PrimalHunger (16 page)

Destiny shrugged. “We know that more exposure will increase
the changes. So the next order of business is to separate you two.”

Kendra gave an involuntary cry, but Dr. Monroe was quicker.
“You can’t do that!”

“Why not?”

“You haven’t been listening. What’s happening between them
is critical, necessary to survival of the Valorian species.”

“I’m not concerned about the Valorians or whatever this
mating thing is. My priority is the safety of my staff.”

The doctor gave Destiny an impatient look. “Maybe I’m not
being clear. If you keep them apart, Kendra might die.”

Kendra froze. “You’re kidding right?”

The doctor looked at her and Kendra knew she was serious.
Dead.

“Kendra’s safety is uppermost in my mind. The hormone is
designed to make the species survive. There may not be a way to stop it, and if
there is we likely won’t find it before the cycle ends.”

Kendra clenched her fists. “English, doc.” Fingernails dug into
her palms.

The doctor softened her tone. “Since it’s affecting every
organ, we have no idea what loss of the hormone would do to you. The mutation
could stop, increase, or grow out of control. I don’t know enough to give you
real answers.”

“Great.” Destiny threw up her hands in irritation. “When
does that end?”

“I don’t know.”

“Will it permanently alter me?”

Doctor Kate pushed her glasses up, pushing her bangs back.
“I really don’t know.”

“Well, what exactly do you know, Doc?” Kendra ignored the
sharp look Destiny shot her. She was getting damn tired of
I don’t knows
.
Her fingers brushed the still-sensitive bite Azros had given her. It sent a
charge of sensation straight to her pussy. She gritted her teeth. What the hell
had he done?

The doc pinched the bridge of her nose. “Some of these
changes are happening on a molecular level.” She gestured toward Kendra’s third
image, the one that showed full-body exposure. “According to the few research
notes I could gather on the Valorians, their bodies produce counter hormones
that can change their bodies back to normal.”

“Can we use them on me?”

“If we had the capability to create a synthetic counter
hormone, which we don’t…and proceed to inject you, there’s no guarantee it
would be successful, or that your body would even accept it. Hell, it might
kill you! The only thing we do know is that the Sheon body doesn’t have the
resources to return on its own.”

Kendra ran her palms over her face and stared up at the
ceiling. She was changing. Permanently. After it was all over, he’d return to
normal, and she would be left suffering. Alone.
Grow up, Kendra. This isn’t
a fairy tale.
Alone was safer. It was way too soon to be attached to Azros.
So why does it hurt so much?

“So…basically if I stop the process, I’ll die. If I walk
away, I die.” Kendra huffed out a small laugh. “The only option is to see the
mating to the end.”

“Are they safe in population?” Kendra’s stomach twisted at
Destiny’s question. Who else besides Jackson would be affected?

“Of course. Otherwise she wouldn’t be here.”

“Can you at least figure out some way to keep her from
attacking others?” Destiny sounded just as frustrated as she was.

Kendra leaned forward, bracing her elbows on her knees.

Doc shook her head. “According to my research, probably not.
It’s called a feral state. Interfering with it may lead to death for both
parties. They turn wild. The only one who can stop it is their mate. Even if we
try tranquilizers, it’ll just delay her process.”

“Damned if I do…” Kendra muttered under her breath.

“You can stop the mating cycle.”

“Not without the risk of organ failure.” Dr. Monroe looked
apologetic, at least. She got up and walked around the desk to lean against it.
“We don’t have any idea what this hormone is doing to her body, and I don’t
have the equipment to analyze any further. The key to this mating thing is with
the Valorian people.” She clapped Kendra lightly on the shoulder. “Get your
Valorian to give me something to work with, and I’ll see what I can do.”

Kendra barely registered the doc’s touch. “He’s not my
anything,” she snapped. Her life depended on their mating. Why didn’t he
mention that little fact when this had started? Azros had some serious
explaining to do.

Destiny crossed her arms. “This hormone crap is worse than
PMS.” She waved a hand. “Thanks for the help, Dr. Monroe. I have yet more
guests to prepare for, and need to figure out a way to get these slag wastes
off my planet before they destroy its fragile ecosystem. Not to mention the
overtime I’m paying my entertainment staff.”

Kendra knew when she was dismissed. She’d feel bad later.
Much later. Right now she had a Valorian to flay alive.

* * * * *

He was alive.

His brother was alive. Azros welcomed Mase’s interruption.
Anything to get his mind off what he’d done. He’d
marked
Kendra. Like an
animal. Fate only knew what he’d injected her with. He cursed his culture’s
tight-lipped superstitions that kept the mating rituals a secret. None of his
people had ever mentioned injecting their mates with anything. Was it normal?

He didn’t blame her for leaving when she was summoned. Had
he destroyed her trust?

Azros couldn’t get to his brother fast enough. “So he just
asked for me?”

Mase strode ahead, leading the way. “Yeah. It was the
strangest thing. He woke from a two-week coma and said to get Azros del Mar to
him. Tell him that Xavier is awake. I tell you what, that kid is lucky to be
alive.”

Lucky to be alive.
Azros clenched his fists. “How did
he know I was here?” Mase had surprised him with a knock on the door. Xavier
Cross was asking for him. Xavier…his brother. It had been too long.

“I have no idea.” He cut his eyes at Azros. “I’m sure you
stalking down one of our busiest hallways carrying our chief of security had
nothing to do with it.”

Azros clenched his jaw. “Right.”

“Then there’s the marathon sex you two seem to be enjoying.”

“We’re not having sex in public.”

Mase grinned. “You don’t have to. The signs are all there
for the staff.” He was having entirely too much fun at Azros’ expense. “People
talk. And since the chief’s private life is now very public, you’ve given them
a lot to talk about.”

“Great.” Just what they needed. “What about your other
guest?”

Mase’s smile turned grim. “She and her group left right
after your return.”

Azros didn’t believe in coincidence. Fate had shown him his
people’s enemy, and had delivered the weapon he could wield against them. If he
learned anything during his captivity it was that Skreeta was a master
tactician. Skreeta was planning her next move. The question was whether or not
she was plotting against Azros or Kendra. Hell help anyone who went after his
mate.

He ran a hand over his face. What a mess he’d made of
things.

“You know, I’ve never seen the chief so bent out of shape
before.” Mase was guiding them down a chain of hallways that eased from luxury
to uniformity. He recognized universal signs for staff, and authorized
personnel only.

“Bent out of shape? She’s ice under pressure.”

Mase cut a look at him. “You should see her when you don’t
have her all twisted in knots.”

She wasn’t the only one. His head was one big, tangled
nightmare.

They reached a sealed door. Mase swiped an ID badge and
entered a code. The door released with a whoosh of air that flowed against him,
carrying smells unique to a medical environment.

Azros fought his aversion to the scents. He’d spent too many
post-war years recovering in a hospital to ever be comfortable in them again.
“How bad is he?”

“I haven’t seen him since the rescue, so I’m not the one to
ask.” They came to another sealed door.

“You guys take hospital security very seriously.”

“Oh this isn’t for security.” Mase entered his information
and the door whooshed open. This time, the air drew in. “This is the area
reserved for unknown contagions. Your friend has been cleared, otherwise he
could have begged for days and you would have never seen him. Doc says he’ll be
moved soon.”

“Cleared of what?”

“Whatever new super virus, bacteria or other contagious
disease he could have been infected with. We’re pretty remote out here, so
everyone gets tested before they can mingle with population.”

The door shut behind him. “I wasn’t tested.”

Mase cut his eyes at him. “What do you think those bioscans
were for back in the lab? Reeva and I were tested and cleared upon our return.”
His grin wasn’t reassuring. “You passed or you wouldn’t still be here.”

He didn’t ask for clarification.

“Here we are.” Mase opened a door and they walked into a
stark, but functional room.

A bruised and gut-wrenchingly familiar face turned toward
their direction. Bandages covered his eyes. His hair was braided in the
tradition of the warrior class. A spurt of pride had Azros’ lips lifting in a
smile. “Xavier. What happened?” He slipped into their language.

“Azros?” Xavier’s voice was raw. “You son of a bitch, you
really are here!” He held out his hands as though trying to feel for him. “I
thought they were lying…” His voice trailed off. Xavier had grown from the
despondent youth he remembered to a young warrior.

A young warrior who had nearly died. Helpless rage drove his
beast to roar inside his head. Azros strode close and took his brother’s hands
in his. “I’m here. Who the hell did this to you?” Years of conflict between
them dissolved like nothing. Suddenly Azros felt like the protector again, the
big brother, and not the crown prince.

Xavier’s lips twisted in a grimace, and he dropped Azros’
hands. “Most of the damage was done by the crash.” He brushed his fingers along
the bandages covering his eyes.

“You’ve grown so much.” Azros couldn’t believe it.

“Well that happens when a boy grows into a man.” There was
an awkward pause. “It’s damn good to hear your voice.”

“Tell me what happened. You just disappeared.”
For six
years.

His brother raised his chin. “I chose to see how long our
people’s reach had become. My travels brought me to the mining facility. I
found a place in their tight-knit community, and decided to stay. I’ve lived
there for the past five years.”

He’d become a miner? “Did you really have to go so far
away?”

Xavier shook his head. “Don’t start. I left because I had
to. There was no place for me after Mother’s death.”

“Xavier…”

His brother held up a hand. “We will argue over family
obligation when our people are safe. Listen to the rest of the story, brother.”

Azros nodded. “You’re right. Please continue.”

“Almost a year ago, the
Calypso
hailed us. They
requested emergency landing for ship repairs. We gave them clearance and shut
down the alarm system to allow them through. Their attack came out of nowhere.
The communications satellite went first. Then the life support systems. We were
forced in one small area. Our security team was compromised. She shot the
operation foreman, and the dome mayor. After that was chaos.”

Azros closed his eyes. Helpless anger squeezed his heart.
“What happened to our people?” His voice was raw with rage and grief.

Xavier fisted the sheets in his hands. “We were enslaved and
forced to work longer hours in dangerous conditions. Every now and then, they
felt the need to make an example with one of our teammates. They were murdered
right before our eyes.” His hands shook. “I couldn’t do anything to stop it.”

Rage coiled in Azros’ gut. “None of us could. Hell, brother,
she took our ship and we were prepared. We were going to meet up with a
contact, someone who had access to the ship.”

“Yeah. That was going to be me. My plan was ousted, and I
was taken before I could be smuggled out.”

Azros wanted to roar in agony. He covered Xavier’s hands
with his own. “I should have been there. This should never have happened to
you.”

Xavier brushed off his touch. “I am the first brother to the
prince of our people. If I couldn’t save them, what makes you think you could?”

Azros clenched his jaw.

“Some of the worst tortures were caused by the mining
regent. A Sheon by the name of Solace Valera.”

“Solace? That’s an interesting name.”

“So named for her ability to bring peace by any means
necessary.” A quiet voice spoke from behind Azros’ back.

Azros spun around. A robed woman stood by the foot of the
bed. A woman he hadn’t heard or sensed. He cursed medical disinfectant and how
it masked all other scents. Kendra’s dislike of his quiet movements came to
mind. His gaze flicked to the closed door. Mase leaned against it, unconcerned.
The blue man’s gaze traveled back and forth, taking in expressions, if not
understanding the words.

She had long blonde hair, and a simple torc wrapped around
her neck. Everything else was covered in the nondescript robe he’d seen others
wearing. Her face was in shadow.

“Who are you, and how do you know our language?”

“Shyla,” Xavier sneered.

She strode forward with the confidence of someone who was
expected, if not welcomed. Her eyes captured his attention. In color only, they
reminded him of Kendra. Iron-gray eyes, cold and desolate where Kendra’s were
warm, if wary.

“Xavier. We don’t have much time.” The blonde’s face grew
drawn and pale at first glimpse of Xavier’s bruises. There was a story here.

Xavier bit out a laugh. “What else is new?”

She ignored his comment and glanced at Azros. “Greetings,
Valorian Prince Azros. I’m Shyla, daughter of Skreeta. You’ll forgive me if I
don’t shake hands as I’d expect you would rather kill a member of my family
than befriend them.”