, stroke and taste. I want to learn what you like. What makes you shiver. And when I do, I’ll do it over and over again until I have you screaming my name as you come.”

“Oh my…”

“Once you are hot and wet for me, I’ll slide my cock deep inside you, filling you full of me. Your body will welcome me, needing me to satisfy the ache that will build inside you. And I will. I’ll give you pleasure, fulfill your every need. But not until you’re ready. If you want me to wait, I will. For as long as you need. But don’t push me. If you issue an invitation, I’m going to take it, and there will be no going back.”

Mya had to clear her throat before she could speak. Her breathing was fast, her heart thundering rapidly in her chest. She saw the hunger burning in his dark eyes, and felt singed to her core. “I…I knew you were good with words, but I didn’t have a clue just how good you were.”

“Sweetheart, you have no idea just how good I can be.”

Holy nova!

Her knees went weak from the sensual promise in his voice, and she knew she had a decision to make. Right now. Then she realized the choice was already made. She wanted him just as much as he wanted her, and there was no reason to hold back.

Be bold, she told herself. This was the excitement she’d been craving. To be wanted like this by a male who made her skin tingle with anticipation and her heart beat with pulsing need. “Are you sure you’re up to fulfilling that promise?”

“I always keep my promises, tava.”

There was that word again. It was driving her crazy not knowing what it meant, but she didn’t care about that right now. She was ready to take the next step with him. “Show me, Tavius. Show me how much you want me.”

He growled before slamming his mouth back down on hers in a heated kiss. His tongue plunged deep, showing her without words how much he desired her. Pleasure exploded inside her when she felt the hard, hot length of his cock against her stomach. She met his passion with her own as she leaned against his strong, muscular body, rubbing against him sensually.

He ripped his mouth away from hers and snarled, “Computer. Begin Alpha Tavius, Mya program two.”

“Program is activated and running.”

Around them, the snow stopped. The day had turned to night in the blink of an eye, and a million stars glittered overhead. The winter landscape remained, but a small ice castle appeared in the center of the clearing. Mya’s eyes widened when she saw it, and she let out a gasp as he swept her into his arms. He strode through the entrance of the ice castle, taking her to a huge bed covered with silky silver colored sheets.

He set her on her feet again and slowly lowered to his knees before her. Balancing one of her feet on his knee, he pulled the zipper of her boot down, then tossed it aside. After her second boot was removed, he gripped her waist and pulled her close, pressing kissed on her stomach through the material of her dress. Her hands lifted to cradle his head, stroking the soft strands of his dark hair back from his face.

His head lifted so his dark eyes met hers. “You are a gift, Mya. A treasure beyond compare.”

She felt seduced. Completely taken over by him.

Touching him, she sensed the truth of his words. The way he felt about her took her breath away. It was like being handed a dream, to have such a powerful male down on his knees in front of her. She wanted to lift her dress off, to remove any barriers between them, but she held herself still…waiting.

Tavius’ nostrils flared as he scented her sweet heat. The beast inside him stirred, pushing him to rip off her clothes so he could cover her body with his. He wanted to spread her thighs wide and shove into her, taking her until neither of them could move.

But he couldn’t. She was far too delicate for that. He might hurt her if he simply pounced on her like a wild animal. No, she deserved romance, gentle touches and soft kisses, but he was so hard, he felt as if his cock was going to rip right through his pants.

Waiting was no longer an option.

He wanted her so damn bad, his hands were shaking as he reached for the hem of her dress. Lifting it slowly, he watched her eyes to gage her reaction.

“I’ve imagined this moment since the first time I saw you. I wanted you then, and my need had grown stronger with every passing minute.”

Mya heard the need in his strained voice. The intensity of his gaze held hers, making it impossible for her to look away. Not that she wanted to. She could stare at him for hours…days. Taking her courage in hand, she caught the bottom of her dress and quickly lifted it. She jerked it over her head, tossing it to the floor.

Tavius felt like he’d taken a blow to the stomach as he stared at the vision before him. Mya was naked. Completely, utterly bare. His voice was strained when he could finally speak. “You are absolutely perfect. All day you’ve been walking around with nothing underneath your dress?”

Her cheeks flooded with color. “I…wanted to feel sexy when I was with you today. Pia suggested it might help me get over my nerves when I was with you.”

“May the gods bless her.” Feeling her shaking slightly, he gentled her by stroking his hands lightly over her hips, down her legs, then back again. Her big gray eyes were watching him with a combination of desire and fear. It was the fear that made him fight for control. “You’re nervous around me?”

Her head bobbed in a jerky nod. “You…all of you. But from the second we met, you made me want…I need you, Tavius. I—”

In a heartbeat, he was up on his feet, his mouth fused to hers in a searing kiss. He groaned as he tried to keep his lips on hers while he undressed. The sound of fabric tearing cut through the silence, but he didn’t care.

When he was naked, he lifted her and laid her back on the center of the large bed. He lowered her massive body over her, careful to keep some of his weight off as he kept kissing her. Moving one hand between them, he cupped her breast. He pinched her small nipple, drinking down her cry as she squirmed beneath him.

Her legs and arms wrapped around him, holding him to her as he pushed inside her, sliding deep into her slick pussy. She welcomed him in, her tight muscles parting for him until the head of his cock was lodged against the entrance to her womb.

Rotating his hips, he waited as she adjusted to his invasion. He loved the way her tight pussy clenched at his cock. She felt so damn good wrapped around him, he thought he’d go insane from the pleasure.

“You okay?”

“More than okay. You feel so good inside me.”

Tavius pulled his hips back before thrusting deep again, repeating the motion with long, slow strokes. “You’re so tight…so perfect. It’s better than I dreamed.”

“Tavius, I…”

“Tell me what you want, sweetheart. Tell me, and I’ll give it to you.”

She blushed furiously. “I was wondering if I could be on top.”

Tavius sucked in a sharp breath, then rolled them so she was sitting on his cock, her legs straddling his hips. They both groaned as she sank all the way down on him, clenching her muscles around him tight.

“It’s different this way,” he explained as he reached up to cup her breasts. “With you on top of me, I can play with your beautiful breasts. You like that, don’t you?”

Mya moaned as he pinched both of her nipples, then massaged them lightly. Last night, she’d been so overwhelmed by Maddox that she’d let him take complete control of their lovemaking. But with Tavius, she felt safe asking to be allowed to change their position. She lifted her hips, feeling every inch of him sliding out of her, then she slowly lowered herself back down. “I want to please you, but I don’t really know how. Am I doing it right?”

“Stars, yes. You please me, Mya. Trust me, I’ll enjoy anything you do to me.”

She smiled down at him and wiggled a little, feeling his big cock flex and jerk inside of her. “I think I can feel how much you enjoy this.”

Humor forgotten, he growled, “Fuck my cock, sweetheart. Ride me for your pleasure.”

“Our pleasure,” she corrected, and watched his eyes darken with approval.

Bracing her hands on his chest, she started to move faster, sliding up and down his cock as she stared into his passion-filled eyes. She felt the tension building in her body, warning her that she was close to coming. Racing toward it, her movements became erratic, her leg muscles beginning to tremble. He gripped her waist and thrust up into her, helping to guide her when she lost the rhythm.

After a few more strokes, she ground herself against him hard as her orgasm tore through her. She tried to cry out, but his name came out in a whimper as wave after wave of pleasure pulsed through her body. The force of her release left her shaky and weak, and she fell forward, only to be caught safely in strong arms.

“My turn…”

Mya didn’t understand until Tavius rolled again, taking her beneath him once more. Her breath left in gasps as he began pounding into her, shaking her entire body with each forceful thrust.

“You are mine, Mya. Say it. Tell me now!”

“I am,” she cried out, lost in the pleasure he was giving her. “I’m yours!”

Tavius growled with the satisfaction of hearing the words. He continued to drive himself into her over and over until his world dissolved. He let out a wild roar as he exploded inside her, jetting his seed into her with hard, hot pulses.

And in that moment, he knew that nothing would ever be the same.

***

CHAPTER ELEVEN

It’s now or never…

Mya paced back and forth in front of the Adaro’s suite, trying to get the courage to knock on the door. Maddox and Tavius were both working, but she knew Daimon was inside…and he was the one she wanted to see.

She had spent the night making love with Tavius. Her time with him in the holo-room had been magical, and it had only continued when they’d gotten dressed, laughing and whispering together like two naughty children as they hurried down the hallway back to her suite.

Tavius had a way of making her feel like she was the only person in the world when she was with him. There was a bond between them that was different than the one she had with the oldest Adaro brother. With Maddox, there was intense passion, a deep need that drew them together like magnets. Her connection with Tavius was just as strong, but there was a lighter feel to it. He was playful and sweet, a friend as well as a lover.

He’d ordered them up a delicious meal from a Krytos restaurant when they’d gotten back to her suite. It had surprised her when he insisted on feeding her by hand, but she’d just gone with it, joining in the fun by feeding him in return.

After they’d eaten, he’d introduced her to the pleasure of showering with a male. They took their time cleaning one another. Because he was so open with her, Mya felt comfortable touching him and exploring his magnificent body. But when she’d tried to take his cock into her mouth, he’d jerked her up into his arms, carrying her into the bedroom where he’d made desperate love to her on the bed.

They’d fallen asleep with her sprawled over his chest, and had woken in the same position when his wrist unit alarm had gone off. He’d obviously learned from his brother’s mistake, because Tavius made sure she knew he had to leave for a meeting with some of the TechCon sponsors. She’d waved him away, then had immediately fallen back to sleep.

When she’d woken up a few hours later, she discovered messages from both Maddox and Tavius. They both told her that they would be busy with meetings until late that night, and that Daimon had been up the previous night working with the crew to fix the damage from a fire that had broken out in one of the kitchens. She loved that they had both contacted her, but it confused her because the messages were so similar, since it made her think that they weren’t discussing their time together with her.

Was that how all multiple couples acted?

Wanting an answer to that, she’d contacted Pia, but she’d only gotten more confused when her friend came over. Mya had seen the concern flash in Pia’s eyes when she’d told her about being with two of the brothers, and it had made her worry. It wasn’t that she was ashamed about being with them, but she did feel a little guilty.

Both Maddox and Tavius had been possessive with her. They had insisted that she tell them that she belonged to them, but they hadn’t said anything about being with all three of them, together. It was like she had separate relationships with each of them that they knew about, but didn’t want to discuss.

Mya and Pia both didn’t know much about the Krytos, since the race as a whole liked to keep personal details to themselves. When Pia suggested that Mya talk to Kahla, she opted not to. While Kahla was a new friend and a valuable source of information, she was still the Adaro brothers’ cousin. Talking to her about sex with Maddox, Tavius and Daimon just seemed…complicated.

Last night, she and Tavius had talked about their families and their pasts. She’d told him what her life had been like on Earth. In turn, he told her how they had come to own New Vega, and how much hard work had gone into making it the empire it was today.

He’d briefly mentioned the loss of his parents, but had quickly moved on to talking about his brothers. According to him, Maddox was a workaholic that didn’t know when to stop trying to oversee everything. And Daimon closed himself off so much sometimes, that it was difficult for even his brothers to reach him.

Reading between the lines, Mya figured out that it might take Daimon a long time to make a move. He was quiet and contemplative, but he had kissed her. She knew he wanted her, but she didn’t know how to go about getting him to do something about it.

She’d spent the rest of the afternoon fretting about it, then decided to take action. Perhaps Maddox and Tavius were holding back because she hadn’t taken the next step with Daimon yet. If that was the case, it was about to change.

Which was why Mya was outside the door of their suite.

She was determined to take control of the situation and…stars, she wasn’t sure what she was going to do. Mya considered trying seduction, but the problem with that was she didn’t know how.

When she’d asked Pia, she’d gotten a long, convoluted battle plan that had made her head hurt. She was trying to get a male’s interest, not conquer a planet. Taking another route, Mya had contacted Reva and asked her what she should do to seduce a male. That hadn’t been helpful either.

Reva’s response had been simple—just get naked.

Disappointed with their answers, Mya decided to use a combination of both. But first, she was going to have to actually knock on the damn door. Taking a deep breath, she did just that. After waiting several heartbeats, she frowned when the door didn’t open. She jumped when her wrist unit signaled. Looking down, she saw that it was Maddox contacting her.

Pressing a button, she smiled when Maddox’s face popped onto the small screen, but frowned again when he immediately asked, “What’s wrong?”

“What? Why? And is that anyway to greet someone? Is that how you make vid calls to all people or just to me?”

His tight expression softened, and he smiled ruefully at her. “Hello, Mya.”

“Better.”

He laughed. “I will try harder next time. Is there something you need?”

“What? No. I’m so confused. You contacted me, remember?” she reminded him slowly.

His eyes narrowed. “Is that another dig about my age?”

She bit her lower lip, trying to stop the laughter from spilling out. “You’re the one who started all that.”

He grumbled for a second. “I was just contacting you to see if there was something you needed since you’ve been standing outside our suite for the last ten minutes.”

Mya lost sight of Maddox when she started waving her arms around in agitation. “Seriously? You’re spying on me again?”

“I’m not spying…exactly,” he insisted over the link. “Mya, can you stop waving your arm around. I’m getting a little queasy watching your image bounce around.”

“You deserve it,” She muttered. She may have done what he asked and lowered her arm, but her voice rose. “What the hell is wrong with you?”

A door opened down the hall, and Mikal came out. “What’s wrong?”

Mya felt her eye twitch when Mikal repeated the same stupid question that Maddox had said as soon as she’d answered his call. “Go away,” she yelled back. “This doesn’t concern you.”

Mikal leaned against the wall near the door to his suite and crossed his arms over his chest as he smiled. “You’re yelling. That’s never a good sign.” He turned his head and called out, “Hey, Ry, Pia, Mya’s pissed about something. She’s yelling at someone, and this time it isn’t us.”

“Yeah?” Ryland said as he stepped out into the hallway. “Who you yelling at, Mya?”

“Oh, for the love of…” Mya closed her eyes and tried taking a deep breath.

Her eyes popped back open when the door in front of her slide open, and a sleepy-eyed Daimon stood framed in the doorway. His chest was bare, and all he had on was a pair of thin drawstring pants that did nothing to hide his impressive erection.

She didn’t realize she was staring, until Daimon reached out and tilted her chin up. The amusement in his dark eyes had her cheeks flooding with heat. “Ahh…”

“Mya?”

“Crap…sorry…I just…”

Double crap! Why couldn’t she speak?

“Daimon?” Maddox’s voice came from her wrist unit. “Is she well?”

Tilting her wrist toward him, Daimon saw his brother’s face. “It sounds like she is angry with you, brother.”

“Yes, she is,” Mya confirmed, coming back to herself. She pulled her arm away from Daimon so she could glare at Maddox. “You and I are going to have to have a serious talk about your stalker issues.”

“I am watching out for your safety,” Maddox growled.

That left her sputtering. “You…that’s—”

“You’re not helping matters. I’ll handle this,” Daimon announced to his brother before disconnecting the call. He pulled gently on Mya’s arm, taking her with him into his suite. The doors slid shut behind them, but as Mya looked around the room, she just got more annoyed by the situation.

She hadn’t seen the inside of their suite before now. Maddox or Tavius had stayed with her in her own suite, and neither of them had invited her into their own space.

What was up with that?

The doorway opened into a large living room area that was filled with furniture made of black wood and dark brown leather. Dark wood covered the floors, and the walls were painted a light mocha. It was a classy room, but Mya thought it was in desperate need of some splashes of color.

There was a large kitchen area off to the left that looked like it had never been used. Noticing the elaborate food console, she figured that the brothers didn’t need to cook food. Not when they could order up anything they wanted from the numerous restaurants on New Vega at whim. She didn’t blame them. It wasn’t exactly like she knew what she was doing in the kitchen either. Give her a bolt of material, and she could make a dress that other people would die for, but give her a pot of water, and she’d find some way to burn it.

Daimon watched silently as she started to pace in front of him. He leaned back against the wall and crossed his arms over his chest, content just to look at her. He’d worked late and had been sleeping when he’d heard the commotion in the hallway outside their suite. He’d been pissed because it had interrupted a damn good dream he’d been having about Mya, but when he’d opened the door and saw her standing there, all he wanted to do was pick her up and carry her back to bed with him.

She looked beautiful in long, flowing violet-colored dress that seemed to float around her ankles. She had white sandals on her small feet, and her hair had been twisted up on the top of her hair using some sort of clip. He liked when her dark hair was down more, and had the urge to remove the clip so he could run his hands through the silky strands. But she didn’t look like she had thoughts of loving on her mind.

“Want to tell me why you’re so upset?”

She stopped pacing to glare at him. “Your brother is so annoying.”

His lips twitched. “Which one? Both of them can get pretty annoying sometimes.”

Pointing a finger at him, she said, “You think this is funny.”

He held his hands up in front of him, smart enough to be wary of a female when she was angry. “I just want to know what made you mad, Mya.”

“Maddox was spying on me…again! That has to stop. He saw that I was outside your suite on the security monitors. That wasn’t the first time. I was all set to come in here to see you to—” she cut herself off. “But then he contacted me and I got mad, and now it’s all ruined.”

Daimon didn’t know exactly what she meant, but he was pleased that she had sought him out. He knew that she’d been with Tavius the night before, and Maddox had already informed him of the time he’d spent with her. He wanted to know exactly why she had come to him, but the sadness in her eyes made him want to soothe her first.

“Mya, this section of the second level is just for friends and family. When you came here, we blocked off the rest of the level from accessing this section, but people can still get to it through the security area near our offices. Maddox just wants to protect you. We all do.”

Her shoulders slumped. “It’s just that I thought it would be different here.”

He walked over to her and rubbed his hands up and down her bare arms. For a moment he was distracted by how soft her skin felt, but he forced himself to focus again. “You’ve had guards your entire life. Who you are makes you a target, and the people who care about you want to protect you. That isn’t a bad thing, but it is a reality.” He pulled her to him and was pleased when her arms wrapped around his waist. “We want to protect you, too.”

“I know,” she said, sounding more resigned. “I should be grateful, but I just wish I didn’t need to have guards or people watching me on security.”

“If it makes you feel any better, Maddox has security guards watching over me and Tavius, too.”

“Seriously?” She tilted her head back so she could look at him. “And you let him?”

Daimon shrugged. “It makes him feel better to know we’re safe. It’s annoying at times, but he can’t help himself. I think it’s because he is the oldest. He hovers. He’s been this way since we lost our parents.”

Mya realized that Maddox watched out for his brothers and cousins because they were all the family he had left. And she was now included in that group. A rush of pleasure that swept through her at that thought. “I guess I shouldn’t be mad about it, then.”

“Not mad. You can be annoyed, though.”

“I guess that will have to be enough.” She let out a little laugh, then wanted to protest when he let go of her and stepped back.

“So, you said you came here to see me for a reason?”

Biting at her lower lip, Mya wondered what she should say. She’d come here to ask if he liked her, hadn’t she? Stars, what was she, twelve? She couldn’t ask him that. And the seduction plan really wasn’t going to work now either. Not that she had any clue how to go about doing that beside taking off her dress and throwing herself at him like Reva had suggested.

Giving up, she whispered, “I just wanted to know if you wanted…”

Daimon was glad that he’d taken the time to visit the bathroom to use his nano-cleaner before he’d gone to check out what was going on in the hallway. Because when understanding dawned about why she was there, he just had to kiss her.

He stepped forward and pulled her back into arms slowly, giving her time to protest if she wanted to. But she didn’t. Bending down, he brushed his lips over hers. Her mouth opened for him, and his tongue swept inside, stroking against hers. His body heated, and his erection grew heavy and thick. Daimon wanted to strip her down so he could take her right there, but Mya deserved better.

Making a quick decision, he pulled back. “There is something I’d like to share with you. Come.” He took her hand and pulled her with him down a long hallway.

Mya was quiet as she willingly went with him. She held her breath as they passed the brothers’ three large bedrooms, and felt a tinge of disappointment when he didn’t lead her into his room. Instead, they headed toward the bathroom that he and his brothers shared. Before they walked into the room, Mya noticed another doorway at the end of the hall, and she absently wondered what was behind the closed door.

“We like our space, and our suite is our refuge. Our place to relax. Over the years, we expanded our living quarters with the suite next door. We combined the two bathrooms, and made it into something…special. It is now my favorite room on the entire vessel.”

Mya wasn’t sure what to expect as they stepped into the bathroom. The first thing she saw were three large sinks on one side of the room, while opposite that was a single sink with lots of counter space on either side. The floor was a mixture of different colored stone squares, and the counter top was a dark-gray marble shot through with veins of gold and silver. Beyond that were two small separate rooms where the toilets were located. It was a nice bathroom, spacious and exceptionally designed, but she wasn’t sure why he was so excited to show it to her until they turned the corner.

Hidden from view from the bathroom entrance was a tropical paradise. Instead of a shower and bath area, there was a large lagoon filled with pink water, complete with a small waterfall that continuously fed more water into the pool. Lush plants surrounded the lagoon, clinging to the rocks and stones that covered the walls of the spectacular grotto. A few stone benches were placed around the exterior of the sunken pool, and the warm air was perfumed with the fragrance of sweet flowers that bloomed on the vines hanging from the ceiling.

“What is this? How is this possible?” she gasped.

Daimon smiled at the look of wonder on her face. He felt his heart beat faster, and had to remind himself to keep breathing. “Unfortunately, I can’t take credit for this. The first time the Dragon Warriors Xavier, Galan, Thorn and Brydan came to New Vega, they created this for us.”

“I know them. They’re mated to my friend Alexis.”

“Did you hear she just had her babies? She had twin boys…Gideon and Kadan. They’re all still on Tartarus visiting with Katra and Jaden Tor.”

She had a wistful expression on her face when she said, “Twins. That’s so wonderful.”

“The Dragon Warriors are an interesting race. We had them over for drinks one night. We enjoyed their company, and liked hearing the stories about their travels. Before they left, they said they wanted to give us a gift. At first we refused, but they insisted. When my brothers refused to say anything, I asked them to show me a memory they had of the Krytos home planet, since we have never seen it. I thought they would show me a projection or something, but they gave us this instead.”

He looked around the beautiful grotto, thinking back to the shock he’d felt the first time he’d seen it. The Dragon Warriors had used their magic to do a little remodeling, and their gift had been the reason the brothers had expanded their quarters. The lagoon used to be the bathroom of the suite next door, which had fortunately been empty at the time, but he didn’t mind. How could he when they created something so spectacular for him and his brothers?

“This is a replica of a place they had visited when our home world still existed. Brydan added the additional gift of water from the Dragon Warrior home planet. It’s a little thicker than what we are used to—almost like gel—but it has healing properties and cleanses without the use of any additional products.”

“I’ve heard about it, but I just never thought I’d have the opportunity to see it. To have something like this on your ship…it’s amazing.”

He nodded. “I’m still a little sore from last night’s work, so I was considering taking a bath when I woke. I hope you will join me.”

She sent him an impish grin. “Pass up the chance to take a magical bath in a setting that no longer exists? How could I possibly say no to that?”

“Wonderful,” Daimon said. “Why don’t you get in the water while I go get us something to drink?”

Mya opened her mouth to speak, then closed it again. She blinked, once, twice, then just shook her head. It didn’t really matter if she wanted that drink or not.

Because he was already gone.

***

CHAPTER TWELVE

Mya let out a sigh as she sat down on one of the stones benches and bent down to take her sandals off. Daimon had hurried from the room so fast it was a wonder there weren’t skid marks from his boots on the stone floor. At least he had invited her to stay, she thought. That was something.

But why hadn’t he wanted to undress her himself?

She rose and removed her dress, then peered over the side of the lagoon to stare down at the pink water. It was strange looking, and she was curious to see what magical water from another planet felt like. Taking a deep breath, she walked down the stone steps leading into the sunken pool, and gasped as the warm gel-like water surrounded her body.

She looked down and saw that there were stone benches under the water around the sides of the pool. After sitting down, she leaned her head back, closed her eyes, and let the strange water soothe her. Daimon had been right. It was thicker than she was used to, but it felt good. In fact, it felt absolutely wonderful, like the water was soaking into every pore to cleanse and relax her from the inside out.

Opening her eyes again, she looked around. From where she was sitting, it was easy to forget that she was on a space vessel. It felt like she was on another world. To be given a glimpse at a planet that had been destroyed long ago was a wonderful gift.

Curious, she lifted her hand up and touched her finger to her tongue. The water didn’t have a taste. Maybe it was a little salty, but nothing like the ocean water from home. She sunk lower, bracing her hands on the bench below her to stop from being submerged completely. As the water covered her hair, there was a slight tingling sensation, then it faded, leaving her feeling completely clean and relaxed.

She sat again and tilted her head to the side as Daimon walk back into the room. He was carrying two glasses and a sapphire blue bottle she knew well. “Ahava wine?”

“I know you like it,” he admitted with a sheepish grin.

“Thank you.” She sighed. “I guess you know all about my night out with the girls.”

“I know you had a bit too much to drink that night,” he said as he poured the wine into both glasses. He handed her one of the glasses, then set the bottle and the other glass down on the side of the pool. “I’m glad you had fun, but we were worried when your guards had to carry you back to your room.”

He seemed to hesitate for a moment before he shoved his pants off his hips, kicking them to the side so he was naked. Mya knew it was probably rude to stare, but she couldn’t look away from his beautiful body.

She lifted her glass to her lips and took a big gulp of the pale-blue liquid to ease her dry throat. All the Adaro brothers were strong and fit, but Daimon was a little shorter than the other two, and thicker with muscle. His cock was hard, jutting out from between his thighs to curve upwards toward his stomach. She noticed that his shaft looked a little thicker than his brothers’, and the sight of it made her want to reach out and touch him.

Daimon walked down the steps slowly, and Mya missed the sight of his body as he sank into the warm water. When her gaze lifted, her eyes met his. She saw the raw hunger blazing back at her, but he simply reached for his glass of wine and sat down on the bench angling toward her instead of acting on the need she saw.

It was clear that he wanted her, but he wasn’t going to do anything about it?

Damn it.

Mya took another sip, then put her glass down. “Is this weird? It feels weird. I mean, we’re sitting here naked, and I’ve seen you…obviously. But you haven’t seen me. And we kissed before, but then you told me to leave. And now you left before I took off my dress as if you didn’t want to see me…”

Daimon’s hand had frozen in place with his glass halfway to his lips during her rambling, and now that she paused, he put the glass down. “Mya? Are you telling me you doubt that I want you?”

“You might want me, but you might not want to want me.”

His expression tightened with frustration. “I have no clue what that means.”

Stars, she was not explaining this well. How could she when she barely understood it herself? “I just don’t want things to be weird between us. You know that I was with your brothers, and that just makes all of this seem…”

“Weird?” There was tenderness in his voice when he said, “Little star, come here.”

Reaching out, he pulled her onto his lap so she was sitting sideway with her legs dangling off one of his thighs. She could feel his erection pressing against her hip, and forced herself not to wiggle to try and get closer to him.

He brushed his lips across hers in a gentle kiss, then looked into her eyes. “If you’re worried that I don’t want you as much as my brothers, you’re wrong. Each of us has wanted time with you. Time to get to know you, but for you to get to know us as well. The three of us are different. Some people don’t see that.”

“I do,” she whispered. “I see you…all of you.”

“And that’s part of the reason we want you. If I had stayed in here while you undressed, I would have taken you. I don’t want to rush things. I want to give you time before being with me.”

She used her finger to traced the ridge of his collarbone. “I came here today to seduce you.”

Daimon’s felt his blood heat at the thought. “You did?”

He watched her flush as she admitted, “Well, I was going to try to, but I really don’t know what I’m doing so—”

“Mya, all you have to do is breathe and I’m seduced.”

“Really?”

The hopeful tone of her voice told him everything he needed to know. She was innocent in the ways of males, and she had taken his restraint as disinterest. He couldn’t fight his need for her anymore. He gripped her hair in his hand, jerking her head back so he could slam his mouth down on hers.

There was nothing gentle about him now. She’d unleashed the beast within him, and there was no going back. His kiss was a claiming. Taking her with a brutal passion so that there would be no doubt in her mind about how much he wanted her. Torturing himself, he asked, “How were you going to seduce me, Mya?”

“I don’t really know. I figured if all else failed, I’d try to kiss you…down there.”

He froze at her words, his eyes going wide. “You want to do that for me?”

Mya was puzzled by the shock she heard in his voice. “You wouldn’t like that?”

“Oh, I’d love it. It’s just that my seed shoots too hard and hot for you to drink me down. You would choke, and I can’t allow that.”

It all made sense now. Tavius had stopped her from using her mouth on him, but she hadn’t known why. Pia had told her all men loved when a woman went down on them, so Mya didn’t understand why they hadn’t given her a chance to please them…but now she understood.

They were seriously all going to have to work on their communication skills.

“I can take you in my mouth without you finishing, can’t we?”

It startled her when Daimon quickly gripped her around her waist and set her down on the bench next to him. He lifted himself out of the water so he was sitting on one of the flat rocks at the edge of the pool. The water slid off his body, but left his skin glowing in the soft light shining down on them from the ceiling.

“My body is yours to explore whenever and however you like,” he growled as he fisted himself with his large hand. “But I hope you know what you’re asking for.”

He looked like a sexual god sitting before her with his big cock in his hand. She gathered her courage, and took the plunge. “I want to do this. I want to please you. Just…will you let me know if I do anything wrong?”

Fire burned in the dark depths of his eyes. “Anyway you touch me will be magic.”

Taking his word for it, her gaze lowered, focusing on his hard cock. It was large and thick, and slightly darker than the rest of his golden body. The mushroomed head was bigger than a human man. Not that Mya had any up close personal experience, but she’d seen enough images to know the basics.

She was fascinated by the way the shaft pulsed, moving slightly as he seemed to swell before her eyes. A drop of pearly liquid appeared at the tip from the tiny hole at the end, and it made her want to taste it.

“Mya, if you don’t want to—”

His words cut off on a low growl when she leaned forward and lapped at the drop of pre-cum with her tongue. His cock jerked hard when she did it again. She looked up at him through veiled lashes to gage his reaction. Daimon looked fierce. His expression would have terrified her if she didn’t feel the shock of pleasure racing through him as she placed one of her hands on his thigh, and used the other to remove his hand on his cock, replacing it with her own.

“Quit teasing me, Mya. Open your mouth for me. Open for me and suck it.”

Following his command, she opened her mouth wide and took him in. She wrapped her lips around his cock, stroking at the drops of liquid that continued to form at the top of the head with her tongue. He was the perfect combination of sweet and salty.

His taste was addicting, and she wanted more.

A harsh groan tore from his throat as she worked her mouth over him, taking him deeper. She felt his hands shove into her wet hair, tight enough to hold onto her, but still allowing her to set her own pace.

There was power in giving. She had control over him. His pleasure belonged to her, and she could give or take it at will. It made her feel wild and free. Feeling more confident, she took more of him in until the head of his cock hit the back of her throat, then had to pull back quickly when she gagged.

Damn it.

It didn’t look like she would be declaring herself the goddess of blow jobs just yet.

“I’m too big for you to take all of me. Go easy, tava. Slow and easy.”

Irritation sparked. She knew he was trying to be helpful, to make it easier on her since she lacked experience, but she wanted him out of his mind with the pleasure she gave him. Ignoring him, she began to move faster, using her mouth and tongue ruthlessly on him. She started moving her hand on his cock, using it to stroke the part of his shaft that she couldn’t take inside her mouth.

She felt his body tense, and glanced back up at him. It almost looked like he was in pain now, and her own body tingled at the hunger she saw blazing in his dark eyes.

“No more,” he growled. “It feels too fucking good, I can’t stand it.”

Daimon pulled her head away from him, and his cock left her mouth. He wanted to snarl at the loss of her sweet mouth on him, but he was too close to coming to risk it. Sliding off the rock so he was back in the water, he lifted her easily into his arms and claimed her mouth with his. Need pulsed through him. When she surrendered and parted for him, he sank into her, tongue delving deep.

The kiss continued as he carried her over to the steps of the pool. She automatically wrapped her legs around his hips, and he growled as her pussy rubbed against his engorged shaft. He stumbled as the head of his cock lodged at the entrance of her pussy before he could get them out of the water. Reaching out a hand, he braced them before they both fell, then he swore as she gripped his shoulders and pushed down at his cock.

Fuck!

Daimon had wanted to taste her. To fuck her with his tongue and his fingers to make sure she was ready for him, but that plan was blown to hell now. Lowering them to the top step of the pool, he slid deeper as he shifted their position. The look on her face and her soft moan of pleasure was almost enough to make him come, but he didn’t want to spill his seed yet.

He needed to claim her and make her his first.

“Hold on, tava,” he commanded. “This is going to be hard and fast.”

With that warning given, he pulled out of her and flipped her over so that she was kneeling in front of him. The water hit her mid-thigh, but her hands were braced on the edge of the pool. He gripped her hips hard and surged into her from behind. Daimon had never felt anything as good as being buried to the hilt inside Mya’s tight, hot pussy. Control shattered, his hips pistoned against her, thrusting his cock into her in a jarring rhythm.

Water splashed around them, but he didn’t care. He spread his own legs apart further to get a better angle, then slammed his hips forward again, using the full force of his body. The desire to taste her blood came out of nowhere, and he bit his own lip to stop himself from sinking his fangs deep into her shoulder.

Mya moaned as he speared into her. The water had worked its magic on her body, easing the soreness she’d felt after last night so she only felt the pleasure of Daimon’s massive length sliding into her. Soft gasps spilled from her lips with each thrust.

His large body came down over hers, covering her back with his front. She was caged, captured by him as one of his arms wound around her holding her tight to him while his other hand held onto the edge of the pool next to hers. She moved her hand over his, connecting them together as he rode her hard, thrusting deep, faster and faster until she began to shake beneath him.

His hand moved lower, seeking the swollen bundle of nerves with his clever fingers. He rubbed her clit hard, pushing her over the edge and into madness. Stars burst behind her eyelids as she clenched them shut. She screamed out his name as she came, squeezing his cock tight as her body convulsed.

This powerful male had made her his, had taken her over so that there was no denying that she belonged to him. Satisfaction filled her as she heard the wild roar of her name. Her own release had triggered his, milking him so that his seed shot into her hot and hard. She would have collapsed if his arms didn’t band around her, holding her safely within his embrace as the rolling waves of ecstasy swept through her.

“Mine,” he whispered harshly against her neck as he continued to fill her, his large body surrounding her.

“Mine,” was her answering declaration.

They belonged to one another now, and Mya had never been happier.

* * * *

“Your cousins are driving me crazy.”

Mya glared at her three friends as they laughed at her statement. If she’d been expecting a little sympathy, apparently she’d been wrong.

“Well, that didn’t take long,” Kahla said with a grin. “What have they done now?”

“I’m surprised she hasn’t killed one of them yet.” Reva commented. “And do males need a reason to be annoying? I thought that just came naturally to them.”

“True, and they seem to excel at it,” Pia grumbled.

Kahla chuckled. “Are you fighting with your bonded again?”

“Not exactly. It’s just that with all the people that have been arriving, they’ve gotten even more protective. Hell, they wouldn’t even let us have dinner without coming with, and they’re just mad when I refused to allow them to sit with us.”

All four females shifted in the chairs to look at Ryland, Mikal and Tavius, who were sitting at a table across the room. They were close enough to watch over them, but not listen in on their conversation. As if sensing they were under scrutiny, Ryland and Mikal glared at Pia, while Tavius only raised an eyebrow as he met Mya’s gaze.

From the beginning, Tavius had gotten along with Ryland and Mikal, and during the construction of her store, Daimon had become friends with the human men. The only one of the brothers that still remained guarded around them was Maddox, but he was coming around slowly. Now that her store was finished and ready for the upcoming grand opening, the males spent time beating the hell out of each other sparring in the gym or using one of the training programs in the holo-rooms.

But seeing them bond over a meal just wasn’t normal.

“Ignore them,” Reva ordered. “Males get angry when they hear us talking about them. They know we do it, but hearing it for themselves is a whole different story.”

Mya, Pia, Reva and Kahla had decided to have dinner at the Helios restaurant Tangala, where Kahla had reserved them a table. They’d been seated in a quiet corner where they’d have privacy as soon as they arrived, while Tavius, Ryland and Mikal had been ordered to get their own table across the room.

Since the TechCon was starting in a few days, New Vega was packed with people. All the restaurants were filled to capacity, but Tavius and Kahla knew everyone who worked on the vessel, so they never had a problem getting a table anywhere.

A server rushed over to take their food and drink orders, and Kahla introduced the Helios female to the rest of the group. Greetings were exchanged and after she left, Kahla said, “I’m so glad I took this evening off, even if it is only for a few hours. Sanctum has been packed the last two nights, and I can’t even imagine what it’s going to be like when this shit show actually begins.”

Mya frowned. “I thought you were happy about New Vega hosting the TechCon?”

“I am, but I have a low tolerance for stupid people, and they seem to be everywhere…and multiplying rapidly.”

Reva nodded in agreement. “That’s true. I had to punch some guy in the throat earlier after he grabbed my ass.”

Pia choked on a laugh. “Had to?”

Reva shrugged. “Trust me, he deserved it. It was fun.”

“I don’t doubt it.” Pia grinned, but she sobered as she turned to Mya with a questioning look. “Don’t think we’ve forgotten what you said earlier. What’s wrong? You’ve seemed happy. I mean, I’ve barely seen you all week, and I’m your guard.”

Reva smirked. “Are they trying to fuck you to death? They do seem to keep you pretty busy these days.”

Kahla winced. “Please, they’re still my cousins. I don’t know if I want to hear about that part of their relationship.”

Mya felt herself blush as her friends laughed again. It was true, but she didn’t want to admit it out loud. In fact, this was the first night since she’d started seeing the Adaro brothers that she wasn’t with one of them. Maddox, Daimon and Tavius hadn’t been happy when she’d informed them that she was having dinner with the girls, but they’d just have to deal with it. She needed to talk to her friends. Pia, Reva and Kahla had more experience with males, and she needed their advice…desperately.

“It’s not that. I mean it’s partly that, but I…” Mya paused as the server brought their drinks and a large platter of appetizers to the table. She took a large gulp of the potent Helios drink they had all ordered, then winced as the alcohol burned slightly going down her throat. “I’m with them all the time, but I still don’t really understand them.”

“Honey, it’s only been a week. Give it time,” Pia said gently. “I’ve been bonded to Ryland and Mikal for years, and there are days I feel like I’m still figuring them out.”

“I know, but it’s just that…they say things. Sweet things that makes it seem like this is more than just us having fun, but then again, we really don’t talk. I mean, I ask questions all the time, but I feel like I’m pulling teeth or something getting them to really talk to me. You know I don’t have any real experience with relationships. Is this how it always is in the beginning?”

Kahla frowned. “Some males have issues talking about things, and my cousins would be at the top of that list. You shouldn’t feel like your bothering them if you want them to talk to you, though.”

“I’m in love with them,” Mya blurted out in a soft whisper as if she were confessing some sin.

There was a moment of silence, then Pia said, “That’s a good thing, isn’t it?”

Tears stung Mya’s eyes. She didn’t know how to explain to her friends that she didn’t know if it was good or bad yet. Since the first night she’d been with Maddox, she’d spent every night with one of the brothers, but never together. Part of her felt as if they passed her to the next when they didn’t want to deal with her or they were busy.

Did they think a plural relationship meant they only had to put in a fraction of the work? Maybe that wasn’t fair, but they rarely explained what they were doing when they weren’t with her. She’d always thought that when she fell in love, the males she was with would share everything with her. That they’d talk about their hopes and dreams, and share how their days had been when they were apart and make plans together for their future.

But did she even have a future with the Adaro brothers to talk about?

The words came pouring out of Mya as she explained the situation. She’d never had a problem talking to Pia about her feelings, and she trusted Reva and Kahla, and valued their advice. It was vital that she figure out if she was just being overly sensitive, or if it was some strange Krytos relationship thing that she simply didn’t understand.

“So, they’re sharing you, but not sharing with you,” Reva stated when Mya was done with her rambling explanation.

“Yes!” Mya exclaimed. Reva had summed up why she was so upset in one sentence. Why couldn’t she have figured that out on her own? Pushing that thought aside, she added, “Maybe I’m overreacting, but I can’t be in love with them if they’re only with me while they wait for some Krytos female to come along.”

“Ask them what’s going on, then,” Reva told her.

“I can’t do that!” Mya said sounding horrified.

“Why?” Reva and Kahla asked at the same time.

“Because…just because.”

Kahla rolled her eyes. “Yeah, that clears it up.”

“I understand,” Pia said sympathetically. “Some human women have a hard time talking about feelings because some men are commitment phobic. To be fair, some women don’t like talking about where a relationship is going either.”

“Humans are strange creatures,” Reva muttered.

Kahla nodded in agreement. “They really are.”

“I wish I could talk to them about this, but I don’t know how,” Mya admitted. “Last night, I heard them talking about who was going to come with me while we were at dinner, like it was some sort of chore on their list of tasks for today. Watch out for Mya, check. I wouldn’t have even known about it if I hadn’t overheard them while I was in the bathroom before Maddox and I went to sleep.”

Kahla frowned. “You only sleep with Maddox?”

Mya shook her head. “Every night we switch off who I sleep with. Sometimes I wonder if they made up a schedule and have it posted somewhere.”

“I don’t know if I like the sound of that,” Pia said darkly. She knew that Mya wasn’t the type of woman who could be happy with that type of relationship. If she was all in, then she needed her partners to be all in as well.

“I still don’t get it,” Reva announced. “If you don’t like something they’re doing, how can this get cleared up if you don’t ask?”

Deciding to be honest, Mya said, “Because I love them, but I can’t force them to love me back. And hearing that they don’t would hurt too much. They said they were courting me, but—”

“Wait…what? Hold on!” Kahla held her hand up in the air. “My cousins said they were courting you? Mya, they’ve announced their intentions to mate you. You don’t have to worry about them returning your feelings.”

Mya goggled at her. “They what?”

“When a Krytos male courts a female, it is a tradition done with the intention of mating. They don’t do it if they’re just after a quick fuck or just enjoying a female’s company for a little while.”

Mya’s head reeled. “But…but…why haven’t they said anything to me about it?”

“Because males are stupid?” Reva asked.

Kahla nodded. “Yes, they are. If my cousins want you as their tava, then—”

“There’s that word again!” Mya exclaimed. “I keep asking them what it means, but they won’t tell me. I tried to look it up, but I haven’t been able to find a definition.”

“And you won’t. It was never put into the language converter database because it’s a sacred Krytos word that humans don’t need to know about since they’d never use it. Damn them,” Kahla growled. “They called you their tava? Males really are stupid.”

“What does it mean?” Mya asked nervously. “Is it bad?”

“Tava is the name that a Krytos would use for his mate, but only if they are the alpha of the pack. A basic definition is alpha mate,” Kahla explained in an angry growl.

“Holy shit…” Pia breathed out.

“I totally wasn’t expecting that,” Reva agreed.

Mya blinked at all of them, then focused on Kahla again. “Does that mean…?”

“Oh, yeah,” Kahla said with a curt nod. “Congratulations, Mya. My idiot cousins mated you, and didn’t bother to tell you. Welcome to the pack, alpha.”

***

CHAPTER THIRTEEN

“This…I…it can’t be!”

Mya stood up so quickly that her chair almost fell over.

“Oh, it is,” Kahla countered. “And I hope you kick their asses for not telling you.”

Tavius was across the room a few seconds later, snarling at his cousin, Reva and Pia as he pushed Mya behind him as if to shield her. “What have you done?”

Mikal and Ryland appeared behind Pia, both men placing a protective hand on her shoulders. “Don’t yell at our chosen.”

“They did something to upset Mya,” he growled.

Mya shifted and poked him in the chest. “They didn’t upset me. You did.”

Confusion broke through his anger. “What have I done?”

“You mated me without telling me?” Mya hissed. “How could the three of you do that? Why didn’t you say something?”

Her questions had begun in a whisper, but ended on a shout. She glanced around, noticing that the rest of the people in the restaurant had gone silent. Everyone was staring at her, but she didn’t give a damn if she sounded like a shrew.

She was pissed, and she wanted answers…now.

“Mya—”

“No. Not here. I want to talk to you, Maddox and Daimon in private. Right now.”

Tavius gave her a curt nod, then held out his hand to her. It was petty, but Mya ignored his offered hand as she stomped past him, heading for the entrance. Anger burned through her like a laser, but by the time they made it to the VIP elevators, her anger faded to a mixture of confusion, disbelief, happiness and a healthy dose of hurt.

Wounded feelings aside, she was elated that they wanted to have a life together, but what kind of life would that be if they couldn’t talk to her about important things?

When the elevator door opened on the second level, Maddox and Daimon were standing in the hallway, both of them looking grim. She was aware that Tavius had contacted both of them on his wrist unit during the walk from the restaurant.

Fighting to keep her voice calm, she said, “I’d like to speak to you in your suite.”

Once they were in the living room, she moved to face all three of the brothers. “I have something I want to say to you, and I’m not sure I’m going to be able to get it all out if you interrupt me, so I want you to let me finish before you say anything.” She looked at them expectantly, but the three of them just stared at her intently. “Well?”

“You asked us not to speak,” Daimon reminded her quietly.

Right.

Mya began to pace the length of the room as she tried to figure out how to begin. “Kahla told me what tava means,” she explained, then rushed to add, “You can’t be angry with her. You should have told me, but you didn’t, and I don’t know what that says about our relationship. How can we be together if you keep things like this from me?”

Three males growled low in their throats, and Maddox stepped forward. “Enough, Mya. I can’t stay silent when you say things like that. You said you belonged to us, and we will not let you go.”

Mya stopped pacing. Maddox wasn’t one to show his emotions, but she could clearly hear the panic in his voice now. Turning, she was struck by the intense longing and need coming from them, but it was more than that. There was love shining back at her from three pairs of dark eyes, and the sight of it amazed her.

Why hadn’t she seen it before?

She been so caught up with her own insecurities that she’d missed what had been right in front of her. They hadn’t told her how they felt about her, but then again, neither had she. They’d all made mistakes, and things would have to be different moving forward, but how could she stay angry at them when she was also to blame?

Being with them filled her with joy, and she needed to share her love with them. Her friends had been right. She needed to be open and honest with them. If she asked for what she wanted, she might be rewarded by having her greatest dream fulfilled.

But there would be no reward without the risk.

Be brave…

Staring at the three males she loved, she found the courage to open her heart. “Coming to New Vega was a big change for me. I knew I’d be taking a risk starting my new shop and living so far from everything I’ve ever known, and I thought I was ready. But nothing could have prepared me for meeting you. You are the most amazing males I’ve ever known. I love the way you care for your people, and how honorable you are. But most of all, I love who you are. I…I’ve fallen in love with you—all of you—and I—”

Suddenly, Mya found herself in Maddox’s arms, his mouth crushing down on hers. Touching him, having his strong arms wrapped around her, she could sense the love he had for her. It sunk into her, permeated every atom of her body and filled her soul. He pulled back and wiped at the tears she didn’t know had fallen down her cheeks.

“Don’t cry,” Maddox murmured. “I can’t bear to see you cry.”

“I’ve been so confused. Maybe it’s because I’ve never been in a relationship before, but I was so worried I would do something to mess this up and lose you that I’ve been driving myself crazy. I need you to talk to me. I love you so much and couldn’t stand thinking that you didn’t feel the same way about me.”

“We’re sorry, sweetheart,” Tavius said as he gently stroked a hand over her hair from behind. She turned toward him, and he leaned down to brush his lips against hers. “I fell in love with you the first moment I saw you. In my heart, I knew you were meant to be ours. We were trying not to overwhelm you by asking for too much from you too soon, but we didn’t realize how it was making you feel.”

Daimon eased her gently from Tavius’ hold, taking her in his own arms. He kissed both of her cheeks before settling his mouth on hers. “I should have known,” he said quietly as he pulled back. “You told me you were worried that I didn’t want you when I’d been holding back to give you time after being with Maddox and Tavius, and we’ve been doing the same thing by not explaining things to you again.”

He lifted her hand and pressed a kiss in the center of her palm, then curled her fingers as if holding that kiss in her fist before he held it to his chest, right over his heart. “We thought we would scare you if more than one of us was with you at a time, but that only made you even more unsure, didn’t it?”

Mya thought she should have felt closed in by having the three big males surrounding her, but she’d never felt so safe before. Being near them allowed her to sense the raw emotions pouring out of them, and she basked in the warmth of their love and desire for her. “I’m so sorry I doubted you…doubted us. I wasn’t sure you wanted a future with me since we’ve never—”

“You are our future,” Maddox said solemnly. “Come, there is something we need to show you.”

They were always saying that to her, and hearing it now made her smile. Daimon and Tavius followed behind her and Maddox as he led her passed their bedrooms toward the closed door at the end of the hallway. When he opened the door and turned on the light, Mya just blinked.

The huge bedroom was decorated in shades of gray and purple, with black furniture and silver accents. To the left was a wall of windows that showed the inky black of space. In the center of the room was a large recessed circle, down two wide steps. A huge four poster bed was positioned in the center of the circle, covered with a plum-colored bedspread. The bed was as big as a lake, with intricate carvings etched into the dark wood, and sheer silver curtains that hung around the top of the canopy.

The right side of the room was completely lined with frosted glass shelves. Spotlights in the ceiling shone down on the top level, and lights underneath each shelf shone down on the tier below. There were dozens of objects on the shelves, some that she recognized, but many she’d never seen before. “What is all this?”

“Maddox is a bit of a hoarder,” Tavius said, grinning when Maddox growled at him.

“I am not. I just like to collect things that are rare and useful.”

Tavius rolled his eyes. “Like I said. He collects things…lots of things. There is another room on the other side of the suite off the living room that is full of—”

“You are getting off topic,” Maddox said, cutting his brother off. Taking Mya’s hand, he led her over so they were standing closer to the wall of shelves. “All of these items are special to us in some way.”

Daimon stepped forward and pointed to a beautiful white statue of a goddess with her hair fanning out around her. It looked as if it was made of alabaster, but there were veins of gold shot through it that made it look like it was glowing in the light.

“This was made for us by a D’Aire that was close to our family. He helped us when we were starting New Vega, and lost his life fighting alongside our parents.” He moved his hand over toward a glass case with a feather inside it. “This is from one of his wings…as a remembrance.”

Tavius pointed to another object. “This is a Helios ceremonial knife gifted to us by a tribe leader we took in after her village was burned by another warring tribe. She and the surviving members of her tribe now run the restaurant you were in earlier tonight.”

Maddox reached out toward three Krytos daggers that were side-by-side on stands. He picked up the smallest one of the group and held it out for her to see. “Each Krytos carries a dagger as a symbol of what we’ve lost, but also as a vow to fight so it will never happen again. This belonged to our mother…and now it is yours.”

Mya’s breath hitched as he handed it to her. She looked up at him with wide eyes. “Maddox, why would you give this to me?”

“She would want you to have it, as welcome to our family. As a daughter. As our mate.” He cupped her face in his hands as Tavius and Daimon each placed a hand on one of her shoulders. “We didn’t tell you before now, because we wanted to give you time to choose us. You were innocent of males, and we didn’t want you to regret your decision, but there is no way we can let you go. You have our hearts and our love. We want you to be our tava, our alpha mate.”

“I want that, too,” she whispered, tears streaming down her cheeks. “I love you, all of you, and would be proud to be your mate.”

Maddox lifted Mya up into his arms and carried her down the wide steps so they were near the bed. He sat her down carefully, then took the dagger from her. “You can leave this here when you aren’t using it,” he said as he put it on top of the nightstand, then he removed his own from his belt and placed it next to hers.

“You mean this room is mine?”

“Ours,” Daimon corrected as he sat down next to her, lifting her onto his lap. “Three of us will sleep in this room each night while one of us will stay in our old room.”

She put her arm around his neck, cuddling into him. “Why?”

“Because when we are with you, we would like to rest in peace. One of us will guard the others to ensure everyone’s safety,” Maddox explained.

Mya thought that was slightly paranoid since they were on a secure level and their suite was private, but if it made them feel better, she would just go with it. She took a moment to notice the craftsmanship of the bed. “This is absolutely gorgeous…and huge. It’s a wonder you were able to get it in here.”

“I made it in here,” Daimon said quietly. “No other has slept in this bed. I made it for our mate. For you.”

Mya leaned in, pressing her lips to his in appreciation for his special gift. He let out a growl of hunger, but Tavius pushed him back before he could take the kiss deeper.

“Enough of that. We’re still not done with show and tell. Computer, shift window screens to summer night,” Tavius said in a loud voice as he sat down next to her.

Her head turned as she let out a gasp as the windows changed to an image of a dark lake cast aglow with silvery moonlight. “Oh, wow…”

“You can change it to any scene you like,” Tavius told her. “I’ve programmed in some images for every season, but if I missed anything you like, we can add it later. This way, you won’t have to miss home so much.”

Her eyes burned with tears, but she fought them back as she threw her arms around his neck. “Thank you.”

“It is my pleasure, tava.”

Maddox had walked back to the wall of shelves and he took a brown velvet bag off the bottom row, then came back to join them. He stopped in front of her and lifted the bag, pulling a black object out. “I added this to my—I mean, our collection last week.”

“See? I told you he’s a hoarder,” Tavius whispered loudly.

Maddox growled, but before he could lunge at his brother, Mya distracted him by saying, “That’s a marking device. Why do you have it?”

“I acquired it from a commander who visited New Vega a few years back. It was just one of those things I thought was interesting, but now we have a purpose for it.”

Daimon kissed her hard and fast before shifting her over on the bed as he stood up next to his brothers. “We would like you to wear our mark so your people will know you belong to us.”

She had seen that the brothers used an “A” that was an incomplete triangle inside a partial circle as their symbol for the Adaro pack. It was etched into the very stone and metal that made up New Vega.

“I will gladly wear your mark,” she told them, tilting her head to the side so he would have access to the left side of her face. Maddox moved closer and held the device to her skin next to her eye. She felt a brief tingling sensation, and then it was done. Glancing up at her males, she smiled. “Now, I really am yours.”

“This will show your people that you belong to us, but we still want to claim you and truly make you our tava by giving you a mating bite.” Maddox declared.

Mya blinked. “You want to bite me?”

“It will bind us together in the way of the Krytos,” Daimon explained.

“One bite from each of us to seal that bond,” Tavius added.

“Yes,” she whispered. “I want to be bound to you.”

Maddox shared a look with his brothers, then they dropped to their knees in front of her. “And in return, we will show all the worlds we belong to you.”

Mya’s eyes widened as they removed their shirts, baring their naked chests to her. She loved the view, but she didn’t understand what they were doing. “What?”

Maddox held out the marking device. “Since you can’t bite us and mark us that way, we will wear your mark with pride.”

“I don’t have a mark, though.”

Daimon raised a brow. “As creative as you are, I’m sure you can come up with something.”

Touched that they would do this for her, she looked down at the marking device. When human men claimed a chosen, they allowed her to tattoo their neck and torso to show the world they were bonded to her. The tattoo was usually some type of design that included all their initials, but she had something different in mind.

The symbol that Tavius had put on her was already on the small screen, and she began to play around, creating a new, unique mark that she would put on her males. Maddox, Daimon and Tavius watched her as they waited, but they didn’t rush her. When she was finally finished, she looked up timidly. “Are you sure about this?”

Maddox shifted so he was on his knees directly in front of her. “Claim me, tava.”

She willed her hands to stop shaking as she held the device along his neck and torso, paying special attention to the design she was putting directly over his heart. Maddox was the alpha, dominant and strong. He was a protector, and he stirred a passion inside her that was undeniable.

Now, he belonged to her, and all the worlds would know it.

When she was done, she studied her work. She’d used a tribal design on his neck, shoulder and arm, but she’d placed the most intricate mark over his heart. She kept their mark, adding an “M” to the design in the background, then she’d placed a stylized triangle around it.

“What do you think?” she asked nervously.

Maddox looked down, then he gripped her by the back of the neck and pulled her forward to kiss her hard. “It’s perfect.”

He got up to sit beside her on the bed as Daimon took his place in front of her. The quietest of the group, Daimon was her rock. He was patient and kind, and he filled something inside her that had been empty with his steady devotion. When she was done marking him, he leaned forward and kissed her.

“Thank you, tava.”

When he got up and sat down on Mya’s other side, Tavius took his place in front of her and winked. “Saved the best for last.”

He laughed as he blocked a kick from both Maddox and Daimon. Mya shook her head at him, but couldn’t hold back her giggle. Tavius was playful, yet he had a romantic, sweet nature that had won her over with words and the flowers he brought her every day. He was an adventurous soul that helped bring out the daring side of her, and made her feel free to be who she’d always wanted to be.

She ran the marking device over his skin, feeling his dark gaze on her as she worked. When she was done, he took her mouth in a heated kiss. He pulled back so he could look into her eyes. “You are ours, as we are yours.”

Maddox cupped her chin, turning her head toward him. “Are you ready to let us take you now? Do you want to experience the pleasure the three of us can give you?”

“Yes,” Mya said breathlessly. “I want that. I want everything with you.”

“Then we’ll give it to you.” He growled before kissing her, claiming her as his tongue delved deep. She felt three pairs of hands on her, removing her clothes and shoes so that in a matter of seconds, she was completely naked.

Somewhere along the way, Daimon had removed his own pants and boots. She could feel his heavy erection sliding against her slick folds as he lifted her onto his lap to straddle him. As he kissed her, strong hands began to stroke over her body, massaging her tense muscles, igniting a firestorm of need inside her.

Maddox and Tavius each cupped one of her breasts, pinching her taut nipples, then soothing the ache with the heat of their palms. Wanting to pay them back for the erotic torture, she reached out, fisting their thick cocks in her hands. She began stroking their shafts, eliciting groans of pleasure from both males.

“You are shared by us. You are cherished by us. You are loved by us,” Tavius declared in between the kisses he rained over her neck and shoulders.

“We will protect you, and care for you in every way,” Daimon promised after he ended their kiss. “Anything you need, we will provide.”

“You are our tava, and we will love you until the end of days,” Maddox swore.

The frantic beating of her heart kicked up a notch as Daimon’s fingers moved lower to stroke over her slick, tender folds. Without warning, one of his long, thick fingers penetrated her, sliding deep. When she gasped, Maddox pulled her head to the side to capture her lips, drinking down her moan of pleasure.

“She’s ready,” Daimon announced. “Our tava is already slick with her desire for us.”

“We’ll make this special for you,” Tavius whispered against her ear right before he began nibbling on her earlobe.

“Begin,” Maddox ordered when he released her from their kiss. “I’ll get the oil.”

Mya wondered what he was talking about, but her mind drifted off as Daimon lifted her, positioning her right over his hard cock. The weight of her body helped her slide down on him. He lay back on the bed, taking her with him so she was bent over him with his cock fully embedded inside of her.

Tavius stretched out next to them, stroking his own cock slowly as he rubbed his other hand over the smooth skin of Mya’s back. “You are so soft, Mya. I could touch you for hours and never get tired of just feeling your skin under my hand.”

Something warm poured down over her back, and hands began working the soothing oil into her skin. She tried shifting on Daimon so she could take him deeper, but he held her hips still with a firm grip. A squeak of surprise escaped her when the oil was poured over the tight rosebud of her ass. “What are you doing?”

“Preparing you. This is trela oil. It was another gift from the Dragon Warriors. It will help you relax and ease your muscles, allowing you to take us easily.”

Mya started to protest, then she let out a gasp as his oil-slicked finger slid into her ass. He started with one, but soon added another, working her tight hole open. The new sensations left her head reeling. She’d heard the talk about two men taking a woman at once, but she’d never really thought about how it was done before. She couldn’t imagine being able to take one of them in her ass while another was already inside her.

“I don’t know about this…”

Maddox stilled as a thought occurred to him. “Mya, you do know that females who have more than one mate have anal sex, don’t you?” His question made Daimon and Tavius freeze in place. All three males focused on her with serious expressions. “Mya, answer me.”

“Well, yes. No. I mean, I guess. I’ve heard people talking about it, but I’ve always thought they were joking.”

Maddox let out a vicious curse that was repeated by both of his brothers. He started to ease his fingers from her, but she stopped him as she spoke.

“No. I can do this. You’ll just have to show me how.”

“We’ll guide you through this, tava,” Maddox promised. “We won’t hurt you.”

“Don’t worry, Mya,” Daimon said. “We’ll take care of you.”

“Just relax,” Tavius crooned. “It’s going to feel so good to have Maddox fucking your ass while Daimon pleasures your pussy. And when you are ready, I’m going to let you taste me. I want you to suck me slowly while my brothers love you together. And when they’re done, I will spill my seed deep inside your pussy, right where it belongs.”

Mya sucked in a harsh breath. His words distracted her from the fear, allow them the time they needed for the oil to work its magic on her body. It felt so strange being filled in both holes, but it was starting to feel incredibly good now that the unfamiliar sting had eased. Tavius continued to stroke her back as Daimon held her still. Whatever Maddox was doing to her bottom was making her want to move, to satisfy the hunger that burned inside of her.

Maddox nodded to Daimon, who distracted Mya by gripping her hair to pull her to him for another kiss. Watching them had Maddox fighting for control over his raging lust. He pulled his fingers from her and poured more oil into his hand before putting the bottle on the nightstand. He stroked his hand over his cock, making sure the entire length of his shaft was coated as he moved back into position behind her. She was ready for him, but he was still determined to go slow, to ease her into this new type of loving.

“That’s good, tava,” Tavius whispered softly. “Just relax so Maddox can work his cock up your ass. We are so proud of you. I know this is new to you, but you will enjoy it. I promise. Both of them loving you will give you so much pleasure.”

Maddox began pushing the head of his cock against her small hole as Tavius spoke. Her body clenched reflexively, but the oil helped him slide his cock into her so the head popped in, parting her tight muscles.

“Wait!”

Mya winced at the sting of pain, and she was grateful that Maddox had instantly stopped moving. She was panting for breath, her head buried against Daimon’s neck as all three of them stroked their hands over her. She could honestly say she knew just how big a pain in the ass males could be now.

Holy nova, she was hysterical…or perhaps she was just losing her mind.

She’d never known about this type of sex before, and cursed her friends for shielding her from learning what she needed to know about being with more than one male at a time. It didn’t matter, though. She had three males who would teach her all she needed to know, and she was ready to experience it all.

“Do you want me to stop?” Maddox asked in a strained voice.

“No. Just…give me a minute,” Mya whispered.

“Anything you need,” Maddox promised, although the thought of pulling out of her almost killed him. She was so tight, so hot he feared he would spill his seed the moment he sank all the way inside her.

Daimon’s arms wrapped around her tight, holding her to him protectively as Tavius reached between them to stroke her aching clit. Her body jerked at his touch and both Maddox and Daimon growled in pleasure as she clenched down on them.

“Mya?”

She heard the desperate need in Maddox voice, and said, “Just a little more. Slowly.”

Mya gasped as he slowly pushed his long cock into her ass so it rubbed against Daimon’s cock that was buried inside her pussy. The pain had eased, leaving only pleasure behind now. “Stars! That feels…”

“Does it feel good, tava?” Maddox asked as he began rocking his hips in a gentle rhythm. “Do you need me to stop or do you want more?”

“More,” she whispered as she began to move her hips, unconsciously helping them fuck into her tight, hot holes. She gave herself over to the pleasure as both Daimon and Maddox began thrusting harder, deeper, working together to fill her over and over.

Turning her head, she met Tavius’ lustful gaze. His dark eyes were burning with hunger, and she knew she wanted to taste him while his brothers pleasured her. “Come to me, Tavius.”

“Are you sure? Taking all three of us might be too much this first time.”

She moved her arms, bracing her hands near Daimon’s head as she tried to lift up a little. Both Daimon and Maddox helped her and she gave Tavius a little growl of her own. “I want to taste you. Come to me, mate. Give me what I need.”

Tavius’ nostrils flared as he lifted up onto his knees near her head. He threw back his head as she took his cock into her hot mouth, the pleasure so acute it bordered on pain. He fought the urge to spill, knowing he would choke her if he did. Her tongue swirled around the head of his cock, and he felt her moan vibrate straight through his body as she took him deeper.

The four of them worked together, giving and taking pleasure. Strokes quickened, and control strained to the breaking point.

“I’m going to come,” Daimon panted. “She’s too tight.”

Tavius pulled his cock from her mouth as Daimon let out a growl, signaling that he’d reached completion. A few seconds later, Mya let out a raw cry, her body shaking as the hot, hard spurts of Daimon’s release triggered her own climax.

Daimon pulled her head down toward him and kissed her, then his mouth moved lower, trailing down to her neck. He sank his fangs deep, tasting the rich glory of her blood as he claimed her, joining them together in the way of his people. She imprinted onto his senses, sank deep within his soul.

He was bound to her now, forever and always.

Maddox continued to drive his cock into her ass, riding her trough her release until Daimon was finished coming. After receiving a nod from his brother, Maddox lifted her off of Daimon, shifting them on the bed until he was on his back with Mya lying on top of him. He kept his cock embedded deep within her ass, knowing he was close to spilling his seed, too, but he wanted to hold out until Mya came again.

“Hurry, Tavius,” he urged.

Tavius wasted no time getting in position. He slammed his cock into her pussy, forcing her down on Maddox’s cock with each hard thrust. Daimon moved to their side, leaning down to take her nipple into his mouth as he cupped her other breast.

“Come again, Mya.”

“I can’t! It’s too much!”

“You can,” Maddox growled near her ear. “Come and take Tavius and me with you, love. Do it now, tava. Come for us.”

Not giving her a choice, Maddox reached down and lightly slapped her clit with two of his fingers. Mya screamed as waves of ecstasy slammed into her. Tears leaked from her eyes as her body convulsed, the pleasure too intense for her to take.

Another climax shot through her before the last one had faded as she felt the hard jets of Tavius’ semen fill her pussy and Maddox release his seed deep inside her ass.

“Forever, tava. We will love you forever,” Maddox whispered in her ear a second before his fangs sank deep into her neck.

She gasped as Tavius bit the other side of her neck. The sharp pain was nothing compared to the overwhelming rush of emotions she felt coming from both males as they claimed her. Her vision blurred, but she didn’t bother fighting it. Her mates would take care of her. She was sure of it.

And because she was, she let the darkness claim her.

***

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

The TechCon was ultimate madness…and Mya loved every second of it.

It was the day of the grand opening of her shop, and the reception for her new warrior line of clothing had been more than she’d anticipated. Actually, the entire store was a huge success, and Mya couldn’t be more pleased.

She had worried about opening her shop on the same day that the TechCon began, but from the moment the doors opened, customers had poured in. Halfway through the day, they’d had to fully restock all the racks with already-made clothing. They also had a dozen custom orders already, which both delighted and terrified her.

Mya had hired enough staff to cover full shifts with a rotating schedule, making sure that everyone would have at least a couple days off each week. But due to the chaos of the TechCon, her team had decided that they would all work the two weeks to help out with the influx of customers.

The people that worked for her were walking advertisements for the clothing that Starlight Designs produced. They were able to talk to the customers about the outfits, which usually led to sales. Mya wore her black and silver warrior outfit today with her Krytos dagger tucked safely in her belt. Seeing her in it had sparked custom orders for the new line, but she also had a secret weapon in her arsenal for fashion domination.

She had used flattery, cajoled, and manipulated until Maddox, Daimon, Tavius, Ryland, Mikal, Pia, Reva and Kahla had agreed to also wear outfits she had specially designed for them. Her mates and her guards had been easy to convince, but Reva and Kahla had taken a little more work.

“I thought I was going to have to hurt you, but this isn’t that bad.”

Mya laughed at Reva’s statement. The Helios female had shown up a few minutes before they’d closed for the day. Now, they were sitting in the staff lounge of the store with Pia and Mikal. It had only taken Mya a few hours that morning to figure out that she was getting in the way rather than helping. Her banishment to the back room had pleased her mates and her guards. She‘d been able to watch what was going on through the security feed, but it wasn’t the same thing as being in the center of the action.

“Admit it. You like it,” Mya teased as she admired how Reva looked.

Reva grunted delicately as she looked down at the red, gold and brown leather outfit she was wearing. “It doesn’t suck.”

Pia laughed. “I love my new outfit. It makes me feel like a superhero or something.”

Mikal scowled at her and Mya. “It’s too damn tight. All of your outfits are. Couldn’t you have made something a little looser or maybe covered more skin?”

Mya, Pia and Reva looked at one another, then burst into laughter. Mikal just grumbled a little, then he closed his eyes, trying to pretend that he wasn’t there.

“I really do appreciate you wearing it,” Mya said when she sobered. “We had tons of Helios coming in that said they saw you walking around today. Several placed orders for their own warrior outfits.”

Reva sighed. “Only for you. I would normally punch someone for coming up to me to ask about my clothes, but I sent them over here like a dutiful friend.”

“And I thank you for that,” Mya said earnestly. “I’m surprised to see you here. I thought we were all meeting at Sanctum later.”

“I was given the night off. Actually, my mother told me I’m not allowed anywhere near her dinner this evening so I was taken off duty. She and my fathers are meeting with a visiting tribe leader.” Reva paused before saying, “I may have had previous altercations with the tribe leader’s sons. They are spoiled, selfish assholes who didn’t like hearing that I wasn’t interested in having them as companions.”

Mikal’s eyes opened and he frowned. “Why is your mother meeting with them?”

“She may be a Helios Ambassador for the Alliance, but she is also a well-respected mediator for the tribes on my home world. Because we don’t live on Helix, some of the tribe leaders are more comfortable coming to her to help them with disputes.”

“But why would she help that tribe leader if her sons attacked you?” Pia asked.

Reva shrugged, but there was a sadness in her eyes that she couldn’t hide. “My mother always puts politics before personal grievances. It’s what makes her a good ambassador. One of my fathers was asked to go to Helix to see the situation for himself while my mother and my other two fathers hear what this tribe leader has to say. Once my father returns, they will decide whether or not to help.”

Pia leaned into Mikal as she asked, “Do you miss being on Helix?”

“Yes and no,” Reva said after a long minute. “My mother took the position of ambassador before I completed the Hunt. My fathers came home on a rotation to help raise me, but after I became of age, I was officially given a position as one of my mother’s guards. I guess I don’t really think of Helix as my home anymore.”

Mya thought that Reva’s past sounded extremely lonely. Sure, she might have had friends, but her mother and fathers had chosen ambition instead of staying home to raise their child. “I never asked, do you have any siblings?”

“After I was born, they realized that they didn’t want any more offspring. Actually, my father Neo does, but he was outnumbered.”

“Why does he stay with your mother? Are they life-locked?”

Reva shook her head. “No. I guess you could say that my parents have more of an arrangement. It suits them, but I would never be happy with a relationship like that.”

Mya wouldn’t either. It was disheartening that so many couples put ambition before the welfare of their children. Many humans did the same, and Mya vowed to never let that happen. If she was lucky enough to have children with her mates, she would make sure that they knew they were loved. She would encourage them to follow their dreams, just as her own mother had done.

“The Helios are strange when it comes to pairings,” Reva told them. “We have a matriarchal society, and we value strength, but most of our elders do whatever they can to keep our males subservient. It’s why many Helios males have found homes on space stations or have moved to Earth. Our race it too primal to obey anyone for long.”

“I’m surprised the males don’t fight back against the system,” Mikal commented.

“Most don’t care enough to try. The tribes are a community, but the reality is, most of the Helios are solitary, focusing on their own families rather than dealing with the race as a whole.”

“That makes sense,” Mikal said. Changing the subject, he said, “Hey, Mya. Where are those mates of yours? I could use a drink.”

“Daimon should be here soon, and Tavius has gotten held up in the main ballroom dealing with the vendors. Oh, and an Alliance vessel just landed unexpectedly. Maddox is in a meeting with the commander. He’ll find us at Sanctum when he’s done.”

Reva put her feet up on the table in front of the chair she was sitting on. “How has all of that been going? Being mated to three Krytos has to be interesting. I know you were looking for a change, but I’m sure this is a little more than you were expecting.”

Mya smiled. So far, being mated to Maddox, Daimon and Tavius was a dream come true. Sure, there were times when she wanted to slam her head against a wall, but for the most part, the past week had been filled with love and laughter. The three brothers were making an effort to make her a real partner, but they’d been together for a long time without a female to worry about, so they were all learning day to day.

Since she had never been in a relationship before, she didn’t really have any expectations for what “normal” was. When they pissed her off, she was getting better at telling them immediately. She’d also resigned herself to their overprotective nature, but she’d put her foot down on having more security assigned to her.

A few days ago, the four of them had spoken to Ryland, Mikal and Pia. Since Mya’s parents had requested the trio as her guards, she hadn’t been sure if they would be willing to stay after the Adaro brothers took over being in charge of her security. She’d been pleased when all three of her friends had said they’d be willing to retire from their duties as elites to join the security force on New Vega. They would still be private security for Mya, but Maddox, Daimon and Tavius insisted on paying them for their services instead of allowing the Alliance to control her security team.

She’d contacted her mother the day after she’d mated with Maddox, Daimon and Tavius. Donna Spartan-Rollins had been startled by the news at first, but she’d quickly become elated when Mya told her how much she loved them. Donna said that she would wait a little while before she told Mya’s fathers about the mating. That would give Mya some time with her mates before her family showed up en masse.

Because the Spartan-Rollins family would come to New Vega soon…and then she’d have to worry about stopping the males from killing each other.

She loved her mates. They showed her how much they loved her in so many ways, and she wore the small scars from their mating bites with pride. From that first night they had all been together, they’d fallen into a comfortable rhythm living together. Each day, they would go about their own business, although all three of her mates would seek her out while she was working. They said they just wanted to see her, but she knew it was also to make sure she was safe.

At the end of the day, they retreated to their suite. They would eat, then she would take a bath in their lagoon with the brother who wasn’t sleeping with her that night. After they shared some special time together, she’d join the other two brothers in the bedroom where they would love her with a passion that left her breathless.

Unfortunately, whenever two of them fucked her at the same time and bit her, she usually ended up passing out from the overwhelming pleasure. That first night, she’d woken up to find Dr. Devin Deveaux smiling down at her. Her mates had lost their minds, and had summoned the doctor immediately. Dr. Deveaux said it was nothing to worry about, but each time it happened, Mya’s mates went a little crazy. Remembering what they’d done last night to make it happen again made her flush with heat.

“That good, huh?” Reva said with a grin. “I guess having three large males catering to your every whim must be worth the aggravation of keeping them around.”

“They’re wonderful. We haven’t been mated long, but I really do love them.”

“And we love you,” Daimon said as he strolled into the room. Mya rushed over to him, and he lifted her so he could give her a long, lingering kiss.

“Get a room,” Mikal grumbled.

Mya pulled back and grinned. “How was your day?”

“Uneventful. Are you ready to head to Sanctum?” he asked as he put her back down so her feet were once again touching the ground. “Where is Ryland?”

Pia snickered. “You didn’t tell him? When Tavius stopped by earlier, he objected to the men who stopped by the shop to talk to Mya.”

“What men?” Daimon growled.

“Don’t worry. They bolted as soon as they saw your mark on her. Ryland had been complaining that our outfits were making men want to come inside the store to talk to us, so she sent Ryland with Tavius to get him out of our space for a while.”

“You are a menace, tava,” Daimon said with a chuckle. “Come on, I think we all deserve a drink to celebrate your grand opening.”

They left the store, working their way through the crowds of people as they headed toward the glides leading to the lower levels. As they walked by a group of strangely dressed men, Daimon scowled. “What in all the worlds are they supposed to be?”

“They’re dressed up like that vid show. Have you see Gladiators Resurrected?”

“No, why would I? And why are they wearing skirts?”

“It’s not a skirt. That is a replica of an ancient Roman soldier’s uniform.”

“It’s a skirt,” Daimon argued. “I’m glad humans evolved eventually.”

She rolled her eyes. That was something her mates said whenever they didn’t understand something human, so she was used to hearing it.

They made their way down to the second sublevel and bypassed the line of people waiting to get into Sanctum. The two guards at the door bowed their heads to Daimon and Mya. “Welcome, alphas.”

“Sweet,” Pia said with a grin. “Being with you guys is like having a universal access code to everything.”

Mya laughed. “So glad we could be of use.”

They saw Kahla gesturing to them from across the room and headed over to the table she’d reserved for them. She already had a bottle of wine and glasses, and started pouring as soon as they sat down. Before Daimon could take his seat, she poked him in the chest. “Zorah needs to talk to you. Now.”

Daimon growled, while Mya tried not to laugh as the cousins glared at one another.

“You need to learn how to be more respectful to your alpha, brat.”

Kahla smiled sweetly at him. “Right now, you aren’t just my alpha, you’re my cousin who needs to go talk to my sister. Besides, how are we supposed to talk about you if you’re sitting here? Now, go away.”

He growled again. “I don’t know how we put up with you.”

“Aww, if you guys keep saying that, you’re going to give me a complex.”

Daimon sighed in defeat. “Fine, I’ll go find Zorah and see what she wants.” His dark eyes gleamed with amusement when he added, “But Maddox will be here soon. Try telling him to leave.”

Kahla groaned as she sat down. “Go away.”

“I’ll be back soon,” he said as he leaned down to brush his lips lightly over Mya’s before he headed toward the bar where Zorah and her two mates were pouring drinks.

Reva took a sip of her drink, then her eyebrow lifted. “Damn, Zorah looks pissed.”

They all turned to watch Zorah giving Daimon hell. He stood with his arms folded over his broad chest, a dark expression on his face.

“Is something wrong?” Mya asked.

Kahla snorted. “It’s nothing he doesn’t deserve. My cousins made us promise that our staff wouldn’t put anyone in the med-center during the TechCon. The problem is, we’ve been packed all damn day, and some of those people were assholes who deserved to get their throats ripped out. When four Reema started harassing one of our waitresses, my sister shifted into beast mode and took them out.”

“Sorry I missed that,” Reva said.

“It was fun to watch.”

Mikal shook her head. “Females are terrifying creatures, no matter the race.”

“True.” Kahla shrugged. “I know the promise was meant specifically for me, so I haven’t been doing my job like I usually do. My sister is pissed at me now because she broke her word, and she’s pissed at them for putting restrictions on us. I would have taken care of the Reema before they hurt our waitress, but I wanted my sister to understand how much I take care of so she doesn’t have to. Maybe this way she’ll help keep my cousins off my back from now on.”

“They shouldn’t be telling you how to run Sanctum,” Mya said.

“Exactly,” Kahla said with a grin. “And now that you’re their mate, you can make them listen to reason. But honestly, I can’t wait for this damn convention to be over.”

“Why?” Pia asked. “We walked around a little, and it’s awesome.”

“You don’t have to deal with a mass amount of drunk people.”

“True.”

Mya smiled. “It’s only for two weeks. Think of all the credits you get to take from the stupid people you hate so much.”

“There is that,” Kahla conceded.

“I think the TechCon is fun,” Mya declared. “And did you know that Ayla D’Nye is doing a concert in the ballroom on the last day of the convention?”

“Really?” Mikal perked up. “The D’Aire singer?”

“She’s pretty awesome.” Pia smiled. “We love her. I bet Mya can get us some great seats for the concert.”

Mya laughed. “I’ll see what I can do.”

As she sipped her wine, she glanced around Sanctum. She’d never seen it so busy. Still, their table was in the back corner, away from most of the crowd. She noticed three females staring at her from another table. One of them was a pretty Helios in a tight green dress who was glaring at her as if they were mortal enemies.

Taken aback by the hostility she saw, Mya asked Kahla, “Who is that?”

Following Mya’s gaze, Kahla snorted out a sound of disgust. “That’s just Leanna. She’s a bitch. Ignore her.”

Mya thought that was easier said than done since the Helios female stood up and stalked over to their table. She sneered down at Mya. “This is the little human that the Adaro brothers have been fucking? You have to be kidding. She’s nothing special.”

Before Mya could react, Reva jumped up from her seat and snarled at the Helios female. “What the fuck did you say?”

Fear flickered over the Helios female’s face, but she stood her ground. Mya had to admire her for it. Reva was pretty damn scary when riled, and she’d probably pee her pants if the large Helios female got in her face like that.

“You can’t touch me in here,” the Helios female insisted with misplaced bravado. “We’re standing in a sanctuary.” She glanced over at Kahla and smirked. “Or are you just going to ignore your own rules?”

Kahla slowly rose to her feet. “The rules change when someone attacks the alphas’ mate. Physically or verbally. We are well within our rights to put you on your ass.”

The Helios female’s face went pale, and she backed up a step. “Their mate? This puny human is their mate?”

“Yes, she’s their mate. Take a look at her neck and you can see she wears their marks. She is family now, so if I ever hear that you even look at her the wrong way, I will kick your ass. But what the hell, why wait?”

Kahla’s fist shot out and slammed into Leanna’s face. The Helios fell back in a dead faint, and her two friends rushed over. The other Helios snarled, but the Krytos of the group held her back.

“What the fuck just happened?” the Helios demanded. “You broke the rules of the sanctuary!”

Kahla’s smile was fierce. “She insulted our alpha female.”

The Helios sputtered with anger, but the other Krytos female understood what Kahla had just told her. “We’re sorry.” She turned to Mya. “Forgive us for bothering you, alpha.”

The Helios began to argue, but her friend gripped her arm hard and hissed, “Do you want to be banished from New Vega?”

“What? Of course not!”

“That’s what will happen if the alphas decree it. Let’s get out of here.” The Krytos and Helios females picked Leanna up off the floor and carried her away.

Kahla let out a happy sigh. “Damn, I feel better now.”

Reva grumbled as she sat back down. “You got to have all the fun.”

Pia lifted her glass in a silent toast. “I have to admit, that was pretty fun to watch.”

“I just don’t get it. Why would that Helios hate me so much?” Mya asked.

“She’s just jealous. Leanna is one of those females who thinks she deserves more than she has. I heard she challenged her tribe leader, and when she lost, she moved here. She works at one of the clubs on sublevel five, and she uses sex to control males.”

“Females like that are never going to get what they want.” Pia shook her head. “They always want more, and when they get it, they just find something else to covet.”

“Her tribe leader should have just killed her instead of letting her leave,” Reva stated. “Someone like that is a danger to the tribe and everyone around her.”

“Harsh,” Mikal said. “But I see your point.”

“Leanna won’t bother you again,” Kahla assured Mya. “Everyone who works on New Vega considers themselves part of the Adaro pack, but it’s different with the Krytos who live here. Every single one of them would protect you with their lives now that you’re our alpha female.”

“Let’s hope that’s not necessary,” Mya said with a shaky laugh.

“Stars, I keep forgetting that you’re alpha now. I know you are, but I guess I’ve overlooked what that really means,” Pia admitted.

Mya had asked her mates to hold back on making the official announcement of their mating until the TechCon was over. She’d told them she was still getting used to the idea of being the alpha female to one of the largest packs of Krytos in the universe. That was part of it, but the other reason was she feared she wasn’t strong enough to be a good alpha. She also worried that the pack members would hate her because she was human, and she wanted time to prove herself.

“I haven’t asked, have you considered converting?” Mikal asked. When Mya only stared at him blankly, he explained. “Humans can be converted into Krytos. At least, that’s what I’ve heard.”

Kahla shook her head. “My cousins would never do it. Conversions are extremely dangerous. There have been as many humans who have died trying it as there have been of those who were successful.”

Mya stared at them, her head reeling from the information she’d just heard. She and her mates had never talked about conversions, and it was something she didn’t even know was possible. Wanting a few minutes in private to compose herself, she stood. “I’ll be right back. Mind if I use the private bathroom in your office?”

Kahla waved her hand in the air. “Go ahead. You’re programmed in.”

Mya made her way to the hidden door near the end of the booths lining the mirrored wall. The last time she’d been in the office, Kahla had let her in. It touched her that the other female had made sure Mya had access to the office.

Kahla had said Mya was family now, and she’d obviously meant it.

A few minutes later, Mya had taken care of her pressing needs, but she didn’t rush to go back and rejoin her friends. Giving herself a little more time alone, Mya stared blankly at the wall of video screens. She’d go crazy working in an office like this. One wall might have looked like mirrors from the outside, but inside the office, they were dark windows that overlooked the entire bar. The opposite wall had multiple screens displaying the security feed from various sections of the bar.

Despite being alone in the room, Mya felt surrounded.

She knew she was just being silly. Being with Maddox, Daimon and Tavius made her happier than she’d ever been, but she hadn’t really thought of the reality of being mated to the alphas of New Vega. She’d come to care about all the people she’d met, but there were so many more she hadn’t had the opportunity to speak to yet. Would the rest of their pack accept her like Kahla, or would there be others who reacted like Leanna had?

New Vega was her home now, and she took pride in what her mates had created. She wanted to help them, to learn how to be the alpha female they needed her to be. But could she do that as a human or would they want to convert her at some point?

Her inner musings were interrupted as something caught her eye. She’d seen a strange flicker of light coming from one of the screens. Walking toward the wall, she pressed the button to zoom in on a couple sitting in one of the dark booths. Mya felt guilty as she entered the command to initiate audio. It wasn’t right to eavesdrop on a private conversation, but something pushed at her, telling her something was wrong.

Mya could see that the man was an elite by the uniform that he wore. The woman was dressed in a formfitting black jumpsuit that showed off every curve. Around her neck was a thick black choker that looked like a collar. There was something about the stone on the front of the choker that reminded Mya of something she’d seen before.

At first, nothing seemed out of the ordinary. The man looked angry about something, but it was the woman that Mya continued to focus on. Her expression was cold and there was a calculating gleam in her eyes. It was difficult to hear their conversation over the music and other voices in the bar, but Mya saw that she could filter the background noise out and zoom in.

This is wrong, she scolded herself even as she turned the filter on.

“Dr. Whitmer-Fields called a halt to the Genesis Project on Avox after she discovered the new side effects of the altered enhancement drug. A different group of scientists kept working on the project at another lab, hoping they could prove to her that it was still viable, but they just made it worse,” the man said. “When they were discovered, Dr. Whitmer-Fields reported it to the regents and high command.”

“What did they do to the formula?”

“They were fucking with the enhancement drug that all elites are given by adding xili and some other shit that was supposed to make it easier to learn. It didn’t work because the enhancement drug is based off of D’Aire, Helios and Krytos genetics, and when the new shit was added, it created something new that isn’t safe.”

“I want to know exactly what the side effects are,” the woman snapped.

The man shrugged. “I have no clue. All I know is that it’s bad. What’s left of it is being taken back to Earth, where it will be destroyed.”

“You were paid to get me samples of the drug, not information that’s useless to me,” the woman said coldly. “I want those samples.”

“I told you. I can’t. There are only five small canisters, but they’re in a locked bio-container that Commander Macy has in his quarters. He’s under orders not to let them out of his sight. What I did to tell you all this is bad enough. Stars, I’m going to get sent to the Mars penal colony if they find out I’m the one who fucked with the Intrepid’s system so we had to land here for repairs. There’s nothing else I can do.”

“Failure is not an option. You know what happens to people that cross Korsek.”

Mya’s heart began to pound at the sound of the war criminal’s name.

The man on screen sneered. “I know who Korsek really is. All of the Alliance knows that it’s just some Tarin bitch pretending to be a man. I’m not afraid of her.”

“You should be,” the woman warned softly.

“Tell your boss that she can’t have the drug,” the man said dismissively. “It’s no longer going to be produced. And I’m not giving the credits back. I earned them.”

Mya stared at the screen, horrified by what she’d heard. She started to leave the office, but froze in place when she saw the flash of light again. In an instant, she knew why the necklace had looked so familiar. A few years ago, someone had figured out how to use holo-tech to create a holographic mask. Anyone who wore one could change their appearance at will. The technology had been banned, except for toy versions where kids could dress up as demons or other mythical monsters.

But this wasn’t a child’s toy.

The flash of light had been a glitch in the holo-tech, allowing the high-grade security cameras to show Mya the real face beneath the disguise projected from the necklace the woman was wearing.

No, she wasn’t a woman at all.

She was a Tarin female…and a war criminal.

***

CHAPTER FIFTEEN

Mya rushed out of the office, looking around the crowd of people that blocked her view from seeing the booth where the couple had been sitting. Her heart slammed against her chest in panic as she saw it was empty. A group of people had already moved in to claim the space, and she looked around the bar frantically for some sign of the couple she’d seen on the security screens.

They were gone.

Maddox had arrived while she’d been in the office. He smiled at her as she hurried over to their table, but his expression changed to one of alarm as he stood up and gripped her arms tight. “What is it, tava? What’s wrong?”

“We have to find them! Oh, god. We have to find her, right now!”

“Find who?” Daimon asked as he rushed over to them.

“I saw something on the security feed. It’s bad. Korsek, Quilla Rego. She’s here. She was sitting in that booth, but now she’s gone.”

Mya started to pull him toward the office, but he shook his head. “Not here. We can access the feed from our main security center. Daimon, contact Tavius and tell him to meet us there.”

Maddox told her to remain silent as their group left the bar and made their way up to the security center. Once they were inside the secured room, Maddox barked out, “Pull up the security feed in Sanctum.”

“Tavius and Ryland were handling an incident in the sublevel five ballroom, but they are on their way now,” Daimon told them.

“What the fuck is going on?” Kahla demanded.

Mya told them everything she’d heard inside the bar. As she did, she watched the expressions of everyone in the room change. They weren’t scared. They didn’t even look worried. Sheer determination and rage burned in their eyes when she finished her explanation. Her mates and friends were warriors, ready to fight and kick ass.

She might be wearing the outfit, but she was nothing like them.

“Alpha Maddox, I have the security feed for you,” one of the security officers announced.

Maddox stalked over to the controls himself and found the footage they were looking for with Mya’s help. They watched the conversation play out as she had done a few minutes ago. When it was done, everyone was silent.

Finally, Reva asked, “Are you sure? She looks nothing like Quilla Rego.”

“I didn’t see it on this feed, but she’s wearing a holo-mask. I saw the flashes of light, and when it flickered, I could see her real face. I looked up the reports on her after Orion D’Sil mentioned her when he was here. I saw her face. I know it’s her.”

Expression grim, Maddox nodded. “I believe you, tava. Run the facial recognition program on this image,” he told the security officer. “Do another one for Quilla Rego’s real face. Find her. I want her found and locked in a cage.”

“Yes, Alpha Maddox,” another security officer said before he started typing rapidly.

“She has that holo-mask on,” Pia reminded them. “She could look completely different now.”

“Fuck,” Daimon growled. “You’re right. We need to get to Commander Macy and secure those samples of the Genesis Project drug before she gets to them. That’s why she’s here, and she won’t leave without them.”

“I need to contact Ambassador Golaris,” Reva said, mentioning her mother. She walked away from them as she tapped on her wrist unit.

“I met with Commander Macy earlier today,” Maddox announced. “I’ll go get him and bring him in.”

“I’ll go with you,” Mikal offered. “He might be easier to convince if you have another elite officer with you.”

Maddox knew he was right. “Fine. I want a security team in place to take this bitch into custody when we find her. And someone figure out how the fuck she got onto New Vega and cleared through security.”

“I can help with that,” Kahla offered as she sat down at one of the computer stations.

People scrambled around the room doing what Maddox had asked. One of the security officers let out a shout. “I’ve identified the male she was with, Alpha Maddox.”

“Bring his image up on screen.”

When the officer did, the image and credentials of Officer Ken Howards popped up on one of the large screens. “Bastard,” Maddox snarled. “I want him found.”

Before he could leave, Mya gripped his arm. “Please be careful.”

“I will,” he vowed. “I have too much to live for now that we’ve found you.”

“Take some more men with you,” she whispered. “Please. I don’t mean to insult you, but she might have brought people with her. If you run into them while you’re getting the commander, there could be trouble.”

“You’re right. I’ll take a team with us. We’ll go prepared.”

He kissed her hard before heading over to the section of the room where they kept weapons and other equipment. Maddox and Mikal both started to gear up along with three other security officers. Usually, the security team members carried stunners that would knock someone out, but Maddox and the others were also strapping blasters to their thighs and inserting more knives into their waistbands.

“What’s this?” Mikal asked as he was given a thin, transparent black helmet along with lightweight body armor.

“There’s a comm system in the face shields, and the armor will deflect a blaster or a stunner,” Maddox explained as he strapped his own armor on. “We don’t know if Quilla came with a group, and the regulars on New Vega know to get out of the way when the security team comes through.”

Pia helped Mikal put his armor on as they spoke quietly to one another. Across the room, Mya joined her mates as Daimon put a comm link in his ear. “We’ll have you on the security feed, but I want direct comms with you in case we find anything,” he told Maddox. “This will be easier than using wrist units.”

“Good thinking. Give everyone a comm link,” Maddox ordered as he took one from the box and put it in Mya’s ear himself. “This way you can hear that I’m okay.”

“Thank you.” Her voice wavered even though Mya tried not to show how worried she was. Lifting onto her toes, she kissed him, pouring all the love she felt for him into it.

Maddox wrapped his arm around her waist, holding her to him as he took the kiss deeper. He wanted to sink in, to stroke his tongue against hers, but he cut the kiss off before he did that. He had a job to do now, and he couldn’t let himself be distracted. Breaking the kiss, he took a physical and mental step back.

“You did good, tava. Without you, we would never have known about this threat.”

“We have to find her.”

“We will.”

It was a promise he gave her.

A vow that he would find the war criminal and make her pay for ever stepping foot on New Vega. He turned to his brother, his gaze meeting Daimon’s in mutual understanding. “Keep me updated.”

“Anything we know, you’ll know.”

Maddox put on the black face shield, giving the audio command to activate it. With the shield on, he would be able to access audio and visual feeds, and stay connected to Mya and his brothers through the communication system. He stalked from the room with Mikal and the three security officers, not looking back.

Daimon would keep Mya safe, and Tavius would be with them soon. He didn’t have to worry about them…but he did.

Rage burned through him. How the fuck did that sick, sadistic evil female get on New Vega without anyone knowing? They scanned IDs upon arrival. That meant she would have had to have altered her fingerprints and retinal markers before she arrived.

He didn’t care what Quilla’s reasons were for coming here, but she’d put his family in jeopardy, and he would pay her back for that in blood.

“Alpha?”

Maddox turned to look at the head of security. The face shield covered his entire face so his vision wasn’t obstructed, but it left a slightly darkened tint to the world that Maddox didn’t care for. “What is it, Amir?”

“Do you want this criminal taken alive?”

He thought about it for two seconds before snarling, “No.”

“The Alliance and the Tarins are going to want her alive for questioning,” Mikal said. “As Korsek, she developed a network that is far reaching. We could learn a lot from the information she has.”

“I don’t give a fuck what they want. She came here, she deals with our justice. When we find her, we take her down. I don’t care if she’s breathing or not.”

“That’s what I wanted to hear,” Amir growled back.

“I was just checking,” Mikal said. “Consider it playing devil’s advocate. But believe me, I really want to kill this bitch, too.”

“Get in line,” Maddox told him. “Commander Macy is in a room on the fourth level, central location. We’ll take the VIP elevators up to the fourth, then head down the hallways of that floor. Macy seemed like a reasonable male. He can come with us, or give us the bio-container.”

“He was ordered not to let it out of his sight,” Mikal said. “He won’t let us take it.”

Maddox didn’t bother telling the human male that the other elite wouldn’t be given a choice. They stepped into the elevator, and he gave the order for it to take them to the fourth floor. Once they were inside, he activated the comm link. “Have you found anything?”

“No,” Daimon answered. “We’re still scanning, but so far, there is no sign of Quilla. Wait! Hold on…Kahla might have something.”

Kahla clicked on through the link. “I was going back over the feed from the docking bays from earlier today. She was there…in Docking Bay Four. She was with six men, all of them dressed in elite uniforms.”

“Fuck,” Mikal hissed. “How the fuck did they get those?”

“I don’t know, but someone is going to pay for this,” Pia said.

“Send a team down to the docking bay,” Maddox ordered. “I want that shuttle locked down. They don’t leave New Vega.”

“We’re on it,” Daimon growled over the link.

Maddox and his team went silent as the elevator stopped on the fourth floor. They stepped out when the doors opened, and the other males followed Maddox as he led them to the suite the commander was staying in.

“Mikal? How did she know?”

Maddox hadn’t been as friendly as his two brothers had been with the two males that guarded his tava, but he liked them and was beginning to trust them. They’d known her a lot longer than the Adaro brothers had, and there was much they could learn from the human males when it came to Mya.

“Mya doesn’t give herself enough credit. Some elites get extra abilities after we’re given enhancements, but she’s never counted herself as one of them. Hers might not be powerful enough to classify, but she does have them. It comes from having an intuitive father and an empathic mother, both with strong abilities.”

“So, she gets feelings sometimes?”

“Yep, and when she gets one, we’ve learned to listen.”

Tavius connected through the link a few seconds later. “We’re at the security center.”

“Good. We’re entering the commander’s room now.”

Maddox knocked on the door, and when he didn’t get a response, he pressed the call button on the security panel next to the door.

“Fuck this,” he muttered, then he bypassed the lock with a voice command and opened the door. A few seconds later, he let out a vicious curse.

Amir rushed past him, guarding Maddox even though there was no need. The metallic scent of blood filled the air, but they didn’t need to smell it to know something bad had happened in the suite.

Commander Macy’s body lay on the floor next to the traitorous Officer Howards. It was as Maddox had feared. The officer had led Quilla straight to the commander. There was a blade sticking out of the officer’s chest, but the commander had a thin line of blood circling his neck.

“Fuck…” Mikal breathed.

Maddox slammed his fist into the wall, putting a big dent into it. His mate, his brothers, their world…all of them were at risk now. “That bloody psychotic bitch has the Genesis drug!”

“What is this drug that has made her risk all this to get it?” Amir asked.

“We don’t really know, but it sounded bad,” Mikal said. “Really bad.”

“Commander Macy is dead,” Maddox said over the comm link. “We’re in his suite right now. He was garroted and Officer Howard has been stabbed. The case containing the Genesis Project samples isn’t here. Someone contact that damn doctor on Avox and find out what the fuck this drug is.”

“On it.” A few seconds later, Daimon contacted them back. “I’m taking Ryland, Pia, Reva and a security team down to the docking bay. If she tries to leave, we’ll get her.”

“Take her team,” Maddox snarled. “We’ll meet you down there.”

“Mya, Kahla and I will keep searching for Quilla,” Tavius told them.

Maddox, Mikal, Amir and the two other officers raced towards the closest elevator. When the doors opened, he said, “Voice override, Adaro-alpha-one. Activate horizontal shift. Priority level, red. Lobby entrance. Now!”

“Can’t we just have it take us to the docking area?” Mikal asked

“The elevators don’t go to the docking areas. They have to be to be accessed through the central lobby area,” Maddox explained.

“I found her!” Mya’s excited voice came over the link.

“Show me,” Maddox ordered.

“Sending feed now,” Tavius said.

Maddox activated the video screen on the inside of his face shield and saw the real-time video footage of the shopping pavilion pop up in the corner of his shield screen so he could see it with his left eye.

At first, he didn’t know what he was looking for. All he saw was a mass group of people milling around the main floor, with others walking along each level of the shopping pavilion. Then the image zoomed in on a woman walking with two men. All three of them had masks on. Not the holo-mask they had been looking for that would have allowed Quilla to change her face, but a smaller mask that only covered their mouths and noses, leaving their eyes uncovered.

No one would have picked them out of the crowd, as many of the other people walking around the pavilion were wearing costumes. The masks were enough to throw off the system scan for their faces, but a prickle on the back of Maddox’s neck told him that Mya was right.

“It’s the black jumpsuit she’s wearing. It’s the same one she had on in Sanctum when I saw her earlier.”

“Are you sure it’s her?” Mikal asked.

Mya’s laughter echoed through the link. “I’m positive. Trust me, I know fashion.”

Mikal’s mood brightened with understanding. “Shit, that’s right. You would be able to see that.”

“Sighting confirmed,” Tavius told them. “When we focused on her eyes we could see it. She’s not bothering to hide her eyes.”

The Tarins were a barbaric race that fed off the energy of others. They had pure black eyes like demons, and Maddox could see by the zoomed in image of Quilla’s eyes on screen that she was definitely a Tarin.

The door to the elevator slid open and Maddox’s team stepped out into the lobby. Quilla and the two men hadn’t gotten to the lobby yet, but they would be there in a few minutes. It was the only way to access the docking bays, and he was sure that’s where she was headed. Quilla had what she wanted, and now she was ready to leave.

But he wasn’t about to let that happen.

“Four men down in the docking bay,” Daimon’s voice told them. “We’re heading out to meet you.”

Maddox focused on the image on his screen. “She has a bag.”

Quilla was carrying a small black bag, with the strap over one shoulder. The bag wasn’t big, but it had enough room to carry a small bio-container in it. Maddox stalked over to the security checkpoint and told them to clear the people out of the lobby.

“I have officers clearing out the sections behind her as well, just in case they have weapons,” Tavius told him. “We don’t want anyone hit by accident.”

“Make sure they do it quietly. We don’t want to tip our hand too soon.” Maddox didn’t glance over when Daimon came to stand next to him. “Did you kill them?”

“One,” Daimon said, his voice flat of emotion. “We stunned the other three. I had a few security officers take them to the cells to hold them until we’re ready to talk to them. I think she’s working with mercenaries. They got a few shots off, but none of our team was injured. It was easier than we anticipated.”

“You know you just jinxed us…dick.”

“Suck me.”

Brotherly banter was pushed aside as Maddox saw Quilla and her two men come into view. “There she is.”

On his orders, their team fanned out. Blocking the entire lobby so she couldn’t get past them. As one, they all lifted their weapons and pointed it at the trio. Seeing them, the two men with Quilla grabbed two elites that had been strolling by, grabbed their blasters and held it up to their captives’ temples.

Quilla slowly looked around. “Ah, so I’ve been found out. What gave me away?”

“You reek of evil,” Reva snarled.

“Cute,” Quilla said with a little laugh. “I thought I would have been long gone before you discovered I was even here. Unfortunately, I had to deal with a few unforeseen problems that pushed back my schedule. Then again, I always leave room for the unexpected. What’s life without a few surprises?”

Maddox raised his blaster until she was in his sights.

He didn’t want to talk to the bitch…he just wanted to end her.

As if she could sense what he was thinking, the first flicker of fear shone in her black eyes, then she blinked as she let out a soft, seductive chuckle. “I wouldn’t do that if I were you.” In her hand was a small silver canister with something attached to the top. She pulled at a small pin and clenched the lever, holding it up so they could see it. “If you shoot me, I might drop this.”

“You can’t let her drop that,” Mya said over the link to the entire team. “The canister is filled with the Genesis Project drug, and she has an aerosol trigger on it. I just spoke to Dr. Whitmer-Fields. She said it needs to be destroyed and cannot—under any circumstances—be released.”

“What the hell is it?” Daimon asked softly.

“It’s an altered form of the Alliance enhancement drug that triggers an uncontrollable rage in anyone who is tainted by it. A killing rage.”

“That sounds special,” Pia said softly.

“If people inhale the drug, the effects are temporary, but it will give them extra speed, strength and agility. They won’t feel pain or listen to reason until the drug wears off. They can’t. All they will feel is the rage inside them.”

“Well, shit,” Ryland muttered. “This just keeps getting better and better.”

“We could kill you now,” Maddox said conversationally, trying to sound like it didn’t matter if she dropped the canister or not. “Or we could keep you alive and give you back to your people. I’m sure the Tarins would love to have you back where they could personally make you pay for all the pain and suffering you’ve caused.”

“I’m sure they would, but that’s not going to happen. Now, move out of my way.”

“Tell your men to let their hostages go,” Maddox countered.

“We can’t let her leave,” Daimon murmured.

“No, we can’t,” Maddox replied.

“The face shields will protect us,” Daimon said, mentioning the black helmets they were wearing. “But all of these other people in here are fucked if she drops that.”

Maddox was trying to figure out a way to get the canister from her when Quilla let out a loud sigh.

“I guess it was too much to ask to do this the easy way, but I never was one for easy.”

Before anyone could react, she stepped behind her guards back, blocking her from view. She released the canister in her hand, throwing it hard so it fell in the center of the shopping pavilion.

For a heartbeat there was nothing but silence.

A few seconds later, the canister made a hissing sound and a stream of smoke spilled out into the air.

Then the world exploded into chaos.

***

CHAPTER SIXTEEN

Mya stared at the screen in horror.

From the safety of the security center, she couldn’t do anything but watch the scene play out before her. Taken over by a killing rage, the Krytos shifted into their battle forms. Their fangs grew, their nails elongated into claws, and their eyes shifted from black to a bright red. The Helios also shifted, but their bodies changed into their cat forms—animals that resembled saber-tooth tigers, with sharp claws and vicious fangs.

In an instant, the shopping pavilion and lobby turned into a battle zone.

“Kill them!” Quilla shouted.

Mya thought that she was giving her guards the order, but after all the humans in the lobby started attacking the first person they could get their hands on, she quickly realized that the Genesis Project drug made them susceptible to any order given.

“Holy mother of…” one of the security officers whispered.

“May the gods pity us,” another stated.

There were hundreds of people on the screen, and all of them were doing their best to kill one another. And they were succeeding. Maddox, Daimon and the rest of their friends were unaffected by the drug, but they were still fighting for their lives as the infected attacked in droves.

Maddox and Daimon shot at Quilla and her guards. One of the men fell to the floor, where he was instantly pounced on by a large Helios in cat form. Mya wanted to look away from the carnage, but she forced herself to track her mates on screen as she silently repeated a prayer for their safety.

She saw Maddox shoot again, and the bag Quilla was carrying fell to the floor. The Tarin woman held her arm to her chest protectively, but Mya lost sight of her as a wave of people crowded into view. Daimon slid across the floor, retrieving the bag while Maddox raced after Quilla until Mya could no longer see him on the monitor.

“Adaro-alpha-three. Computer, activate security lockdown and turn off air circulation system. Code Black,” Tavius shouted. Dozens of thick metal doors slid into place, blocking off access to all the corridors on screen. “This will block off all the exits, and shut down access to the other levels, including all elevators and stairwells. People in other sections will be locked in wherever they are…which should keep them safe.”

“We’ll only have an hour of air!” Kahla exclaimed.

“More like a half an hour with all these people on board, but it won’t matter if this drug spreads all over the ship,” Tavius growled. “Look at the monitors. The people in the ballroom and on the other levels haven’t been infected. Yet. If we keep the air on, they will be.”

“Speaking of air, look at the D’Aire!” Mya pointed to the screen that showed the chaos in the shopping pavilion. Most of the D’Aire had taken to the air, their large wings flapping slowly as they watched the scene below. They were trying to help some of the combatants by knocking them out to stop them from attacking, but they were outnumbered by the crazed.

“When Arik V’Dir was helping Serra…never mind. The D’Aire aren’t affected by the xili in the drug!”

“That’s good,” Tavius said. “They can help us.”

All of the people wearing face shields were safe from breathing in the Genesis drug, but they were grossly outnumbered. She saw Pia, Reva and Mikal fighting their way towards Daimon, who still held the bag. Ryland and Amir fought back to back as they stunned as many people as they could. Where was Maddox, Mya thought frantically as she scanned the footage. Panic surged through her when she couldn’t find him. “We have to get them out of there!”

Tavius hurried toward the weapons area, where more officers were already gearing up. They were shoving all the stunners that were on the rack into bags, getting them ready to take with them.

“What are you doing?” Mya asked as Tavius put on tactical gear.

He cupped her face in his large hands. “I have to go help.”

“You can’t go out there!” Trying to sound reasonable, she said, “Besides, all the doors are locked.”

“My brothers and I can get through with an override code,” Tavius explained. “If we get these stunners to the D’Aire, they can knock more people out from the air before everyone dies. It’s the only way to keep this contained.”

Contained?

Mya wanted to yell at him that there was no way to contain what was happening. To tell him that he would die if he went out there, but he already knew that. Nothing would stop him from going to help his brothers…and there was no way he was going to let her go with him. She loved him desperately, even more because he would help his brothers and try to save as many people as he could.

When Kahla started to reach for some of the gear, Tavius put a hand on her arm and shook his head. “I need you to stay here to protect Mya.”

“She’ll be safe in here without me,” his cousin protested.

Tavius stared at her. “I need you to do this for me.”

“Fuck!” Kahla hissed.

He turned away from her and wrapped his arm around Mya’s waist. “You stay here, where it’s safe. If I’m not back in twenty minutes, turn the air circulation back on. You’re programmed in, so the system will respond to you.”

Instead of agreeing, she whispered, “Come back to me.”

“I love you, Mya. And I always will.”

That sounded too much like a goodbye to her. He bent his head, kissing her so tenderly tears filled her eyes. Before she could beg him to stay, Tavius left the security center with a team of officers following in his wake.

“This is fucking crazy,” Kahla growled. “They need to get out of there.”

“Madam Alpha, we have another problem,” one of the only remaining security officers said. She and Kahla hurried over to him, and he pointed to one of the monitors. “That’s docking bay twelve. The exterior door was just blown out.”

“Quilla,” Kahla snarled. “What ship was that?”

“The Intrepid. It’s an Alliance vessel.”

Mya shared a look with Kahla. “That’s Commander Macy’s vessel. She must have gotten the access codes from him. She got away, but Daimon has the rest of the Genesis drug. At least she wasn’t able to take it with her.”

Kahla began pacing. “We can’t just sit here! We need to do something! They can’t stun everyone before we run out of air.”

Mya watched as Tavius and his team joined in the fight. Several of the D’Aire came down to collect the stunners. They flew back up, and began to stun people on the top floors of the balconies.

She felt helpless…hopeless.

Everyone she loved was down there, and there was nothing she could do to help them but sit and cry.

Or was there?

“It’s airborne.”

“We know that,” Kahla snapped.

“No, don’t you see? The drug is temporary because it’s airborne! We just need to knock them out until the drug wears off. They can’t do it with the stunners, but what if we released something else into the air? Something that will make everyone sleep?” Mya asked excitedly.

Understanding dawned, and Kahla’s eyes widened. “That’s brilliant! Med-center one is close by. All we’d have to do is get there and release a sleeping agent into the vent system.”

“There’s a problem with that,” one of the security officers announced. They all looked at the image of the med-center on one of the screens. Inside the med-center, Dr. Deveaux and three others were huddled together while a patient lay in one of the med-beds. But outside the entrance, a dozen Helios, Krytos and elites fought to the death, while others pounded on the doors, trying to get in.

“Shit,” Kahla breathed out. “Maybe I could make it in beast form—”

“They’d kill you,” Mya said, then quickly turned to look at the map of New Vega that was displayed on a transparent board in the middle of the security center. “The vent system. Can we access the med-center using it?”

“Yes,” the security officer said. “It’s just straight through the vent, then down into the room.” He pulled up the schematics onto the board.

“I can’t fit into that,” Kahla told them.

“But I can,” Mya said softly. Before they could argue with her, she laid out her plan. “Listen, the people inside the med-center aren’t going crazy. I just have to wear a mask as I crawl through the vent, get the sleeping agent and release it back into the air system.”

“It could work,” Kahla said slowly. “You know my cousins will kill me if I let you do this?”

“They will die if we don’t.”

Kahla blew out a breath, then said, “You’ll pass two fans before you get to the med-center. You can drop the sleeping agent in the fan on your way back, then reactivate the air circulation system when you get here. We’ll attach a cord to you to help get you back up the vent.”

Mya nodded. Her heart was pounding so hard, it felt like it was going to burst right out of her chest. She tried not to let her nerves show as she put on the lightweight armor that Kahla insisted she wear over her torso, then she put on the face shield, activating it when Kahla showed her how.

They attached the cord to her utility belt, and Mya wanted to laugh. She’d been right when she’d said her warrior outfits were functional. She just wished she hadn’t had to prove it this way. When Kahla strapped a stunner to her thigh, Mya shot her a questioning glance.

“Just in case. Good luck, Madam Alpha,” Kahla whispered as she grabbed her into a hard hug.

Mya was damn glad that the face shield she was wearing hid the tears streaming down her cheeks. She had a bad feeling about this, but it was the only way. New Vega was her home, and these were her people.

She had to do everything she could to try to save them.

Setting a timer on her wrist unit, she started the countdown for when the air would run out. A beam of light shot out from the top of her face shield at her command, and she squatted down in front of the air vent, looking into the dark abyss before her. The officers had removed the vent panel for her already, so she just had to climb inside.

It was a good thing she wasn’t claustrophobic.

A few minutes later, she was rethinking that. As she squirmed her way through the metal tube, she felt short of breath and knew it had nothing to do with a lack of oxygen…yet. The vent ran between the main level and the second floor. There was no way anyone larger would have fit in there, and Mya wasn’t sure she fit either as she bumped her head for the third time. She maneuvered her way over two large circular fans, knowing that the drop off into the med-center was coming up.

“How are you doing in there?” Kahla asked over the comm link.

“I’m at the med-center. I just need to go in now.”

“I’ll have you on the monitors once you do.”

Mya took a deep breath, then pushed her head over the drop to look down. It was only a few feet to reach the vent cover, but then she would fall directly into the med-center below.

Awesome.

She tried to ease down on the vent cover, but lost her footing and slipped, crashing down into the med-center with a scream. The rope attached to her waist stopped her from slamming into the ground. Dr. Devin Deveaux rushed over with two of her staff to help ease her down.

“Holy nova! Mya, is that you?”

Mya unclipped the rope from her belt and pointed to her face shield. “Do you have masks? Something that will filter the air?”

“Of course we do. What—?”

“Put them on. Now!”

Devin and the others ran to get their masks on. They were haz-masks—used for medical purposes—which meant they were perfect for the situation. When they were in place, Devin said, “Mya, what is going on? And what the hell is going on out there?”

“It’s a long story. Devin, I need your help.”

“Anything you need, Madam Alpha.”

Mya winced at that. “Let’s stick with calling me Mya, please. Do you have anything in here that can put a bunch of people to sleep?”

Devin glanced toward the windows facing into the hallway where people were still fighting. “You mean those people? We could try somnium. It’s a sleep mist that we use a lot around here for people with space sickness. It puts them into a deep, dreamless sleep that gets them over the worse part of the sickness.”

“That’s perfect. I need as much as you have.” Mya cast a worried glance over at the windows as a body slammed into it. “And we need to hurry.”

The doctor snapped out orders to her staff, and they went running to gather up as much somnium as they could find. They got a container large enough to put the somnium in, filling it with the contents of all the smaller vials. As they worked, Mya filled them in on what was happening out in the pavilion.

Devin’s eyes filled with sorrow. “So many lives lost…for nothing.”

“I know.” Mya looked over to the only occupied med-bed and winced. “Is that Leanna?”

The doctor nodded. “She came in with a broken jaw earlier, but she should be better by this morning.”

Mya spared a few seconds to feel guilty, but then she pushed it aside. She had more important things to worry about at the moment. When they were almost finished, another body slammed into the window, cracking it.

“They’re breaking through,” Devin gasped.

“Do you have somewhere you can hide?”

“There’s a surgical room in back. It has its own internal air filter, too.”

Mya grabbed the canister, taking it with her to the rope hanging down from the vent. “Good. Get in there now, and lock yourselves in. The air from the hallway is leaking in. After I turn the fans back on, don’t come back in here without your masks on.”

Devin nodded and gestured the others toward the back room. They hurried over to it, but the doctor hesitated before she entered after the others. “Don’t you need help?”

“I’ve got it.”

“Ready for us to pull you up?” Kahla asked.

“Yes, do it now.”

Mya was about to clip the rope back to her belt when a low snarl sounded from the other side of the room. Turning her head, she saw a large cat springing toward her. She had just enough time to pull her stunner free and get a shot off before the cat barreled into her. The shot only grazed the cat, making it even more enraged. It fell, knocking Mya off her feet, and a sharp pain seared through her leg, making her scream.

“Mya!”

Kahla’s cry was echoed by Devin’s. The doctor started to rush forward, but froze as the cat turned on her, snarling. Mya sat up as the cat sprang at Devin. She raised her weapon and fired again. This time, her shot hit the cat dead center, dropping it to the ground. Devin let out cry when the cat’s body slammed into her. She fell, slamming her head back on the bed-med behind her, knocking her out cold.

At least, Mya hoped she was just knocked out.

“Mya? Helps coming! Just hold on!” Kahla yelled.

“I-I’m okay,” Mya panted out. But when she tried to move, she knew she really wasn’t. Glancing down, she saw that part of her leg had been shredded open by the cat’s claws when it had jumped on her. It was bad, but she still had a job to do.

And time was running out.

She braced herself for the pain, but still let out a scream when she started to drag herself across the floor toward the canister. When she picked it up, her hands were slick with her own blood. Shoving it into the front of her vest, she pulled herself to her feet using one of the med-beds.

“Oh, gods. You’re hurt bad, Mya. Get in one of the med-beds. Heal yourself.”

Kahla’s voice sounded tinny in Mya’s ear, but she continued to push herself. It was either heal herself or try to save New Vega.

The choice was simple.

“There’s no time. Get ready to pull me up.” She grabbed onto the rope, almost falling again, but managed to hold onto the thin cord by sheer will. She hooked it to her belt and said, “Pull.”

The rope tightened and immediately began to lift her. Her vision blurred, and she barely noticed when she reentered the vent. Not until her leg slammed into the side. As pain rushed through her, she felt like she was going to throw up, but panted for breath to ease the churning in her stomach. Looking down, she saw droplets of her own blood falling to the floor.

The sight of it confused her. She couldn’t have lost that much blood in the time she’d been standing there waiting for them to pull her up. It took her a few precious seconds to realize she was back inside the vent at the top of the shaft she needed to crawl into. Using her good leg, she boosted herself inside the tube, then lay there as she tried to gather the energy to move.

“Mya!”

Hearing the sound of Tavius’ voice in her ear made her sob. Stars, she’d needed to hear his voice. Needed to know he was still alive. “Tavius…”

“Mya, we’re coming for you.”

She felt herself being pulled backwards, and opened her eyes, wondering when she’d closed them in the first place. It took all her strength to lift her arm up to look at her wrist unit. Less than five minutes. She wasn’t going to have time to get back to the security center.

She wouldn’t be able to save her mates and all the other people on New Vega.

Be their alpha female…

The words kept repeating in her mind, helping to stabilize her a bit and keep her focused. As she got to the first fan on her return journey through the tube, she reached down and released the rope from her belt.

“Mya!” Kahla screamed. “What happened?”

“No…time…”

“There is! Hold on, tava. We’re coming.”

Daimon, she thought. He was safe…for the moment. But she could do something to ensure that. Remembering what she needed to do, she pulled the canister out of her vest and pushed the release button that would change the liquid inside into mist. She dropped the canister into the fan unit, where it fell onto the mesh above the blades.

“Computer? Alpha Mya. Activate air circulation system.”

When nothing happened, she felt the tears sliding out of her eyes, down the sides of her face.

She was too late. She’d failed them all.

“Computer, Adaro-alpha-one. Activate air circulation system!”

Had that been Maddox voice she heard?

The fan made a humming sound before it began to turn. Mya smiled as she began to drift. Had they really done it, or was she just dreaming? She wanted to hear Maddox’s deep voice again. To tell him, Daimon and Tavius how much she loved them.

That she wished they’d had more time together.

The loud sound of metal rending drowned out the hum of the fan, but Mya couldn’t move her head to see where it was coming from. Suddenly, she felt something tugging at her foot. She screamed as white-hot pain lanced through her injured leg. The tugging stopped, then switched to her other leg.

She was sliding over the metal tube, then she was being eased down, held against something hard and unyielding. Her eyes fluttered open, and she found herself looking up at Maddox in beast form.

Wow, this was a first. And she was too out of it to appreciate it.

“Love you…” she whispered.

And then there was nothing.

***

EPILOGUE

Pain came in many forms.

However, Mya found that what people said was true—pain could make you stronger, in ways you never thought were possible.

Over the last few days, she had experienced more pain than she ever had before. But what she’d gotten from it was more than worth the price she’d paid.

Mya had been delirious from blood loss after Leanna had shifted into her cat form and attacked her. She’d managed to get back into the vent system to release the somnium, but she hadn’t been able to complete her mission…not without help. She’d gotten the code wrong, using Alpha Mya instead of Adaro-Alpha-Four like she was supposed to. In her defense, she hadn’t been thinking clearly at that moment, but that mistake could have cost her everything.

Maddox had found her. He’d torn apart the metal vents with his clawed hands in beast form to get to her. She’d been out of it by that point, but she had woken again when he’d bit her. She hadn’t understood what he’d been doing until he made her drink his blood.

She’d started to drift off again, but then Daimon had been there, exchanging his blood for hers. They had taken her back into the med-center, treating her injured leg as best as they could in the secured surgical room. But they had realized she was too far gone to save…unless they converted her.

Tavius had lifted her into his arms so she’d been lying back against him as he’d lifted his wrist to her lips to drink from him. And he’d continued to hold her as the conversion had begun.

The pain of her leg being torn open was nothing compared to the sheer agony of the conversion. She’d felt as if her entire body was on fire, the white-hot heat burning through her until she’d prayed for death. But she’d held on. How could she do otherwise when her three mates were watching her with pain-filled eyes, pleading with her to stay with them?

It had felt like hours of torture as her body had made the change from human to Krytos. The pain so intense she could barely utter a whimper through clenched teeth. When Maddox could stand it no longer, he’d gotten a vial of the somnium that had been left on the counter, and had sprayed the mist on her, sending her into a deep, dreamless sleep.

She’d woken as a new woman, cradled between her mates on their bed. At first, she’d hoped that the attack on New Vega had all just been a bad dream, but then reality had set in. Becoming a Krytos hadn’t been the sacrifice her mates feared it would be. They had worried she would miss being human, but the truth was, she really didn’t feel any different.

Mya’s eyes had changed, forming a black ring around her gray irises, and she’d grown fangs, which was a little weird at first. She’d only shifted into beast form once so far, and it was something she was going to have to get used to. Unlike other converted humans, she hadn’t changed much in size. Dr. Deveaux had offered up a speculation that Mya’s leg had been too damaged at the time of her conversion for her to grow more. She’d tried to make a joke about being glad that most of her clothes would still fit her, but none of her mates thought it was funny.

While she’d been sleeping, Maddox, Daimon and Tavius had been dealing with the fallout of the Genesis Project. They’d called off the lockdown, but had refused to allow anyone to leave New Vega until they had been cleared by the doctors. Aid had arrived quickly, helping to deal with the bodies of the fallen, and offering anything else that people needed.

Maddox, Daimon and Tavius had been shocked when the majority of people had wanted to continue the TechCon. They had said the attack had brought everyone closer together. It hadn’t been race against race. It had been one individual who had destroyed countless lives for the sake of power…and that gave them a common enemy.

Mya had mourned for all the souls who lost their lives, but some of those losses had been more personal. Her mates had lost friends, but they had been happy that no one in their family had died. She had cried for hours when she’d found out that Reva’s mother and two fathers had been killed during the attack. After finding their bodies, Reva had gone to her suite, saying she needed time to deal with what had happened alone, and she hadn’t been seen since.

To Mya’s relief, Dr. Deveaux had only been knocked unconscious during the fall she’d taken. She’d woken up in time to help Mya with the conversion, and had treated her leg while she’d been sleeping. The males had wanted to banish Leanna for what she’d done to Mya, but she hadn’t let them. The Helios female had been drugged, and hadn’t known what she was doing. She was remorseful for what had happened and had been grateful for being allowed to stay, but they would never be friends, and Mya was fine with that.

Two individuals had been banished from New Vega before Mya had woken up. They had been the two medical staff members that had hidden in the surgical room while Mya and Devin had been attacked. They hadn’t tried to help, and for that, Maddox, Daimon and Tavius wanted them gone.

Her mates had been angry with Kahla, but nothing they could say would make her feel worse than she already did. She’d blamed herself for Mya’s injury, but Mya continuously explained that it had been her own choice to make.

Since Mya had moved to New Vega, so many things had changed. She had always been sheltered, and a part of that was her own fault for allowing the people in her life to take over and make decisions for her. But with her mates, it was different. They protected her, but they still allowed her to be strong on her own.

And now it was time to prove how strong she had become.

“It’s time.”

Maddox looked up from where he was sitting on the sofa in the living room and quickly came over to lift her so she wouldn’t have to walk across the room on her own.

She sighed. “I can walk.”

“You can, but I enjoy carrying you.”

Resting her head on his shoulder as he sat down with her on his lap, she sighed again. She’d wanted a few minutes alone in their bedroom to prepare for what was to come, and he’d respected her wishes. He still had trouble allowing her out of his sight, though. Not because he didn’t think she was capable of taking care of herself. It had more to do with his fear of losing her. Because of that, she didn’t complain.

Compromise.

It was the only way to get along with any male, but it was especially required when she had three to deal with.

She lifted her head and brushed her lips over his. “Do you know how much I love you?”

His big body shuddered. “Enough to never leave me?”

“Oh, Maddox. Of course I never want to leave you.”

He grunted in response and held her tight. She knew that was a good grunt, opposed to the many variations of grunts she was beginning to be able to decipher. Before she could ask where Daimon and Tavius were, the door to the suite opened and they walked in carry two huge baskets full of stuff.

Her eyes widened. “What is all that?”

“Gifts for our tava,” Tavius said. “Everyone on New Vega seems to want to send you get well gifts, although I’m not sure how chocolate is supposed to make you heal faster.”

“Did you say chocolate? Gimme.”

Tavius laughed as he set his basket down on the table and leaned down to kiss her. “You can survey your spoils later. How are you feeling?”

“Good. A little nervous, but good.”

“All will be well. You’ll see,” he assured her as sat down on one side of her.

Daimon sat down on the other side and pulled her to him for a long, slow kiss. “I can’t wait to get this over with so we can enjoy our bath together.”

Her pulse quickened at the thought. “Neither can I.”

With the medical treatments she’d gotten, along with their magical healing bath, she was practically back to normal. Well, as normal as she could be now that she was a different species.

The sound of her wrist unit signaling made Mya sigh. “It’s time,” she said again. “Now remember, we are all going to be nice and keep it very civil.”

“Of course we are,” Tavius agreed.

“Yes, tava,” Daimon said with a nod.

Maddox just grunted.

“Computer, answer wrist unit call on wall screen,” Mya said after taking a deep breath. Then she waited until her brother’s image appeared in front of her.

“I swear to god, I am going to beat the—”

Three loud, angry growls cut off High Commander Jax Spartan’s tirade midstream.

“I will kill you if you even—”

“You will not touch our mate—”

“I will rip your hands off—”

“Okay!” Mya exclaimed loudly. “Now, that we’ve gotten the greetings out of the way, this can…only go downhill.”

“Mate? Did he say mate? What the hell is that mark on your face? And on them? Are you telling me you fucking made me related to them now? This is just—”

Serra Spartan-Archer’s face popped on screen as she slapped a hand over Jax’s mouth. “Obviously you can tell we are just so happy for you.”

Sullivan Archer pushed onscreen as well. He grinned as he said, “Congratulations on your mating!”

Jax pulled Serra’s hand away from his mouth. “This is crazy. I feel like my head is going to explode.”

Serra rolled her eyes. “I’m so glad that all of you are okay. When we heard what had happened—”

“Which we should have heard from you!” Jax yelled. “Why haven’t you been returning my calls?”

“You mean all twenty of them?” Mya asked dryly. “Jax, it’s only been a few days, and I’ve been recovering. Give it a rest.”

Jax’s eyes narrowed. “Recovering from what exactly?”

“Our mate risked her life to save all of New Vega,” Maddox snarled. “You should be proud of her, not yelling at her.”

“I am proud of her,” Jax said in an offended tone, then he muttered, “Hell…”

Sullivan coughed to cover a laugh. “So, we’ll be there in a few more days. Sorry it’s taking so long, but we were close to the new space station. We were going there for the grand opening celebration.”

“We’re sorry you have to miss it,” Daimon said, but his dry tone belied his words.

“Did Alexis contact you?” Serra asked Mya, hoping that the two women could get the conversation back on some semblance of a normal track.

“She did. I got to see the new babies. Stars, those twins are cute!  She said she wanted to come, but she wasn’t up to traveling yet. Jaden and Katra Tor offered to come here instead to help with the repairs.”

Serra smiled. “With two Dragon Warriors on repair duty? You should have it all done in a day.”

“If that long,” Mya said with a laugh. “We really do appreciate them coming.”

“Is Lord Malik Rego there yet?” Jax asked.

“We didn’t know he was coming.”

“I figured as much. He’s been looking for his sister for weeks now. He’ll want to come face you personally after the havoc his sister caused.”

Tavius frowned. “But it wasn’t his fault.”

“No, but it is a matter of honor.”

Because he could understand that, Tavius nodded. “He will be welcome here.”

“So, let’s go back to my earlier question,” Jax said stiffly. “What exactly are you recovering from?”

Mya groaned. “You are so annoying sometimes.”

“True. Now stop stalling and answer the question,” he snapped.

In the past, she would have usually complied. But not now. Not when all three of her mates were growling in anger that her brother had dared use that tone of voice with her. Deciding to do a little growling of her own, she said, “Watch it, Jax, or I may just shift into beast mode and kick your ass when you get here.”

She called forth the change, just enough to allow her eyes to turn from gray to red, and watched as three pairs of eyes widened on the screen.

Jax began sputtering. “What the fuck?”

Mya picked up the wrist unit and ended the call with a grin. “That was…more satisfying than I thought it would be.”

Maddox chuckled as wrapped both of his arms around her. “I still want to punch him for speaking to you that way.”

“I can’t wait to fuck with him more when he gets here,” Tavius said with glee.

Daimon just sighed, then said, “He’s never going to leave New Vega now.”

“He will once he sees how much I love all of you, and how happy I am.”

Tavius’ expression sobered. “Are you happy here, Mya?”

“Happier than I ever imagined I could be. You’ve given me my dream. Actually, you’ve made all my dreams come true.”

Daimon smiled at her tenderly. “Then you’ll just have to come up with more dreams so we can give you those as well.”

“Well…there is one thing I still want.”

“Tell us and well get it for you,” Maddox announced.

She’d been hoping they would say that. She lightly brushed her lips against his, then pushed off his lap to stand in front of all three of them. “Then we should move this party to the bedroom.”

Maddox’s brow furrowed. “I don’t understand.”

Daimon looked confused as well. “Tell us what it is, and we’ll give it to you.”

Watching their expressions, she whispered, “Babies. I want children with you. I know we haven’t talked about this yet, but Dr. Deveaux said my birth control implant automatically deactivated when you converted me.”

Mya got what she’d been hoping for when all of their dark eyes filled with a combination of love, longing and happiness.

Maddox rose to his feet, scooping her up in his arms again. “Why don’t we start on that…right now.”

Her laughter rang out as all four of them made their way to the bedroom. Mya had always wanted to fall in love, and be loved in return…to be first in someone’s life. And now she had three strong mates who loved her. They had given her a dream, and she knew they would always take care of her.

And Mya would take care of them right back.

After all, she was the alpha female of New Vega.

THE END

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Laurie Roma lives in Chicago and mainly writes contemporary, romantic suspense, and sci-fi romance. She has always loved immersing herself in a good book and now enjoys the pleasure of creating her own. She can usually be found tapping away on her keyboard, creating worlds for her characters while she listens to music. Of course her playlist depends on her mood...but then again, so does her writing.

An avid reader of the romance genre, nothing bothers her more than annoying characters. Seriously, who wants a happy ending for someone that pisses you off? She loves tough alpha-male heroes and strong heroines that have brains as well as beauty. Her novels are filled with both passionate romance and down and dirty lust-driven interludes, as she believes both are essential to a good love story. She loves to hear from her readers and can be reached at laurieromabooks@gmail.com.

For all titles by Laurie Roma, please visit

www.laurieroma.com

3013: THE SERIES

http://3013theseries.blogspot.com

The 3013 Series

3013: MATED by Laurie Roma

3013: RENEGADE by Susan Hayes

3013: CLAIMED by Laurie Roma

3013: STOWAWAY by Susan Hayes

3013: SALVATION by Laurie Roma

3013: MENDED by Kali Argent

3013: TARGETED by Susan Hayes

3103: CHAOS by Laurie Roma

3013: ALTERED by Kali Argent

3013: FATED by Susan Hayes

3013: GENESIS by Laurie Roma