Breed Assassins 2

Bound Hearts

After discovering his true identity, Thoran learns that he has a sister who was kidnapped ten years ago. When he travels to Crossover, his only intention is to gain information on her whereabouts, but fate has other plans. Thoran remembers a man from years before, a man he has never even spoken to but can't get out of his mind. When he finds out that Eaton has been sold to the local brothel by his very own father, Thoran mounts a rescue.

Eaton thinks his life is over. His father has sold him in order to pay back taxes on their blacksmith business. There is no hope. Or so he thought until a gorgeous Breed Assassin rescues him.

As the Breed Assassins search for Thoran's sister, Thoran must confront his own personal demons and decide how far he wants to go in order to give Eaton the one thing he truly desires. To be owned by Thoran. 

Genre: Alternative (M/M or F/F), Futuristic, Paranormal, Science Fiction, Shape-Shifter, Vampires/Werewolves

Length: 34,768 words

BOUND HEARTS

Breed Assassins 2

Lynn Hagen

THE LYNN HAGEN

MANLOVE COLLECTION

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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BOUND HEARTS

Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Hagen

E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-033-7

First E-book Publication: July 2014

Cover design by Emma Nicole

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BOUND HEARTS

Breed Assassins 2

LYNN HAGEN

Copyright © 2014

Chapter One

“I hate it here,” Thoran said into the darkness as he lay there in bed.

“It isn’t so bad,” Dax said. “At least we have a warm place to sleep.”

Thoran didn’t agree. He was only five years old and was being forced to train like a grown man. Something inside of him told him this wasn’t right. Although Kayden, Dax, Logan, and Nyk were the only kids he’d ever been around, Thoran felt like there was so much more out there.

The dark room always scared Thoran. He hated when the guards turned the lights out at night. He couldn’t even see his hand in front of his face. If it wasn’t for the fact that he could hear Dax breathing from one bed over, he would think he was all alone. “Do you ever wish you had a mommy?”

He had been told that his mommy hadn’t wanted him. Draven told him that his mommy had sold him to someone on a planet named Colossus. His heart ached for a woman he didn’t even know. All he ever wanted was a family. Thoran lay awake many nights imagining what his mommy would look like. Did she have the same brown hair as him, or the same green eyes? He bet she had the most beautiful laugh. Thoran’s chest felt tight as he turned over.

Even though it was pitch black in the room, he didn’t want the other boys to see his tears.

“No,” Dax finally said. “I try not to think about a mommy.”

“Why?”

“Because it hurts when I do.”

Thoran knew how that felt. He didn’t understand any of this. He had been in a nursery up until a week ago. The nurses hadn’t been mean to him, but he never felt like he belonged. The nurses hadn’t hugged him. They treated him like they were just there to make sure he didn’t get hurt and was fed.

Draven had told Thoran that he was very smart for a child his age. But Thoran didn’t want to be smart.

He wanted a mommy.

“We’ll get grown up and find one,” Nyk promised from two cots over. “I want one who can bake cookies.”

“I want one who plays with me all day,” Thoran said. It might hurt to think about it, but Thoran couldn’t stop himself from wishing. “I hate training.”

“What about you, Kayden?” Dax asked. “Don’t you want a mommy?”

“No,” Kayden replied. His bed was the farthest away, on the opposite side of the room. Thoran didn’t understand why Kayden’s bed wasn’t with theirs.

“Why?” Thoran asked.

There was a soft rustle and Thoran knew Kayden was turning over. “Go to sleep, Thoran, and forget your stupid dream of having a mommy or any family.”

Thoran fell silent, wrapping his blanket tightly around him, trying to chase away his fear of the darkness as he dreamed of a family he could call his own.

* * * *

Twenty-three years later…

“Why didn’t you tell me I had a sister?” Thoran asked as he walked into the room Matista was lounging in. He’d been here a month and a half and she hadn’t said a word. It was one of the servants who had tipped his ear.

Matista unfolded her legs and sat up, dabbing at the misty tears in her eyes. “It’s so difficult for me emotionally to think about her and your parents. Nyda was kidnapped ten years ago. We have searched everywhere.” His aunt held her hand to her breast and Thoran could see the tears finally falling.

Thoran and his cousins—along with Dax—had been led to believe that they were orphans, discarded by their parents. Only recently had they learned the truth, that they’d been kidnapped from Sator as infants. Although Dax was the son of a servant woman who’d worked in the palace at the time, Thoran still considered the man family. Nothing would ever change that.

“We spent years and a lot of resources, but we never found any trace of where you or the others were.” She walked over to the grand fireplace. “And to think all this time you and the others have been two planets away.” The anger was sharp and evident in her voice. “And when Nyda was taken, your uncle sent every man he had to search for her. But it was like she’d vanished into thin air.”

“No trace?” Thoran asked. His head was reeling. He’d never known he had a sister. But then again, he’d been kidnapped when he was a mere five months old.

Her blue-green eyes dropped as she shook her head. “No.”

Thoran had no idea what his sister looked like, but there was no way he could sit on his ass while she was still out there somewhere. He had to find her and bring her home where she belonged. The problem was, Thoran didn’t know where to start looking. “I have to find her.”

Thoran, Nyk, Logan, and Dax had agreed to start their own freighting company. They all felt like they didn’t belong here. They’d grown up in a training facility. The luxuries now at their disposal were foreign to them. Thoran would rather be up in space where he felt at home.

But a sister.

This changed a lot of things.

Matista smiled as she turned, but Thoran saw something strange pass through her eyes. Before he could pin down what it was, the emotion was gone. “How can you find her after all these years? I think it best you stay here, where you’re safe.”

“I don’t want to be safe,” Thoran argued. “I want to find Nyda. With or without your consent, I’m going after her.”

Matista twisted her lips to the side and then nodded. “Very well. I will give you a ship to use in your search.”

She pulled something from her robe and handed it to Thoran. It was a photograph of a beautiful young girl with bright blue eyes and long, silky black hair that wound down her back in ringlets. “How old is she now?”

“Sixteen.” Matista curled her fingers around Thoran’s wrists. “I’m sorry that your parents were killed searching for her. They would have been proud of the man you’ve grown into.”

Thoran remembered the day he and the other Breed Assassins arrived here. He had watched as Matista hugged her long-lost son, weeping openly at his return. Thoran had no one to welcome him home. His dream of having a mother would never be fulfilled. His parents were dead and his sister was missing.

He still had his cousins—who, until recently, he had thought of as just close friends. But that wasn’t the same as being enveloped into a loving mother’s arms. The ache in Thoran’s chest grew as he stared at Nyda’s pert nose and delicate chin.

“I’m going to ask Kayden to go with me,” Thoran said. He needed his team. This was what they were trained to do. They would have to be extremely careful considering there was a hearty bounty on each of their heads. But nothing short of death was going to stop him from finding his baby sister. He knew Kayden had planned on staying on Sator. The Breed Assassin was going to be a father soon. He felt guilty for even considering asking Kayden to help him, but Thoran was desperate to have a family of his own, even if it consisted of his sister.

It was more than he’d ever had—excluding his brethren. A sister would help ease the ache he held inside of him at the loss of his mother.

“Must he go?” Matista asked, and Thoran could hear the desperation in her voice. “His mate is with child and I just got him back.”

“I have to go,” Kayden said as he strode into the room and nodded at Thoran.

“Why?” Matista asked her son.

“Because Thoran is my brother and there is nothing I wouldn’t do for him.”

“He is your cousin,” Matista corrected as she moved closer. “Your brother is Katino.”

Kayden and Thoran locked eyes and the bond they shared passed between them. “When you’ve been through what we’ve been through, it forges you into brothers.”

Thoran thought Matista would argue further. She was dead set against any of them leaving. But she quieted and then nodded as if she understood. Thoran could see the defeat in her blue-green eyes. “I’ll make sure Jade is well taken care of,” she said.

Kayden took the woman’s hands and kissed her knuckles. “I promise to return before the birth of my child.”

“Then you better go,” Matista insisted. “You don’t have much time.”

When Kayden cut his eyes to Thoran, he knew the man was reluctant to tell Jade that he was leaving. Jade was going to have a fit. Thoran started to tell Kayden to stay behind and be with his family, but he knew the man too damn well. Kayden wasn’t going to listen. A brother was in need and nothing was going to sway him to stay behind.

“I’ll meet you in the bay in an hour,” Kayden said before he left the room.

Thoran hugged his aunt. “Thank you for helping.”

“Just stay safe. I want all of you back here. Understand?”

Thoran nodded. “We leave as a unit and we’ll return as one.” He left, going to pack and tell the others they had a mission. Dax was still trying to hack into the Empire’s computer system to find out why the Constantine Empire was after them, but so far that man had had no luck.

An hour later, all five men were in the bay. But so was Jade.

“I still don’t like this,” Jade said. He stood there wearing loose, vibrant robes, but Thoran could see the swell of the man’s stomach. There were times when Thoran couldn’t help but stare. It only reminded him of the life he’d been cheated out of, and bitterness began to build inside of him. If it was the last thing he did, Thoran was going to make those responsible for his loss pay.

Kayden kissed his mate, promising to return safe and sound. Thoran was a bit surprised when Jade walked over and hugged him. “I hope you find your sister.”

“Don’t forget you promised to name the babe after me.”

Jade rolled his eyes. “I was under duress. You can’t hold me to that.”

“I saved your ass back at those cabins,” he teased.

“No, the guards did.” Jade bit his lower lip, looked over his shoulder at Kayden, and then whispered, “The baby’s middle name will be Thoran. Happy?”

“Yep.”

One of the guards escorted Jade back inside as the five of them boarded the shuttle. They headed out into the silence of space. “I think we should start on Colossus,” Thoran said. Colossus was a black market planet where anything could be bought, including information. He hated the planet with a passion because of his childhood, but had never steered clear of the place.

He couldn’t. From their first mission, the Breed Assassins had used this planet as a source of supplies and intel. He just had to swallow the bile that rose to the back of his throat any time they went near the place.

“I have a friend—”

“Oh, no,” Thoran cut Kayden off. “The last time you had a friend, he ratted you out to King Arador and nearly got us all arrested.”

King Arador ruled the planet Synia. It was a planet Kayden had been told he belonged to. King Arador had outlawed homosexuality and Kayden’s friend had turned Kayden in after learning that Jade was pregnant.

The lie Kayden was told was a hell of a lot better than the lie Thoran had been given. He’d been told that he was a bastard child that was sold on Colossus before being abandoned on Talus—the planet he had grown up on with his cousins.

He had thought his entire life that his mother had been a worthless whore who hadn’t wanted him. The bitterness of that lie ate away at Thoran. He wanted revenge. His parents were dead and he’d been robbed of the chance to get to know them and the truth of what his mother was really like.

“Everything okay?” Dax asked as he took a seat next to Thoran. “You look like you’re ready to skewer someone.”

“Did Matista tell you what happened to your family?” Thoran asked. Thoran had learned that his family, along with Nyk and Logan’s, had lived outside the palace. Many people had died twenty-five years ago when the war between the Synians and Satorians had been waged. From what Matista had told him, an army unit had infiltrated the palace where the boys were being kept for safekeeping and seized the opportunity to kidnap the boys and sell them as slaves. But Thoran hadn’t yet learned what had become of Dax’s family, who’d lived in the palace servant quarters when Dax was a baby.

“Honestly?” Dax asked as he glanced at the other men sitting further away. “She told me that my mother was still alive, but wasn’t ready to see me.”

Thoran was blown away by Dax’s confession. What mother wouldn’t want to see a child that was taken from her? He didn’t ask because he could see the pain etched in the man’s face. It seemed their homecoming wasn’t what any of them had expected.

Truth be told, Thoran hadn’t even been sure what to expect. The older he’d gotten, the less he’d dreamt of a mother or any kind of family. He’d resigned himself to being alone for the rest of his life—no family, no children. It was better that way. With no one to love, life was less complicated. The only people he cared about were the men he’d trained with.

“You got our ugly asses,” Thoran said as he bumped shoulders with Dax. Thoran didn’t wear his emotions on his sleeve, but even he had heart when it came to his friends. He hated to see any of them hurting. “I know that is a poor replacement, but…” He shrugged.

“Don’t get all emotional on me,” Dax warned, but Thoran could hear the teasing banter in the man’s tone.

“If you try to kiss me, I’ll knock your teeth out,” Thoran countered before he chuckled. “Go back to digging into Fed records, numb nut.”

Thoran’s smile faded when Dax went back to his seat. He sat there looking at his brethren, wondering how much their lives were about to change. They’d grown up as a close-knit unit, working and living together until they’d become grown men. And then their trainer, Draven, had put each of them in their own private quarters.

Thoran had hated it when he’d been separated from them, but kept the complaint to himself. A Breed Assassin didn’t complain or protest. A Breed Assassin got the job done by any means necessary. Thoran sat there in silence as he remembered every single rule that had ever been taught to him.

“Can I see?” Nyk asked as he turned in his seat.

“See what?” Thoran asked.

“The photograph of Nyda.”

All four men were still getting used to the fact that they were related by blood. It wasn’t that big of a deal though. They’d considered themselves a family for so long that when they learned the truth, it hadn’t really shocked them.

At least it hadn’t shocked Thoran. Nothing seemed to shock him anymore. Thoran had seen too much, had experienced some of life’s worst moments when tracking down his assignments. Finding out that three of the four men he cherished were blood relations didn’t even make a blip on his radar.

He pulled out the photo of his sister and handed it over to Nyk.

“She has your eyes.” Nyk studied the picture a moment longer before he handed it back. “Cute kid.”

Pride swelled inside of him. She was a great-looking girl. But the worry in him grew stronger. Who would kidnap her and why? In the Zarino galaxy, slavery was legal. What if she’d been taken for—Thoran closed the lid on that thought. If he found out anyone had forced her into anything vile and immoral, he was going to take a millennia to make them suffer.

“We should be landing on Colossus in another hour,” Kayden announced as he made his way from the front of the shuttle to the back. “Logan has to bring us in on the dark side of the planet so that we can avoid several cargo tankers passing through the shipping lanes.”

“Would landing on the dark side of Colossus give us a better advantage?” Thoran asked, his eyes meeting each man there.

Kayden nodded. “It might take a little longer to reach our destination but we could avoid any ships waiting at the space dock.”

Thoran wanted to run into a league of Constantine Empire soldiers—better known as Feds—just to burn off some of the rage he felt toward the government he had been raised to respect. But his need to find and rescue his sister was stronger.

Kayden got up and walked back to the bridge of the small shuttle. He grabbed a Vid-pad and started tapping away on the screen as he turned. “There’s a small village called Crossover about ten miles outside of the Capitol. Its main claim to fame is a bar called the Crossover Tavern that is on the edge of a river next to the only bridge in the area.”

“What if someone is watching the bridge?” Dax asked.

“That’s what makes this plan so perfect.” Kayden grinned as he glanced up. “The owner of the tavern is a black market gun runner. There’s a tunnel that goes under the river from the back of the tavern.”

“So, how does this help us?” Anyone that recognized them was likely to turn them in for the bounty, especially someone on the wrong side of the law. It was a quick and easy way to make a crap load of money. Thoran ground his teeth at the thought of being anyone’s meal ticket.

“It just so happens that this particular gun runner owes me a favor,” Kayden replied.

Dax stared at Kayden. “Why?”

Thoran already knew without asking.

The smile on Kayden’s face was just this side of wicked. “Because I didn’t kill him.”

Chapter Two

The sun had begun to set and the light of the afternoon was on the land as the five men went downhill. So far they hadn’t run into anyone.

Thoran kept the picture of Nyda tucked in his pocket as he and the other men ducked through the woods. He could see the bridge not too far ahead. But their journey was slow. With such a large bounty on each of their heads, there was no telling who might be after them or who might be watching as they made their way to Crossover.

The area was quiet except for the soft wind that made the leaves rustle and the saw grass sway. No one was in the meadow by the river. Rumors had always circled about the lands around this area. Some said they were cursed. Others said the river was the gateway to the underworld.

Thoran believed none of it. Crossover was a small village with thatched roofs and dirt roads but there was nothing sinister about the place. The people lived with a simplicity that Thoran envied. He’d visited here just once, years ago when he was on assignment. The residents of this small village wore hemp clothing and farmed their lands.

They were nothing like those who lived in the Capitol. They didn’t have modernized vehicles. They still used horses as their mode of transportation. The Capitol had the worst of the worst—crime, slavery, black markets.

But here, it was as if they’d stepped into another world. It surprised Thoran that Kayden had been to this village before. Thoran thought himself the only one who had visited this place.

But apparently Kayden knew more about it than Thoran. Thoran had had no clue there were tunnels running under the village. He wasn’t even sure where to look for the opening.

“Keep your eyes open,” Kayden said. “Even though we’re far from the Capitol, this village is still susceptible to criminals. I don’t need any of you getting your heads blown off.”

Thoran had stopped caring a long time ago whether he lived or died. Growing up in a training facility had hardened him. His missions had been the only thing he’d lived for, and now he didn’t even have that. The prospect of owning a freighting company appealed to him though. It would keep him on the go, running from one planet to another.

But it wasn’t the same as the rush he’d gotten when he’d completed a mission. Nothing had ever compared to that. Not even sex.

There was one person in particular who had interested Thoran when he’d been here before. Since Thoran had been on assignment, he hadn’t pursued the man and now he wondered if the guy was still around.

Eaton.

The name had stuck in the back of Thoran’s mind for years.

“Ready?” Kayden asked, pulling Thoran from deep thought. He shoved the memory of pale-blue eyes and silky black hair from his mind as he nodded.

“It’s just too damn quiet,” Dax said. “Why is my gut telling me to back down?”

“That’s because your gut is getting too big,” Logan said as he crouched. “Too many sweets at the palace.”

Nyk snickered as his gazed dropped to Dax’s midsection. “He’s right.”

“Fuck both of you,” Dax groused.

Thoran grinned at the banter. These men were the only people in the universe he loved more than his own life. When he was around them, life seemed a little more bearable.

“You see that small clump of bushes?” Kayden pointed south of the bridge. “That’s where the opening to the tunnels is located, just beyond that large rock.”

“You mean Dax’s head?” Logan teased.

“One more word,” Dax threatened, “and you’ll be breathing out of a new hole, bastard.”

Thoran glanced to where Kayden had pointed. It was a good ways away with nothing but wide-open spaces in between. There had been some shuttles in the area when they first landed. Thoran wasn’t sure what they’d been looking for and he didn’t want to find out.

Having a death wish was one thing, but being taken captive was something he wholeheartedly wanted to avoid.

“Move out,” Kayden commanded. The five of them moved like ghosts as they slipped across the terrain. They spread out, making their unit less of a target.

Thoran was the first to reach the entrance, but he had no clue how to open it. Kayden moved in next to him, pushing aside the bush before shoving his hand inside an opening in the rock.

The rock moved backward after a hefty push, revealing the entrance. It was large enough to fit a body in—barely. The men quickly slipped inside. Kayden lit a torch that had been on the wall and led them through the vast array of tunnels. The air was thicker down here, but cool compared to the sweltering heat of the day.

When they reached the end of the tunnel they’d been traveling, Kayden handed the torch to Thoran. He knocked three times on the wooden door, and then two more times.

The door opened to reveal a man who looked like a grizzly bear. He was thick with muscles and hairy as hell. There was even hair poking out of the collar of his shirt. “Kayden Caellen,” the man said. “I take it you need my help?”

Kayden didn’t remind the man of the debt he owed. He simply nodded. The grizzly man stepped aside, waving them in. Thoran handed the stranger the torch as he glanced around. They were in the storage room of the tavern. Large barrels were stacked in one corner, sacks of grain in another. There were baskets of bread on one table, along with cheeses of every assortment.

“The tavern is busy right now,” the man said. “It would be best if you stayed back here.”

“We’re looking for information,” Kayden stated before he glanced at Thoran. “Show him the picture.”

The man doused the torch in a bucket of water and grabbed the picture of Nyda from Thoran, glancing over it. “Lovely girl. Who is she?”

Logan and Dax helped themselves to the bread and cheese. The two acted as if they hadn’t eaten in days. Thoran cleared his throat. “She’s my sister.” It was the oddest thing to say. The familial title was foreign to him. “Her name is Nyda Legara.”

“When did she go missing?” the man asked.

“Ten years ago.”

The man scoffed, shoving the picture back at Thoran. “How am I supposed to know where she is when so much time has passed?”

Thoran growled as he tucked Nyda’s photograph back into his pocket. He knew they weren’t going to find her so easily, but the frustration was mounting.

“Look, Quido,” Kayden said. “I need you to ask around, covertly. We need some kind of lead.”

Quido rubbed his jaw, his eyes locked on Thoran. “Ten years ago the House of Mustoff put out a contract for captives they could sell on the black market. Vykilions were the first ones to raid. You might want to start there.”

Thoran’s gut twisted into a tight knot. This was the second time someone had mentioned the black market when it came to his sister. Thoran’s hope of finding her still sweet and innocent was quickly fading.

When Quido turned to leave, Thoran grabbed the man’s beefy arm. “There was a man here about five years ago. His name was Eaton.” Thoran left off the part about Eaton being a tabby cat shifter. If he located Eaton, the other men would find out, but Thoran wasn’t in the mood for their swipes and bluster. All five were like recalcitrant siblings, and most of the time Thoran liked the bantering.

But not now.

Quido’s eyes blazed with knowledge. “Try the brothel.”

Thoran’s heart sank. “He’s a whore?”

“Things are bad around here,” Quido said. “Some people are forced into a life they don’t want.”

Slavery?

“Who’s Eaton?” Dax asked before he shoved a thick piece of bread into his mouth.

“He was the blacksmith’s son,” Quido stated. “But his father sold him a month ago so he could pay the taxes he owed the governor.” Quido shook his head. “And people wonder why I still run guns. It’s dangerous as hell, but the money is good. I haven’t missed a payment on my tavern yet.”

Thoran knew he should let things be. He not only had to find Nyda, but there was a hefty bounty on his head. Lying low was his best option. He didn’t need to get involved in someone else’s affairs. But those pale-blue eyes had haunted him for years.

“You’re going after him, aren’t you?” Nyk asked.

Quido grunted. “Best take an arsenal. The man who runs the brothel protects his investments with a vengeance. He has thugs who have no problem killing.”

“And your governor lets them?” Dax asked.

Quido gazed at Dax as if he were daft. “We’re on Colossus. What the hell do you think? As long as the governor gets his cut, he turns a blind eye to what’s going on.”

“It’s too dangerous,” Logan said. “How well do you know Eaton?”

When all eyes turned to Thoran, he felt a flush of embarrassment wash over his face. “I met him once when I was here five years ago. His father gave me intel on my target.”

“You even speak to the man?” Nyk asked.

“No,” Thoran admitted. “Does it matter?”

Dax shook his head, muttering under his breath before he said, “You want us to stick our necks out for someone you’ve never even spoken to?”

“I don’t want you to do shit,” Thoran bit out. “I’ll do this myself. You guys can head back to the shuttle.”

He was angry at Dax’s words, even if they were true. He knew he couldn’t ask his unit to risk themselves for Eaton. Kayden couldn’t afford to be captured, not when Jade was going to give birth soon. The other men had no stake in this. Eaton meant nothing to them.

He shouldn’t mean anything to Thoran. But Thoran couldn’t get the sweet sound of Eaton’s laughter from his mind. He just couldn’t walk away from this.

“Death wish,” Quido said. “But if you’re going to strike, do it first thing in the morning when everyone is asleep. I doubt you’ll come out alive, but that would be the best time.” Quido waved his hand. “Until then, you men can rest back here. Stay out of the tavern.”

It wasn’t a request.

“And don’t eat all my fucking food.” Quido snarled at Dax and Logan.

“No promises,” Dax muttered.

When Quido left, Logan and Dax hit the wine barrel, pouring themselves a large mugful. He could see the way Nyk was staring affectionately at Dax. Thoran wondered if something was going on between the two.

Thoran rested on the wheat sacks. Am I doing the right thing? he wondered. It was true that he’d met Eaton just once. He was a damn fool for risking his hide for someone he didn’t even know. But his wolf snarled at the thought of leaving the man behind to a life that, in Thoran’s opinion, was worse than death.

“Get some sleep, fellas,” Kayden said as he lay back on the sacks of flour. “We have a long morning ahead of us. If we’re going up against some pimp and his thugs, we’ll need our wits about us.”

Dax chuckled. “That’s too funny.”

Thoran smiled. It was. They were trained Assassins. Taking out some lowlife and his guards shouldn’t be a problem. They were going in to rescue one man.

Piece of cake.

* * * *

Eaton curled on his side in bed, watching through the wire-meshed window as the eastern sky grew lighter. He still couldn’t believe what his father had done to him. Eaton had always been obedient, never giving his father any trouble. It would be different if he’d been out of control or lacked respect. Then maybe Eaton would understand why the man had sold him.

The life he’d once had was over and now he was going to belong to whoever paid the highest price. Not knowing his fate was the worst.

Eaton had promised his father that he would find a way to pay the taxes owed on the blacksmith business, but the man had taken the easy way out, selling Eaton without a backward glance before Eaton had a chance to make good on his vow.

His throat felt dry and he could barely swallow. Eaton was so sick and tired of crying and wishing he had a different life. He’d been here a month already, but Trakin hadn’t made Eaton work the pleasure house. When Eaton’s father had told the brothel owner that Eaton was still a virgin, Trakin had rubbed his hands together, the greed leaking into his eyes. He said he was going to sell Eaton and make a fortune.

The auction was set for this afternoon.

Twice Eaton had tried to escape and both times he’d been beaten until he barely remembered his own name. Each time the auction had had to be postponed so Eaton could heal.

Wouldn’t want the merchandise battered and bruised.

Eaton was lying there with some strange outfit on that was so sheer his genitals were showing. Trakin had made the other men wash Eaton from head to toe last night, scrubbing places that had made Eaton shout in indignation.

But Trakin hadn’t cared.

When the lights flickered in his room, Eaton sat up, glancing around. He pushed from the bed when the lights flickered once more and then went out. It was still early enough that the lightening horizon had little effect. The room was dark.

Trakin was cheap, but Eaton knew the man paid the light bill. He tried to go to the door to see into the hallway, but the shackle around his ankle stopped him. The chain was bolted to the floor and the metal prevented Eaton from shifting. After his escape attempts, Trakin wasn’t taking any chances.

So Eaton stood there with his gaze fixed on the door. He jerked when he heard something heavy hit the floor out in the hallway. Eaton was getting a very bad feeling. Something was wrong.

The door swung open and Eaton jumped back, the chain scraping against the floor. Filling the doorway was the biggest, meanest-looking man Eaton had ever laid eyes on. The guy was scarier than Trakin. He had long black braids running over one shoulder and strange purple eyes. His skin was the color of honey and he was thick with muscles.

“What’s your name?” the man asked in a rush before he glanced over his shoulder and then looked back at Eaton.

“Why?” he asked. Though he knew it would be futile, Eaton glanced around the room for some sort of weapon. Trakin had made sure Eaton’s room was cleaned out, leaving him with nothing but a bed. He highly doubted he could beat this man back with a sheet.

“I don’t have time for this shit,” the guy said. “Tell me your damn name.”

Eaton’s eyes gazed at the bodysuit the man was wearing. It fit like a glove, showing off his massive body. This stranger could snap Eaton in half without breaking a sweat.

“Your goddamn name!” the man snarled.

He jumped at the harsh tone that was barked at him. “Eaton.”

He hated himself for giving in to his fear.

The stranger’s eyes landed on the shackle wrapped around Eaton’s ankle. “Damn it.”

The air suddenly left the room when the man pulled his blaster from the holster he was wearing. Eaton slammed his eyes closed, shaking so badly that the chain rattled. His muscles locked into place when he heard the sound of the blaster going off.

No pain.

Eaton opened one eye and then the other. The man was still standing there, but his weapon had been holstered. Glancing down, Eaton could see that the chain was now in two pieces.

“Let’s get moving.”

Without having to be told twice, Eaton took off toward the door, the small piece of chain still attached to his ankle clanking loudly. He wasn’t sure who this stranger was, but he’d take his chances. It was better than waiting around to be sold.

As he ran down the hallway, Eaton tore the sheer shirt from his body, throwing it aside. There was nothing he could do about the pants. Although the material was transparent, it still made him feel better knowing there was some sort of fabric clinging to him.

Eaton skidded to a stop when three men advanced toward him. He recognized one of them. It was the Breed Assassin who had visited his father five years ago.

What in the hell was going on? Why would Breed Assassins be invading a brothel? Better yet, why were they freeing him? Eaton had heard nothing but horror stories about these men. Even when the one he recognized had come to Eaton’s father so long ago, the man had been quiet, lethal.

And now here he stood, glaring at Eaton’s pants as if they offended him.

“Find him some clothes,” he said to the men around him.

The man who had freed Eaton grunted. “We are fighting our way out of here and you want us to stop and dress the guy?”

Thoran. Eaton finally remembered the man’s name.

“He’s not leaving here dressed like that!” Thoran snapped at the man who had spoken. “Now find him some damn clothes, Dax.”

Dax flipped Thoran his middle finger. “Not a chance.”

Thoran snarled at Dax, his canines showing as he walked into the room closest to them and grabbed the sheet off the bed, tossing it at Eaton. “Put that on.”

Eaton had seconds to grab the sheet before the material landed on the floor. What in the hell was this guy’s problem? Eaton’s moves were jerky, anger filling him as he tied the sheet over himself like a toga. He glared at Thoran. “Happy?”

The snarl on the man’s face said he wasn’t.

The guy was definitely mental.

Two of Trakin’s men appeared at the end of the hall. They aimed their weapons and fired. The blast whizzed past Eaton’s ear. He dropped to the floor, covering his head before Thoran reached down and yanked Eaton to his feet.

The Assassins returned fire as they headed toward the window at the end of the hallway. Where in the hell were they going? His question was answered when Dax busted the window out.

“You want me to jump?” Eaton’s eyes widened. “But we’re on the third floor!”

“It’s our only way out,” Thoran said as he pushed past Eaton. “Either the window, or face the guys at the other end of the hall.”

Eaton glanced at the window once more. Who wanted to live forever? Gathering the bottom of the sheet in his arms, Eaton moved toward the window, trying his best not to step on the broken glass with his bare feet. The precaution was totally ridiculous considering he was about to die.

“I’ll go first,” an Assassin with a dragon tattoo on his arm said. Eaton clutched his sheet tightly in his hands. Was the guy really going to jump?

“How honorable of you, Nyk,” Dax said, but Eaton could tell the man wasn’t being sincere. His tone was more of a bluster.

Eaton nearly gasped when Nyk climbed onto the windowsill and jumped. He moved to the window and looked down, terrified the man would be dead. But to his relief, Nyk stood there unscathed, smiling up at him.

Who could do something like that and live? Eaton was a cat shifter, but not even he could manage a fall that far. Of course, he was just a tabby cat, not a predator. He was also mildly afraid of heights.

Two more men jumped before Thoran turned to Eaton. “Go.”

More of Trakin’s men filled the hallway, shooting and ducking as blasts were returned by Thoran and Dax. The window was slightly out of view from the other end of the hallway, giving them a small measure of cover. But that wasn’t going to last very long.

“I can’t.” Eaton looked at the window and knew he wouldn’t be able to make that leap. There was no way in hell he was going to land on his feet. Breaking his neck was more like it.

“I’ve got you covered,” Dax said to Thoran as he fired a few more rounds.

When Thoran grabbed Eaton, he thought the guy was going to toss him out the window. He’d been nothing but short with Eaton so far. But Eaton was lifted into gentle arms. “Kayden will catch you, petit chat. I promise.”

Eaton wasn’t sure if he should be offended that the wolf shifter had just called him little cat. But the words were spoken softly, gently, with no hostility. Eaton gazed up into the prettiest green eyes he’d ever seen. He found himself nodding as Thoran leaned out of the window, dangling Eaton over the edge. “Just don’t flail or you’ll make Kayden’s job harder.”

“Okay.” Eaton wrapped his arms around his chest, squeezed his eyes shut, and then the security of Thoran’s strong arms were gone. He was sailing through the air. Eaton would have screamed, but his voice was caught in his throat. He braced himself for the impact, expecting to hit the ground. But he landed in someone’s arms.

When he opened his eyes, Eaton wished he hadn’t. The tallest of the five men was staring at him with green-blue eyes. The look was penetrating before he set Eaton on his feet.

Eaton tilted his head back and waited for Dax and Thoran to follow.

“We need to move out,” Nyk said.

Kayden—the man who’d caught him—grabbed Eaton’s upper arm and hauled him toward waiting horses.

“What about the other two?” Eaton asked as he was lifted onto the horse’s bare back.

“They can take care of themselves,” Kayden said. “But we need to get away from here before the whole village wakes up.”

Eaton’s horse raced after the others as they took off toward the river. When they passed the blacksmith shop, Eaton’s chest tightened and regret—along with anger—consumed him. There was no doubt in his mind that he would never see his father again.

But more pressing concerns filled him.

Like, why had the Assassins rescued him and what did they plan on doing with Eaton?

Chapter Three

Thoran knew he’d been wrong for treating Eaton that way. But as soon as he’d seen the state of the man’s clothes, he’d instantly balked at the idea of how many men Eaton must have fucked since being at the brothel.

“What was that all about?” Dax asked as they rode to catch up with the others. Thoran wasn’t sure if they were being followed. He and Dax needed to get as far away from Crossover as possible. Thoran winced when his horse leapt over a fallen branch. He’d taken a shot to the leg while trying to get out of there. He wasn’t sure how bad the wound was, but even the smallest burn could become infected if left untreated.

“I have no idea what you’re talking about.”

Dax snorted. “You practically twist our arms to get that man free and then you treat him like a leper.”

“I didn’t twist shit,” Thoran argued. “I told you guys to stay back.” He wasn’t going to have this conversation with Dax. It was none of the guy’s business that Thoran was acting like an ass. All he could think about was the harlot way Eaton has been dressed, his cock displayed for all to see. Logic wasn’t a part of his thinking process right now.

But as repulsed as he was with Eaton’s state of dress, he hadn’t been able to bring himself to be mean to the guy when he’d seen how scared Eaton had been about jumping out of the window.

And that only pissed him off more.

“Remind me to never have you rescue me,” Dax said as they passed over the bridge and headed toward the woods. “Because if you’d treated me like that, I would’ve served you your balls.”

“Drop it,” Thoran snapped. What really bothered him most was the fact that, since he’d started thinking about Eaton last night, Thoran hadn’t thought of Nyda. The guilt was eating him alive. How could he so easily forget his sister for someone he had met only once in passing?

They made it to the shuttle without incident, but Thoran knew they wouldn’t be semi-safe until they were away from this planet. God, he hated this place. He hated the Empire for passing on the lie that Thoran had been sold here. A part of him wanted to hate Draven as well. His mentor had repeated the lie and had shattered Thoran at such a young age. But he couldn’t find it in himself to blame Draven. His handler was the closest thing to a father Thoran had ever had. Although tough, Draven had shown the Assassins a kindness that Thoran cherished.

After dismounting the horse, Thoran slapped its flank. The horse took off with the others. Thoran entered the shuttle and his eyes dropped to where Eaton was sitting in the back, talking quietly to Nyk.

“Get us out of here,” Thoran called to Logan before walking to the front of the shuttle. He couldn’t bring himself to talk with Eaton, let alone look at him. Half of Thoran wanted to pull the slim man into his arms and make sure he was okay. The other wanted nothing to do with the guy.

It wasn’t just because of the way Eaton was dressed or what he’d been forced into. Eaton was making Thoran feel strange things that he’d never felt before and he didn’t like the foreign emotions. They would find a safe planet to drop Eaton on, and that would be the end of it.

“Something wrong?” Kayden asked. “I would have thought you’d be back there with Eaton.”

Thoran paused while he finished his current flight check. He looked over to find Kayden giving him a hard stare. “What is it with everyone busting my balls?”

Kayden scratched his chin in an irritated gesture. “The guy was just put through some traumatic bullshit. Don’t you think he could use a friend?”

“He and Nyk seemed to be getting along just fine.” Thoran ignored the pang of jealousy that raced through him.

“Nyk isn’t the one who insisted on rescuing the guy.”

Thoran finished his flight checks before he spoke again. “It was a mercy mission, nothing more. Don’t read too deeply into this, Kayden.” He glanced back to see Nyk and Eaton still speaking in a low whisper. “He’ll be fine.”

Logan and Dax glanced at Thoran but didn’t say a word. The shuttle lifted off from Colossus, heading toward the ship Kayden’s parents had loaned them, the Venture. It was sleek and shiny, the royal colors displayed. The gold and navy blue appeared majestic in the night sky. It was the fastest ship Thoran had ever been on. Everything was brand new and state of the art, unlike the Foreplay, the ship the Empire had supplied them with.

They landed on board the Venture and Thoran was the first to exit, heading straight for the bridge. Nyk could settle Eaton in.

Logan was hot on his heels. The pilot dropped into his seat as Thoran sat next to the guy. They left the planet’s atmosphere in record time. The House of Mustoff was located on the fringes of the galaxy, on a planet named Japori. It was mostly made up of water and ice. But in the center of the small world was a large land mass the people of the planet called home.

The temperature averaged around ten degrees Fahrenheit year-round. There were some Japorians who lived in ice castles, preferring the chilly homes to the forests that lined the land.

The House of Mustoff was located on the outskirts of a small town to the east. The name belied the vastness of the estate. It wasn’t a house, but an expansive mansion that took up five acres with the building alone. There was treacherous terrain surrounding the mansion, replete with wildebeests that stood five feet in height, eight in length. Their sharp teeth and nasty disposition stopped a lot of people from invading the land around the house of ill repute.

It was going to take them a week to get to Japori and then another three days to traverse the land. They wouldn’t be going by foot. The wildebeests would tear them apart. Thoran and the other men would have to secure all-terrain vehicles built to withstand those snarly beasts.

And even those vehicles weren’t guaranteed to keep them safe.

Once they were clear of Colossus, Thoran left the piloting to Logan. He made his way to a small office he’d claimed for himself when first boarding this ship back on Sator. Dax and Nyk had given him some paperwork to look over concerning the freighting company they wanted to start up. He needed the distraction.

Thoran locked the door behind him before leaning against the wall and letting out a long breath. He needed to get his shit together where Eaton was concerned.

Still, an image of Eaton’s slim body outlined by his sheer pants scorched him. His initial reaction might have been one of disdain, but there was no denying how his body was reacting right now to the memory. Even now Thoran could feel Eaton pressed against him as he prepared to drop the man out of the window. He could feel how Eaton’s body had shook and how the guy had looked up at him so trustingly.

Get a fucking grip…

Thoran’s body was so hard it was all he could do not to limp to the desk. Forcing his mind to other thoughts, Thoran took a seat and began to skim over the papers. But his mind was a traitorous bastard. It kept going back to visions of Eaton, his bared cock, his gorgeous pale-blue eyes, and the silky black hair that hung to his shoulders.

With a tired sigh, he tossed the paperwork aside. Thoran slumped in his seat as he rubbed his hand over his jaw, wondering if Eaton was settled in.

The door slid open and Thoran growled. “I locked it for a reason.”

“And I overrode the command.” Dax strolled in and dropped into a seat close to the wall. “What do you think of the freighting proposal?”

Thoran’s fingers grazed over the papers he was supposed to be looking at. “I still need to go over it.”

“It was put together in a hurry, so let me know if there is anything you want to add or discuss.” Dax wasn’t here about the proposal. Thoran could see the wheels turning in the man’s head. Since when in the hell did Breed Assassins become counselors?

“If you’re here about Eaton, I’m going to make you eat my blaster.” Thoran picked the papers up and pretended to scan over them.

“I’ll wisely leave you alone.” Dax stood. “But that wall of yours has to come down sometime. You can’t go on being alone forever.”

“Out,” Thoran snapped. The unit Thoran belonged to was invaluable to him, but there were days when he wondered if he’d miss Dax if he shot the man. After Dax was gone, Thoran pulled up the charts for Japori, trying to plot out the best course to take.

It wasn’t going to be easy. No matter which direction they decided to take, the journey was going to be cold and harsh, with rocky terrain all around.

Thoran pulled the picture of Nyda from his pocket and studied the photograph, his thumb slowly skimming over her features. She looked just like him. Her eyes held such innocence that Thoran’s stomach twisted into knots. Ten years she had been missing. There was no telling what had been done to her in that time, what she’d been forced to endure.

Setting the picture aside, Thoran left his office and headed toward the galley for something to eat. He came up short when he spotted Eaton sitting at the long table, wearing one of Logan’s shirts. Eaton swam in the material and Thoran growled at the thought of another man’s scent on the cat shifter.

Eaton’s eyes grew slightly wide before his gaze dropped to the slice of bread in front of him. “I never got the chance to thank you for rescuing me.”

Thoran didn’t respond because he wasn’t sure what to say. The protective way his wolf was behaving was disturbing. He wanted to walk over to Eaton and rip the offensive material from the man’s body.

He glanced over at the walk-in cooling unit and then headed that way. Thoran was no longer hungry, but he refused to run away like a scared little boy. He could handle being in the same room with Eaton for five minutes. But as he looked for something quick to eat in the large size refrigerator, Dax’s words filtered through his mind.

No, Thoran didn’t need to lower any walls and he damn sure could go on being alone forever. The last thing he wanted was a mate.

As he turned to exit the cooling unit, he ran right into Eaton. The man tumbled backward. Out of instinct, Thoran reached out and caught the shifter. When his hand touched Eaton’s bare arm and he felt the soft skin under his fingers, Thoran became instantly hard.

He stood over the cat shifter, intoxicated by the flawless features of Eaton’s face, his pert nose, succulent lips, and gorgeous pale-blue eyes. His fingers were itching to trace the delicate lines, to inhale the sultry scent. Eaton just stood there, his eyes riveted on Thoran.

Clearing his throat, Thoran released Eaton. He wasn’t even sure how Eaton had snuck up on him with the shackle and piece of chain still wrapped around the man’s ankle.

“I was just—” Eaton’s head turned to the side and a fine blush spread across his cheeks. “I was just looking for something sweet to eat.”

Thoran’s cock pulsed in his pants.

When Logan entered the galley, Thoran quickly moved away, heading for the door. He cursed himself for craving the softness he could see in Eaton. But even more, he cursed the longing for a mate that had begun to fill him.

* * * *

Eaton slowed his breathing so he wouldn’t be heard. He didn’t move a single muscle as he stood just outside the sickbay, listening to Kayden lecture Thoran about the wound in his leg.

What wound?

It had been two days since the Assassins rescued Eaton, and he’d had no clue that Thoran had been hurt. Eaton wanted to go in there and check on Thoran, but the man’s sour disposition kept him outside the sickbay doors. He still didn’t understand why Thoran had come to rescue him then gave him the cold shoulder.

It didn’t make any sense.

“Next time don’t wait so long to be treated,” Kayden said with a slight growl in his tone. “Are you trying to lose your damn leg?”

“I had more important things to take care of,” Thoran argued.

Eaton had come down here in hopes that he could get the shackle off his ankle. He’d had no clue Thoran would be here. He stood there listening to the man try and come up with an excuse for putting off the treatment of his wound.

All Eaton could do was stand there and listen to the deep melodic tone. Why was Thoran being so stubborn about his injury? The man’s anger confused Eaton.

“Like what?” Kayden asked.

“Like minding my own damn business. Now just hand me the salve and I’ll take care of this myself.”

“You know, ever since you went after Eaton, you’ve been impossible.” There was coldness in Kayden’s tone. “I’m not your enemy so stop acting like it.”

When he heard heavy footsteps heading his way, Eaton glanced around but there was nowhere to hide. Kayden paused outside the sickbay door and stared at Eaton before moving on.

“Eavesdropping isn’t very polite,” Thoran said from inside the sickbay.

Eaton froze.

“Get in here.”

Thoran’s tone wasn’t as harsh as it had been with Kayden. Eaton pulled at the long shirt he was wearing to make sure everything was covered before he stepped inside the brightly lit room. Thoran was lying on his stomach, the jar of salve by his thigh. The back of his pant leg held a scorched hole, right in the middle of his thigh.

There was no way Thoran was going to be able to rub the salve on by himself. Why had he sent Kayden away?

Gathering his courage, Eaton crossed the room and grabbed the jar of salve.

“What are you doing?”

“Helping you.”

Eaton ripped the hole in Thoran’s pants wider, exposing the ugly wound. The burn had already scabbed over, but it was still red and Eaton knew it had to be tender. He opened the jar and scooped a large amount of the white substance into his hand.

Thoran didn’t say a word. He lay there with his head turned sideways, watching Eaton with those piercing green eyes.

“This would have healed a lot better if you’d taken care of it sooner.”

Thoran turned his head away from Eaton and laid it on his folded arms. “I’m not trying to win any beauty pageants.”

He could have fooled Eaton. The man was built in perfect proportions, lean and ripped. Power and strength bled from this man. He was so damn handsome that Eaton wanted to take a bite out of the guy.

Eaton kept his eyes trained on what he was doing as he smeared white cream over the burn. To Thoran’s credit, the man didn’t even flinch. Eaton would have been crying like a baby right now.

His hands lingered longer than they should have. Aside from wanting to make sure the wound was completely covered with salve, Eaton liked feeling the powerful thigh beneath his fingers. There was no way he’d ever get a chance to touch Thoran again, so why not take advantage of the moment? His eyes strayed to Thoran’s tightly honed backside. The twin mounds flared as if the Assassin did a hundred squats a day. The battle suit he was wearing showed Eaton every line and every luscious dip.

“Is it that bad?”

Eaton looked up to see Thoran frowning at him.

“Is what that bad?”

“My wound. You’ve been rubbing that cream in for five minutes now.”

Had he?

“I know I was hit, but I don’t think it takes that much attention.” Thoran’s grin was charming, even boyish. Why did Eaton have a feeling that Thoran didn’t smile too often?

Eaton jerked his hand away and then rummaged around the room for a towel. He kept his back to Thoran to hide the erection that was currently tenting his shirt. He wanted to turn around to see if Thoran was watching him, but Eaton didn’t want to embarrass himself.

He managed to make it to the door and slipped out before practically running to his quarters.

* * * *

Thoran lay there, his dick so hard it hurt. No one’s touch had ever affected him like that before. Just the swipe of fingers and Thoran was ready to pound his cock deep into Eaton’s ass. He rested his chin on his folded arms, staring at the wall as he tried to pull his body back under control.

I need to get laid…

That was part of the problem. It had been too long since Thoran had taken a lover. Maybe he could talk Logan into finding the closest planet where he could release his tension. Thoran had thought he could play it cool around Eaton, ignore the man until they dropped the cat shifter off somewhere.

But that decision was proving harder to stick to than he thought.

His skin still tingled where Eaton had touched him. Then again, it could be the damn burn that was seared into his leg. Regardless of what he’d felt when he had first seen Eaton in those harlot clothes, Thoran wouldn’t take advantage of the guy. He hadn’t rescued Eaton to make him his whore.

Pushing from the table, Thoran used the monitor on the wall to signal the bridge. It was Logan who appeared. “What’s up?”

“What’s the closest planet where I can…” Thoran shook his head. He’d never had a problem talking about getting laid before. “…take care of some business.”

“You can chart a course to Eaton’s quarters.”

Thoran ground his teeth. “Damn it, Logan. I’m serious.”

I need to get Eaton out of my system before the man sinks too deep under my skin.

Logan’s steel-grey eyes darkened. “I’ll look it up and let you know.” And then the man sighed. “I could use a little downtime myself. We’ll hit the brothel together.”

Thoran nodded his appreciation as he ended the transmission. No matter the unit’s opinion of the situation between him and Eaton, they were his brethren and would always stick by his side.

And that was why they would forever be his brothers.

Thoran went to his quarters and showered. If he knew Logan, the man was already plotting out a course. Twenty minutes later, Thoran’s wall monitor was beeping.

“Yeah?”

It was Logan. “Solarion II is the closest place we can land. We’ll be there in an hour.”

An hour.

Thoran hoped like hell he could last that long. He was still hard as hell from earlier. The discomfort of having an erection for so long hadn’t eased. He opted for looser pants to hide his arousal and pulled on a form-fitting shirt. Not that he had to try very hard to get a guy, but the quicker he could fuck, the better.

Thoran headed out of his room and down toward the shuttle bay. He ran into the last person he wanted to see right now. Eaton was coming down the corridor, still wearing Logan’s oversized shirt.

His wolf growled.

“We’ll be landing on Solarion II soon. Why don’t you ask Nyk to take you shopping to get some clothes?”

Because seeing you half-dressed is killing me.

“But I don’t have any credits.”

Thoran dug his wallet from his back pocket and handed Eaton one of his cards. “Get what you need.”

Eaton hesitated, staring at the piece of plastic like Thoran was trying to hand him a snake. Most people would jump at the chance to spend someone else’s money. But Eaton still hadn’t taken the card. “What’s wrong?”

Eaton’s pale-blue eyes lifted and Thoran couldn’t make out the emotions swimming in them. He shifted his weight to his other foot as the need to get away from Eaton grew stronger.

“I don’t know how to use one of those.”

Thoran was shocked. Who didn’t know how to charge things to a credit card? It only brought home the fact that Eaton had lived such a poor life in Crossover. His guard slipped slightly as he pressed the card into Eaton’s hand. “Nyk will show you, petit chat. Just remember to stay at his side. Don’t wander the marketplace on your own.”

Eaton cocked his head to the side. “Why are you doing this for me?”

Thoran hadn’t a clue. He could have just picked up a few items while he was planetside. There was no need to give Eaton the card. “Get what you need.”

Thoran skirted around Eaton and moved a little too quickly toward the shuttle bay. If he didn’t, he just might turn back around and haul Eaton to his bed. The man was more than likely a skilled lover from being at the brothel. Thoran was pretty sure the man could please him.

Images of Eaton naked, sucking Thoran off had his cock pulsing wildly in his pants.

He really did need to get away from Eaton before Thoran did something he knew he’d regret.

Chapter Four

They landed on Solarion II and checked in with the Bay Captain. Kayden had elected to stay behind to take a call from his mate, Jade. Logan, Dax, and Nyk were with him, along with Thoran. Logan registered the shuttle they’d used to come down here and then secured them a ride.

Two rides.

Eaton frowned as Thoran and Logan climbed into one taxi and took off. It was none of his business what they were going to do, but Eaton had damn near drooled over himself when he saw how good Thoran looked in something other than a battle suit. His shirt stretched across a nicely shaped chest and arms. Although his pants were a bit loose, Thoran still had the nicest backside Eaton had ever seen.

And he’d smelled wonderful.

The scent of Thoran’s cologne still lingered in the bay area as the three of them climbed into the remaining taxi and headed off to shop. Eaton had always gotten his clothes from the secondhand store in Crossover. He’d never owned anything brand new before. Thoran hadn’t told him how much to get either.

Eaton’s eyes grew so wide when they entered the outer perimeter of the marketplace that they nearly popped from his skull. He’d never been off of Colossus. This place was…amazing! The music was festive, crowds gathered around exotic dancers. The women wore snug, colorful clothing, their hips swaying wildly to the tune. There was stall after stall of vendors. Eaton could even see displays of food and smell the delicious scent permeating the air.

The three got out of the taxi and Nyk turned to him. “Well, where do you want to start?”

Eaton walked over to a table that displayed seven different kinds of delicacies. The treats were decorated in pastel colors, some on dishes while others were in large glasses with white cream on top. He stuck his finger into one of the glasses and then shoved it into his mouth. The sugary delight exploded on his tongue.

His eyes rolled back at the taste.

“Damn,” Dax said as he chuckled. “You look like you’re having an orgasm.”

Never having had one before, Eaton couldn’t agree to the comparison.

“You’ll have to buy that now,” the man behind the table said. “Can’t sell that to anyone with a fingerprint on it.”

“Did Thoran give you any method of payment?” Nyk asked as he grabbed a small square treat from the table and tossed it into his mouth.

“He gave me his card.”

Both Dax and Nyk gaped at Eaton.

Eaton took a step back. “I didn’t steal it!”

Nyk dropped a few coins into the vendor’s hand and thanked the man. Dax pulled Eaton to the side. “No one is accusing you of theft, Eaton. It’s just that—”

“Thoran is a fucking tightwad,” Nyk finished as he joined them. “It’s rare that he breaks that card out to use for himself. Did he give you a limit?”

Eaton shook his head.

Dax gave a low whistle before a devious smile appeared on his handsome face. “Then I say we put some mileage on that card.”

Both men were grinning.

Eaton grasped the card in a firm hold. His grip was so fierce that he could feel the edges biting into his hand. He was afraid of losing what Thoran had entrusted to him. “What does that even mean?”

Nyk laughed so hard he had to lean on Dax’s shoulder for support. “Boy, are we about to have some fun.”

Eaton caught the way Dax gave Nyk a gentle smile.

“Come on.” Nyk pulled on Eaton’s arm. “Let’s get you some clothes. Those pants look like they’re about to fall off of you.”

Eaton glanced down at the pants Dax had loaned him. Nyk was right. While Eaton was a mere one hundred and forty pounds, Dax was well over six foot five and muscular as hell. He’d had to fold the bottom of the pants so many times that they looked like tires on their sides around Eaton’s ankles.

At least they covered the shackle on his leg.

Today Dax wore his long black hair in tiny braids that were secured in a rubber band. With his hair pulled back from his face, Eaton had to admit the guy was simply gorgeous. The braids traveled over his shoulder, ending at his waist. His eyes were a deep purple and—although Eaton knew the man to be a Breed Assassin—his face was kind.

Nyk was a good five inches shorter than Dax. The man had eyes the color of emeralds. His hair was short, brown, and stylish. He was still muscular, but a hell of a lot slimmer than any of the other men onboard the ship.

Maybe he should have borrowed a pair of Nyk’s pants.

They spent the better part of the day sifting through clothes from one vendor after another. Eaton had said “no” so many times that the word was starting to come out automatically. The two were trying to make him buy the entire marketplace.

Eaton settled for three pairs of pants, three shirts, some underclothes, socks, and shoes. Nyk had also talked him into purchasing two battle suits and a pair of shiny black boots.

“They’ll help you fit in when we’re out somewhere.”

Throughout the day, Eaton observed the subtle touches that were exchanged between the men. It wasn’t anything over the top. Once, Dax had placed his hand on the small of Nyk’s back. Other times, Nyk chuckled, leaning on Dax’s shoulder.

He did that a lot.

Eaton wasn’t sure if the two were sleeping together, but they were definitely close. From what his father had told Eaton about the Breed Assassins, they’d trained together their entire lives. One could only assume they’d formed a tight-knit bond.

Eaton wished he was that close to someone. It had been just him and his father. On Colossus, blacksmiths weren’t highly regarded. Business was okay, but there had been many nights Eaton had gone to bed hungry.

Growing up, other children hadn’t wanted to play with him. Eaton had always been dirty from working in the shop, forging weapons or anything else someone paid for. He’d grown up lonely and that hadn’t changed since becoming an adult.

What would it be like to have a best friend, someone he could confide in, someone who gave a rat’s ass about him?

“Hey, here you go.” Dax held up a small device that fit into the palm of the man’s hand.

“What is it?” Eaton asked.

“It’s an mPod. It plays music. You can get some headsets and lose yourself for hours.” Nyk winked at him. “I do.”

The mPod was a frivolous luxury. Eaton was against spending Thoran’s hard-earned credits so carelessly. But what would it be like to have something so small, so precious? Aside from the tavern in Crossover, Eaton had been denied the simple pleasure of listening to catchy tunes and soft melodies. “I can’t.”

“Sure you can,” Dax said. “All you’ve bought were a handful of clothes.”

Eaton turned, suppressing the urge to give in. He wanted that mPod badly, but he wasn’t going to waste Thoran’s credits. “Are you guys hungry?”

Changing the subject always worked. Before they could answer him, Eaton strolled away, leaving the temptation behind. He stopped in front of a vendor who was selling the most delicious-looking meat. Eaton turned to ask if Dax and Nyk wanted any.

They were nowhere in sight.

There was a large crowd of people behind him, preventing Eaton from seeing the vendor he’d just left.

“Fancy meeting you here.”

Eaton’s blood went cold at the sound of Trakin’s voice. He turned to see the lumbering man standing behind him, his arms crossed and three of his guards to his left. “Thought you could get away from me?”

How in the hell had Trakin found him?

Trakin grabbed Eaton by the roots of his hair and yanked him behind the row of stalls. “That shackle you wear has a tracking chip embedded in it. Do you fucking think for one second I was going to let a virgin go? Do you know how much I can fetch for you?” Trakin’s eyes narrowed as his gripped tightened, making Eaton cry out in pain. “Have you fucked anyone?”

Eaton tried to twist sideways, to get away from Trakin and his men, but Trakin’s hold was fierce. “You better still be a virgin or I swear to—” The man’s eyes grew round as he was jerked back and slammed into the brick wall of the building behind them.

Eaton gasped when he gazed up at Thoran. There was absolutely no mercy in the man’s green eyes, but there was an abundance of fury. Eaton shrank back at the cold and lethal expression on Thoran’s face.

Breed Assassin.

Thoran didn’t say a word as he slugged Trakin so hard that the man slumped against the wall. Within seconds, Logan, Nyk, and Dax were there, beating the crap out of Trakin’s men. Eaton shivered as he watched Thoran pummel Trakin.

The man lay on the ground, unmoving. Eaton feared the man was dead. Not that he cared about Trakin, but Thoran could be arrested for murder if anyone witnessed the fight and ran for the authorities.

When Thoran twisted around and gazed at Eaton, he could see that the green of the man’s eyes was bleeding into amber and there was restrained fury in their depths. His canines were showing, long and lethal. Even his jaw was slightly protruded, showing everyone his wolf heritage.

“Why did you leave Nyk and Dax’s side?” Thoran’s features darkened even more before the green seeped back, his canines receded, and his jaw reformed. A tenderness Eaton had never witnessed before entered Thoran’s eyes. “You could have been hurt, or worse.”

Eaton clutched the parcels in his arms, taking a step back. “I just walked to the next stall. I swear.”

Thoran’s head snapped to Dax and Nyk. “Didn’t I fucking tell you to watch him?”

Dax bared his canines. “Don’t talk to me like that, Thoran. I’m not your bitch.”

“He’s safe,” Logan interjected. “We need to get out of here.”

Eaton wholeheartedly agreed. Not only did he want to evade the authorities, but he wanted to flee Thoran’s intense gaze.

Thoran grabbed Eaton’s upper arm and led him through the marketplace. He hailed a taxi, shoving Eaton inside before climbing in. Thoran left the others behind as he told the driver where to take them.

Eaton glanced out the window, watching as they drove through the city, heading for the docking bays. His mind couldn’t let go of the frightening way Thoran had looked as he tore into Trakin. Eaton had known who he was traveling with, but it hadn’t fully sunk in that he was amongst Breed Assassins until he saw them fight.

He began to wonder if being rescued by these men had been a good thing or if he’d gone from one bad situation to another.

* * * *

Thoran exited the shuttle and boarded the ship, even more frustrated than before he’d left. He’d been stupid enough to turn down every piece of ass thrown at him and he was dumb enough to feel guilty about the prospect of sleeping with anyone, knowing Eaton was in the city.

I am such a goddamn masochist.

He had not only denied himself Eaton, but the provocative men at the pleasure house who had offered themselves to Thoran. If he had just availed himself of their services then he wouldn’t be so wound up.

I need to be shot and put out of my misery.

There was no sane reason for Thoran to feel guilty. He and Eaton weren’t mated. Hell, they hadn’t even kissed. But what really set him off was the fact that he’d heard Trakin call Eaton a virgin. The man had said that he was going to sell Eaton.

Now Thoran felt lower than shit for the way he’d treated Eaton, thinking the man had been whored out. Gah, he was such an idiot.

Even if Eaton had been used back in Crossover, it hadn’t been his damn fault. Thoran had taken one look at Eaton in that sheer material and judged him on the spot.

Thoran didn’t like himself very much right now. He might not walk the right side of the law, but he had never thought himself a judgmental person.

After entering his office, Thoran poured himself a drink. He needed one. His self-loathing was reaching an all-new high.

The door slid open and Eaton entered, but stayed just inside the door. He held Thoran’s credit card up. “I forgot to give this to you. I didn’t spend much and I appreciate what you did for me.”

Thoran clutched the glass tighter in his hand as he gazed at the battle suit Eaton was wearing. It was dark blue, setting off his pale-blue eyes and raven-dark hair. He was downright stunning. The outfit fit like a glove, showing off his slim body and tempting Thoran in ways that were sure to drive him mad.

He was still horny as hell and Eaton standing there looking good enough to eat wasn’t helping. “You’re welcome.” But Thoran made no move to take the card. He didn’t trust himself to get close to Eaton. “Just leave it on the table.”

It bothered him that Eaton had bought so little. Thoran hadn’t given the man a limit. Part of him had been afraid that Eaton would rack up the credits. But the man had done the opposite.

Eaton dropped his gaze toward the floor and Thoran fought the growl at the submissive behavior.

“Thank you for being so nice to me.” Eaton turned and hurried from Thoran’s office after setting the card on the table.

Thoran slid down in his seat, placing the glass on the desk. Damn if he wasn’t tempted to go after Eaton, to taste those plump lips.

Ten minutes later, the doors slid back open and Thoran was expecting to see Eaton. But it was Kayden. “Get down to sickbay. We need to get that shackle off of Eaton, but he refuses to let us touch him.”

Thoran set the glass on the desk and stood, heading out the door. He could hear Eaton shouting from down the corridor. When he stepped inside sickbay, Thoran growled. Dax was holding a laser cutter in his hand while Eaton held a broken bottle, brandishing it like a weapon.

“You’re not using that on me!”

“What in the hell is going on?” Thoran demanded.

“He’s trying to cut my damn foot off!” Eaton shouted as he narrowed his eyes at Dax. “There’s no way he’s using that on me.”

“I told him I could get it off without leaving one mark on him.” Dax sounded frustrated. His eyes were filled with irritation. “Just get on the damn bed and let me get it off of you. There’s a tracking chip in there. We don’t need anyone else finding us.”

“You either let him take it off or we put you on a shuttle and shoot your ass out of here,” Kayden said. “I won’t risk this crew.”

Thoran moved over to Eaton, throwing his hands up when Eaton spun, waving the broken bottle at him.

“Put it down,” Thoran commanded.

Eaton’s resolve wavered and the bottle dipped a little.

“Dax isn’t going to hurt you, Eaton,” Thoran said. “Because he knows I’ll use that laser to remove his balls if he does.”

Dax rolled his eyes.

When Eaton still didn’t lower the bottle, Thoran simultaneously grabbed the broken piece of glass and pulled Eaton off of his feet.

“Put me down!”

Thoran tossed the bottle on a tray close by and then laid Eaton on the bed. He grabbed the man’s upper arms, gazing into his pale-blue eyes. “Stop acting like this.”

“Would you be so trusting if someone you hardly knew came at you with a laser?” Eaton’s breath was ragged, his pupils dilated. Thoran could see the sheer terror in them. Something must have happened to make Eaton so horrified of lasers.

“No,” Thoran admitted. “I wouldn’t.”

Eaton tried to get up, but Thoran held him firmly. While he was trying to talk Eaton into lying still, Dax was already fast at work cutting through the shackle. Eaton hadn’t even noticed.

“Then why are you trying to trap me on this bed?” Eaton’s tone rose higher, almost breaking. “I think I should decide how I get this thing off.”

Thoran kept Eaton’s attention away from what Dax was doing. “And how would you remove it, petit chat?

Eaton narrowed his eyes at Thoran. “Not with something that could cut through my foot and sever it.”

While Eaton glared at Thoran, Dax set the laser aside. He nodded toward the shackle before he and Kayden stepped from the room, leaving Thoran and Eaton alone. Thoran’s body was getting hard as he held Eaton down. The man’s scent permeated his lungs and Thoran’s wolf was howling for Thoran to fuck the man.

“You should be very careful who you wave a weapon at,” Thoran said in a gruff whisper as he lowered his head slightly, their lips almost touching. “Don’t forget who you are onboard this ship with.”

“I–I just don’t want to lose my foot. I don’t like people forcing me to do things I don’t want to do.”

Duly noted.

“No one on this ship will force you to do anything.” Thoran lowered his head just a little more, feathering his lips over Eaton’s, sucking in the small pants of breath the man was giving. But he pulled back, stopping himself from taking what he so desperately wanted.

Not only was Eaton an unskilled lover, but Thoran was still beating himself up for the way he’d treated Eaton. He smiled and pointed to the shackle that lay in two pieces. “See? There was nothing to worry about.”

Eaton glanced down at his ankle as his brows furrowed. “But I didn’t feel a thing.”

Thoran grabbed the hunk of metal and walked over to an airlock, shoving it inside before deploying it into space. “That’s because you’re dealing with professionals.”

Eaton laughed and Thoran melted.

“I’ll have to remember that.” He hopped off the bed and drew close to Thoran.

They both stood there staring at each other. Thoran’s heart pounded hard in his chest as Eaton gazed up at him so innocently. He curled his fingers in, stopping himself from reaching out and pulling Eaton into his arms.

“Thanks…again.” Eaton reached up and rubbed his hand down Thoran’s arm before he turned and walked out.

Thoran stood there as he watched the man go, his fingers grazing over the spot where Eaton had touched him. His skin tingled. A deep yearning settled inside of him to have Eaton touch him again.

His resolve to leave Eaton alone was nothing more than a fragile shell now. Soon it would shatter and Thoran knew there was nothing he could do to stop the inevitable.

Chapter Five

“Heads up, ladies.”

Kayden’s voice rang out over the ship’s intercom system. Thoran frowned at the soothing tone. It wasn’t like Kayden to talk so softly. It was like the man was wooing everyone.

But then his pitch changed, becoming hard, becoming the Kayden Thoran knew.

“The Feds are hailing us.”

Thoran cursed as he hurried from the sickbay and raced up to the bridge. He’d gotten rid of Eaton’s chip too late. That rat bastard Trakin must have called the Feds on them.

Kayden was barking at Logan to raise the shields when Thoran entered the bridge. On the large viewscreen that covered the front of their ship, Thoran could see the sleek black ship with the Empire’s insignia embossed on the side. The sensors on the bridge said there was a large tractor beam on the Venture and Thoran could hear the mechanical beep coming from the console to his right.

They were trying to use a tractor beam to latch onto the Venture.

Thoran pressed the palms of his hands on the console as he gazed at their enemy. This wasn’t just any Empire ship. They had sent their elite.

But after a lifetime of training, the Empire was going to have to do better than this. They may not know why the Empire was after them but there was no way in hell Thoran was going to be captured.

“Do we answer the hail?” Dax asked.

Kayden stood in the middle of the bridge, his hands tucked behind his back as he gazed at the viewscreen. “No, we do not.”

“Then I think we need to buckle in,” Nyk said, “because it’s going to take some fancy maneuvering to get away from them.”

Logan laughed as if he were enjoying this. “I love putting my skills to the test.”

Nyk was right. Although the Breed Assassins had been trained their entire lives, so had some of the Feds. They weren’t a threat to be taken lightly.

The Empire had one of the most grueling and in-depth training programs in the galaxy. The men aboard the elite ship were not going to give up easily.

Thoran took a seat next to Logan as Kayden sat in the captain’s chair. This was about to be intense. Thoran wondered if he should warn Eaton to strap in. But before he could do anything, the Empire ship fired a warning blast across the bow.

Thoran lurched forward, his stomach slamming into the console. He cursed as he glared at the offending ship.

“I guess it’s party time,” Logan muttered beside him. “Time for the dance to begin.”

The bridge doors slid open as Eaton ran inside. “What the hell was that?”

Thoran pointed to a seat on the left side of the bridge. “Buckle your damn self in.”

Eaton did as he was told before Thoran turned back around. No one was technically in charge. The Breed Assassins had been trained together but Draven had never assigned a unit leader.

He didn’t have to.

Kayden was born for the job. Hell, the man excelled at it. There wasn’t one situation that Thoran could think of that Kayden couldn’t get them out of.

Eaton clasped his hands in his lap. “Are we about to die?”

Nyk chuckled. “Ye of little faith.”

Thoran shook his head. “Not today.”

“And not at the hands of these men,” Kayden announced with a feral grin.

Thoran had run into a few Feds over the years and, in his opinion, they were all arrogant bastards. They let their position and title go to their heads. Although they were supposed to uphold the law, more than half were less than honest.

They were thugs with a badge. Most hid what they did behind pusillanimous labels such as Empire or democracy. But not all Feds were lowlifes. Some truly believed in what they did.

Thoran had a feeling they were dealing with thugs who were trying to make a name for themselves by capturing the Breed Assassins.

“How bad was that hit?” Kayden asked Dax.

“Low-yield particle cannons,” Dax answered. “Nothing more. I don’t think they want us dead.”

“Not when the pay for bringing the Breed Assassins in alive is too damn good to pass up,” Thoran said. “But if they think we’re easy pickings, they have another thing coming.”

“I don’t believe this,” Nyk said.

“What?” Kayden asked. He had a look of supreme disgust on his face, as if any more surprises were going to send him over the edge.

Nyk shook his head. “Ben Hur is sending a communication.”

Thoran’s brows furrowed. Ben Hur was not only the leader of the Marauders, but they’d recently found out that he was a relative. The man had been nothing but a thorn in their side for years, and then fate had made the man their uncle.

“What in the hell does he want?” Kayden snarled.

A wicked grin spread across Nyk’s face. “He said to sit tight. He’s almost here.”

Eaton’s face grew pale. “Ben Hur?”

“It’s a long story.” Thoran wasn’t about to go into details. The fewer people who knew about their familial ties, the better. Ben lived for battle and raiding activities. He also excelled at black market trades, and circulating rumors said he was starting to venture into the slave trade.

Thoran wanted no part of Ben Hur. The guy’s help would only indebt them to the man. But before leaving Sator, the Breed Assassins and Ben had agreed to work together to bring the Empire down.

Somehow Thoran had a feeling they’d made a deal with the devil himself.

“Ready weapons,” Kayden said to Dax and Nyk in sharp, clipped syllables. “Disable their engines and life support.”

“Fire!” Kayden commanded as he sat forward, resting one arm on his seat.

Dax fired their cannons in succession. The Venture was equipped with state-of-the-art weapons and the Feds’ ship was taking a heavy hit. Ben Hur’s ship, the Falcon, came out of hyperdrive and joined the fight. Ben Hur fired from the side as the Venture blasted the Feds from the front.

“Target is emitting a distress signal,” Dax reported.

“Cease fire,” Kayden commanded. “Tell Ben to do the same. I want to disable them, not blow them apart.”

“He’s not responding,” Dax said as the Falcon continued to fire on the Fed ship.

Kayden came out of his chair and hailed the Falcon. “Cease fire!”

“You do not win a war by playing nice,” Ben replied.

“This isn’t a war,” Kayden reminded the man.

“It will be,” Ben said before he cut the transmission.

“Get us out of here,” Kayden demanded. “I don’t want to be around when Ben commits murder.”

“Shouldn’t we help the Feds?” Eaton asked. “I mean, I know they are trying to capture us, but we can’t let Ben Hur kill them.”

Bright lights filled the viewscreen, pieces of the Fed ship hurtled out into space as the explosion erupted. The fires grew to great heights before it was quickly snuffed out by lack of oxygen.

Ben had blown the ship to smithereens.

Everyone on the bridge grew silent, a common stunned expression on their faces.

“You know we’re going to be blamed for that,” Logan said, his voice cutting through the silence. “There’s no doubt the Feds sent a transmission to the Empire, telling them they were in battle with the Breed Assassins.”

“Get us out of here,” Kayden snapped.

“But what about Japori?” Thoran demanded as he came out of his seat. “I won’t abandon the hunt for Nyda.”

“We won’t,” Kayden answered. He glanced at every man on the bridge before turning back to Thoran. “We’ll just have to go through Sector Nine instead.”

Thoran’s jaw clenched. Sector Nine was the worst part of the galaxy. It was a trade route run by cutthroats who had no problem blowing apart any ship they deemed dangerous.

And the Breed Assassins were on the outlaws’ least favorite list.

* * * *

A few days later, as Eaton made his way to his quarters, he was still feeling shaken up over what Ben Hur had done. The one good thing that had come out of this was that he no longer had that shackle around his ankle. The skin was raw and irritated, but it would heal.

“How are you feeling?”

Eaton came to a stop at the sound of Thoran’s voice. His palms began to sweat as butterflies formed in his stomach. It was hard being around Thoran. The man made Eaton’s body come to life, his senses reel, and his thoughts scatter. The man was gorgeous, beautiful to look at. So much raw power emanated from him.

He was suddenly struck by why he was so drawn to Thoran. The man had rescued him, made him feel safe. Just being near him gave Eaton a measure of comfort he’d never had before.

“About what Ben Hur did?” Eaton turned to see Thoran leaning a shoulder against the wall, his eyes staring intently at Eaton.

“About everything.”

Thoran’s gaze made Eaton feel…consumed. Branded. He started to tuck his hands into his pockets when he remembered that the battle suit had none. Instead, they fluttered at his side, looking for a place to rest. Finally, he clasped them behind his back, hoping Thoran didn’t notice how much they shook.

“I’m adjusting,” he answered. “I’ve never been outside Crossover. All of this is somewhat overwhelming.” That was an understatement. As crazy and dangerous as things had gotten at home, Eaton was getting homesick. The changes in his life were happening too fast for him to digest anything properly. What he needed was some downtime to explore this ship and grow used to the sounds, the hums, and the quiet hush that surrounded him on a constant basis.

Most of all, he needed time to absorb the fact that he was now onboard a ship with the notorious Breed Assassins. Thoran to be exact. His presence alone wreaked havoc on Eaton’s body and mind.

Thoran reached into his pocket and pulled out a small satchel. He held it out to Eaton. “This might help you adjust.”

Eaton had no idea what it was. The item fit in the palm of Thoran’s callused hand. Eaton lifted the soft material, noticing how feather-light the thing was. “Thank you.”

Thoran gave a low, husky chuckle. “Open it.”

“Oh.” Eaton pulled the strings apart and slid the gift into his hand. His heart beat a little faster when he realized it was a bright orange mPod. There was even an earpiece of the same color. He glanced up at Thoran. “I don’t understand.”

“How it works?”

“No. Well, yes. But I don’t understand why you bought this for me. I spent enough of your credits with the clothes I purchased.” Eaton had never received a gift before. Not something this shiny and new. Money had been tight back home and it was rare when his dad gave him something that wasn’t secondhand or found lying around.

“That’s why,” Thoran replied.

Eaton again didn’t understand. “What?”

“Because I know you’ll appreciate it.” Thoran reached his hand out and Eaton thought the man was going to cup his face. But his hand fell short. The side of Thoran’s mouth twitched in what he assumed was the start of a smile before Thoran shrugged. “It’s no big deal. Come to my office and I’ll load some music onto its hard drive.”

“Its what?”

This time Thoran did smile. “Just come to my office.”

Eaton followed Thoran, staring at the mPod in his hand. He had no clue what to do with it, but was anxious to listen to music of his choice. “How did you know?”

“I bought it off of Dax,” Thoran replied as they rounded the corner. “He bought it for himself but I talked him into letting me buy it from him. You could have bought it. I was hoping you wouldn’t break the bank, but I wouldn’t have minded if you’d indulged yourself a little.”

Eaton laughed. “Dax and Nyk were trying to talk me into buying the entire market.”

Thoran grunted. “Figures. Those two are nothing short of trouble when they’re together. Don’t let them talk you into anything.”

As they entered Thoran’s office, Eaton said, “I wasn’t comfortable spending your credits. I’m not used to—” Eaton wasn’t sure how to finish that sentence. Should he have said people pampering him or someone being so generous? What he really wanted to say was he wasn’t used to hot guys paying him any attention, let alone giving him a credit card to use.

Thoran took the mPod from Eaton. When his fingers brushed over Eaton’s hand, Eaton shivered. What he wouldn’t give to feel those strong fingers caressing his body. Thoran’s eyes dropped to Eaton’s groin and Eaton became mortified when he realized he was rock hard and his battle suit did nothing to hide the fact.

Eaton’s breath caught when Thoran moved closer. The air became thick with desire, thick with Thoran’s ultimate power. Even if just for once, he wanted to know what it was like to be with someone. Eaton wanted to be enveloped in someone else’s arms, drowning in Thoran’s masculine scent, feeling his protection, writhing under his hard body.

In the quiet hush of the office, Thoran’s eyes began to shift to amber, his aura seemed to change right there in front of Eaton. There was some sort of darkness to him, something lethal, dangerous. Eaton swallowed hard, taking a step back. He wondered if maybe he should leave. But he didn’t want to. Eaton needed this, craved this.

“Have you ever felt like you were the only person—” He licked his lower lip, shoring up his nerves. He didn’t want to come off as some idiot to Thoran. There was no way the Breed Assassin could feel so damn lonely that he would give anything to have someone, anyone in his life.

“Feel like what?”

“So damn lonely? Like a thousand people could be standing around you, yet no one notices you’re even there? Like there’s fire under your skin and sometimes you can’t take another step because you’re drowning from the inside out?”

Thoran set the mPod on the desk. Eaton didn’t think the man was going to answer him. There was something different about Thoran. In the blink of an eye, he was no longer the laughing man from moments before, but a watchful predator.

Thoran crossed the room and locked the office door before turning toward Eaton. He shrugged, and Eaton could see the uncertainty in the man’s green eyes. “More than you would believe.”

“Even with your friends?”

A small smile tugged at the side of Thoran’s mouth. “They’re great guys and have pulled my ass out of more than one dangerous situation. But they’ve never touched that part of me that wonders if I have a beating heart, wonders if I’m destined to be alone forever.”

“You don’t have a best friend?” Eaton asked.

“Do you?” Thoran deflected the question with one of his own.

“No.” Eaton answered with the truth.

“Then it seems we have a few things in common.”

Before he could reply, Thoran moved in and hauled Eaton into his arms, anchoring him, crushing his mouth to Eaton’s.

Eaton moaned softly as Thoran’s hands ran possessively up his arms to clasp Eaton’s shoulders and then upward again, to his throat. His fingers lingered there, his hold firm without hurting. Thoran was kissing as if the man were starved for Eaton.

It was like he’d been caging his desires for too long and they were finally breaking free.

Once again, Eaton felt consumed, going up in flames as heat shot through his soul, setting it ablaze. The dominant move turned Eaton on to the point he was grabbing for Thoran, tearing at his shirt.

But Thoran used his free hand to leash Eaton’s. Thoran’s lips moved from Eaton’s lips to his jaw, and then to his neck where his hand was still firmly in place. Eaton’s body vibrated as Thoran took control. The show of dominance turned to a plea of capitulation.

And Eaton gave in, melting as Thoran yanked him closer. Eaton’s head fell to the side as his lips parted, his body begging for Thoran to take, to do whatever he desired to Eaton.

“So innocent,” Thoran whispered into his skin. “So obedient.”

Eaton’s cock was thick and throbbing between his legs. He was ready to beg for release. If Thoran kept doing what he was doing, Eaton might not have to beg. He was so close to coming already.

“I want to be yours.” The words slipped out before Eaton even knew they had formed in his mind. But he couldn’t find it in him to take them back. “I know you thought I was a whore, but I’m not. I swear.”

“I know.” Thoran’s hand smoothed down Eaton’s neck, unleashing goose bumps all over his body. His skin tingled from Thoran’s touch, from the closeness and the scent that filled Eaton’s lungs. It was a touch of spice without being overpowering. The natural scent tantalized with hints of male, ruggedness, outdoors, and…beast. The man was lethal to Eaton’s senses. “But I don’t think you know what you’re asking for, petit chat. How could you?”

Eaton clenched his jaw. “Just because I haven’t…I know what I want, Thoran.” Eaton hadn’t meant to sound so indignant, but it ticked him off that Thoran thought he was mindless when it came to what he wanted.

Eaton could feel Thoran’s hardness against his stomach. The man’s erection was rigid and strained against Eaton’s battle suit. The man was affecting Eaton in ways he never experienced before and he hadn’t even done anything to Eaton yet.

Thoran nipped Eaton’s chin with the canines that had descended. The sting shot through Eaton and went straight to his groin, eliciting a groan from him. Thoran’s eyes glittered as he stared down at Eaton. “Be very careful what you ask for, petit chat. I play for keeps.”

Chapter Six

Back off. He doesn’t know what he’s asking for.

But as much as Thoran tried to talk himself out of what he really wanted to do to Eaton, he couldn’t seem to let the man go. His wolf snarled for a piece of Eaton’s tender flesh, to take a bite, to dominate, to possess.

Since rescuing Eaton, he was all Thoran could think about, dream about, crave. The lonely, desperate need to belong to someone filled Eaton’s eyes, begged for Thoran to claim him.

His emotions rioted through him. Thoran wasn’t used to being this confused. He was a self-assured man who took what he wanted, when he wanted. But his inner voice cautioned him to go slow with Eaton, to ease him into this.

Whatever this was.

Even if Thoran was indecisive about how to proceed with Eaton, he was certain about one thing. The little cat shifter wasn’t leaving this office until Thoran had had a piece of the man. His cock was already straining to be released, to fill Eaton and taste what the man was offering.

“I know what I’m asking for,” Eaton said, and then added, “I think.”

Thoran chuckled. “You want a best friend, a lover, to be owned by someone who won’t betray you.”

“Yes!” Eaton grinned, his dimples deepening in his cheeks. “You summed it up in a nutshell.”

Thoran’s hand tightened around Eaton’s wrists while he used the other hand to card through Eaton’s raven-black hair, gripping the strands in a tight hold. “I wasn’t looking for a mate.”

“And I wasn’t looking to be mated,” Eaton countered in a breathless tone.

“Yet you are asking to bind yourself to me. Why, Eaton?” The cat shifter had become some twisted preoccupation for Thoran, and he wanted to try and understand where Eaton was coming from, what he desired the most. If this was going to happen, Thoran wanted Eaton to walk into this with his eyes open, not sleepwalking through some fantasy.

It was obvious to Thoran that Eaton’s emotional needs had been neglected for far too long, but was he willing to fill that void?

Eaton yanked at his wrists and Thoran let the man go. The cat shifter paced the room, seeming agitated as he slowly shook his head and chewed on his lower lip. Finally, he glanced up and the look in his eyes took Thoran’s breath away. “I hate being alone.” Eaton’s shoulders slumped.

Thoran was taken aback by Eaton’s confession. Had he ever seen anyone look so despondent? The expression hit home, reminding Thoran of how he’d felt most of his life. “Come here.”

He wanted Eaton to come to him, for this to be the shifter’s decision.

Eaton took cautious steps as Thoran’s gaze slid over the shifter in a lazy manner. That battle suit was killing Thoran. He wanted to rip the material free, to see Eaton naked. He became fixated on that thought as Eaton approached. “What is your definition of belonging to me?”

“To be honest, I’m not sure. All I know is that I don’t feel numb whenever I’m around you.”

Thoran hide his smile when Eaton blushed.

“I’m usually not this talkative or sappy,” Eaton confessed. “But you wanted to know and I want you to know.”

“I did,” Thoran answered as Eaton finally reached him. They both stood there, a breath apart as Eaton continued.

“You were right. I want a best friend and a lover. But there’s more to it than that. I need someone in my corner, someone who—” Eaton scratched his head. “It’s hard to put into words.”

Thoran waited for Eaton to gather his thoughts.

“When you touched me, I felt branded, owned, and I liked it.” Eaton shivered and Thoran felt his protective instincts kick into full gear. He’d never had anyone to look out for. Not once since he’d become a man had Thoran even thought of caring for anyone else. He was on the hunt for a sister he’d never met. Thoran wasn’t sure how she would react to him, if she would even accept him.

But Eaton was eager as he stood right here, almost begging to be Thoran’s.

He smiled as he kissed the tip of Eaton’s nose and ran his hands up the man’s back. Thoran enjoyed the way Eaton responded to his touch. “Yeah?” God help him but Thoran knew there was no way he could continue to push Eaton away. He wanted the man too much.

There was no use in denying the attraction any longer. Not when Eaton was so willing. The man’s scent taunted Thoran, teased him wickedly—just like it had all those years ago. He moved in even closer until Eaton’s scent and heat consumed Thoran. “And what are you willing to give me?”

“Everything.”

That wasn’t the answer Thoran had expected. He thought Eaton would say sex or something similar. That one word froze him to the spot and gave him pause. He cocked his head to the side. “Everything?”

“Are you going to betray me or toss me aside?”

Before he thought about the commitment he was diving into, Thoran shook his head. “Hadn’t planned on it.”

“Are you going to abuse the trust I give you?” Something crept into Eaton’s eyes, as if remembering how his very own father had done just that.

The pain Thoran could see pissed him off. “No.”

“What do you want from me?” he asked.

The question caught Thoran off guard. Until now, sex had been the only thing on his mind. He hadn’t thought past his orgasm. He had started to understand Eaton, to relate to him, but anything pertaining to the future hadn’t entered his mind. “Depends on how deep you want this to go.”

“I want you to mate me,” Eaton reminded Thoran. “That’s about as deep as one can get.”

That was true. Eaton’s soul would forever be bound to Thoran’s. It was a decision no shifter took lightly. Once done, only death could sever the tie. Eaton would be it for Thoran.

Thoran bared his canines as he took Eaton down to the floor, hovering over him. He dipped his head, inhaling the man’s scent deeply into his lungs. “You don’t even know me.”

Eaton’s eyes seemed to glow with pleasure as he stared up at Thoran. “You’ve already told me the most important things I need to know.”

The last vestige of resistance began to slip away. Until now, until Eaton had offered himself to Thoran, the idea of being mated hadn’t appealed to him. It had been the last thing Thoran wanted.

Thoran dipped his head in a fast motion, capturing Eaton’s lips. The man seemed surprised and then he gave a soft sigh. The kiss was hard, heated, and demanding. His tongue pushed inward, invading Eaton’s mouth as it glided over the shifter’s lips and plunged deep.

He wasn’t simply kissing Eaton, but devouring him.

Eaton melted in Thoran’s embrace, becoming boneless as a soft purr rumbled in his throat. Thoran sought more, more of Eaton’s touch and his sinful mouth. His teeth grazed over Eaton’s lips and nipped at the fullness, letting Eaton know who was in charge.

Then he gentled his movements. Thoran cupped Eaton’s face as he lapped the skin he’d nipped. “God help me, but I want you,” he said in a raspy voice. He wanted to ravage every inch of Eaton’s body. Not even in the pleasure house had he been this wound up.

When Eaton’s eyes turned amber and his thin, sharp canines descended, Thoran shattered. His pulse beat erratically as he took in the stunning sight. The temptation was too much. Thoran licked over the thin canines, watching as Eaton’s body shivered. The man rubbed himself on Thoran like a gentle housecat, purring, trying to get closer.

“My, petit chat. You tempt me to take you up on your offer.”

Eaton’s eyes filled with mischief. “And what would I have to do in order for you to agree?” He backed his question up by unzipping his battle suit, showing a hint of flawless skin. The man’s tiny claws were extended as he ran them up and down his exposed flesh, making Thoran salivate for a bite.

“You are about to get yourself into some serious trouble,” Thoran said with a growl.

The warning went unheeded as Eaton pulled the zipper down even lower, giving Thoran a glimpse of the man’s chest, his perfect pale nipples. Thoran dipped his head, biting down gently on one of them.

Eaton’s head fell back as his eyes filled with what Thoran could only describe as sheer pleasure. His gaze fixated on Eaton’s reaction, savoring every nuance, every sound. He knew he needed to consider the exact path he wanted to take with Eaton.

All of this was new to Thoran.

Eaton wasn’t just looking for a mate, but a dominant male who would give him…Hadn’t Eaton said everything?

Thoran had been blindsided and wasn’t sure what to do about this new revelation.

Who was he kidding? Thoran knew exactly what to do with Eaton. He’d known since first laying eyes on the shifter five years ago. Thoran had just been denying the strong attraction. But rescuing Eaton from a brothel owner should have been the first big clue that he was in this for the long haul.

“Am I that bad?”

Thoran could feel a wall going up. Eaton was emotionally pulling away. He took Thoran’s contemplative silence as a sign of rejection. The fire that had been in Eaton’s eyes was slipping away, replaced by uncertainty.

“Not at all,” Thoran replied. “I was just thinking about what you need.”

Eaton didn’t look convinced. His hands rested on the parted material of his battle suit, pulling the material back into place, covering himself.

“Do you really want to do that?” Thoran used the tip of his tongue to lick at Eaton’s fingers, lingering between each one. The cat shifter hissed before he lifted his index finger.

Thoran pulled the digit into his mouth, sucking, licking, nipping, and teasing. The fire not only returned to Eaton’s beautiful eyes, but blazed like an inferno.

“My little pussycat,” Thoran teased. “Move your hands away from you suit.”

Eaton’s hands fell away.

“Better.” Thoran used his teeth to lower the zipper even further, revealing Eaton’s navel and the upper part of his groin. Just as Thoran remembered from the sheer material that hid nothing, Eaton was shaven bare. Thoran moved the zipper lower to reveal the head of Eaton’s hard shaft.

“Beautiful,” Thoran murmured in a low growl of appreciation.

Eaton’s hands fluttered to his groin, trying to cover himself.

“Don’t hide from me, petit chat,” Thoran said softly.

Thoran used his chin to nudge Eaton’s hands away before sliding the tip of his tongue over the head of Eaton’s cock.

“Thoran.” Eaton’s tone was a mixture of pleasure and fear. His muscles tightened under Thoran’s touch. Reaching up, Thoran twined the fingers of his right hand with Eaton’s, giving Eaton an anchor, something firm to ground himself.

Eaton planted his feet on the floor as his head tossed from side to side. A pulse swept over Thoran as he watched how Eaton responded to what he was doing.

No one knew how Thoran felt inside. He had kept his inner demons and deepest desires locked away from the world, the universe, and even his friends.

Always an Assassin.

Always alone.

But Eaton was getting to him. The cat shifter was touching parts of Thoran that had never seen the light of day.

Could he let Eaton in?

Thoran swallowed Eaton’s cock to the back of his throat. His fingers tightened around Eaton’s when the shifter’s hips jerked forward, and the man cried out with such pleasure that Thoran’s wolf shot to the surface.

He needed more skin.

Thoran extended a claw and tore the bottom of Eaton’s battle suit, exposing the man’s ass before retracting his claw. Thoran wet his finger and then sank it deep into Eaton’s ass.

Eaton cried out even louder, his muscles locking into place as he came down Thoran’s throat. The man had an easy trigger. The musky scent of Eaton’s cum filled Thoran’s lungs, making his wolf lunge forward, fighting to get free.

To take.

To consume.

As Eaton’s cock slipped from between Thoran’s lips, Thoran slammed his eyes closed, snarling at his beast, waging a war with the creature to stay locked inside of him.

Eaton collapsed to the floor, panting heavily, unaware of the struggle Thoran was going through. Thoran shook his head repeatedly, beating back his wolf.

Eaton’s fingers squeezed his, bringing Thoran back from his battle. He opened his eyes and stared at the far wall.

“You were sent to torture my very soul,” Thoran whispered against Eaton’s flat stomach. “An angel to my demon.”

Eaton’s fingers brushed over Thoran’s cheek. Thoran pressed his face into the shifter’s hand, savoring the gentle touch. The small man wanted to be owned, but little did Eaton know that he was beginning to own Thoran.

“Such sweet pillow talk,” Eaton teased as his fingers continued to caress Thoran’s jaw.

Thoran smiled at the man’s lightheartedness. “I try.”

Eaton groaned as Thoran continued to ease his finger in and out of Eaton’s ass. He didn’t want to break the connection. This was the closest Thoran had ever felt to being complete, whole. He was also enjoying the long, vibrating purrs that were coming from the cat shifter. Eaton stretched wide, rubbing his body on Thoran’s, marking Thoran all over with his scent.

He rested his cheek on Eaton’s stomach, closing his eyes while Eaton used his free hand to play in Thoran’s hair, his fingers skimming slowly through the strands.

This moment was perfect.

The cat shifter’s fingers traced down the side of Thoran’s face, the tips feathering over his ear, making Thoran shiver.

“Have you decided?”

Thoran turned his head and pressed a kiss into Eaton’s navel. “Decided what?”

“To claim me.”

Could Thoran place his trust in Eaton? Thoran had been flip-flopping back and forth since entering his office. Even before that, if he was to be honest with himself.

Thoran didn’t voice this. Eaton needed someone who could take charge and make strong decisions. Thoran normally did both with ease.

So why are you second guessing yourself when it comes to Eaton?

Thoran pushed from the carpet, looked down at the delicious sight of the little kitten and smile to himself. “Take that suit off.”

Eaton succeeded in making him outwardly grin when the man jumped to his feet, stripping the suit off in seconds.

“Eager?”

Eaton blushed as the material floated to the floor. Thoran stood there drinking in every inch of Eaton’s sexy body. The shifter nibbled on his lower lip as his hands once again migrated toward his groin.

“Don’t,” Thoran commanded as he pulled his own clothes off. Pride swelled inside when Eaton’s eyes raked over Thoran’s naked body in a greedy manner.

Crossing the room, Thoran took a seat at his desk and pulled the lube from the drawer. Eaton stood there watching as Thoran squeezed the clear gel into the palm of his hand. He tossed the bottle on the desk and then wrapped his fingers around his cock, stroking himself.

His head fell back against the chair as his eyelids slid down marginally. His gaze fixated on Eaton as he pleasured himself. Eaton’s chest began to rise and fall faster as his eyes flickered between Thoran’s face and his hand and back again.

“Do you like being teased, petit chat?” Thoran followed his question with a long, husky moan.

Eaton’s head jerked back and forth as his lips parted, his breath coming out in short bursts.

Thoran’s fingers tightened as he reached between his legs, pulling at his sac.

He hissed.

Eaton whimpered.

“What are you thinking?”

Eaton’s tongue slid across his bottom lip. “I–I want to taste you.”

Thoran’s cock pulsed in his hand. The image of Eaton doing just that had his balls tightening. “Come here, Eaton.”

He moved to stand in front of Thoran. Eaton pressed his bare backside into the desk.

While remaining seated, Thoran parted his legs. “On your knees.”

He blew out a long, almost shaky breath when Eaton dropped to his knees, gazing up at Thoran for further instructions. Thoran kept pleasuring himself, taking in the sight between his legs. Eaton truly appeared as a lost angel. His capitulation made him so beautiful. His raven hair fell over one eye, denying Thoran a clear view of those mesmerizing pale-blue eyes—eyes the color of priceless gemstones.

Thoran reached out and brushed the stray strands aside before cupping Eaton’s chin, pulling the man closer. “Suck me into your mouth.”

Small, panting breaths blew across the head of Thoran’s cock before Eaton parted his lips and engulfed Thoran’s erection.

Thoran’s lip curled back as he sucked a breath in deeply.

Mother fuck!

Thoran’s teeth ached to bite the little vixen as Eaton placed his hands on Thoran’s knees, leaning in closer, using his tongue to trace over the cock in his mouth. The man was inexperienced, but his enthusiasm made up for it in spades.

“Watch your teeth,” Thoran said when a sharp pain shot through his shaft. He carded his hand through the black strands, gripping Eaton’s hair and tugging on it. He controlled the movements, showing Eaton an easy rhythm.

The man caught on quickly, though he was trying to take in too much. Using the tight hold he had on Eaton’s hair, Thoran pulled Eaton back until his cock popped free.

“Not so much, beautiful. You’re going to choke yourself.”

Eaton coughed as his eyes watered. He nodded before taking Thoran back into his mouth.

Thoran’s breath became unstable. The sight of Eaton sucking him off was fucking spectacular, an erotic vision that Thoran wouldn’t soon forget.

Thoran ghosted his fingers over Eaton’s jaw. He could feel the muscles working, massaging his cock. Once again, Thoran tugged on Eaton’s hair. This time, however, Thoran shoved his chair back and stood. He swiped his arm across his desk, the contents flying free, crashing to the floor.

“On the desk.” Thoran grabbed Eaton and flipped the man over. Eaton scrambled onto his hands and knees before Thoran dropped to his knees and laved at Eaton’s hole, fucking the tight muscle with his tongue.

Eaton let out a desperate whine.

Thoran drove two lubed fingers inside Eaton while he continued to lick and suck. The shifter’s legs began to tremble. Thoran pushed to his feet, placing his free hand between Eaton’s shoulder blades, easing the man’s upper body down to the desk. “Always submit to me, petit chat. Never forget who is in charge.”

Eaton gripped the edge of the desk as his cheek rested on the surface. “Okay.”

Thoran knew he had said the right thing when a contented smile spread across Eaton’s face. The man was only too happy to comply. Eaton’s health, happiness, and emotional needs were now in Thoran’s hands. It wasn’t something he would take lightly either. Although the entire crew was in a perilous situation, Thoran would do whatever it took to keep Eaton safe.

Eaton would never feel alone again. Thoran would make sure of that. Thoran was in search of the only family he had left, but Eaton was now his family, too. The man would want for nothing.

Thoran placed a kiss on Eaton’s spine before he removed his fingers. He lubed his cock again, lined up the head against Eaton’s stretched hole, and then began to press inside the man’s hot and tight body.

Eaton cried out and Thoran stilled. His muscles quivered as he brushed his hand down Eaton’s back. “Relax, beautiful.”

“I’m trying.” Eaton’s voice was shaky, strained. “But it burns.”

“That won’t last,” Thoran promised. “Do you trust me?”

“Yes.” The answer was given without hesitation.

Thoran began to move again. He thrust his cock deep. His jaw clenched as he stilled once more. Eaton’s entire body was locked into place. Thoran gave him time to adjust but he knew the only way to get past the pain was to bring Eaton pleasure.

Hooking his hands over Eaton’s shoulders, Thoran set a steady rhythm, whispering encouraging words to Eaton, trying his best to relax the man.

It didn’t take long for Eaton’s whimpers of pain to morph into desire. Not only could Thoran hear the change in pitch, but Eaton raised his ass higher on each forward thrust.

“That’s it, petit chat. Rock those hips, moan. Let me know how much you are enjoying this.”

Thoran released Eaton’s shoulders. He reached between their joined bodies and spread Eaton’s globes apart, watching his cock spear in and out of Eaton. He massaged his thumb around the stretched muscle, teasing Eaton, before slipping it in to the first knuckle and then pulling it free.

Eaton let out a sultry, throaty sound.

“Are you ready to come, kitten?”

“Please,” Eaton whined.

Thoran grinned. He gripped Eaton’s hips and began to pound his cock into Eaton’s ass. Eaton’s sex noises grew steadily louder the faster and deeper Thoran plunged.

Thoran’s head rolled back as his canines lengthened. He struck, sinking them deep into the cat shifter’s soft flesh. His cock swelled, knotting inside Eaton.

Thoran pulled his canines free and growled as his seed filled Eaton’s ass. He reached under Eaton and gripped his shaft, stroking his mate until Eaton was crying out his release.

“Bite me,” Thoran demanded.

Eaton sank his thin canines into Thoran’s upper arm. Thoran snarled, welcoming the pain.

They were now bound together. Eaton was his and Thoran would kill anyone who tried to take his little kitten away from him.

Chapter Seven

Eaton yawned as he rubbed his head back and forth against the thick, fluffy pillow. He was still half in and half out of sleep, enough to where he could drift back off with no problem. That was until a strong arm slid over his side and the scent of Thoran filled his lungs, reminding Eaton that he wasn’t alone. The events of yesterday came back to Eaton as the delicious pain in his backside gave him a warm feeling.

Thoran had claimed him. Eaton now belonged to someone who wouldn’t sell him to pay off back taxes or because he would fetch a high price.

Eaton touched the bite mark on his shoulder to find the area still tender. He hadn’t dreamt any of this. It was real and Thoran had claimed him. Eaton snuggled deeper into his mate’s warm body, his back pressed against a hard wall of flesh. This was where he wanted to stay for as long as he could. With Thoran, Eaton felt safe, comfortable, and content.

“You know we have to get up.” Thoran nibbled at Eaton’s ear. His warm breath tickled Eaton’s skin, making him smile even though he had yet to open his eyes.

“What if I want to stay right here for, say, the next year or so?”

Thoran gave a soft chuckle but Eaton was serious. Screw the universe and its problems. Screw any cutthroats who came after them. The planets could drift apart and Eaton wouldn’t care as long as he was here with Thoran.

“I’m pretty sure Kayden will send a search party if we stay hidden away for that long.”

“If you stay gone that long,” Eaton corrected as he twined their legs together, reveling in the feel of the hair on Thoran’s calves rubbing against his skin. “No one would search for me.”

“I would.” Thoran tugged on Eaton until he was facing his mate. Eaton got his first sight of Thoran in the morning and he looked scrumptious with his tousled hair and sleepy eyes. Eaton more than likely looked like he’d been run through the wringer.

Thoran nibbled at his neck until Eaton started laughing. His mate was tickling him, chuckling deeply. Eaton tried to get away, to get out of the bed, but Thoran kept him pinned in.

“Where do you think you’re going?” Thoran pulled Eaton under him, pressing Eaton’s chest into the soft mattress. He could feel Thoran’s thick cock wedged between his upper thighs. A deep craving washed over him to be filled by his mate once more, to have Thoran making sweet love to him again.

Instead, Thoran reached above them to a control panel on the wall. He pressed a few buttons and Eaton watched as the walls transformed from an ivory color to a dense forest. The room filled with the sounds of nature. When the leaves fluttered on the trees, Eaton gasped. He could feel a slight breeze blowing across his body, ruffling his hair slightly as the scent of fresh country air wafted toward him. Shards of sunlight broke through the canopies, reaching the forest floor.

“How?” The images were so vivid, so crisp with clarity that Eaton swore he could go over to the wall and take a walk through the woods.

“Hologram,” Thoran answered. “I put the setting on display only. If you’d like, I could bring the image to life.”

Eaton hissed and then groaned when Thoran’s cock slowly sank into him and the entire room became the forest. Eaton’s hands and knees were resting on a bed of moss, the warm waft of air ruffling the fallen leaves that were resting on the ground.

“Thoran.”

“All for you, petit chat.”

Eaton arched his back as he closed his eyes, praying that all of this wasn’t a dream and that he wasn’t still in that brothel. This was too good to be true. He was terrified that he would blink and Thoran would disappear.

“Little pussycat,” Thoran groaned in his ear. “So sweet, so soft.”

Eaton cried out when Thoran thrust deep, his cock filling him to overwhelming. His fingers dug into the ground as Thoran picked up the pace, pistoning into Eaton. Growls filled the air as his mate once again bit into his shoulder, pressing Eaton further to the forest floor, making him submit.

It was all too much. Eaton shouted as he came. Thoran grunted, pulled his teeth free, and then howled as he filled Eaton’s ass. They were both panting, both sweaty as Thoran slowly lowered them both to a more comfortable position. The man had knotted him.

“End program.”

Eaton watched as the forest faded and he was once again in the bed, staring at the ivory walls. “That was amazing!”

Thoran chuckled. “I hope so.”

Eaton elbowed Thoran. “I was talking about the program.”

“I discovered it when I first left Sator. There are other programs on there as well. I tried the ocean one and ended up getting soaked.”

“You can do that?” The knot eased from Eaton, allowing him to turn over in his mate’s arms. Thoran frowned, pulling back as his eyes dropped to the lower half of Eaton’s body.

“What?” Eaton looked as well. He sucked in his breath when he saw the long line from his navel to his groin and the spots on either side. “What is that?”

Thoran grew quiet, his expression pensive. His eyes stayed glued to the mark on Eaton’s stomach. As he stared, so many emotions flashed over the man’s face that Eaton was becoming uneasy and a bit scared. “Thoran?”

With a shaky hand, Thoran brushed his fingers over Eaton’s flat abdomen. “How do you not know what these markings represent?”

The question only confused Eaton even further. “Because I’ve never seen them before,” he stated. “If you haven’t figured it out yet, I don’t exactly come from a modern society. Crossover is a simple little village with even simpler people.” And some who couldn’t give a shit less about others. The thought of what his father had done made Eaton’s chest tighten, but he refused to let his father’s betrayal dampen this moment. For the first time in his life, Eaton was genuinely happy. But he was still confused as hell about the markings. What did they mean?

Thoran rolled from the bed, pulling his battle suit on. Eaton sat up, wondering why the man looked so…rattled. “Please talk to me.”

“I’m trying to absorb what—” Thoran shook his head as he sat on the bed, running a hand over his jaw. “You’re with child.”

Thoran could have told Eaton that he was about to be shot out of an airlock and it would have shocked him less. A litany of emotions rushed through Eaton. He sat there dazed. “I’m what?”

He had to have heard the guy wrong. Eaton wasn’t worldly. He’d spent his entire life in Crossover, never once having traveled anywhere. But even he knew that men having children was impossible.

Wasn’t it?

* * * *

All his life Thoran had wished for a family. He had thought he was destined to be mateless and childless. He had accepted his fate.

But he’d mated Eaton last night.

And now Eaton was carrying Thoran’s child.

It was apparent that Eaton was more sheltered than Thoran had suspected. The cat shifter honestly thought men couldn’t have children. Out of the corner of his eye, he could see Eaton sitting there, slightly shaking. Thoran grabbed Eaton, pulling the small man onto his lap. He held Eaton as he tried to sort through everything.

“You’re telling the truth, aren’t you?” Eaton asked.

“I am.”

“No men in my village ever got pregnant.” Eaton curled deeper into Thoran’s arms. “My father never told me that this could happen.”

Thoran would like to see Eaton’s father so he could thank the man personally for what the rotten bastard had done. He was pretty sure there were a lot of things the man hadn’t taught Eaton. It was rare for a male shifter to become pregnant, but it did happen. Humans were the species more widely known for male pregnancies.

With so many different species around the galaxy, anything was possible. Thoran had seen so many things in his life as an Assassin that he didn’t question the bizarre that took place. And with the different types of beings intermingling and coupling together, there were bound to be new species cropping up.

Eaton becoming pregnant was on the spectrum of normal possibilities.

“We have a freighter on our bow, ladies,” Kayden announced over the ship’s intercom. “Their call sign designates them as junk haulers, but my gut tells me that’s a front. Get your asses on the bridge.”

Thoran stood, pulling his suit on the rest of the way. “I want you to stay here,” he said to Eaton. “At least until I can find out what’s going on.”

“But—”

Thoran glanced down at Eaton, down at the man who was carrying his child. “That wasn’t a request, kitten. I expect you to follow my order. Stay put.”

The last thing Thoran needed was for Eaton to get hurt. This wasn’t the family Thoran had dreamt of having as a child. It was much better. But he still had to find his sister and he had to protect what was now his to protect. Having Eaton on the bridge with unknown men at their bow was not something he wanted. Just the thought of Eaton getting hurt made Thoran’s chest ache and his teeth grind.

“Why don’t you go take a long shower?” he suggested as he shoved his feet into his boots and strapped them. “Or relax in the tub.” After two sessions of sex, Eaton had to be sore. Thoran walked into the bathroom and drew his mate some water. He made sure the temperature was perfect before he called Eaton in. When his mate stepped into the bathroom, Thoran lifted Eaton from his feet and lowered him into the tub.

“I’m not crippled,” Eaton complained. “I know how to get into a tub.”

Thoran kissed his mate on the temple. “I’m sure you do. Now relax and I’ll be back.”

After putting a few towels on the warming tray, Thoran made his way to the bridge. As he walked, he let out the long breath he’d been holding since seeing the marking on Eaton’s stomach. It still didn’t seem real, and Thoran could admit to himself how fucking scared he was. He had been trained to be an Assassin, not a father. His parenting skills amounted to zilch. A part of him wanted to run, afraid he would only screw the kid’s life up. What could he offer the child?

But no matter how terrifying this was, Thoran would never abandon his mate or child. He had a hell of a lot more honor than that.

Besides, he was curious to see not only what the child would look like, but his personality as well. Would he or she be tough like Thoran or soft like Eaton? A mixture? Green eyes or pale blue? Would the babe have black hair or brown? Cat shifter or wolf? A blend of both? One thing was for sure. Thoran wasn’t raising his child in the palace. He wasn’t comfortable there. It wasn’t Thoran’s home. He and Eaton would buy a place of their own and start fresh.

Where?

Thoran wasn’t sure which planet would be the best and safest place to raise a child. He didn’t want to leave his brethren, but he also didn’t want his babe raised with royalty. Thoran wanted his child to be down to earth, to appreciate the simpler things in life, not be fed by a silver spoon.

Would the others consider buying land on some remote planet? Thoran knew Kayden wouldn’t. He would want his mate surrounded by tons of guards. Not only were the Breed Assassins wanted men, but so was Jade. Kayden would do whatever it took to protect his mate, even suffer through living in a kingdom.

Hadn’t Kayden’s mother stated that Kayden was to take the throne when King Matino stepped down?

Thoran walked onto the bridge to see a Klackian on the viewscreen. He would have thought the creature just another simpleminded troll, but there was sharp intelligence in this one’s eyes. He looked like a soldier, dressed in traditional battle clothing. His armor was a deep purple, spanning across his wide body. The Klackian was also wearing the metal arm cuffs of one who had seen many battles. The three gold stripes on each band indicated that he’d killed his enemies in combat. Above the three stripes was an emblem of the House he was affiliated with.

This one had to be watched. He was clever and resourceful and couldn’t be trusted.

“So,” the man on the viewscreen was saying as Thoran entered, “you are not here on Assassin business, dog shifter?”

Thoran could see the muscle working in Kayden’s jaw. He could tell that Kayden was fighting not to give the reply he truly wanted to. None of the Breed Assassins took insults lightly and if this were any other circumstance, the troll would be bleeding by now.

“The Empire has no idea, Captain Korvex,” Kayden said, though he put a slightly belligerent emphasis on the title.

“Interesting.” The Klackian nodded. “So, if I blew your ship apart, there would be no repercussions?”

“Try it,” Logan growled from the weapons console.

Kayden held up his hand, silencing Logan. That was a feat considering Logan pretty much answered to no one. The Breed Assassins were their own men except for the orders they took from Admiral Shuziano. But that was before the bounty was put on their heads. Now they were nomads trying to stay one step ahead of the Feds while tracking down Thoran’s missing sister.

The Klackian gave an evil laugh as he tucked his hands behind his back. “Do not tempt me. Now, why are you in this sector, Assassins? There is nothing here for you except misfortune.”

“We are searching for my sister.” Thoran spoke as he stepped forward. He knew this man would tolerate nothing but respect. It galled Thoran to give it, but he would do whatever it took to find Nyda. “She was taken from Sator ten years ago.”

“Ah,” Captain Korvex said. “The Vyklion were paid a fortune to invade different planets and kidnap young, ripe woman. I remember the contract hitting the feed.”

Thoran’s stomach dropped as his throat grew dry. Finding Nyda safe from harm was looking less and less possible. A small part of him had been holding out hope that fate had spared her from the slave trade. “Do you know if she was taken?”

The Klackian shrugged. “Many women were taken. Why would I know her name?”

“She is of the Royal House of Sator,” Kayden supplied. “She is King Matino’s niece.”

Captain Korvex’s hands slowly moved to his side as his eyes became calculating. “Which would make you his nephew,” the man said to Thoran and then his eyes turned to Kayden. “You are the lost heir.” It was a statement.

“Did you hear of her kidnapping?” Kayden ignored the accusation. Thoran could tell the Klackian was trying to figure out how to exploit this situation. He could turn them over for the bounty. But his mind was working overtime to come up with a way to become even richer than that.

“What is this information worth to you?” he finally asked.

“Sator will pay you a hefty price if it leads to her recovery,” Kayden said. “I will put that promise into writing if need be.”

“Send me the contract and then we will talk.” The transmission died.

“He may not know a damn thing,” Logan argued. “What if he’s stalling while he waits for the Feds to arrive.”

“For one,” Kayden said, “the man is too damn greedy. For two, the Feds wouldn’t come into Sector Nine. They’d be eaten alive before they crossed the border.”

And if Sator paid the price for Nyda, Thoran would be in the king’s debt. There would be no way he and Eaton could start a new life on a distant planet. Thoran didn’t have that kind of money to pay the king back. He was well to do, but not filthy rich. He would forever remain in King Matino’s pocket.

“It’s up to you,” Kayden said, as if reading Thoran’s mind. They all knew the score. When a debt was owed, it was paid. Thoran would basically become his uncle’s bitch, doing whatever the man wanted, no matter how menial. If King Matino told Thoran he wanted someone killed, Thoran had no choice but to carry it out. If the Klackian asked for an exorbitant amount, not only would Thoran be in debt, but so would his future descendents until things were settled.

It was an overly pessimistic estimation of his newly discovered uncle. But Thoran had to consider the worst case scenario of what might happen if he became indebted to King Matino.

Family didn’t mean shit to some people when it came to wealth and favors owed. Eaton’s father had proven that. Thoran didn’t know King Matino. He had barely said hello to the man. For all he knew, his uncle was a cold and callous bastard when it came to favors.

He had to keep Eaton’s pregnancy a secret. There was no way in hell he would allow his child to become a servant of Sator just to repay Thoran’s debt. Thoran had to find a way to stash Eaton some place where King Matino would never find him.

What if he agreed to this and Nyda wanted no part of him, or she was dead? He would have enslaved himself for nothing. It was a huge risk and one he was being pressured into taking now. All the men on the bridge were staring at him, waiting on an answer.

“Look,” Nyk said. “No one would blame you if you said no. Why put yourself in that position for someone who might not even want to be rescued?”

Nyk parroted Thoran’s thoughts.

“No one will think badly of you,” Dax affirmed. “It is what it is.”

“The decision is up to you,” Kayden added. “I would give all I had if I thought that would help. But even as heir to the throne, I can’t get you out of debt once you sign that contract. You know the laws that govern our universe.”

“Those laws are bullshit,” Logan said, his upper lip curled back. “We’ll find another way, Thoran. You don’t have to enslave yourself.”

Was there another way? Sure, they could search until they were old and grey, but that didn’t mean they would find her. The universe was vast and contained far too many planets to search. They needed a lead or they might be out here forever. His brethren were faithful to a fault, but none of them would give up their lives to search for Nyda if it took decades.

Thoran was at a crossroad and didn’t know which path to take. Nyda might be on Japori and she might not. If she wasn’t, where would he go from there and was he willing to risk everyone’s freedom? That was what it would amount to if they kept searching for her.

Dax and Nyk wanted to start their own freighting company. That was a risk as well, but a risk the two men were willing to take by their choice. Thoran couldn’t ask them to give everything up for him.

“Draw up the contract.”

Logan growled. Dax and Nyk looked at Thoran sympathetically. Kayden’s face was a mask of stone, revealing nothing.

Nyk paced back and forth by the tactic station. “There has to be another way.”

“I’m all ears,” Thoran said. “If you can come up with a solution that won’t keep us searching for the next decade, I would really love to know. I’m not keen on being enslaved for the rest of my life, but what choice do I have?”

“I would say that you had time to think about this,” Kayden said to Thoran, “but I have a feeling the deal with the Klackian is a one-shot thing.”

“Not if we get the information and then blow his ass out of the sky,” Dax said with no hesitation or remorse. The man even had a gallows smirk on his face. “It won’t be easy, but it’s doable.”

“And then we’d have an all-out war with the outlaws,” Thoran answered. “We already have enough trouble hanging over our heads. I’m not going to add to that.”

The signal for transmission sounded. The Klackian wanted his contract.

“Are you sure about this?” Kayden asked.

Chapter Eight

Eaton had sat in the tub long enough. He was turning into a prune. Besides, Thoran was taking too long. He might have lived a sheltered life, but even Eaton knew a freighter in Sector Nine wasn’t a good thing.

He dressed and then left his mate’s quarters. Thoran was going to be pissed, but Eaton was too worried to sit around and wait for his mate’s return. He would deal with the fallout later.

He approached the bridge, but wasn’t sure if he should enter. What if nothing was wrong? Thoran was going to be seven kinds of pissed that Eaton had disobeyed the man. He didn’t like the idea of his mate being mad at him, but Eaton had to find out why Thoran hadn’t returned—it had been over an hour since the man had left their room.

Eaton spotted an intercom on the wall. He supposed it was for asking permission to enter the bridge. He pressed the button, but then realized he’d pressed the wrong one. Instead of talking, he listened to what was going on.

“I’m all ears.” It was Thoran who was talking. “If you can come up with a solution that won’t keep us searching for the next decade, I would really love to know. I’m not keen on being enslaved for the rest of my life, but what choice do I have?”

Enslaved? What in the hell was Thoran talking about? Who was he searching for? He stood there listening to the conversation as he chewed on his thumbnail, his heart sinking with every word spoken. They were talking about war. This was not good.

Bolstering his bravery, Eaton walked onto the bridge.

All eyes turned to him, but it was Thoran’s enraged expression that had Eaton taking a step back.

“I thought I told you to stay in my quarters,” his mate barked at him.

“Easy on the little guy,” Logan said, his expression dark.

“Stay out of this,” Thoran snapped at Logan. “You have no idea what you’re talking about.”

“Enlighten me then,” Logan snarled.

“Who are you searching for?” Eaton asked, trying his best to ignore Thoran’s wrath. If his mate was about to enslave himself, Eaton had a right to know.

“Thoran’s sister,” Nyk answered. “She disappeared ten years ago.”

Eaton ducked behind the captain’s chair when Thoran headed for him. The man’s expression wasn’t encouraging. “Maybe I can help.”

“Leave him alone,” Logan warned. “I don’t give a rat’s ass what’s going on between you two, but I won’t stand here and watch you abuse him, Thoran.”

Thoran froze in his tracks, a pained expression crossing his face before it darkened. “You think I would hurt him?”

“You do look pretty damn evil right now,” Dax stated before he glanced at Eaton. “I’ll cut him off while you run and hide.”

“He’s not running anywhere,” Nyk stated. “If Thoran lays one hand on Eaton, I’ll gut the prick.”

Eaton was shocked that Thoran’s friends were sticking up for him. Shouldn’t they be on Thoran’s side? He eased closer to Nyk and Dax, hoping he didn’t pay for this later. “Tell me what happened.”

He stood there listening to Nyk tell him about Nyda and the circumstances behind her disappearance, all the while keeping his eyes fixed on Thoran.

“But Klackians can’t be trusted,” Eaton stated.

“No shit,” Thoran answered. “We all know this, but I have no choice.”

“Yes,” Eaton answered, “you do.”

“How?” Kayden finally spoke. “What would you know about Nyda’s whereabouts?”

Eaton licked his lips, his gaze never leaving his mate’s. “Around that time, when I was twelve, I saw a shuttle land in the meadows just outside the village. Both boys and girls were escorted off and taken to the brothel. My father had sent me to the Crossover Tavern for bread and cheeses and I overheard the men talking. One of the runners who’d gotten off the shuttle was bragging about having a member of the royal family among them. But he wasn’t saying it in a nice way,” Eaton added, remembering the snide way the guy had spoken.

“Are you sure?” Thoran asked. “Did they give a name?”

Eaton shook his head. “But they did say she was from Sator.”

“Do you know what happened to her?” Kayden asked.

Eaton thought long and hard. It had been ten years ago. A lot of the details were sketchy to him. The runner from the shuttle had been drinking heavily and running his mouth. Eaton had been standing by the back of the tavern, waiting for his father’s order. No one had paid the runner any attention. As with a lot of outlaws who had come through Crossover, the guy was treated as someone who drank too much and boasted nothing but lies.

“Well?” Thoran asked and Eaton could hear hope in the man’s voice. The last thing he wanted to do was let his mate down, but the memory just wasn’t coming to—“The runner said he was keeping her for himself.” Eaton was happy that the memory returned. “The guy bragging said he was going to enslave her for his own pleasure and put the old guy she was with to work for his family.”

Kayden let go of a string of curses. “But the bartender told us he had no clue where she was.”

“He was lying,” Eaton stated. “Quido might have pretended he wasn’t listening, but I could see the gleam of interest in his eyes.”

“I’m going to gut that son of a bitch,” Kayden said. “I knew I should have killed him when I had the chance all those years ago.”

“But none of that helps if we don’t know the runner’s name,” Thoran stated.

Eaton beamed. “I remember.”

“How?” Logan asked.

“Because it was the weirdest name I’ve ever heard,” Eaton stated. “Katino Matino.” He chuckled. “Weird, isn’t it?”

The entire crew grew silent, staring at Eaton as if they’d never seen him before. Kayden grew pale. No, he was more green than ashen. Thoran was gazing at Eaton with horror in his eyes. Nyk and Logan didn’t look any better. Dax’s eyes had grown so dark that the irises had bled into the pupils.

“What?” Eaton asked.

“Katino is Kayden’s twin,” Thoran stated in almost a hushed tone. “Are you sure?”

Eaton’s mind raced through his memories. He could see the man as clear as day. “Do you have a photo?”

Dax turned, punching his fingers over the console before a picture appeared on the viewscreen. It was with an article on the prince of Sator. The picture was in color and the man was smiling. “That’s him,” Eaton stated, remembering that toothy smile as if he’d seen the man just yesterday. “I swear on my life that’s the man who was in the tavern that day.” He turned toward Kayden. “I thought you looked familiar, but I couldn’t quiet place your face. If it wasn’t you who sold those people, then it was definitely your twin.”

Kayden threw his head back and let go of an eerie howl, his claws and canines extending as his jaw began to protrude. Right before Eaton’s eyes, Kayden shifted into something Eaton had never seen before. He’d heard of wolf shifters, had mingled with them, but had never seen one in its true form. Kayden was as terrifying as terrifying could get. The man had grown two inches, stood on two legs, was as thick as three men, and had teeth that looked razor sharp.

He was in his true lycan form. Most wolf shifters—from what Eaton had heard—shifted into four-legged creatures. Only when filled with bloodlust did they turn into their third form. Eaton swallowed so hard his throat hurt.

“Turn this fucking ship around!” Thoran shouted at Logan. “Put us at warp ten and get us back to Sator!”

The viewscreen came to life and Eaton assumed the guy on the screen was the Klackian they’d been bargaining with. “Going somewhere?” the man asked.

“Back to Sator,” Logan answered.

The guy laughed as if he was truly enjoying some private joke. That was until he spoke. “I see you’ve figured it out. The Royal House of Sator is as corrupt as Synia.” The man glanced at Kayden and smirked. “I see the Assassin has come to the realization that the royal family is all imposters.”

They hadn’t known that. Eaton was surprised when no one gave away that fact.

“Yeah, we figured it out,” Thoran stated as if he knew what the Klackian was talking about.

“Too bad no one knows where the real family is,” the man said.

“Ben Hur?” Logan asked.

“Has no clue,” the guy answered. “He’s too busy with his own life to see the truth that is right in front of him. I’m only telling you this much because I owe Hur. Tell him my debt is paid.” The screen went dead.

The ship jumped into hyperdrive as Dax’s fingers flew over the console. Eaton sat in the closest chair and buckled in, watching Kayden to make sure the creature didn’t come anywhere near him. Kayden was currently tearing apart the long banister that separated the captain’s chair from the rest of the bridge.

“Should we sedate him?” Nyk asked. “If he tears a hole in the hull, we’re fucked.”

Eaton’s heart was beating in his throat as the scene unfolded. Thoran moved to stand in front of Kayden, his arms wide. But when Kayden took a swipe at Thoran, Eaton’s mate…he…shifted. Eaton’s eyes grew wide as his entire body began to shake. Thoran moved in and took Kayden down.

He’s your mate and wouldn’t hurt you. You’re carrying his child. Don’t be afraid.

But that was easier said than done. The two fighting on the bridge was petrifying, to say the least. It was like watching mountains clash. The two smashed into a console on the right side of the bridge and the lights flickered.

“Damn it!” Logan shouted. “Knock it off before we’re dead in space and can’t get our asses back to Sator.”

This caught both wolves’ attention. Rage filled Eaton when he saw the long gash on Thoran’s chest. He unbuckled his belt and hurried over to his mate, standing between the two giants. He was scared as hell, but Eaton’s anger overrode his fear. “Hurt him again and I’ll…I’ll…make Jade a very unhappy man!” he shouted at Kayden who was still in his wolf form.

“I’m scared of you, midget,” Nyk teased from across the bridge. Eaton turned and glared at the man before turning back to Kayden.

“Don’t you ever touch my mate again!”

“Holy fuck,” Logan said behind them. “Why didn’t you tell us?”

Thoran was the first to shift back to his human form. Eaton didn’t like the fact that his mate was naked in front of others, but what bothered him more was the long wound on the man’s chest.

“Because it’s none of your damn business,” Thoran snapped at Logan before pulling Eaton off his feet and tossing him over one broad shoulder. Thoran left the bridge. When they entered the corridor, he said, “You are in serious damn trouble, kitten.”

“But I helped!” Eaton reminded the man. “Doesn’t that count for something?”

“If you weren’t carrying my child, I’d spank you until you couldn’t sit. I told you to stay in my quarters.” His mate pinched Eaton’s ass.

“Ow!”

They entered Thoran’s room and his mate dropped him on the bed. “Do you know how dangerous it was for you to be on the bridge? What if things had gone south? Did you ever consider that I care more about your safety than anything else in this galaxy?”

“But I helped,” Eaton repeated with a mutinous mutter as he crossed his arms over his chest and lowered his head in defiance.

Thoran sighed as he sat down next to Eaton. “What you did was uncover a conspiracy that is about to put the Breed Assassins and Sator at war.”

“That isn’t my fault.”

“No, it isn’t,” Thoran answered. “But now we have to find a way to get Jade off that planet. We all better pray like hell that Kayden’s mate isn’t hurt or Sator will more than likely go up in flames.”

“What did that guy mean by where the real family is? King Matino has been in power for as long as I can remember. How did an imposter get into the royal house?”

“Good question,” Thoran replied. “Now I have to wonder if anything they said was the truth. Are the Breed Assassins really cousins, or was that a lie? Why did the imposters help us? Why did they send a fleet of guards to rescue us when we were pinned down? Nothing makes any sense.”

All Eaton could do was shrug. He didn’t have any answers.

Thoran glanced at Eaton and smiled. It was a handsome look on Thoran and one he needed to wear more often. “You looked pretty badass standing up to Kayden.”

Eaton confessed the truth. “I was scared out of my mind. But when I saw your wound, I lost it.”

“It was sexy.”

Eaton could feel his cheeks heating under Thoran’s compliments. “You think so?”

His heart picked up when Thoran leaned in, ready to kiss him. But he never got the chance.

“Everyone on the bridge,” Logan said over the intercom.

Thoran sighed before he got up and dressed. “I would tell you to stay put, but I have a feeling you won’t listen.”

Eaton grinned. “You’re starting to get to know me.”

Thoran growled playfully as he pulled Eaton from the bed. “Come on, my tough little kitten. Let’s go see what Logan wants.”

When they reached the bridge, Eaton froze. The man on the viewscreen was even more evil looking than the Klackian. Didn’t the Breed Assassins know any friendly looking people? Why did they all have to look like deranged lunatics?

Kayden turned toward them. He had on a pair of pants, but nothing more. He stood there bare-chested, his muscles impressing Eaton.

“Eaton, this is Ben Hur.”

Eaton’s blood ran cold at the name. The man’s features matched his frightening reputation. Eaton had heard some wicked stories about this guy. Ben Hur wasn’t known for his kindness or patience. The runner was as legendary as the Breed Assassins.

“Tell him what you told us,” Kayden continued.

Eaton’s knees felt weak and he couldn’t find his voice. Ben Hur was intimidating as hell. Eaton felt as if the man could kill him with just one glare.

Thoran’s hand rested on Eaton’s back, giving him a measure of comfort. “Go ahead, Eaton,” his mate encouraged.

Eaton stood there and repeated what he’d told the others. The longer he talked, the darker Ben Hur’s expression became until he resembled Satan himself. “You’re telling me that the king is an imposter, that the man I’ve known my entire life, my brother, isn’t who he says he is?”

The deadly look almost succeeded in making Eaton’s legs give out from under him. “I’m telling you what took place in that tavern. As far as your family, the Klackian made that statement, not me.”

Thoran ran his hand up Eaton’s back when Eaton began to shake. He wanted to go back to his room and not be forced to talk to this runner. He didn’t care if it made him look like a big coward. Eaton didn’t do well with confrontation. Not when the person intimidating him looked as if he could snap Eaton in half with a single thought.

“I’ll deal with Korvex later,” Ben Hur said. “He’ll pay for keeping that information from me. As far as Nyda, do you know who the old man was with her?”

Eaton shook his head. “The guy in the bar didn’t mention who the old man was.”

“My father?” Kayden asked.

“Possibly,” Ben Hur replied. “Once we find Nyda, we’ll know. Have you tried to reach Jade?”

“No answer,” Kayden replied and Eaton could see the worry in the man’s eyes.

“Katino must have Nyda and the old man stashed somewhere,” Dax said.

“If they’re not dead already,” Ben said. “It’s a huge risk on Katino’s part to keep them alive. But that brat has always been arrogant. I wouldn’t put it past him to have them locked up somewhere just so he could taunt the two about how the kingdom was being ruled in their absence.”

“But the Klackian said family,” Kayden pointed out. “What about my mother and sister?”

“I don’t have an answer for you,” Ben replied. “But we’ll find out once we reach Sator.”

Chapter Nine

It took them a little over a month to reach Sator. Eaton was starting to get sick every morning, so Thoran’s theory of him being pregnant was starting to sink in. But Eaton didn’t have time to absorb what was happening to him or his body, not when the men were gathered around the tactical station plotting how they were going to overthrow the royal house.

Ben Hur was there, more massive and intimidating in person. The runner hadn’t said a word to Eaton, but he still felt as if the man was watching him.

“They have guards posted in these places,” Ben pointed out the locations on the map. “They also have a particle cannon mounted in the tower here. It never dawned on me how over the years the security has grown, strengthened.”

The man sounded downright livid that he hadn’t bought a clue about what was happening on Sator. From the malice in the runner’s eyes, Ben Hur was going to make the imposters pay for what they’d done. Eaton didn’t blame the guy. The realization that he’d been duped had to be a painful blow.

It was wise to have the man here, though. Who would know the planet’s defenses better than someone who’d been visiting Sator for years? If anyone could get them on the planet without being detected, it was the feared Ben Hur, the king’s brother.

That bit of knowledge was still messing with Eaton’s head. The leader of the Marauders kept his familial ties well hidden. There wasn’t even a whispered rumor of who he really was or where he’d come from. The man’s name sent terror through the hearts of anyone who heard it. Ben was a legend.

And he was standing right here on the bridge with Eaton. Just how many of those rumors were true about this man? Eaton wasn’t sure. He’d heard similar rumors about the Breed Assassins, but as far as he’d discovered, they were decent men, not the killing machines everyone said they were. They actually had honor and morals, a conscious. Perhaps Ben had started some of the rumors about himself just to protect his cutthroat image. He might not even be as ruthless as the rumors said he was.

When Ben cut his eyes at Eaton, he quickly dismissed the thought that the runner might actually be nice. There was nothing human in his glare, nothing sane. His eyes were a golden amber and held a lethality that Eaton never wanted to witness firsthand.

“It seems all angles have been covered,” Kayden said to Ben. “How are we going to get in undetected?”

“The head guard owes me a favor,” Ben replied. “He’ll get us in without saying a word.”

“You trust him that much?” Logan asked. “He works for the false king.”

“If I say I can trust him, then I can fucking trust him.” Ben’s tone was biting.

There was no love lost here. The runner wasn’t exactly the warm and fuzzy kind of man. Even among family the runner was icy. His posture was defensive and he looked as if he were ready to strike at any second.

Eaton moved closer to Thoran. He stood behind his mate, placing his hands over the ones Thoran had tucked behind his back. The wolf shifter squeezed Eaton’s hands and Eaton felt reassured that he was safe, that Ben wasn’t going to grow two heads and kill everyone on the ship.

Since becoming pregnant, Eaton had noticed a change in his mate. Thoran wasn’t so prickly anymore. Not when it came to Eaton. The guy was constantly checking on him and making sure he had whatever he needed. Even when Eaton got sick, Thoran was there to take care of him. Eaton had never considered himself the needy type. He hadn’t been that way back home. But since mating Thoran, he had looked to the man for guidance and protection.

It could be the fact that he was out of his element, racing through the stars to unknown places. Eaton wasn’t big on change and being away from Crossover was a bit frightening.

But Thoran eased a lot of Eaton’s worries. The man was his anchor, his security in a universe that seemed to be slowly unraveling. Eaton had listened a lot to the men’s chatter over the past couple of weeks. A peace treaty conference had been scheduled to take place, but from what the Breed Assassins said, that had been put on hold. None of them was sure what the Empire was up to, why the bounty had been placed on the men’s heads. Something was stirring but none of them knew what.

“Snap at me again and we’ll find out who the baddest man on the block truly is,” Logan threatened. “I’m not your bitch, Ben. Don’t come at me like that.”

The tension in the room was rising and Eaton was starting to feel a bit queasy with all the aggressive testosterone floating around. They were like chained Synian bulls chomping at the bit to get at each other, but just too far out of reach to do any damage.

“Our best bet is to come in on this side.” Ben pointed to a position east of the palace, ignoring Logan’s threat. “I’ve already sent Tardyon an encoded message. He’ll be expecting us.”

Everyone was under a lot of pressure. They all had cause to be. Eaton would be wrecked if he’d found out that his long-lost family wasn’t really who they pretended to be. He understood Kayden and Ben’s hostility the most. One was the king’s brother, the other his son. They had the most to lose, the most to be resentful about. But tearing each other apart wasn’t going to solve anything.

“We need to gear up,” Kayden said to everyone. “We’re an hour away from Sator and I want to be prepared for anything that comes our way.”

Thoran gripped Eaton’s hands tightly as everyone left the bridge. When they were alone, his mate turned to him. His jaw was clenched tight as he stared down at Eaton. “I don’t want you to be a part of this.”

“But I have to help find Jade,” Eaton protested. “You told me he was expecting and there was no telling if he was harmed or not. If he was roughed up or worse, do you think he wants some huge, hulking man finding him? He needs someone smaller, someone his own height.”

Thoran grunted. “That’s a load of crock and you know it. Jade is going to want Kayden. No one else.”

“Okay,” Eaton said. “So maybe it is a load. But I’m not sitting on this ship while you guys go running into danger.”

“We were trained for danger,” Thoran pointed out. “You weren’t.”

“And if this ship is seized? Do you want me onboard if it’s blown to pieces?” Eaton was grasping at any excuse not to be left behind. The bond between him and Thoran had grown strong, so strong that he became physically ill when not in his mate’s presence. It was as if they’d become one, a single soul, bound hearts and souls. There was no way in hell he could watch as Thoran raced into the unknown while Eaton stayed behind to sit on his thumbs.

“And if you’re hurt while we overthrow the palace, petit chat? How will I live with myself then?” His hand skimmed over Eaton’s stomach. “There is more than just you to consider.”

Eaton shivered at Thoran’s touch. “Exactly. If you get hurt, what will me and the baby do? We’re relying on you to stay safe.”

Thoran’s eyes softened. A smile tipped the side of his mouth. “I will always return to my family. Nothing but death will keep me from you.”

“That’s what I’m afraid of,” Eaton said.

“Ben’s Marauders will be joining us soon. We’ll have plenty of men on our side,” Thoran said. “The chances of me not returning are slim.”

“But there’s still a chance.”

Thoran cupped Eaton’s cheek, his thumb brushing over his skin. “You have to trust that I know what I’m doing, that my training and gut instinct will keep me alive.”

“Can’t you just stay here with me?” Eaton knew there was no chance Thoran was going to stay behind. He was a warrior through and through. The other Breed Assassins were his family and Thoran would rather have his body parts cut off than stay while they fought.

“You know I can’t, kitten.”

“Stop coddling the pussycat and give him a weapon,” Ben said when he returned to the bridge, strapped to the teeth with weapons. “Your mate should be able to fight at your side, not whimper at your heels.”

Thoran bared his canines. “Mind your own fucking business.”

Ben’s statement only solidified Eaton’s resolve to go with Thoran. “He’s right, Thoran. I don’t want to stay here pacing with worry the whole time.”

“But you’re carrying my fucking child!”

Thoran’s eyes widened and then narrowed as he looked over his shoulder at Ben. It was as if his mate hadn’t wanted anyone to know.

Ben gazed between them. If Eaton wasn’t mistaken, something painful passed through the runner’s eyes. Eaton wasn’t going to ask and he knew Ben wasn’t going to tell. The Marauder kept his gaze on Eaton and it was the first time he looked at Eaton with something close to kindness. “He stays.”

“No!” Eaton argued. “You just said—”

“That was before—” Ben waved his hand at Eaton’s stomach. “You stay.”

“Who the hell do you think you’re ordering around?” Thoran snarled at Ben. “He’s my mate.”

“Make up your mind,” Ben said. “Either you want him to stay or you want him to go.”

“I’ll tell him, not you,” Thoran replied before turning to Eaton. “Go to our quarters.”

“Don’t take it out on me because you two are having a pissing contest,” Eaton grumbled as he walked off the bridge. Fine, he would capitulate for now. But as soon as he could, he was going to leave this ship and help them find Jade. He could hear Ben and Thoran going at it on the bridge, but Eaton ignored the two.

Instead, he headed toward his quarters. Thoran had moved Eaton’s things into his quarters just two days ago. There wasn’t much to move considering Eaton had fled Crossover with the sheer clothing on his back. But he liked sleeping next to Thoran and waking up in the man’s arms.

That was something he cherished, and he wasn’t going to risk losing it because Thoran was too pigheaded to let Eaton come along. Once in his room, Eaton changed into his battle suit, slipped his boots on, and then gazed out of the porthole, watching as the shuttle left the Venture and headed toward the planet.

He’d been on this ship for a month and a half and he was ready to breathe some fresh air.

Eaton waited another half an hour, and then crept down to the shuttle bay. He had no clue what he was doing, but how hard could it be to fly one of these things? From what his father had told him, most of the aircrafts were automated. They’d discussed the subject once when Eaton stood outside the blacksmith shop, watching the smaller ships whizz by the village. He was five at the time and thought being up in one of those sleek ships would be the coolest thing.

Now that he’d ridden on one, he was positive it was the coolest thing.

Eaton slipped into the shuttle and took a seat, staring at the console. It might as well have been in another language because he had no clue what he was looking at. He began searching for something that might read auto pilot.

And he found it.

Eaton pressed the silver button and panicked when the shuttle lifted. The bay door wasn’t open, but the aircraft began to move forward. He frantically searched for the control that would open the bay door and allow him to fly away from the ship. The shuttle drew closer to the side of the wall and Eaton hadn’t found anything to open the doors. He was going to crash into it. At the last second, he found what he’d been looking for. The bay doors opened, Eaton passing through with barely a hair’s breadth on either side of him.

That had been close.

Halfway to Sator, Eaton realized another of his mistakes. The shuttle was taking him directly toward the palace instead of somewhere in the outlying lands. Since this ship belonged to Sator, it was more than likely programmed to return to the palace bays.

Not good.

Oh, not good at all when the clouds cleared and he could see men working on the ground. None of them were paying him any attention, yet. Something beeped on his console. Eaton hit the button.

“Declare yourself.” A man’s voice came over the shuttle’s intercom.

Buttons were lighting up everywhere in front of Eaton. He spotted one that read Life Support. There was an image on the panel of a light going up and down an outlined body. The man must be reading Eaton’s vitals and realized Eaton wasn’t one of the Breed Assassins.

“Declare yourself,” the man repeated.

Eaton jerked when something latched onto the shuttle and pulled him in. When he looked out the window, he could see guards in blue-and-gold uniforms standing on the bay where his shuttle was being directed. They had their hands on their blasters, watching as Eaton descended.

Maybe he should have listened to Thoran and Ben. There was no way Eaton could talk his way out of this mess. Even if he could find a weapon somewhere on the shuttle, Eaton couldn’t risk a firefight when he was pregnant.

He would have to surrender and pray like hell that Thoran found him.

His mate was definitely going to paddle his ass for this one. Eaton wasn’t even sure why he was being so rebellious. But the thought of losing Thoran had made him act irrationally.

Now he was going to pay the price. He’d heard of people doing stupid things when in love, but this had to take the cake.

The shuttle touched down and Eaton’s mind scrambled to come up with a solution, but there was no way out of this. Not when his shuttle was surrounded.

His goose was as good as cooked.

* * * *

The anger and worry was etched deeply on Kayden’s face as he exited the shuttle. Thoran didn’t blame the man. They had all wished for a family to call their own. Kayden had thought he’d found his, only to have the rug pulled from under his feet. And to top the bitter treachery off, he’d left Jade here with these imposters.

Kayden had to be whipping himself over the back for that one.

Thoran placed his hand on his weapon when a tall and muscular man approached from a vehicle that had been waiting on them. Even though Ben trusted this man, Thoran didn’t. They were in enemy territory.

Thoran hadn’t been too thrilled about the royal family from the word go. Finding out they weren’t who they said they were didn’t bother him. But he felt deeply for Kayden’s pain and that alone made him want blood.

“I see you gentleman have made it,” the stranger said. “Top of the morning to you all.”

Thoran and the others glanced at the newcomer.

“Let’s not waste any time in our efforts to overthrow our government. Shall we hash out the details or go in with our weapons blazing?”

The guy was talking in a high-pitched, aristocratic tone. Thoran wasn’t sure how to take the man. This was the head guard? He spoke as if his balls hadn’t dropped yet.

“Does anyone know that we’ve landed, Tardyon?” Ben asked.

“All is well in the kingdom of deceit. I had a close friend of mine check in on Jade. He tells me the young prince has been moved to an undisclosed location.”

Kayden growled. “How in the fuck is all well if Jade was moved?”

The man seemed a bit ruffled at Kayden’s tone. “Well, I suppose you have me there.”

“Who in the fuck is this guy?” Kayden asked Ben. “Is he really in charge?”

There was a slight smirk on Ben’s face. “Don’t let his highbrow persona fool you. Tardyon is as lethal as they come.”

Thoran highly doubted that boast. Tardyon appeared as lethal as a puppy. His uniform was crisp, creased in all the right places. His nails were manicured and his hair was impeccable, not a strand out of place. He looked more like the palace stylist than a weapon.

“I’ve had just as much training as you men,” Tardyon stated, offended, before turning on his shiny booted heel and walking back toward his vehicle. No, that was definitely not a walk. It was more like a sashay. “If you barbarians would follow me, we have some strategic planning to do. We don’t have time to bumble around.”

Kayden glanced at Ben. “You’ve got to be kidding me.”

For the first time ever, Thoran witnessed Ben chuckling. He was admittedly handsome when he wasn’t scowling. “One of a kind,” Ben said before getting into the front of the all-terrain vehicle.

“Why do I suddenly feel like tea and crumpets?” Dax asked as he rubbed his jaw.

“His accent,” Nyk answered. “I feel like I should say bloody hell.”

The rest of the men climbed in before Tardyon drove them to a cave on the side of the mountains that lined the city. Men were standing guard, ion rifles resting on their shoulders. They were wearing all black, militia style.

“I see my men have made it,” Ben said from the front seat.

“Yes,” Tardyon replied. “And what beasties they are. No manners at all.”

Ben appeared proud of Tardyon’s complaint. His golden-amber eyes gleamed with pride as Tardyon came a stop. When they entered the cave, Thoran nearly gaped at the sheer number of men waiting inside. There was no way Ben Hur employed this many Marauders. There had to be a good fifty to sixty men.

Ben turned toward Thoran and the others. His smile was wicked and malevolent. “Breed Assassins, meet the full extent of my Marauder forces.”

Chapter Ten

Eaton pressed his back to the cold stone wall as he gazed at the people in the dungeon with him. One man was pregnant.

Very pregnant. The sight was disturbing and fascinating. Aside from a bruised cheek, the man looked to be in perfect health. He was wearing a flowing blue-and-gold gown that accentuated his swollen belly, showing off the fact that he was with child.

Eaton couldn’t take his eyes off the guy. This must be Jade.

There were three more people as well. One was a young girl, a teenager judging by her youthful but gaunt appearance. Was she Thoran’s long-lost sister? She had Thoran’s eyes and nose, even his stubborn chin. She was wearing something like a potato sack and was curled up in the corner, watching Eaton with wary eyes. Eaton wanted to run over to her and let her know he wasn’t going to harm her, but she looked as if she’d pass out if he went anywhere near her.

Then there was an elderly couple. The man, although thin as a rail and wearing threadbare clothing, appeared regal to Eaton. He was bone thin yet his eyes held a strength Eaton admired. The man had been locked in his own dungeon for a decade, but his eyes said he would never stop fighting for his freedom.

“Who are you?” the pregnant man asked.

“Are you Jade?” Eaton asked. “Kayden’s mate?”

“I am,” he said as his eyes dropped to Eaton’s own distended belly. He wasn’t as big as Jade, but Eaton was showing.

“You know Kayden?” the elderly man asked. He pushed his hands into the wall, standing on his wobbly legs. The guy didn’t appear too stable on his feet. “How do you know my son?”

So this was the real king of Sator. Eaton had an overwhelming urge to bow. “I’m Eaton, a friend of Kayden’s.”

Eaton’s eyes shifted over to Nyda once more. She looked like a little lost mouse. His heart went out to her. She’d been down here just as long as the couple. She’d missed out on a life no young girl should be denied. Unlike the strength in the king’s eyes, hers were dull, as if she’d given up all hope of being rescued a long time ago.

“The Breed Assassins and Marauders are coming,” Eaton whispered. “They learned of the imposters and Ben and Kayden want blood.”

Jade smiled. “That sounds like my Kayden.”

“Ben?” the king asked as his eyes slightly widened. “Are you talking about my brother, Ben Hur?”

“Yeah, him,” Eaton said. “Not a very nice guy. He’s scary, too.”

The king smiled. “I’m glad to know he’s still alive.”

Eaton turned to Jade. “How long have you been down here?”

“A few hours,” Jade answered. “When the king”—Jade glanced at the elderly man and his smile was filled with apology—“the fake king found out that the Breed Assassins were in the area, he had his guards bring me down here.”

“I don’t get it,” Eaton said. “They were welcomed home and then given a ship to search for Nyda. Why would the fake king do that?”

Jade rubbed his belly as he paced the room. “I overheard a conversation the imposter king had with someone on his Vid-pad. He was hoping that either the Breed Assassins would be arrested by the Feds, or that Ben Hur would kill them. He even told the Feds where the Breed Assassins were located. There is a homing beacon on the Venture. He used that to triangulate their location.”

Jade winced and then began to rub his back. Eaton glanced around for something soft the man could rest on, but there were only three sad-looking mattresses on the floor.

“I even found out why the Empire is after them,” Jade continued. “They learned that some guy named Draven taught the Breed Assassins humanity. That they aren’t the soulless killing machines they were trained to be.

“So they want to kill the Breed Assassins and wipe all records that they even existed,” Jade finished. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of Jade’s face. That wasn’t good considering it was chilly in this place.

“Are you okay?” Eaton asked.

“My back,” Jade said. “It really hurts.”

The woman who had been clinging to the king waved for Jade to come to her. Eaton assumed she was the queen. She looked younger than the king, but just as regal. “Come to me, my child. I think you are in labor.”

“He can’t be!” Eaton ran to the door, ready to pound on it when the king grabbed his arm.

“Don’t let anyone know Jade is in labor. If the imposter finds out, he might kill the babe.”

Eaton jerked his hand back, gazing over his shoulder at the strained expression on Jade’s face. Thoran needed to hurry this rescue up. Jade didn’t look so hot.

Both Eaton and the king rushed over to the window when they heard a loud crash. Eaton curled his fingers around the bars, straining to see what was going on.

“Well?” the king asked.

Eaton’s heart began to pound wildly in his chest. “The Marauders are attacking the palace. There has to be at least a dozen fighter jets swarming the air.”

“Then the battle has begun,” the king stated.

Eaton could hear shouting, return fire, and things exploding. He jumped back when crumbling concrete landed on the ground in front of the window, kicking up dust and making him cough.

Men began to shout outside the cell door. Eaton glanced at the king, wondering if someone was going to barge in here and kill everyone in the room. With the real king locked down here, the imposter was taking a huge risk of being exposed.

Where are you, Thoran?

The door burst open and a guard entered. His eyes landed on Jade before he curled his lip back. “It seems I’m just in time.”

“For what?” Eaton asked.

“For his execution,” the guard answered and then aimed his weapon at Jade. “All evidence must be destroyed.”

“You’d shoot a pregnant man?” Eaton asked incredulously. “What kind of freaking monster are you?”

“A well-paid one,” the man answered.

Without a thought to his own safety, Eaton threw himself at the guard, knocking the man off of his feet. The guard’s blaster slid from his hand and the king picked it up, pointing it at the guard’s head. “Not one move.”

Someone else appeared in the doorway and the king aimed and fired.

Kayden ducked just in time before the blast hit his head. It hit the concrete instead, creating a large hole.

“Oh, dear,” the king said. “My apologies.”

And then the king stilled, gazing at Kayden as if he were seeing a ghost. Tears welled up in his eyes as he dropped the blaster to the floor. “Kayden?”

Kayden hesitated at the entrance until he spotted Jade on the mattress, breathing heavily and crying out his mate’s name.

“He’s in labor,” the older woman stated. “He must be taken someplace safe to give birth.

Kayden crossed the room and tucked his arms under Jade. For a man of Kayden’s size, he was surprisingly gentle as he lifted Jade from the mattress. “It’s okay, little bit. I’m here.”

The man’s soothing and worried tone pulled at Eaton’s heartstrings. It also made him want to be in Thoran’s arms. He missed his mate terribly and wanted nothing more than to go back to the ship where he and Thoran had spent so many hours making love and getting to know one another.

Kayden turned and gazed right at Eaton. His eyebrows lifted slightly. “Aren’t you supposed to be on the ship?”

“Long story,” Eaton said.

“And one I’m dying to hear,” Thoran said from the hallway. Eaton turned to see his mate standing there, his arms crossed over his chest, glaring daggers at Eaton.

Oh boy.

Eaton didn’t like that look. Not one bit. It promised punishment for his disobedience.

“We need to get out of here,” Kayden said.

Thoran entered the room, reaching for Eaton when his eyes landed on the girl huddled in the corner. Eaton watched as Thoran’s features morphed from angry to shocked, and then from shock to pain the likes of which Eaton had never seen before. The expression was one of utter despair.

“Nyda?”

She curled in closer to the wall, as if she were trying to make herself as small as possible. Eaton’s throat grew tight as he watched Thoran slowly approach her, his hands held out to his sides. “Are you Nyda?”

“She is my niece, Nyda,” the king stated as he moved to the corner and shielded Nyda from Thoran. “And you are?”

Thoran gazed at the king and then blinked, as if seeing the man for the first time. “I am Thoran, Nyda’s brother.”

The woman who had been helping Jade gasped. Eaton and Thoran turned toward her. The woman’s arms shook as she slowly got up from the mattress. Her long brownish blonde hair fell over her face and she had to push it back to see them. “You are Thoran?”

Eaton’s eyes narrowed as he looked from his mate to the woman. Shouldn’t she be fawning over Kayden? Why was she so shocked to learn Eaton’s mate was Thoran? It didn’t make any sense to him.

“We have to go,” Kayden reminded everyone. “Jade isn’t going to hold out much longer.”

Everyone gathered at the door and then Thoran led them out. Logan came barreling down the hallway, a dozen men dressed in black on his heels. Eaton squeaked, digging his fingers into Thoran’s upper arm.

“They’re on our side, kitten,” Thoran said as he eased Eaton’s fingernails out of his skin. “And when we get back on the ship, you are going to be punished for leaving.” His eyes dropped to Eaton’s belly before Thoran smoothed his hand over the roundness.

Logan came to a stop, gazing at Jade. “Is he in labor?”

“He is,” Kayden said and Eaton heard the panic in the man’s voice. “I need someplace safe to take him.”

The sounds of the battle inside and outside the palace were almost deafening when they reached the ground floor. Bodies were lying prone on the floor, lifeless and bloody. Eaton tried not to look, but his eyes kept straying back to the fallen. Some wore the royal colors while others wore solid black. There were casualties on both sides.

The sounds of jets flying overhead could still be heard, as well as firefight. Eaton stayed close to Thoran, terrified a stray blast would take one of them out. Tears sprang to his eyes when a woman hovered over a fallen guard, openly weeping.

This battle was senseless—all because some imposter wanted to rule Sator. Anger welled up inside Eaton and he wanted to scream for everyone to stop fighting, for the fake king to pay for what he’d done, for the lives lost. Some of the guards might be corrupt, but Eaton knew not all of them were. They were defending what they thought was their true king.

He prayed to the fates that the fake king got what he deserved.

“This way,” Logan said, leading them down a long corridor. He opened a door and waved Kayden inside. “We’ll guard this door and keep the enemy at bay while Jade gives birth.”

“Get inside,” Thoran said to Eaton. “And if you leave this room—”

“I won’t.” Eaton glanced back to where the dead bodies lay. He was telling the truth—Eaton didn’t want to see any more death and destruction. That weeping woman would forever be etched into his memory.

Thoran nodded and kissed Eaton with so much passion, so much love before he pulled away and locked everyone from the cell into the bedroom. Nyda immediately went for a corner and curled up on the floor.

Kayden set Jade on the bed and then removed his mate’s clothing. Eaton turned, embarrassed by the man’s nakedness. He moved toward a window, gazing out at the chaos as he listened to Kayden croon to Jade, encouraging him through the birth of their child. Eaton’s hands went to his own swollen belly, and he felt a deep connection to the child he’d yet to meet.

“He is truly Thoran?” the woman asked as she joined Eaton at the window.

“He is,” Eaton answered. “Why?”

The king joined them as well. “Eaton, this is my sister, Eloise. She is Nyda and Thoran’s mother.”

* * * *

The remaining Satorian guards finally surrendered after hours of fighting. But they had yet to find the imposter king and his family. Where any of them real or were they all fake? If Katino wasn’t Kayden’s twin, the imposter had done one hell of a job looking like Kayden.

Thoran, Logan, Nyk, Dax, and Ben rounded a corner to find the king and his family in the throne room. The bastard had the audacity to be sitting on the throne, as if he truly belonged there.

“You will be hung for this treachery,” the king said. “I open my home to you, extend my hand, and this is how you repay me?”

Katino was sitting in a chair to the king’s left, the queen on his right. The daughter was standing behind her mother, her hands resting on the back of the woman’s chair. What a perfect fucking family portrait, if they’d been real.

Logan raised his weapon and shot the king in his right shoulder. “Get your ass out of that chair.”

“How dare you!” Katino said as he shot to his feet. “You’ve just shot a king. You’ll pay with your lives.”

“Just who in the hell are you?” Ben asked as he approached the four people on the raised dais. “Because you sure as hell aren’t my brother.”

“Ben,” the king said as he grabbed his bleeding shoulder. “How can you let these people do this to me?”

Ben Hur snarled as he gripped the man from the throne and threw him across the marble floor. The king slid halfway across the room before he came to a stop. Ben then turned and shot the woman standing behind her mother. Thoran watched her fall and then his eyebrows shot up when she shifted, turning back into her true form of a faceless, sexless being.

“They’re Doppelgängers,” Thoran said. Folklore told of such beings. It was said that a Doppelgänger was the exact double of the person whose appearance it took on, sharing the memories and feelings of its victim. Only the Doppelgänger was a sinister being with demonic qualities. They were extremely rare. Their kind hadn’t been sighted in centuries, thought to have died out.

“I’m not!” Katino screeched. “They forced me into this, I swear!”

“Bullshit,” Ben snarled. “You could have come to me at any time during the past decade and told me what was going on. Instead you sat on your royal ass and reaped the rewards.”

“You really had me fooled,” Thoran said to the queen. “You had me believe you cared, that you spent resources looking for Nyda, that you cared deeply for Kayden. For that alone I should slowly torture you. I fucking thanked you for helping me!”

The queen sat there, saying nothing. Her features were drawn tight, as if she resented the fact that they’d figured out the ruse.

“You never wanted us to leave in the first place,” Thoran said. “You tried to talk us into staying on Sator. For what, so you could have the Breed Assassins in one place when the Feds showed up?”

“I was waiting for that child to be born before handing you all over,” she said venomously.

“Was Katana even Kayden’s sister?” Logan asked.

“No,” she replied. “Katana was our eyes and ears.”

“Did my mother really say she didn’t want to see me?” Dax asked and Thoran could hear the pain in the man’s voice.

The queen curled her lips in.

“Tell me!” Dax shouted.

“I killed her, along with Nyk and Logan’s parents.”

“You bitch!” Thoran raised his blaster and shot her in her cold fucking heart. He was filled with so much rage, so much hatred that he wished he could revive her just so he could shoot her again. The emotions were like angry red waves that roared up and over a beach and wouldn’t recede, swelling higher and higher the longer he stood there.

Thoran gripped his weapon tighter, staring at her lifeless eyes and mourned the pain she had caused not only him, but his brethren as well. He took a deep breath. Let it out slow and steady, icy cold. His rage receded and his wolf backed down.

Dax gazed at her for a long moment before he turned and walked from the room without a further word.

“My question is, how did the Kalakian know about them?” Thoran asked.

“Because Kalakians can see right through a Doppelgänger’s disguise,” Katino stated smugly. “You have to believe me. I had nothing to do with this.”

Ben turned toward his men who had filed into the room. “Lock this princely pain in the ass in the dungeon. Let him see how his father lived for ten years.”

Katino shouted and fought to get free as the Marauders did as Ben ordered. When the prince was gone, Ben shot and killed the fake king.

“I think I need a Kalakian on my crew.” Ben turned on his heel and headed toward the door. “I’ll leave this mess for you and your men to clean up,” the runner said over his shoulder. “My work here is done. I have a brother to get reacquainted with. See you in the sky.”

Thoran glanced around at the carnage and suddenly felt a deep need to be with Eaton. He exited the room, going back to where he’d left his mate. The sound of shrill crying echoed in the hallway as he approached the door.

Jade had given birth.

When he entered the room, he could see Kayden resting on the bed with Jade and their newborn babe.

“It’s a boy,” Kayden announced, a wide grin slicing across his face. The pride was evident in his eyes as the king and Eaton stood close to the bed. Thoran’s eyes landed on the woman standing next to the king.

Eaton walked over to him, placing his hand on Thoran’s arm. “Thoran, this is your mother, Eloise.”

Thoran couldn’t move, couldn’t breathe. How many years had he wished for this day? How many times as a young child had he fallen asleep crying for a woman he had never met, but desperately wanted to know?

He swallowed past the lump in his throat when Eaton gave him a slight shove toward the woman. “Go say hi. She’s been dying to meet you.”

Thoran’s chest constricted and he was finding it hard to pull oxygen into his lungs. She appeared just as uncertain as he felt. Tears sprang to her eyes and her lower lip trembled, but she didn’t move, as if afraid Thoran would reject her.

Eaton gave him another small shove. “Go.”

Thoran stopped in front of her, taking in how tiny she was, how frail. He was terrified he’d break her if he hugged her. He wasn’t even sure what he should call her. “Hello.”

A sob burst from her throat before she threw her arms around him. Thoran stood there stiffly for a moment before he carefully wrapped his arms around her, holding her close, fighting back his own tears.

His dream had finally come true.

He had a mother.

A small voice inside his head, a voice that belonged to the little boy he once was, corrected Thoran, telling him that he finally had a mommy.

Thoran buried his face in her hair, a trickle of tears escaping. He held his breath when Nyda appeared in front of him. Her eyes darted from her mother to the floor. Thoran held out one arm and pulled her into his embrace, kissing her temple. “Hello, baby girl.”

Thoran could hear Eaton crying. He turned his head to see his mate smiling through his tears, giving Thoran a thumbs-up.

“Get over here,” Thoran said to his mate.

His mother laughed and then pulled Eaton close.

Thoran held his family in his arms. His mother, his sister, and his mate who carried his unborn child. A peace he’d never known before settled in him.

The small boy inside of him smiled with unrestrained happiness. Thoran was finally home.

* * * *

“Not here,” Eaton said as he batted Thoran’s grasping hands away. “Someone will see us.”

“No, they won’t,” Thoran reassured Eaton, but Eaton wasn’t buying it. In the past month since they’d settled into a small cottage just outside the palace of Sator, Thoran had grown hornier than a teenager, taking Eaton any chance he could. The man was a straight perv for Eaton’s pregnant form. He told Eaton that seeing him swollen with child turned Thoran on.

Weirdo.

“I’m not having sex in our garden.” Eaton tried to run from Thoran but he was about as fast as a turtle these days. He even resembled one when he got up in the morning, his arms and legs flailing when he tried to get out of bed. “If you think I’m going to let anyone see my fat ass, you’re sorely mistaken.”

Thoran slid his arms around Eaton, kissing the back of his neck. “There is nothing fat about you, kitten. You’re carrying my child which makes you the most handsome man on this planet.”

Thoran could still make Eaton melt with a few words. Okay, so he was a sucker for his mate. Eaton rested his head against Thoran’s strong chest, smiling at the work he and his mate had accomplished with their vegetable garden. They owned five acres of land. It wasn’t much to some people, but it was everything to Eaton.

“Besides,” Eaton said, “Kayden’s coronation is tomorrow and I promised Jade I’d help with the preparations.”

Thoran grunted. “I still can’t believe he’s taking the throne.”

“His father can’t,” Eaton reminded his mate. “His health won’t let him rule.”

“King Kayden,” Thoran said teasingly. “It does have a nice ring to it.”

Thoran’s hands slid down Eaton’s sides and then around to his distended belly, spanning his fingers across their unborn child. “You are so sexy.”

Eaton chuckled. “Perv.”

“Until the day I die.” Thoran nibbled at Eaton’s neck, sliding a hand under the traditional gown Satorians wore during pregnancy. Thoran loved the fact that it gave him easy access. And Eaton had to admit, the material was extremely comfortable. He hissed when Thoran ran a finger over his hole, making Eaton ache for his mate to fill him.

“Come over here.” Thoran led Eaton to their back porch. It was made of natural wood and had an awning that spanned the entire length to keep the sun from blinding Eaton during the day. He grabbed the banister as Thoran bent him over and pushed his gown aside.

“Nice,” Thoran said as his fingers traced over Eaton’s backside. “So plump.”

“You mean fat.”

Thoran gave him a light swat. “No, nicely rounded. It’s perfect.” To back his words up, Thoran bent over and kissed each cheek. Eaton shivered when his mate began to lick him, using his tongue to fuck Eaton’s ass. He groaned, shoving his rear end closer to Thoran’s probing tongue.

Eaton’s legs shook when Thoran inserted two wet fingers. His mate must have come outside with the intention of fucking Eaton because he was using lube. The rascal.

But all thoughts fled when Thoran parted Eaton’s cheeks and slowly eased his cock inside Eaton’s body.

“I’ll never get enough of you, petit chat.”

Eaton hoped the man never did. He parted his lips, a low groan vibrating in his throat. He gasped for breath as Thoran licked up his neck, biting gently on Eaton’s earlobe as his hips thrust forward.

“Do you know how much I love you,” Thoran asked roughly as his cock sank deeper into Eaton. “Do you, my little pussycat?”

“As much as I love you,” Eaton responded.

Thoran gave a low growl and pleasure echoed through Eaton’s body.

He was mindless now. He could feel the sensations building, his skin tingling, the pressure increasing in his ass as Thoran stroked inside Eaton, licking over his neck, sucking it lightly with his mouth.

“Yes, Thoran, just like that,” Eaton cried as his mate hit his gland on every upward stroke. His heart beat hard and fast as the pleasure began to build inside of him. Thoran’s fingers dug into Eaton’s sides, keeping him in place as his mate fucked him faster, harder.

Eaton was getting close. So damned close. And so was Thoran. Eaton could feel the white-hot fingers of fire moving down his spine now and feel the swelling of his mate’s cock inside of him.

Thoran slammed inside Eaton, deep, hard. His cock had enlarged, causing Thoran’s thrusts to become hard jerks. Eaton’s body arched as his own erection became full and hard, aching for release. Eaton clenched around him, the action making Thoran give a guttural growl.

His mate reached under Eaton and wrapped his fingers around Eaton’s cock. It only took a few hard jerks before Eaton was crying out his mate’s name.

“You feel so good,” Thoran murmured in Eaton’s ear as he continued to stroke Eaton. “So damn good.”

And then Thoran bit into Eaton’s shoulder, making Eaton cry out again. Thoran thrust until he was stiffening, grunting his release as he licked the wound closed on Eaton’s neck.

Eaton could barely stand now. He felt boneless.

Thoran chuckled as he wrapped his arms around Eaton. They were knotted together and it would be a long moment before Thoran could pull free.

“Thoran? Eaton?”

Eaton jerked forward, trying to dislodge Thoran from him. The move was futile. “Your mother!” He would be downright mortified if she caught them like this. “I knew having sex outside was a very bad idea.”

Thoran pulled Eaton’s gown down, covering his ass as he shouted, “Stay inside. We’ll be in there in a minute.”

Eaton could feel his face heating with embarrassment as he waited. He’d gotten to know Eloise and Nyda pretty well over the past month. Nyda was still coming out of her shell after being imprisoned for so long, but she was making steady progress.

So was Thoran. With each visit, he was starting to warm up to the idea of having a mother and sister. He wasn’t so aloof anymore, gradually embracing the idea. On the last visit, Thoran had even hugged his mother before she left.

“I swear, if she comes out here, I’ll neuter you,” Eaton threatened.

Thoran eased from Eaton, kissing him on the shoulder. “See, no harm done.”

Just as Eaton stood up straight and Thoran fixed his pants, Eloise walked out back. She gazed between the two and blushed. “Is this a bad time?”

Eaton glared at Thoran before he turned and smiled at his mother-in-law. “Nope. It’s—” Eaton’s eyes widened as a sharp pain cut across his abdomen with such force he would have fallen to the ground had Thoran not caught him.

“Are you all right?” his mate asked as he helped Eaton to his feet. But before he could answer, Eaton dropped again, the pain so intense he cried out. This time when Thoran caught him, he lifted Eaton into his arms and carried him inside.

Eaton tried to breathe through the pain, but nothing short of being knocked out was going to help.

“I think he’s going into labor,” Eloise said. “I’ve come just in time.”

Eaton grabbed the front of Thoran’s shirt, yanking his mate close. “If you don’t clean me up, I’ll swear I really will neuter you.”

Thoran glanced over at Eloise. “Can you give us a minute?”

“I’ll go call Nyda. The birth of her niece or nephew is all she’s been talking about.” When Eloise left the room, Thoran made quick work of cleaning the cum from Eaton’s backside.

The pain had become so unbearable that Eaton didn’t care if he was cleaned or not. He just wanted this to end.

“Is this supposed to go so fast?” Thoran asked as he tossed the cloth aside and pulled the gown from over Eaton’s head. Next he pulled the blanket from the end of the bed and covered Eaton’s groin.

“How in the hell should I know?” Eaton shouted as another wave of torture washed over him. He lay there for a good twenty minutes panting and praying this child didn’t rip him to shreds.

He was drenched in sweat by the time Eloise reentered the room, Nyda at her side. Together everyone worked to help Eaton deliver the baby. Eaton thought he’d be in labor for hours. He’d heard some of the women in the palace talking about how hard labor was, but to his surprise and relief, Eaton’s didn’t last that long.

In less than two hours, the baby’s head was crowning.

“One more good push,” Eloise said. “You can do it, Eaton.”

Grabbing the mattress on either side of him, Eaton bore down. He fell against the bed, exhausted and panting when he heard the first cries of his child.

“A boy!” Eloise shouted with joy.

Nyda bent at the waist and whispered into Eaton’s ear. “Congratulations.”

Eaton smiled as he stared up at his son in Eloise’s arms.

Thoran brushed his fingers over Eaton’s damp hair. “I love you, kitten.”

As tired as Eaton was, he basked in the glow of having given birth to such a beautiful little boy. He wasn’t foolish enough to think his life was going to be easy. Not with the Empire after the Breed Assassins, but with Thoran by his side, it was damn near perfect.

THE END

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ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Lynn Hagen loves writing about the somewhat flawed, but lovable. She also loves a hero who can see past all the rough edges to find the shining diamond of a beautiful heart.

You can find her on any given day curled up with her laptop and a cup of hot java, letting the next set of characters tell their story.

For all titles by Lynn Hagen, please visit

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