Breed Assassins 3

Surrender

Nyk has loved Dax since they first met at the age of five. That love has grown from a close bond of friendship into a yearning so deep that Nyk feels as if he will go mad. But is crossing the line from friend to lover a gamble Nyk is willing to take?

Dax has kept his best friend safe their entire lives. He taught Nyk how to fight and how to kill. But Nyk is a man who haunts Dax's mind and sets his blood on fire.

When Ben Hur comes after the Breed Assassins for a shipment the Marauder is hell-bent on destroying, the Breed Assassins engage in a battle that just might cost them their lives. But the biggest threat to Dax and Nyk is the growing tension between them. That is, until they discover that surrendering to their darkest desires can be a fantasy come true.

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

Length: 34,755 words 

SURRENDER

Breed Assassins 3

Lynn Hagen

THE LYNN HAGEN

MANLOVE COLLECTION

Siren Publishing, Inc.

www.SirenPublishing.com

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IMPRINT: The Lynn Hagen ManLove Collection

SURRENDER

Copyright © 2014 by Lynn Hagen

E-book ISBN: 978-1-63258-107-5

First E-book Publication: August 2014

Cover design by Emma Nicole

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SURRENDER

Breed Assassins 3

LYNN HAGEN

Copyright © 2014

Chapter One

“I–I can’t do it, Dax.” Nyk rocked back and forth, gripping his knee and staring at the blood that was seeping out of the cut. His features were pinched as he bit into his lower lip. “It hurts.”

“I’ll help you, Nykky. I won’t let you get in trouble.” Dax used the tail of his own shirt to wipe the blood from his best friend’s knee. The cut looked nasty, but he was almost sure Nyk wouldn’t need stitches. It was the agony on Nyk’s face that had Dax ready to do anything to take the pain away.

“No,” Nyk said as he shook his head. “If Draven finds out that you helped me, he’ll double my training time.” Nyk grabbed Dax’s arm, his eyes wide as his bottom lip shook. “I don’t want to do this anymore. I don’t want to be a Breed Assassin. Please, Dax, take me away from here.”

Dax finished wiping the cut and saw that it wasn’t deep. He hated what he was about to say, but it was the truth. And Dax had promised himself never to lie to Nyk. “We have nowhere else to go. This is our home, Nykky.” He started to remind Nyk that their own parents didn’t want them, that they were throwaways, but his friend was hurting enough already. Dax didn’t like to see Nyk crying or in pain. It hurt his heart when Nyk begged to leave this place and Dax could do nothing about it.

“One day I’ll be strong enough to get you out of here. One day we’ll be grown men and we won’t have to listen to anyone.” Dax tucked his uniform shirt back into his pants so no one could see the blood. “I promise no one is going to hurt you ever again.”

“The guard doesn’t like me, Dax. He told me I’m soft like a girl. Why did he say that? Why would he hit me with his stick?”

Dax glanced at the floor. He didn’t want to answer the question. If he told Nyk that he was soft, his friend would only cry. Nyk wasn’t like the other boys. Kayden and Thoran were tough, taking on any challenge. Logan was the same. Dax welcomed the training, welcomed the pain. He used his training as an outlet for his frustrations.

But Nyk wasn’t cut out for this kind of life. Anytime Dax was paired up with Nyk in training, he cringed at the blows he delivered to his best friend, trying his best not to hurt Nyk—even if that meant being punished by his handler for not using brute force.

He just couldn’t bring himself to unleash his full strength on Nyk. Even at the age of nine, all Dax wanted to do was protect the scared boy. He wanted to keep him safe from the cruel world they lived in, from the nightmares that made Nyk cry in his sleep. “The guard is stupid,” Dax replied. “Don’t listen to him.”

Dax helped Nyk to his feet. “Just block whatever I come at you with, okay?”

Nyk nodded. “I’ll try.”

The warning bell rang, telling Dax they had five minutes until the next round of training began. “I swear to you, Nyk. Whatever it takes, however long it takes, I’ll teach how you to fight, teach you to defend yourself. You won’t have to live like this forever. I promise.”

Nyk smiled before he gave Dax a quick hug. “Best friends forever, Dax.”

Dax gave Nyk a tight squeeze before letting him go. “Best friends forever, Nykky.”

* * * *

Twenty years later…

Daxar Althos walked around the freighter, scowling at the poor shape it was in. “Couldn’t you find anything uglier or was this their worst?” The damn thing had so many pieces soldered to its hull that it looked like a patchwork quilt of metal scraps.

Nyk grinned as he reached down and petted the dog that had been thrown in with the deal. The dang mutt looked just as patched together as the ship. He was black with splotches of white over his fur. He followed Nyk around like the moons of Sator rose and fell on the guy.

“You need to take that mutt back,” Dax groused. “He’s probably got fleas.”

“What?” Nyk asked as he straightened. “You don’t like Patch?”

“You named him?” Now it was going to be impossible to get rid of the mutt. Nyk always did have a soft spot for animals. Sometimes to a fault. The guy hadn’t met a creature he didn’t like. Dax had a feeling that dang dog wasn’t going anywhere. What was with the ugly Earth pet anyway? Why the hell did the dog keep trying to lick himself in the balls?

“Well, I can’t just say ‘Hey, you.’” Nyk threw a toy and Dax watched as the dog ran and grabbed the thing and brought it back, only to have Nyk throw it again and the process start all over. He didn’t get it. What was the goal of this game? The dog just basically ran in circles.

“If he’s going to be sticking around, he needs to learn how to repair a cargo ship.” Dax held out a wrench to Patch, but the dog ignored him. As a matter of fact, he growled at Dax. Tucking the wrench into his pocket, Dax growled back.

The dog whimpered.

“Be nice,” Nyk said. “And what’s wrong with this ship?”

“It’s a hunk of junk,” Logan said as he walked onto the bay, a mug in his hand and a “no, he didn’t” look on his face. “What’d you do, buy it off of some junk hauler?”

“You two are real comedians. I find it ironic that you’re complaining about what I bought, when it was you who sent me to get a cheap ship.” Nyk scowled at them both. “Everyone’s a critic.”

“I said cheap, not worthless,” Dax replied. “It looks like every ship in the galaxy took a shot at it and then someone slapped a piece of metal over each hole.” What in the hell were they going to do with this thing? It was too big to be a paperweight. Maybe Dax could toss it out into space and Patch could fetch it.

“Are you two going to stand here arguing all day?” Logan asked. “We already have orders to fill.” He gazed over the ship and shook his head. “I’m not piloting that death trap.”

“How did you even get it here?” Dax asked. “A tractor beam?”

Nyk stabbed a finger toward Dax. “Next time you can go ship shopping. I got it for a steal.”

“More like highway robbery,” Logan commented. “If you paid over one credit, that was too much.” He took a sip of whatever he was drinking and then smiled. “At least we don’t have to worry about anyone trying to swipe our cargo. They’ll think we’re hauling scrap in this piece of shit.”

“See. Logan already sees the potential in it.” Nyk grinned as if he truly believed the ship had some sort of use.

Dax could only shake his head. “We’ll need a damn good mechanic to get this thing operational. I checked the bridge and someone stole the flight console.” They’d also taken the fuel cells and every important piece of equipment needed to fly this thing. Even the galley stove was missing. What in the hell had Nyk been thinking?

Dax could only blame himself. This was their first business venture and he knew that Nyk wasn’t very good with ships. Nyk knew how to work the weapons station and could run preliminary flight checks, but his piloting skills weren’t up to par. Whenever they went out on missions, Dax tried his best to let Nyk pilot so he could sharpen his skills.

It was one of the reasons Admiral Shuziano had always paired them together. Nyk had turned out to be a top-notch Breed Assassin, but he had never passed his flight classes.

“It’ll take a miracle to get this thing up and running,” Logan said.

“And more credits then we paid for it,” Dax added.

“I’m starting to get offended,” Nyk said. “You just might succeed in hurting the one itty bitty feeling that I have.”

There was nothing itty bitty about Nyk. Dax stole a covert glance at his best friend, feeling guilty for wanting Nyk in ways he shouldn’t—ways that could destroy their twenty-five-year friendship. If Nyk only knew the thoughts Dax had about the man…

Dax had seen how friendships could be ruined when sex got involved. He wasn’t willing to risk what he and Nyk shared. For years he’d been fighting the attraction, settling for a soft touch here, a subtle brush of the fingers every once in a while. Sometimes being around Nyk was more than Dax could bear.

His best friend gazed at him with those gorgeous green eyes that were filled with defiance over his purchase. “You that mad?” Nyk asked.

Dax could never be that mad at Nyk. The guy sometimes pissed him off, but never would he turn his back on Nyk. “It just wasn’t worth it, Nyk.”

A guarded expression fell over Nyk’s face. “I can’t return it. All sales are final when dealing with junk dealers.”

“So you did get it from a junk dealer,” Logan said.

“I was trying to save us some money.” Nyk went on the defensive. “Besides, do you think the Feds would look for us on a ship like this?”

No, they wouldn’t. Dax knew this. Nyk had a point, but the ship was still a rusted paperweight. “We’re going to have to hire a damn good mechanic to whip this thing into shape.”

“I’ll put out the word,” Logan said as he walked out of the bay area. They’d purchased a large building on Mavalas IV for their freighting company. The planet was in the heart of Sector Nine, a place where the Feds wouldn’t dare venture. They’d be killed at the borders of this trading route if they even considered tracking the Breed Assassins here. Sector Nine was the worst part of the galaxy. It was run by cutthroats who had no problem defending their territory.

Dax had forged identity documents for not only this company—Sakari Shipping—but for the three owners as well. Their friend Thoran was supposed to be a partner, but he’d settled on Sator with his mate, Eaton, and their son, preferring simplicity to the fast-paced life of a runner.

“We’ll have to use the ship Kayden loaned us until we can get this eyesore repaired. The Adventure will do for now.” Dax tossed the wrench on the work station and headed inside to the three offices on the second floor. Already they had merchandise stocked in the warehouse that took up the lower half of the building. But they had a deadline to get the stuff delivered. Every day it was late, their pay decreased.

They had ten days to get the medical supplies to Regula—a planet used for research and development. It was also a training facility for bright young students who wanted to pursue a career in the fields of medicine and science. One half of the planet was used for schooling. There was also a region where humanitarians lived, dedicating their lives to helping others.

Dax settled in his office and looked over the manifest. They had to pick up a shipment of exotic and rare fabrics in two days. He hoped like hell they could do both runs.

“Kayden said if we need another ship, we could borrow one,” Logan said as he walked into Dax’s office and took a seat in the ratty chair in front of Dax’s desk.

“I don’t want to keep running to him for help,” Dax said as he set the manifest aside. Breed Assassins were nothing if not prideful. “We already borrowed the Adventure. We’ll figure this out.”

Logan tapped at his Vid-pad and then handed it over to Dax. “We have a candidate for the mechanic position.”

“Already?” Dax grabbed the Vid-pad and glanced over the applicant’s credentials and references. They were pretty impressive. “Bring him in for a test run,” Dax handed the Vid-pad back to Logan.

“Already set the interview up.” Logan stood. “He’ll be here tomorrow morning.”

“Until then, I’ll need you to use the Adventure to get those medical supplies to Regula.”

“I already have the workers loading the crates.”

Dax chuckled. “Then what the hell are you doing in here?”

“Keeping you in the loop,” Logan said before heading out.

Dax sat back, watching Nyk as he passed Dax’s office. The damn dog was hot on Nyk’s heels, his tongue hanging out of his mouth. He knew how the mutt felt. Dax’s tongue mentally hung out anytime he was near Nyk.

Let it go. Your friendship isn’t worth sacrificing for a roll in the hay.

Dax used his laptop to search the freighting feed for listings of potential work. He accepted a few contracts and then left his office, feeling restless. He was jonesing for a guy he couldn’t have, and quick fucks with strangers weren’t working for him anymore. His last attempt at slaking his need had been a dismal failure and only proved that there was just one man Dax truly wanted.

But the sexual tension inside of him was building. If he didn’t fuck someone soon, he just might turn feral.

* * * *

The following morning, Dax found himself on the bay, gazing at the man who hoped to be their new mechanic. What had Logan been thinking? The stranger looked as if he still had some growing to do, like his balls hadn’t quite dropped yet. “How old are you?”

“Old enough to know my way around a ship.”

Cheeky bastard. “Answer the question.”

Dax appreciated wit and humor, but not when he was interviewing someone to be a part of his crew. There were too many people out there that would love to get their hands on not only him, but any of the Breed Assassins. He had to be careful who he allowed into their inner circle. One slip of the tongue, one clue about who they really were, and Dax, Nyk, and Logan would be screwed.

“I’m of legal age, sir. I graduated at the top of my class in aerospace mechanics and have an undergraduate degree in mechanical engineering and repairs.”

“Aren’t you a little overqualified for this position?” Dax was expecting someone who’d lived on a freighter his or her entire life, someone who needed the job and had barely enough credentials to be legit. With this guy’s qualifications, he should be working for the Empire or some medical company that paid top dollar for men like… “What’s your name?”

“Uline Manlin.” He shifted from one foot to the other in what appeared to be a nervous gesture. Dax could smell the man’s hesitation and uncertainty. Uline was of legal age, but Dax had a feeling the guy must have just graduated.

“And I might be overqualified for this position, but I’m a hard worker and I keep to myself. I won’t get in anyone’s way.”

Was Uline running from someone? “Let me see some ID.”

Uline reached into his coveralls and pulled out his identification card. It appeared authentic. The card had all the right markings and had the hard-to-forge strip running through the right side. Still, Dax wasn’t sure he should take on someone so green. They needed their patched freighter in working order, and soon.

“What can you do with this?” Dax pointed to the right side of the bay. When Uline turned, his eyes widened, taking in the disaster disguised as a freighter ship.

“Are you serious?” Uline asked. “Is this some sort of test?”

“It is.” Dax handed Uline back his ID. “If you can get it up and running in seven days, the job is yours.”

“Seven?”

“Who is this?” Nyk asked as he and Patch strolled onto the bay. Nyk was bouncing a rubber ball and Patch seemed to be salivating for the toy. His tail wagged back and forth so quickly that he was practically fanning Dax.

“Uline Manlin,” Uline said as he shoved his hand toward Nyk, “and, hopefully, your new mechanic.”

Nyk frowned. “How old are you?”

“Twenty-one, sir.”

Nyk snorted. “Don’t call me sir. Do I look old and grey?”

Dax grinned. He and Nyk were the same age, twenty-nine. They weren’t that much older than Uline, but they’d seen a hell of a lot more in life, killed people, and their experience qualified them to put Uline through the ringer if necessary. They didn’t need anyone who would hinder their work or rat them out.

Nyk gave Uline a superior grin. “You should wipe behind your ears.”

Uline scowled. “What does that even mean?”

“You’re damn young,” Dax said. “Your mother’s apron strings are still dangling from your hands.”

Uline turned seven shades of red as his face contorted into anger. “I’m qualified enough for the job! Isn’t that what matters most?”

Dax moved in so close that his long, slim braids fell over his shoulder and dangled in the air between them. He bared his fangs at Uline. “Take that tone with me again and I’ll feed you to my wolf. Now get your scrawny ass over to the ship and start repairs or get off of my dock.”

He would have told the guy to go fuck himself, but Dax had a feeling not too many people were going to apply for this job, let alone try to repair the piece-of-shit freighter. He’d tolerate Uline for now, until the man really pissed him off.

Turning on his heel, Uline hurried over to the freighter.

“Pretty harsh on him,” Nyk commented, tossing the ball for Patch to chase down before the dog grasped it in his mouth and brought it back.

“I would’ve kicked him out of here if he’d folded and cried. You know what we’re up against, Nyk. I can’t have a whimpering boy on our crew.” Dax gazed at Nyk’s full lips a little too long, licking his own as he wondered for the thousandth time how they would taste. Nyk didn’t seem to notice how Dax was drinking the man in.

Nyk’s grin was wide as he said, “You can oversee his work, sir.” He laughed as he walked away with Patch on his heels.

Dax ran a hand down his face. It was getting harder and harder to be around Nyk. Even though he knew their friendship would be in jeopardy if he tried to pursue his best friend, that didn’t stop him from being fully aroused at the sound of Nyk’s laughter.

He laughed like an angel.

I’m so in love with you…

Get a fucking grip.

Chapter Two

Nyk Kelvas watched the new mechanic curse as he walked off the freighter. It had been three days since Uline started working on the ship and the man didn’t seem any closer to getting the repairs done. Dax had set up a ridiculous deadline, a deadline not even the best of the best could have met. But Nyk knew his best friend. Dax didn’t expect the repairs to be done in seven days. What he expected was the mechanic to show his skills, to perform under pressure.

Uline scowled when he spotted Nyk. “How am I supposed to get this hunk of junk in shape in seven days? It’s going to take a good month and a lot of praying just to get the galley in working order. And you want it to fly?” Uline snorted. “That’ll be another ten months.”

Nyk didn’t say a word as the mechanic ranted. He was too busy watching Dax talk with one of the bay workers. He’d known Dax since they were both five years old. Since then the wolf shifter had grown into a man who exuded danger from his pores. It surrounded him. It was so much a part of Dax that Nyk’s heart always raced whenever he was around the man.

His friend had a toned and muscular body to die for, but it was Dax’s amethyst eyes, and the expression of hardened purpose, that warned everyone that he was more than just a well-built man.

He was a weapon.

How many nights had Nyk lain awake fantasizing about surrendering himself to Dax? Hundreds? Thousands? Although his best friend was always touching him in subtle ways, Nyk knew it was because they were close, nothing more. Dax would more than likely laugh if Nyk told the guy how much he wanted Dax, how many years he’d craved the guy. He wouldn’t take Nyk seriously because Nyk had never shown any signs that he wanted his best friend.

He kept that desire hidden away like a coveted jewel, protecting those feelings from even himself at times.

“Are you listening?” Uline asked. “His deadline is not only impossible but insane.”

Nyk glanced at Uline. “Do you always bitch this much?”

Uline’s shoulders slumped. “No. I’m just worried that I’ll fail his test and won’t get the job. Do you have any advice for me?”

“Work faster,” Nyk said. He walked from the bay, away from the one man who seemed to live under his skin and in his heart. When he reached the other side of the building, Nyk took the freight elevator to the top floor and then he pushed the heavy metal door that led to the rooftop open where he and Patch took a seat close to the edge of the building.

He liked it up here. Especially at night when he could see Mavalas IV’s sister planet. The stars shone like a million diamonds had been tossed over a black velvet cloth. And on a clear night, he even caught a glimpse of the Eagle Nebula.

The other reason he liked being up here was because there was also a lot of street action below. Although it was night, Mavalas IV never seemed to sleep. In fact, the streets teemed with more life after dark then during the daylight hours.

“What do you think, Patch?” Nyk scratched the dog’s head and neck as he watched two men slip into an alley down below and across the street. There was no doubt in his mind that they were about to have sex.

At least someone was having a good time tonight.

“Do you think he’ll ever look at me as more than a friend?”

Patch cocked his head to the side, as if he were truly listening to Nyk pour his heart out. Too bad the dog wouldn’t answer him. Nyk could really use some advice right about now.

As the years had ticked by, Nyk’s attraction toward Dax had only grown. The man had been there for him in the training program and he was still at Nyk’s side.

But Nyk wanted more. He wanted to know what it would feel like to be held in Dax’s arms, to be caressed until his blood was on fire. The only thing standing in his way was his fear. What if Nyk threw caution to the wind and Dax not only rejected him, a fissure growing between them?

Most people who took their friendship to the next level and then decided being lovers wasn’t working out couldn’t go back to being just friends. A line had been crossed and what had been done couldn’t be undone.

Twenty-five years. Nyk couldn’t bring himself to cross that line. So his only choice was to pine for a man he could only be friends with.

“I thought I’d find you up here.” The door closed behind Dax as he walked across the roof. “Uline seems to be coming unglued. I’ve never seen anyone argue with himself before.” He handed Nyk a mug of hot tea before taking a seat next to him. This wasn’t helping Nyk in the least. He had come up here to get away from Dax and now the guy was following him. The man’s crooked smile gleamed white under the neon light of a nearby building. Dax had a chiseled jaw and the kind of smooth baritone that Nyk loved listening to.

“I swear Logan sent the man here to torture me.” Dax took a sip of his own tea. “The man might have graduated at the top of his class, but he should have applied at a mental hospital where he belongs.”

Nyk smiled as he curled his fingers around his mug. “Like we’re stable?”

“True.” Dax nodded and then sighed. “I guess you’re right. But at least I’m used to my own lunacy.”

Nyk snuck a glance at Dax before taking a drink of his tea. Being around his friend was the easiest and also the hardest thing to do. He shook his head, reminding himself to stop lusting after Dax.

“I think we’re all used to your lunacy,” Nyk teased. He spotted the two men coming out of the alley. One tucked his shirt back into his pants before both headed in the opposite direction. Just that fast, the men in the alley had found a sliver of peace before the world intruded on them once more. It might have been a raunchy alley fuck, but it was more action than Nyk had seen in a while.

“I know what those two were up to,” Dax said.

“Shooting dice,” Nyk replied. “The game always requires you to take your shirt off.”

Dax laughed. “What dice games have you been playing?”

Nyk made a goofy face at his friend. “The kind where you take your shirt off, duh.”

“That sounds more like strip poker to me.” Dax took a long gulp of his tea, drawing Nyk’s eyes to the throat muscles working to swallow the liquid. He was getting hard just watching his friend drink tea. Jeez, he needed to get a life.

“How much do you wanna bet both men are married and living a lie?” Dax asked.

“Or they come from strict families who’ll rip their balls from their bodies if they find out,” Nyk surmised. “Maybe they can’t let their coworkers find out.”

“Or their wives.” Dax rubbed his hand over his jaw. “Could be the excitement of possibly getting caught.”

“Thrill seekers?” Nyk drained half his tea. “Maybe they were having drinks and the tension between them became too much.”

It was becoming too much for Nyk. When Dax’s arm brushed up against his, Nyk’s cock jerked in his pants. Dax was simply setting his mug on the ledge, but the contact nearly made Nyk moan.

“I think I’m in for the night.” Nyk stood, making sure his erection wasn’t noticeable. He was damn near bending sideways, trying his best to keep the front of his body from being seen. “Come on, Patch.”

“Sure, ditch me for your mutt,” Dax said as he stood. “Ah, it’s late anyway. We have shipments coming in tomorrow morning.” Dax poured the rest of his tea out onto the rooftop before heading in behind Nyk. Instead of renting out a place, Nyk, Dax, and Logan had decided to renovate the top section of the building into an open-floor loft. Well, almost open-floored. They did section off some bedrooms. But the rest of the place flowed from one room to the next. They shared nearly two thousand square feet and there was plenty of room, but what killed Nyk was that his bedroom was right next to Dax’s.

Nyk walked through the loft, setting his mug in the sink. He felt Dax at his back, leaning past him to set his in as well. The side of Dax’s body brushed against Nyk’s. For the first time ever, Nyk wished Dax would give him some space. The closeness was killing him.

“Night, Nyk.” Dax turned and headed out of the kitchen, leaving Nyk standing there so wound up that he was pretty damn sure Dax was out to kill him.

* * * *

Dax walked into the local biker bar the following evening to meet up with a potential client. This wasn’t the sort of place he would think to meet with someone about business, but the guy had insisted. Dax was already wound tight as fuck after tossing and turning all night, trying to convince himself that going to Nyk’s room was a very bad idea.

He strode through the saloon doors to find a card game in progress at the front table and bikers lined up at the bar. The place was noisy, chaotic, and somewhere that Dax could talk without anyone spotting him right away. Although the Breed Assassins now lived under false identities, they were still known in some parts of the galaxy and they still had a bounty on their heads. Truly grimy men and woman were always on the lookout for a quick credit and Dax was no one’s meal ticket.

“There you are.” The potential client staggered Dax’s way, apparently having had too much to drink. His eyes were lit up and his suit was untucked and crumpled in places, as if the guy had gotten into a scuffle. “I thought for a moment that you wouldn’t show.”

Dax’s nose hairs curled as the sour scent of whiskey wafted his way. The man was three sheets to the wind. Dax was astonished the man could stand up straight. The Antarian slapped Dax on the back as he waved a purple hand toward the table. “Sit and we’ll discuss our business.”

“Maybe we should reschedule our meeting,” Dax said as he shrugged the Antarian’s hand off of him. “You’re lit.”

“Nonsense.” The man took a seat, nearly falling to the floor. “Antarians can drink a bar dry and still have a level head. Don’t let my inebriated appearance fool you. Now come, sit.”

Since Dax wasn’t too familiar with the Antarian species, he could only assume the man was telling the truth. But on Mavalas IV, there was no telling. For all Dax knew, this guy could be blowing smoke up his ass. But he had to check the man out. Sakari Shipping was just starting up and he wanted to build his clientele list.

“What kind of cargo do you plan on having me transport, Mr. Viklin?” Dax got straight down to business.

“Please, call me Krige.” The man raised his hand toward the bar, requesting another drink. Dax wanted to get this meeting over with and get a contract signed before Krige drank himself under the table. His magenta eyes pierced Dax and the glassy appearance seemed to fade in seconds, replaced by a sharp intelligence. “I want you to haul Tahna Weed.”

“You’re out of your damn mind.” Dax shoved from his seat, but Krige grabbed his arm. Dax growled. “If you want to keep all your body parts intact, I suggest you let me go.”

“It’s not illegal to transport,” Krige argued as he released Dax.

“No, but it’s highly prized and if anyone found out that—”

“How will anyone find out you’re carrying it?” Krige asked.

Tahna Weed was very rare and used to paralyze a person. The victim was still fully aware of what was happening to them, but they couldn’t move a single muscle. The medical field used Tahna Weed for something entirely different. Doctors mixed the weed with something else, something they’d never disclosed, to stop the progression of nerve damage in patients who otherwise would live a painful life. Some even said it could be used to stop the degeneration of cells, keeping one looking youthful far past their intended life expectancy. If anyone knew Dax was hauling Tahna Weed, he’d have every degenerate in Sector Nine hot on his trail.

“I’ll pay three times the going rate of shipment,” Krige said. “Regula needs the shipment to further their research but no one is willing to carry the cargo.”

“I wonder why,” Dax said sarcastically. “You’re asking me to not only put my life on the line, but my crew’s as well.”

If Dax was paid three times the going rate, he’d be able to afford a brand-new freighter ship. And with the credits left over, they could turn Sakari Shipping’s profits over faster. But was he willing to take on such a dangerous shipment? Ben Hur had promised to leave Sakari Shipping alone, but Tahna Weed might be too good a cargo for the Marauder to pass up.

“Let me know by week’s end,” Krige said as he stood. The wobbling was now gone. The man walked perfectly straight to the door. Dax stood there watching as Krige slipped out of the bar and into the night.

He could use the ship Kayden had loaned him, the Adventure. It was the fastest one this side of Sector Nine. They could outrun anyone who came after them.

He’d have to discuss this with Nyk and Logan. There was no way Dax was making this decision on his own. If they hauled this stuff, Dax wanted all three of them on board. They would need every advantage they could get. They could also hide the Tahna Weed with the other medical supplies that were already loaded and ready for transport.

Dax walked home, turning the situation over in his mind. The offer was too good to be true. And that was the problem. Regula must be paying one hell of a price for Krige to offer such hefty compensation. Just how much of the stuff did the guy have and where had he gotten it from?

Normally, Dax wouldn’t drum his clients into telling him where they’d found their cargo, but this was too damn risky. He was getting a hinky damn feeling about this.

Dax walked into the loft to find Nyk tossing the ball to Patch. He shook his head, wondering how anyone found enjoyment in chasing down a round rubber ball.

“How’d the meeting go?” Nyk asked as Logan stepped from the kitchen area to join them.

“Tahna Weed.” Dax waited for their reactions and he wasn’t surprised to see Nyk’s eyes widen and Logan’s narrow.

Logan tossed the hand towel he was holding over his shoulder before crossing his arms. “I assume you told him to fuck off?”

“He’s willing to pay three times the going rate.” Dax took a seat on the couch, resting his arm on the back as he waited for that tidbit to sink in. “If we accept the run, which I haven’t yet, we could hide the Tahna Weed with the medical supplies already loaded.”

“This is insane,” Logan argued. “We could be killed by seventy different desperados before we left this sector.”

“Anyone with a crooked heart would want that stuff for fucked-up reasons,” Nyk said. “It’s rare and potent, deadly if the dosage is too high.”

Dax knew all of that. “Then we make sure no one gets their hands on our cargo.”

“You make this sound like a cakewalk.” Logan turned and headed back toward the kitchen area, but not before adding, “You’ve lost your damn mind.”

“Three times?” Nyk asked as he took a seat next to Dax. The man’s scent filled Dax’s lungs and made his cock rock hard in seconds. Dax pulled his arm from the back of the couch and sat forward.

“Three times,” he answered. “We could afford a new ship.”

Nyk rubbed a hand on the back of his neck and then smiled. “We could, couldn’t we?”

“Stop being suckered in, Nyk,” Logan shouted from the kitchen. “The pay isn’t worth it.”

“If you’re going to continue to talk, bring your ass back over here,” Dax said.

Logan walked back with a scowl on his face. “This is too damn risky, Dax.”

“Since when did you lose your balls?” Dax replied. “We can handle this cargo. Just as long as we load it ourselves and tell no one what we’re carrying, we’re good.”

Logan didn’t look convinced, but Dax could see the man’s refusal crumbling. “Three times?”

Dax nodded.

“This better be worth it,” Logan said as he jabbed a finger toward Dax. “And I’m not just talking about the pay. If I get killed, I’m coming back to haunt you.”

“Then we’re in full agreement?” Dax asked.

Both Nyk and Logan nodded. Dax should have smiled, but his gut was churning at the thought of the job they had ahead of them. They’d need to fully equip their ship with weapons and be on high alert at all times.

This job could either put them on the map or put them six feet under.

Chapter Three

As the sun began to rise over the horizon, Ben Hur walked into the city square. Catulla III was still asleep, most of its citizens tucked in their beds. He motioned for two of his men to move to the right as three moved to the left. There was a distant sound of a bark and a transporter starting up, indicating that the city was beginning to open its eyes, but the square was still empty, save for the man he’d come here to kill.

Meinhof Viklin sat at a wrought iron table, reading over his Vid-pad as he sipped his morning coffee, silhouetted by the rising sun. The tables sat to one side of the square for general use, a use Meinhof was taking full advantage of on this quiet morning.

The man’s posture was relaxed and he even smiled at something he was reading. How could a piece of shit like this enjoy the promise of a beautiful day after what he’d done?

Ben wasn’t a saint, but he also had some morals. They might be jagged around the edges, but what Meinhof planned on doing tipped the scales heavily toward insanity.

This bastard wasn’t going to live much longer.

When Ben and his men moved closer, Meinhof said, “You’re too late, Ben Hur. The shipment is already en route. My brother made sure of it.”

Ben’s steps were steady and filled with purpose as he approached the man. “You have no idea the chain of events you’ve just set in motion.”

“I’m well aware of what will happen once that cargo of Tahna Weed is out in space.” He took another sip of his coffee as he set his Vid-pad aside. Meinhof tilted his face toward the sky, as if basking in the glow of the morning sun. “Too bad I won’t witness the devastation.”

The muscle in Ben’s jaw ticked as he slid his serrated knife from the sheath on his hip. Meinhof had been linked to the killing of two Vyklion counterintelligence agents who belonged to the Empire. Ben held no love for anyone who worked for the Empire. He wanted the Empire brought down. They were as corrupt as a two-credit whore on Colossus. The cancerous organization needed to be exposed for what it truly was.

But Meinhof’s latest attack was senseless. “Who has the shipment?”

Ben had learned of the infected Tahna Weed just two days prior and it had taken him a full day to reach Catulla III. It had also taken him a full twenty-four hours to link the infected shipment to Meinhof.

As a Marauder, it would have been pay dirt had Ben gotten his hands on the cargo. But his informants had told Ben that the shipment was tainted with a deadly virus that could wipe out thousands. Ben wasn’t a man who cared much for the growing depravity of most societies. That was why he did what he did. But to kill so many innocent men, women, and children was something even he couldn’t condone let alone comprehend.

What worried him the most was that the virus could reach him or his family. He had to stop it. Whatever freighter ship held the cargo had to be destroyed. The rest of his men were waiting on the Falcon for their orders. One word from Ben and they would hunt the shipment down, forcing the ship into a black hole where it couldn’t do any harm.

Unfortunately for the crew carrying the shipment, they would all die.

Meinhof set his cup aside and stood. He had the nerve to smile at Ben as he smoothed his hand down the front of his suit. “That, I will never tell you.”

Before Ben could stop the man, Meinhof tossed something into his mouth and bit down. Within seconds, he hit the ground, convulsing before he stilled, his eyes lifeless, glazed.

“Mother fuck,” Azan—Ben’s most trusted crew member—said as he gazed at Meinhof. “The fucker offed himself.”

Ben sheathed his knife before giving his men the signal to return to the shuttle. He gazed at Meinhof for a long, angry moment before looking at Azan. “The bastard took the easy way out.”

“Where do you want to start looking?” Azan asked.

“Tracking down that shipment isn’t going to be easy. It could be anywhere.” Ben turned and headed toward his shuttle. “But I will track it down and when I do, the runners are going to wish they’d turned the contract down.”

* * * *

Logan scanned over the manifest logs as Nyk carried another bag of dog food onto the ship. As tempting as it had been to take the contract for the Tahna Weed, in the end, they’d turned it down. Nyk was relieved. Although the pay would have been fantastic, the risk was too great. The men who ran Shakira Shipping had too much to deal with already. They didn’t need a hot cargo like that to worry over.

“What do you think you’re doing?” Dax asked as he approached. “There is no way in hell you’re taking that mutt with us.”

Nyk let the bag drop to his feet as Patch ran up the ramp. He wagged his tail, waiting for Nyk to throw the ball that was tucked into his pocket. “What do you want me to do, leave him behind? Who’ll take care of him?”

“And how is he supposed to use the bathroom?” Dax asked.

“I’ll take care of him,” Nyk promised. In just a short amount of time, he’d come to love the dog. It was his first pet and Nyk couldn’t find it in himself to part with Patch. The dog was turning out to be good company. He could see why humans were attached to them. “He won’t be a problem.”

“Speaking of problems,” Dax muttered as Uline raced toward their ship, a knapsack slung over one shoulder. His cheeks were rosy and his eyes were bright as he skidded to a stop.

“You never told me if I have the job,” Uline said breathlessly as he clutched the strap of the bag tighter. The guy appeared so hopeful that Nyk nearly told Uline he was hired. But Nyk had voiced his opinion when they first started this company. He wanted no part in the hiring or firing process. Nyk didn’t have it in him to fire anyone.

“Did you repair the other ship?” Dax asked. Nyk snuck covert glances at Dax, nearly drooling on himself. His best friend’s T-shirt was stretched tight over his well-toned upper body, showing off every rippled lined, every dip and muscle. Nyk glimpsed the swell of Dax’s biceps and his mouth watered to lick the hardened form. Dax’s hair was tied up in a messy bun, a few braids dangling freely, making Dax look dangerous and sexy at the same time.

Today his friend had slashes of charcoal under his amethyst eyes, giving him a pirate-like appearance. Nyk inwardly sighed at just how damn good-looking Dax was. His skin was the color of caramel and he wore three hoops in his left ear.

If the man only knew just how much Nyk wanted him.

Uline frowned before he waved a hand animatedly at the ship. “Only a miracle and a few plasma cannons will fix that thing.”

Nyk hid his smile.

“Give him a break,” Logan said as he tucked the Vid-pad under his arm. “You know damn well it’s gonna take more than seven days to repair that heap of junk.” The Assassin didn’t look too pleased that Dax was giving Uline a hard time. Nyk knew that Dax wasn’t the only one who had a soft spot for the underdog. Logan had been known to crack a few heads over smaller men. They never talked about their preferences—because if the Assassins had, then Dax would know how hot Nyk was for the man—but he knew that Logan liked them short and slim.

Uline chewed on his lower lip, staring at Dax with imploring eyes. They were big, blue, and just this side of appearing like puppy dogs’.

Dax shoved a finger at Uline. Nyk knew Dax like the back of his hand. The man was all bluster when it came to those weaker than him. “Fine, but you better be able to prove yourself on this run or I’ll leave you on Regula.”

Uline’s eyes lit up as his head bobbed up and down. “I will. I promise.”

“We need to get moving if we’re going to be on schedule,” Logan reminded them. He walked up the ramp and disappeared into the ship, Uline close on his heels.

Dax shook his head. “Trying to whip a new crew member into shape doesn’t work so well when I have Logan defending the guy.”

“I think he’s smitten with Uline.” Nyk picked the bag of dog food up and tossed it over his shoulder. How he wished he could tell Dax how smitten he was as well. But every time Nyk thought of confessing his feelings, his heart felt like it was going to pound right out of his chest.

Don’t do it. Twenty-five years. Don’t throw that away for a roll in the hay. It’s not worth it.

“Just as long as our new mechanic does his job, I don’t care who’s smitten with him.” Dax walked onto the ramp and then turned. “And don’t think I was sidetracked by Uline. I still don’t like you bringing that dog with us.”

“Aw,” Nyk said teasingly. “Don’t be so mean. You’ll hurt Patch’s feelings.” He whistled for his four-legged friend as he entered the ship. Patch ran up next to him and then took off down the corridor, no doubt ready to explore his new home for the next several weeks.

“If he uses the bathroom—”

“I’ll make sure he’s on his best behavior,” Nyk answered as he made a beeline for the galley, ready to get away from Dax’s warnings. He loved the man to death, but sometimes Dax was a bit annoying.

After taking the bag to the galley, Nyk joined the others on the bridge. Dax was sitting in the captain’s chair, seeming powerful and commanding, as if he were born to lead.

Nyk took a seat and began the preliminary flight checks. Soon they were taking off from Mavalas IV. Having spent his entire life training on Talus, Nyk loved when he was up in space. There was something peaceful, soothing about the quietness that he couldn’t find planetside. The low hum of the ship and the thousands of stars that speckled the sky brought him a calm he never could find growing up. As Nyk navigated the Adventure, he could feel Dax’s eyes burning into his back, watching him. Dax always did that when Nyk flew. Like he was afraid Nyk would screw it up and they’d go spiraling into space forever.

Nyk wasn’t the best pilot. He’d be the first to admit that. But having Dax watch him made Nyk ten times more nervous.

“Steady,” Dax said in his whiskey-deep voice. “You’re doing good, Nyk.” The man continually made Nyk take the pilot seat, stating that it was the only way Nyk was ever going to learn. Little did Dax know, most of the time it was Dax’s presence that made Nyk screw up. All Nyk could concentrate on was the masculine, rugged scent of his best friend, or the hypnotic tone of his deep voice. It made Nyk forget what he was doing as he fantasized about what that voice would sound like in the throes of passion.

Nyk was getting hard. He cleared his throat and tried to clear his mind, but Dax’s closeness was playing havoc with Nyk’s concentration. His hands shook as he slid them across the console. The nervous tension sang inside of him, building, making Nyk grit his teeth.

If he didn’t solve his problem soon, Nyk knew for certain he’d turn into a basket case. The longer he worked and lived with Dax, the harder it was to be around the man without the need to touch overtaking him.

Nyk closed his eyes and breathed through his nose, letting the long, silent breath out through his mouth. Most of the time his training technique to center himself worked, but there were moments, like this one, when no amount of steady breathing would help.

* * * *

Dax had left the bridge, unable to stand the thick tension that hung in the air. He couldn’t understand why, after all this time, Nyk was still so nervous about piloting a ship. If he hadn’t left, Dax would have more than likely tried to ease Nyk’s worries. That hadn’t been a problem in the past. A few jokes always seemed to relieve the tension. But Dax wasn’t in a joking mood.

He was in a horny mood.

He walked into his quarters and waited for the doors to slide closed before he sagged against the wall, gazing up toward the ceiling. “Fuck me, man.”

A laugh rumbled up his chest as he shook his head. How many other people were going through what Dax was right now? How many men were lusting after their best friend to the point they thought they were going insane?

If he didn’t get a grip soon, Dax was going to split apart. Half of him wanted to run back to the bridge and say to hell with it. The other half was screaming for him to keep his feelings hidden.

“I’m going crazy.” He pushed away from the wall, took in a deep and steady breath, and then walked out of his quarters. Dax headed to check on Uline. The man was in down in engineering. Although the guy seemed harmless, Dax didn’t know the man. Until he was confident that Uline was on their side, he’d keep an eye on him.

When he entered engineering, Dax came to a stop. Uline was on the other side, throwing a ball to Patch. The man had a big smile on his face when the dog brought the ball back to him.

“Who’s a good boy?” Uline said in a strange, light tone as he rubbed the dog’s head, grabbed the ball, and then tossed it once more.

Dax stood there for a moment watching Uline. He couldn’t understand Nyk’s, and now Uline’s, fascination with the dog. It was a four-legged beast. No one ever threw a ball to Dax when he shifted into his wolf form. But then again, he’d never wagged his tail excitedly either. Maybe he should try that the next time he shifted. It might get him a gentle caress and a treat from Nyk.

“I wasn’t aware that part of your job was to entertain the dog,” Dax said as he stepped into view. Uline jumped, the ball falling from his hand as he spun around. There was something about this guy that didn’t seem quite right. Dax just couldn’t put his finger on it. Until he did, he was going to watch Uline closely.

“He wandered in here,” Uline said. “I swear I didn’t invite him to play. He’s the one who brought the ball to me.”

The man’s words were rapid-fire, one word nearly tripping over the next. Dax knew that Uline was nervous around him. He had been since they’d first met. Dax was an intimidating man, and Uline wasn’t the only man who thought so. More than one person had expressed that opinion over the years. One guy even described him as a predator with a dark soul.

Dax wasn’t comfortable with that description, but he did what he had to do in order to survive. His looks were dark, dangerous and his disposition wasn’t any better.

“I think you should be checking to make sure we have a smooth and steady flight instead of tossing a rubber ball across the room.”

Uline bobbed his head before he spun on his heel, only to spin back around a second later. “Can I ask you something?”

This should be good. “What?”

“Is Logan single?”

Dax hadn’t expected the subject of Logan to come up. He thought Uline would ask about hazard pay or maybe even benefits. But the way he stood there, as if salivating for an answer, Dax had to hide his smile. “I think Logan would be the person to ask.”

Uline chewed on his bottom lip before his shoulders slumped. “I would, but he’s so big and intimidating.”

“Why would you want to know if he’s single if the man scares you?”

“Because he’s a Breed Assassin,” Uline answered before his eyes grew round and he took a step back. Dax snarled at the mechanic, advancing toward him.

“What makes you think he’s an Assassin?” If Uline had figured them out, then he was a liability they couldn’t afford. Keeping their true identities a secret was imperative to keeping them from being chased down by every bad guy in the galaxy.

“I don’t,” Uline quickly answered. “Forget I said anything. I sometimes rattle off at the mouth and have no clue what I’m talking about.” He took a few more steps back. “What I meant to say was that Logan is keen on fashion. I love those body suits you guys wear. Are they this year’s clothing line?”

“I’m not daft or deaf, Uline. I know what I heard. Now tell me why you think Logan is an Assassin or you’re on the first shuttle out of here.”

“But we’re weeks from our destination,” Uline argued.

“Then you better start talking.” Dax moved in closer, blocking the small man from running toward the exit. He hated intimidating anyone smaller or weaker than him, but he wanted answers and he wanted them now. What if Uline had already given the Feds a heads-up? What if they were on their way to capture Dax and his crew? Although they were in Sector Nine—a place the Feds hesitated to enter—that wouldn’t stop them from trying to cash in on the bounty.

“I recognized you, Nyk, and Logan’s pictures from the wanted posters plastered all over Talus. But I swear, I won’t say a word.” Uline glanced around as if looking for an escape. Dax gave him none.

“So you applied for the job in hopes of turning us all over and becoming rich?” He’d known there was something off about this guy. Dax had just had no idea the man had such sinister intentions. His wolf was snarling to get free as Dax’s canines and claws grew. “Sorry, but I’m not so easily captured.”

“No!” Uline ran around the core and raced toward the other side of engineering. Patch must have thought this a game, because he bounded toward Uline, his tail wagging as he barked.

“Running only excites my wolf,” Dax warned. “You’re driving him into a frenzy of bloodlust.”

Uline paled as he darted around components. “I’m not running. I’m just walking at a really fast clip. I swear to you, Dax. I didn’t apply for the job to cash in on you guys.”

Dax could easily make Uline disappear. That wouldn’t be a problem. He began to beat himself up for being so trusting. He knew better. Hadn’t his training taught him to look for enemies in disguise? And how much more of a disguise could Uline be in than that of a harmless mechanic looking for work?

His mentor and trainer, Draven, would have punished Dax for such a rookie mistake. He tried to breathe away his fury, but Dax was livid that he’d allowed Uline onboard. He was on the edge of his control. Nyk was on this ship and every protective instinct Dax possessed raced to the forefront. “Tell me why I shouldn’t kill you now.”

“What’s going on in here?” Logan asked as he stepped into view, glancing from Uline to Dax. A single brow lifted when he saw the state Dax was in.

“This little son of a bitch knows who we are and I’m betting he planned on turning us in.” Dax curled his fingers in, but couldn’t make a complete fist. Not when his claws were fully extended.

Logan frowned at Uline. “Is that true?”

Dax could hear the disappointment in Logan’s voice and that only pissed him off further. Logan was like a brother to him and he hated to see any of his brethren hurting.

“No,” Uline answered and then gave Logan the same excuse he’d given Dax about posters on Talus.

“So you knew who we were when you applied for the job?” Logan asked.

“Yes, but that didn’t matter to me,” Uline said. “I just needed the work. I swear.”

Dax lunged for the man, but Logan blocked his way. He planted both beefy hands on Dax’s chest. “Whoa, he could be telling the truth.”

“Are you willing to take that chance?” Dax asked, his eyes never leaving Uline.

“No communications have left the ship since we took off,” Logan replied. “We’ll keep an eye on him.”

“Or we can solve our problem right now and shoot his ass into space.” Dax was all for that idea. Why babysit the guy when they could rid themselves of the danger?

“I’m highly allergic to lack of oxygen,” Uline replied. “It makes me swell to the point I almost die.”

Dax scowled when the side of Logan’s mouth lifted into a small smirk. The bastard was falling for Uline’s charm. What an idiot. Logan had always had an affinity for short, slim men, but this was ridiculous. The man needed to think with his big head, not the little one.

“I’ll take the responsibility of watching him,” Logan said.

Both Dax and Uline gaped at Logan. Had the man lost his ever-loving mind? “What the hell, are you fucking him or something?”

Logan snarled as Uline turned seven shades of red.

“If I was, that would be none of your damn business,” Logan bit out. “But the answer is no.”

Dax threw his hands up in the air. “Okay, but if we get pinched, I’m coming after you just as soon as I kill him.” He stabbed a finger toward the mechanic.

Uline scooted closer to Logan, as if the man could save him if Dax really wanted the guy. Dax shook his head and walked out of engineering, wondering if Logan could have possibly slipped and bumped his head on the way down here, damaging his fucking brain cells.

Chapter Four

Dax still wasn’t sure that he should let Uline live as he walked onto the bridge. Nyk was seated at the helm, staring at the large viewscreen as if in a trance. The longing Dax held inside of him hadn’t faded when he left the bridge the first time today. If anything, it had grown stronger. “Whatcha looking at?”

Nyk sat up straight, clearing his throat. “Nothing much.”

Dax knew the man was lying, but didn’t press Nyk. His thoughts were his own, even if Dax wanted to know what they were. Okay, he was dying to know what they were. Did Nyk ever look at Dax as more than just a friend? Did he harbor the same desires and dreams of belonging to each other? Dax highly doubted it. Nyk wore his emotions on his sleeve and Dax would have figured it out by now if Nyk was interested in more than just friendship.

“Did Logan find you?” Nyk asked. He began a systems check and Dax knew that Nyk was only doing that to appear busy. Why was Nyk suddenly so nervous around him? Dax scented the air and smelled a faint trace of uncertainty, but also a hint of…No, that couldn’t be right. Not once since he’d known Nyk had Dax scented arousal. It must be his own hormones mingling with his friend’s.

“Yeah. He stopped me from killing Uline.”

Nyk turned, his brows creased. “Why would you want to kill our mechanic?”

Dax didn’t want to go back over the events, but he knew Nyk wouldn’t leave the subject alone until he explained every little detail. The man could be a pain sometimes, but Dax always indulged the guy. Curiosity was part of Nyk’s charm. It was one of the qualities that drew Dax to Nyk, that and the innocence he could still see hidden behind those pretty green eyes.

“He could be telling the truth,” Nyk said when Dax finished explaining.

“What is with you and Logan?” Dax asked. “Don’t either of you have an ounce of suspicion where Uline is concerned?”

If Logan was hard for Uline, that would explain his actions. But Dax had anticipated more circumspection from Nyk. His friend was the last person he expected to be so accepting. During their earlier years of training, the guards had been brutal to Nyk, taunting him that he was soft, that he didn’t have the balls to become an Assassin. They’d made his life hell until Dax had spent endless hours honing Nyk’s fighting skills.

After the first time Nyk took one of the guards down and nearly killed him, they left him alone. But the brutality of the fight had changed Nyk. Dax knew his friend wasn’t cut out for violence. But Nyk had excelled in his training after that, as if he’d shut down a part of who he was, a part that Dax was determined to bring back.

Nyk turned back toward the viewscreen. “I don’t know. He just seems as lost as…I like him.”

“You never were right in the head.”

Nyk lifted his hand and flipped Dax off. Dax chuckled, though he wished the “fuck you” were a true invitation.

“Someone’s hailing us,” Nyk said. Dax stood and walked over to the console to the see the frequency the other ship was using. It was a distress call.

“I don’t trust this,” Dax said. He had been feeling strange since leaving Mavalas IV. His stomach was tied into knots and Dax couldn’t shake the sense that something was going to go terribly wrong. He leaned in closer, his chest brushing over Nyk’s shoulder. As usual, Nyk leaned in toward him. Dax didn’t think Nyk was even aware of his response. It was a habit born of being around each other for so long.

“It looks like a medical transport,” Nyk said as he scanned the other ship. “The crew is light and their weapons are minimal. I think their signal is the real deal.”

“They could have their weapons powered down to hide the signature.”

Nyk tilted his head back and gazed at Dax with those piercing, beautiful green eyes. “I would still be able to pick up minute traces of plasma particles. The only thing I’m reading is standard defense weapons for a medical transport.”

Dax rested his arm loosely over Nyk’s shoulder, keeping his eyes on the readings. He could feel the heat of Nyk’s body soak through his bodysuit. “Keep scanning.”

Why did he always have to have physical contact with Nyk? Why did Dax always torture himself this way? He knew he needed to keep his distance, but it was as if a magnet kept pulling him back to his best friend. No matter how hard he fought the attraction, tried to keep a safe distance, Dax had to touch.

The bridge doors slid open and Logan walked onto the bridge. “What’s going on?”

Dax started to defend why he was leaning so close to Nyk but realized that Logan was talking about the distress call. “Ship seems to be genuine, but I’m not sure we should take the chance,” he answered.

“What if it’s a real emergency?” Nyk asked. “We can’t leave them stranded.”

“Have you tried talking with the captain?” Logan asked. “See if you can put him on the viewscreen.”

Nyk’s fingers flew across the console before he shook his head. “No one is responding.”

“Could be a trick,” Dax said.

“Not everyone is out to get us,” Nyk said.

Dax wanted to remind Nyk of who they were and the bounty on their heads, but the man was right. Dax was suspicious of everyone and everything. He’d been trained to think two or three steps ahead of his opponents. But Dax had been a non-trusting man his entire life, always looking for the deception in every situation, every conversation.

Even when Kayden thought he’d found his family, Dax had been ill at ease in the palace, his gut telling him something was off. And he’d been right. The king, queen, and Kayden’s sister were all doppelgängers. Their homecoming had been all lies. Dax tried not to think about the deception because when he dwelled on it, he felt murderous. His mother had been killed by those imposters and it still hurt down to his soul to think of the loss, to think of how he would never get to know who she truly was.

“We should at least see what’s wrong with their ship and try to repair it,” Nyk said, cutting into Dax’s thoughts. “What if it’s something simple?”

“They should have an engineer on board,” Dax said. “I still don’t like it.”

“I’ll get a shuttle ready,” Logan stated from behind them. “He’s right, Dax. They might need our help.”

“We are not humanitarians who run around helping people. We are Breed Assassins on the most wanted list,” Dax reminded them. Being a pessimist all the time weighed heavily on Dax, but he’d learned the hard way that putting his trust in people only got him into trouble.

Nyk pushed from his seat and joined Logan. “Then you can stay behind and make sure we make it back,” Nyk said before he and Logan exited the bridge.

Dax cursed. He didn’t like this one bit. His gut was telling him to keep moving, to ignore the distress call and get their shipment where it needed to go. But Nyk and Logan were dead set on helping. He was outnumbered and overruled.

Taking a seat, Dax linked the intercom with the shuttle, listening to the hum of the Adventure as he waited for Nyk and Logan to help the distressed ship. He just prayed his suspicions were unfounded and that this wasn’t a setup. For once he wanted to believe that not everyone was crooked. For once he wanted to be wrong about the way the universe worked.

Dax just had a gut feeling that this wasn’t going to be one of those times.

* * * *

They landed inside the ship with no problem. Nyk hadn’t been sure what to expect, but so far no one had tried to fire at them. Dax’s protest stayed in the back of Nyk’s mind, though, as he, Logan, and Uline exited the shuttle.

“It’s awfully quiet here,” Uline said as he grabbed his tool bag and slung it over his shoulder. “Shouldn’t someone have greeted us?”

Nyk was thinking the same thing. He tapped his earpiece. “Where are the life signs coming from?” he asked Dax.

“There are two in the sickbay and three on the bridge. There are also three in engineering,” Dax answered, his voice coming out smooth as honey into Nyk’s ear.

“I’ll take engineering,” Uline said.

“We stick together,” Logan said. “I don’t want us splitting up until we are positive this is on the up-and-up.”

“Good advice,” Dax said into Nyk’s ear. All their earpieces were linked together, with Dax speaking to them all. “It wouldn’t hurt to have your weapons drawn either.”

Logan scoffed. “Although this might shock you, I actually know what I’m doing.”

“Could’ve fooled me,” Dax groused. “You shouldn’t be on that ship in the first place, but does anyone listen to me?”

Nyk grinned at Dax’s sullen tone as the three made their way to the bridge. That would be a good place to start. They could get an assessment from the captain and decide what action needed to be taken from there.

“Stop whining,” Logan said to Dax. “It’s not your style.”

Dax grunted. “No, busting heads and covering our asses is my style, but you’re cramping it right now by being idiots.”

“Is he always this optimistic?” Uline asked.

“Dax was born with a scowl on his face,” Logan answered. “Trust me. It’s one of his better qualities.”

They took the turbolift to the main deck. Nyk started to get a strange feeling in his gut when they still hadn’t encountered another living soul. Things were too quiet, too still. He took Dax’s advice and pulled his blaster from its holster, keeping a tight grip on his weapon as they walked down the main corridor.

“Am I the only one who thinks we should turn around and head back to our ship?” Uline asked.

“For once, you’ve said something I agree with,” Dax said. Uline rolled his eyes, but didn’t comment.

Logan either felt Nyk’s tension or he had gotten his own warning vibe, because he pulled his weapon as well.

“Why don’t I have a blaster?” Uline asked as they approached the bridge.

“Because I don’t trust you,” Dax said. “Just stay behind Logan and Nyk. Or, you could lead and be their shield.”

“Enough,” Logan growled.

Nyk ignored them as he scanned the area. The closer they walked to the bridge, the louder the warning bells in his head sounded. Something wasn’t right. But if he turned back now, he’d have to listen to Dax lecture him. That wasn’t something Nyk wanted to do.

The bridge doors slid open and Nyk spotted someone slumped in the captain’s chair. There were two more men in the room, both lying over their consoles, their eyes closed.

“We have three unconscious men,” Nyk said to Dax. “Get ready to transport them over to—” Nyk’s voice caught in his throat when the person in the captain’s chair swung effortlessly into a standing position, a weapon aimed at them. The two other men came to life, doing the same.

“Oh, crap,” Uline squeaked.

“What’s going on?” Dax asked and Nyk could hear the worry in the man’s voice. He didn’t blame his friend, Nyk was worried as well. Especially with a weapon aimed at his chest.

“We won’t be getting invited to dinner,” Uline said as he threw his hands up into the air. “But our gooses are definitely cooked.”

“What does that even mean?” Dax asked.

“It means,” Nyk said as he kept his weapon trained on the man in front of him, “that you were right.”

Dax cursed into Nyk’s ear. It was long and loud and he knew he was going to get his ass chewed from one end of the galaxy to the other. If they survived.

“Lower your weapons,” the man standing by the captain’s chair demanded.

“Not on your fucking life,” Logan replied.

“Where’s the medical crew?” Nyk asked. Beads of sweat formed over his brow, but he kept his gaze locked on the men to his right. Now that he was able to get a closer look, he could see the tattoos on the side of the men’s necks. They were bounty hunters. No doubt the medical crew was either dead or locked up somewhere on the ship.

With the astronomical price on their heads, he guessed the bounty hunters had killed the crew and seized their ship as a disguise to fool the Breed Assassins into helping them. Most bounty hunters didn’t care how they obtained their next meal ticket. Killing a medical crew was nothing to them if they fulfilled the contract they’d purchased.

“Unfortunate casualties,” the man answered. “Now lower your weapons. Although you’re worth more alive, I have no problem taking a lower payout by bringing your dead bodies in.”

“I vote for staying alive,” Uline said. “I’m allergic to dying. It makes my heart want to stop beating.”

Nyk frowned at Uline’s words, but kept his eyes on the two men.

“Nyk,” Logan said. “Remember that time we got drunk and the bartender had to put us out on our asses?”

Nyk shook his head. “You’ll have to be a little more specific, Logan. That happened too many times to count.”

“The strawberry blond, the piano, and the loudmouth bar owner?” Logan further explained.

Nyk remembered that night vividly. “What about it?”

“Knock two chasers back and dance,” Dax said into Nyk’s ear.

Nyk swept his leg out and knocked Uline off balance. The man hit the floor as Logan and Nyk slammed their backs into each other and fired, ducking at the same time.

The two men at the weapons station went down, but the man at the captain’s chair returned fire in rapid succession. Uline screamed as Logan reached down and grabbed the man. Nyk and Logan fired their weapons as they raced toward the bridge door.

A blast shot past Nyk’s ear and he smelled burning flesh. He cursed as he kept moving, ignoring the pain. They made it out into the corridor only to see more men heading their way.

“Get us the fuck out of here,” Logan shouted and Nyk knew the man was talking to Dax.

“I’ve been trying but something is jamming your signatures. Whatever it is, it’s in engineering. Get down there and disable the device.”

They took the stairwell instead of the lift. No doubt men were waiting for them down in shuttle bay. Their footsteps echoed in the stairwell as they descended. Uline stumbled and Logan lifted the man off of his feet, tossing Uline over his shoulder.

Someone was shooting at them from above. Nyk spun, aimed over his head, and returned fire. He hit his target and then continued running.

Logan burst through the door on the lower level and the two followed the signs to engineering. “Talk to me, Dax,” Nyk said.

“It’s five hundred feet to your left.”

Nyk cut left and listened as Dax guided him to the jamming device. He spotted it tucked in the impulse vent, but before he could reach it, someone shot at him.

“Damn it!” Nyk shouted. He saw three men heading their way. He’d counted eight life signatures when he’d scanned this ship. The bounty hunters made up all eight, which meant the entire medical crew was dead.

He started to feel trapped with no way out. The old memories of the guards at the training facility came flooding back to him. How they had cornered him in one of the rooms, kicked at him, spit on him, and beat him with their fists.

The worst of the guards had been McClain Calvoris. The man had been lead guard, brutal, and had scared the hell out of Nyk every time McClain had come near him.

The guy was Nyk’s bête noire.

His black beast. His ultimate nightmare.

Nyk snarled at the feeling of helplessness. He had sworn he would never let anyone make him feel that way again. These bounty hunters had him pinned down and Nyk wasn’t going to be taken captive.

He started to shift, howling as his bones crunched and reformed. Instead of shifting into his four-legged wolf, he shifted into his third form, swiping his arm out and denting the steel column close to him.

“Fuck,” Logan cursed. “Nyk’s gone feral.”

“Get that fucking device!” Dax shouted. Although Nyk’s earpiece had fallen out, his hearing was sharp. He charged after the bounty hunters, determined to kill each one. A laser blast hit him in his shoulder, but Nyk kept moving, kept pressing forward.

Just as he raised his arm to kill one of the hunters, his molecules began to disperse. Nyk howled again, outraged that he’d been cheated out of teaching those bastards a lesson.

When he rematerialized in the transporter room of his own ship, Nyk was livid. He slammed his fist into the side of the hull, needing to expel some of the pent-up rage inside of him.

“Calm down,” Dax said as he cautiously approached Nyk. “The fight is over.”

Logan took off with Uline, no doubt heading toward sickbay. But Nyk was trapped in his fury, desperate for an outlet. He threw his head back and howled once more. All Nyk could see was red. Bloodlust was consuming him.

“If you don’t calm down, you’re going to force me to kick your ass!” Dax shouted at him but Nyk wasn’t listening. All he could see were those guards, taunting him, beating him. He wanted them dead in the worst way. He lashed out at Dax, his claws coming close to the man’s face.

Dax snarled before he shifted and tackled Nyk, forcing him down to the floor. Nyk fought to get free, to do some damage, but Dax had a tight hold on him.

“Calm down, Nykky. You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you.” Dax’s voice was raspy, gruff, but Nyk understood him perfectly. “I’m right here like I’ve always been. You’re safe.”

Dax hadn’t called him Nykky in years. The nickname penetrated the haze Nyk was swimming in, clearing some of the rage from his mind. Dax curled his body around Nyk’s, giving him the safety he had yearned for as a small boy and what he still craved as a grown man. His anger began to dissipate and Nyk began to shift back to his human form.

Dax did as well.

They lay there on the floor, both naked, both panting. Nyk became ultra-aware of his naked state when he felt Dax’s cock brush over his hip. He tried to ignore the fire that roared to life inside of him, the need, and the deep desire to surrender his fears and give in to the longing he’d felt for too many years.

Dax shifted his weight and Nyk swore he saw the same longing burning in the man’s dark eyes.

Dax pulled back and gazed at Nyk’s shoulder. “You’re hurt.”

His shoulder was the last thing Nyk was thinking about. He gritted his teeth and glanced away when Dax pulled himself up and stood, turning his back to Nyk as he walked away. “Go to sickbay.”

Nyk pushed himself up until he was resting on his elbows, staring at Dax’s toned and nicely shaped ass. When Dax was out of sight, Nick fell back to the floor, gazing up at the ceiling, his cock rock hard and his balls drawn tight.

This was not turning out to be one of his better days. He’d rather go fight those bounty hunters than lay here primed and ready. It would be less torturous.

Chapter Five

Uline had never been in so much pain in his life. His leg felt as if it were on fire. He tried his best to bite back the shouts of agony, but he wasn’t very successful. Who would be? He had a damn hole in his thigh. If he wasn’t allowed to cry over that, then what could he cry over?

“Easy now.” Logan lowered him to the table with gentle care before going over to a cabinet to rummage through its contents. “We need to take care of that burn before it becomes infected.”

Uline gazed over Logan’s backside. It was a very nice backside. Since first laying eyes on this man, Uline had been interested in the wolf shifter. “I’m Endorian,” Uline stated then hissed when he moved his leg and pain shot throughout his entire left side. “It’ll take a couple hours, but I’ll heal with no scars.”

That didn’t mean the healing process would be painless. Uline was in for a brutal night. His cells regenerated at a rapid rate, but the price was hefty. Soon he would be writhing in agony. “I could use some good knockout meds though.”

“You never listed your species on your application.” Logan grabbed a small, clear bottle from the cabinet, along with a needle. Why did the thing have to look a mile long? Uline hated needles. He was just glad Logan wasn’t using an injection gun. Those always made Uline nauseous and he ended up spewing his guts for hours after having one of those used on him. His body chemistry and genetic makeup rejected the pressure of the injection gun.

Apparently Logan knew that about Uline’s species because he’d grabbed a syringe. The Breed Assassin must have received training about the many different species and their genetic makeups. Of course, they probably learned such things to devise the best way to kill a person, but Uline supposed that knowledge was handy when it came to helping as well.

“It didn’t seem important.” Uline watched as Logan plunged the needle into the top of the glass bottle, extracting a small amount of liquid. He set the bottle aside and approached Uline. “I really, really hate needles.”

“I can give you this shot to knock you out for a few hours or you can lie here in pain.” Logan gave him a half smile that was so sexy that Uline felt guilty for his betrayal. These men didn’t deserve to be hunted down by the Empire—maybe Dax did. He was a surly bastard. But Uline understood Dax’s suspicions of him.

They were on point.

“Just lie back and close your eyes.” Logan set the needle onto the tray next to the bed and went after some alcohol pads. “It’ll be quick. I promise.”

Uline did a mental inventory of his quarters, reassuring himself that anything incriminating that he’d brought with him was well hidden. The last thing he needed was for these men to find anything while he was knocked out cold.

He just wished the Empire wasn’t forcing him to betray these men. But Uline had no choice. If he didn’t hand the Breed Assassins over, he would never see the light of day again. Spending the next seventy to eighty years on the cold mining planet, Cigtar, was something Uline was trying desperately to avoid.

* * * *

Dax was on the bridge, trying his best to forget how good it had felt to have Nyk under him, naked, his warm skin rubbing over Dax’s. His cock was still rock hard and the tension inside of him hadn’t dissipated.

He was currently trying to decode an encrypted channel that Draven Wootnon was trying to reach him on. Draven had been their mentor and teacher. The Assassins hadn’t heard from him in nearly a year and they had worried that Draven had been killed.

The man had to be on the other side of the galaxy, judging by the amount of interference. His face appeared on the viewscreen, but there was a lot of static and the picture kept trying to fade out.

“It’s good to see you, Daxar,” Draven said. His familiar smile made Dax ache for a time when he and his brethren were still one unit, still wondering who they were and where they’d come from. “It’s been a very long time, my friend.”

The student in Dax came to full attention at the sight of Draven, but he also felt a pang of longing for a man he’d thought of as a father. Only Draven and Nyk had understood the turmoil inside Dax. His entire life, Dax had never felt like he belonged, like he fit in. He and Nyk had a lot in common. When the fake queen had told Dax that he was the son of a servant, and not related like the other Assassins were, it had only made the feeling of isolation grow inside of him. His need to belong had deepened with the news that he wasn’t related to the others, and a small part of him had resented the fact that Kayden, Nyk, Thoran, and Logan were family while Dax belonged to no one.

Though there was one good thing about not being related. Nyk wasn’t his cousin. Dax would have needed some serious therapy if he were.

But then again, there wasn’t enough couch time in the galaxy to fix Dax. He was about as screwed up as screwed up could get. Dax made no excuses for the way he was, but he knew living his life in constant suspicion of everyone wasn’t healthy. He had no choice, though, and he wasn’t going to change.

“It’s good to see you, too, Draven. Though I suspect this isn’t a social call.”

“Straight to the point as always.” Draven chuckled. “I take comfort in knowing some things haven’t changed.”

“Are you safe?” Dax asked.

“For now.” Draven nodded. “But the Empire isn’t too pleased with me these days. Not only are they hunting me down for stealing the files on the Breed Assassins training, but I found out why they are after you and your brethren as well.”

It was about time Dax had some answers. Kayden, Thoran, and Logan had been sent on a mission by Admiral Shuziano only to have a bounty put on all five of the Breed Assassins’ heads. None of them knew why either. “I’m listening.”

“As you know, the training program was top secret. The Empire wanted subjects who were taken at birth and raised with no memory of their family. Their goal was to have the ultimate killing machines, drones that would follow orders, no questions asked.”

Dax remembered the day he’d arrived on Talus. He had been five years old. Draven had given them a speech about becoming lethal killing machines. For a child of five, that had been one hell of a head fuck. And people wondered why Dax was so messed up.

“Before Kayden and the others left for their mission, Admiral Shuziano discovered tapes of the lessons I used to teach you about retaining your humanity and the philosophies of life, love, and the galaxy’s history.”

“They recorded that?” Dax shouldn’t be surprised. It was the Empire after all. But he hadn’t expected them to record the lunches the Breed Assassins had shared with their mentor.

“I had no idea,” Draven stated. His tone was indignant. “They deemed the Assassin project a failure and wanted the subjects destroyed. With your humanity intact, you became a threat to them. It was the admiral who issued the contracts for your arrests. He used their mission as a means to get them and the others off the planet so they could destroy all of you.”

Dax curled his fingers into fists. “So we’re basically being hunted down because we have minds of our own?”

“In a nutshell, yes. You’re deemed a failed project.”

“I’m not a fucking project!” It was rare that Dax lost control like this. His training had taught him to bury his emotions, to hide his humanity. To an extent, it had worked. Dax knew that if it hadn’t been for Draven’s constant lectures about learning from past mistakes in order to see a clearer future, the Empire just might have succeeded in turning him into a killing machine. Dax had the disposition to become just that.

But Nyk had also played a crucial part in keeping Dax from sinking inside himself, from shutting everyone and everything out. Not to say that Logan, Kayden, and Thoran hadn’t helped, but it was Nyk and Draven who had saved him.

“I have to go,” Draven said. “I can’t risk them tracing this communication. I’ll be in contact again.”

As soon as the communication ended, Dax contacted Kayden. He told his friend everything Draven had related to him.

“I never did like that bastard,” Kayden said, referring to the admiral. “But I’ve had no problems with the Empire since I took the throne. I might have a hefty bounty on my head, but I don’t think they’ll risk a war with Sator in order to capture me. I’ve made too many alliances with the other planets in my region. They’ll wait until I’m not on my planet to make a move.”

Dax chuckled. “Look at you. Not even king for a year and you’re already heavy into the politics.”

Kayden shook his head, a light smile on his face. “Never thought it would happen. It has its ups and downs, but being in this position allows me to help the people of Sator in ways I couldn’t have if I’d just been an Assassin.”

Dax was truly happy for his friend. Politics wasn’t for him, but to each his own. Dax liked his freedom, the challenges of running his own freighting company, and the ability to come and go as he pleased. “How’re the kids?”

The pride in Kayden’s eyes was tangible. “My son is growing into a stubborn little pup. He and his cousin aren’t even two yet and they are already getting into trouble. Thoran says it’s the Breed Assassin in them.”

Kayden and Thoran had both mated and settled down. Dax had never been the type to dream of one day having a family of his own. His life was too busy and too dangerous. He wasn’t going to live on Sator in the safety of Kayden’s kingdom. Dax liked living on the edge too much. “Give those rugrats a hug for me and tell Jade and Eaton I said hello.”

Kayden chuckled. “I will. When are you going to settle down?”

Dax grunted, raising a brow at Kayden. “I’m too ornery. Besides, one man can’t handle me. I’m too set in my ways and don’t have time to coddle a relationship.”

That was bald-faced lie, but Dax had never confessed his feelings about Nyk to anyone and he wasn’t about to start now. Truth was, the only man who could tame Dax was Nyk. But the two of them were never going to be a couple, so he was destined to be alone.

Dax said his good-bye and then severed the communication. Hearing Kayden talk about his and Thoran’s children, about their families, made a tiny part of him long for something he shouldn’t and couldn’t have.

He was a runner, wanted by the Empire, and too unstable to care for a child, let alone a mate. Maybe if his life had played out differently, Nyk would have been the one.

* * * *

Standing outside the bridge door, Nyk lowered his head as he listened to Dax talk with Kayden, dying a little with every word. After what had happened earlier in the transporter room, Nyk had summoned the courage to confess his feelings to Dax.

Now he stood here like a damn fool, his throat constricted with emotion as his eyes burned with unshed tears. Thank fuck he hadn’t gone in there and humiliated himself. But the longing hadn’t abated, even knowing that Dax didn’t have time to coddle a relationship. Hollowness settled in his chest as he turned on his heels and walked away.

“Come on, Patch.” Heartsick, Nyk headed to his quarters, his dog padding next to him. “Looks like it’s just you and me.”

Patch licked Nyk’s hand when they stopped outside Nyk’s quarters. He smiled, even though he didn’t feel like it, and scratched behind Patch’s ear, watching as the dog’s eyes rolled to the back of his head in pleasure.

Nyk couldn’t stay aboard the ship with Dax. He had to strike out on his own. Being around a man he couldn’t have was torture and Nyk needed to get away, to forget the only man he would ever love.

What would he do and where would he go? Dax had already falsified documents to give Nyk a new identity. Instead of being Nyk Kelvas, he was now known as Nick Mulgrew. His DNA was in the system, but the Breed Assassins had been taught how to get around being coded.

He had a fresh slate and could go anywhere, but all Nyk wanted was to be at Dax’s side. The hole in his chest grew wider.

“Give it up,” he growled to himself as he entered his quarters. He ground his teeth as he shored up his resolve. Maybe he could buy a tavern on the outskirts of the galaxy. That would be far enough from Mavalas IV.

As the bitterness mounted, Nyk started thinking about joining up with Ben Hur. Why not become a Marauder? With his training, Nyk could be an illegal runner. He could use the pain and anger building inside of him to…Nyk dropped to his bed. He could no more be a Marauder than he could be a soulless killing machine.

The guards at the training facility had been right. McClain Calvoris had been right. Nyk was too soft to live a hardcore life. He could defend himself and take down his enemy, but that wasn’t who he was. Nyk preferred the quiet life of being a freighting company owner. He liked the paperwork and staying in one place. Being out here in space wasn’t for him—not like it used to be. Nyk normally loved the stars and quietness of space. But something in him had shifted and he was starting to long for something stationary, someplace he could set down roots.

But then again, he’d become restless on Sator. But Sator held nothing for him. Nyk loved being a part of Sakari Shipping. The problem was, he’d have to see Dax all the time and his heart just couldn’t take being around the man he had loved for twenty damn years.

Nyk began to sweat as his limbs began to shake. He wasn’t sure what was wrong with him. It could be his nerves. He’d never been away from Dax and the thought scared him.

He curled onto his side and closed his eyes, allowing the shift to take over so his shoulder could heal. He would figure out where to go. He just prayed he had the strength to leave.

Chapter Six

The following morning, Nyk smoothed his hand over his head, wiped the sweat from his brow, and walked onto the bridge, keeping his eyes diverted from Dax.

They were passing one of the nebulas, which normally fascinated Nyk, but not today. He was focusing all of his concentration on merely functioning. He had tossed and turned all night, barely getting any sleep.

He felt like crap.

“You look like shit,” Logan commented as Nyk took a seat at his station. Like he needed that pointed out to him. He couldn’t help the fact that his heart had been ripped out through his chest and he was a bloody husk that only wanted to curl up somewhere and forget Dax existed.

“Gee, thanks.” Nyk set aside the breakfast sandwich that he’d brought onto the bridge with him. Normally eating on any bridge was frowned upon, but this morning Nyk just didn’t give a shit.

“We have seven days to make it to Regula,” Dax said from the captain’s chair behind him. His tone was as smooth and sultry as always—only, this morning it was grating on Nyk’s nerves. He wished his best friend would keep silent for the rest of the trip, but he knew that wasn’t going to happen.

“Should I push us to warp six?” Nyk asked, his tone just this side of being snide.

“Is there a problem?” Dax asked.

Nyk’s body tensed, yet he refused to turn around. He didn’t want to see Dax’s face because he would feel the pain and anger rise further than it already had. He had decided last night that once the shipment was delivered to Regula, he and Patch would hop on a freighter heading to the Fabrax quadrant. From there, he’d figure things out.

Seven days and he would be free of Daxar Althos.

“How’s Uline?” Nyk asked as he bit into his sandwich.

“Better,” Logan said. “He’s healed.”

Dax stayed quiet, which was fine by Nyk. Though he could feel the man staring holes into his back. Nyk wasn’t going to apologize for his rudeness. It wasn’t Dax’s fault that Nyk had fallen in love with his best friend. But Nyk was too miserable to care if he took it out on Dax.

If he had to suffer, Dax could deal with it for the next seven days. That was a small price to pay for the years of heartache Nyk was in for.

“You can go eat that in the galley,” Dax said.

Nyk purposefully turned, giving Dax a sullen stare before taking a large bite and chewing sloppily. He ran his tongue over his lips, catching the mayo that had clung to the side of his mouth. “I’m good.”

Dax narrowed his eyes at Nyk before Nyk turned back around, regretting that he’d looked at the man. He was no longer hungry now, not when his insides were twisted into knots. But he refused to back down, so he took another bite, setting the food on the console where a big glop of mayo leaked onto the controls.

“Get that damn sandwich off this bridge, Nyk,” Dax commanded through gritted teeth.

Nyk ignored him. He was being a prick. He knew this. Being rejected sucked and it made people do things they normally wouldn’t. Nyk had always hated when Dax was upset with him. This morning was no different, but there was a large part of him that wanted to lash out at the man who’d broken his heart.

“Goddamn it, Nyk.” Dax crossed the bridge and yanked Nyk out of his chair, spinning him around to face the man. “What in the hell is your problem?”

“We all need to calm down,” Logan said in warning.

“You calm down,” Dax countered. “Nyk is purposely goading me and I want to know why.”

Nyk’s pulse elevated at Dax’s closeness and he wanted nothing more than to hug the man, to beg Dax to love him the way he wanted to be loved by his best friend. But his pride stopped him from begging, from giving in and doing what Dax asked.

“I’m enjoying my damn breakfast. There isn’t a law against me eating,” he snapped.

“No”—Dax pointed to the sandwich that had dripped another glop of mayo—“but there is a law against you being a damn pig and ruining the console on a borrowed ship.”

Nyk grabbed his sandwich before shoving his shoulder into Dax’s and exiting the bridge. Dax gave him no reprieve as he followed Nyk out into the corridor. Nyk clenched his jaw as he wished Dax would leave him the hell alone.

But his wish went unfulfilled. Dax grabbed his upper arm, trying to pull him to a stop. Nyk dropped his food and took a swing at Dax, connecting his fist to his best friend’s jaw.

They both stood there wide eyed for a moment before disbelief, and then hurt, and then finally anger filled Dax’s dark, pirate-like eyes. He turned on his heel and headed back onto the bridge, leaving Nyk standing in the corridor feeling like a total jerk.

Nyk could handle Dax’s anger. It was the pain in his friend’s eyes that had cut Nyk to the quick and made him feel like a born loser.

He cursed and kicked the wall before picking his sandwich up and walking to the galley to throw it in the trash. Nyk was filled with too much rage, too much pent-up frustration, and too much anguish. He needed an outlet or he was going to seriously hurt someone.

Nyk dropped into one of the chairs and rested his elbows on the table, covering his face with his hands as he tried to center himself, to tamp down the raw, violent emotions rioting through him.

The pain inside of him ran so deep that Nyk felt like he was drowning. It had been years since he’d shed a single tear. Not since Dax had taught him how to defend himself and stop the guards from messing with him. But as he sat there, a single hot tear streaked down his cheek, and then another, until Nyk gave in and let them freely flow.

* * * *

As Dax cleaned up the mess that Nyk had made, he tried to figure out what was wrong with the guy. Dax was pissed beyond belief that his best friend had taken a swing at him. It was as if Nyk had shut down on him and Dax wasn’t allowed in.

Nyk had never done that before. The guy had always shared his problems with Dax. It wasn’t like Nyk to not only shut him out, but take his anger out on Dax.

They had been fine with each other up until this morning. What had happened since last night to put Nyk in such a sour mood? And why in the fuck was Nyk taking it out on him? He wanted answers. Although he was ticked off, he was also concerned. He was going to get Nyk alone and talk to the guy.

Tossing the paper towel into the trash receptacle, Dax froze when a signal began to beep on the console. He hit a few commands to see a very large ship gaining on them. Dax hit a few more commands and the viewscreen showed him who was in pursuit.

It was the Falcon.

Ben Hur.

“What in the hell is he doing?” Logan asked. “He’s coming at us like he’s ready for war.”

Dax knew he shouldn’t have trusted the bastard at his word. Ben Hur was a notorious Marauder, pirating the skies and taking whatever he wanted. He was also Kayden, Nyk, Logan, and Thoran’s uncle. He’d sworn to leave Dax and his freighting company alone. Now the man was hot on their heels.

Dax tried to hail the other ship, but Ben ignored them. He dropped into the pilot’s seat before taking the ship to warp eight.

The Falcon kept pace. As a matter of fact, it went faster, passing the Adventure before turning to face them. The Falcon was twice the size of the ship Dax was on, and it looked like a predator ready to strike. Ben Hur hailed them.

“I should ignore his ass,” Dax groused. “I should have known better than to take a Marauder at his word.”

Ben appeared on the viewscreen, Dax had an overwhelming, violent urge to shoot the bastard.

“Declare your cargo.”

“I’m not declaring shit.” Dax trembled as rage overtook him. “What in the hell do you think you’re doing, Hur?”

“I’m going to say this one last time, boy. Declare your cargo.”

Dax came to his feet as the vein in his temple began to throb. “I’ll declare my cargo when the Empire has my nuts hanging on their wall.”

“There won’t be any part of you left for them to hang if you don’t tell me what the fuck you’re hauling.” Ben was on his feet as well, his face mottled with anger.

Dax’s common sense told him there was more to this than Ben trying to steal his cargo, but his pride and ego superseded the caution blaring in the back of his mind. Ben had called him boy for the very last time.

“Do you have the shipment of Tahna Weed?” Ben’s jaw was clamped so tight that the muscle on one side was jumping.

So that was what the man was after. Dax snarled as he severed the communication. He was so pissed off by Ben’s presumptuousness and willingness to go back on his word that Dax felt that Ben didn’t deserve to know what was in their cargo. The man could go fuck himself. “That son of a bitch thinks he’s going to make a killing off of us.”

“He’s powering up his weapons,” Logan warned.

Nyk walked onto the bridge, his eyes averted as he took a seat at the weapons station. His fingers moved like tiny dancers across the console, their own weapons coming to full power.

The battle ensued. Dax maneuvered the Adventure as Logan and Nyk worked together to fire at the Falcon. They were taking heavy hits and Dax knew they couldn’t hold out much longer. The Falcon was far superior to the Adventure. Its weapon system trumped theirs.

“We need to get the fuck out of here,” Dax shouted at the two.

“You want us to run?” Logan asked.

“No,” Dax replied. “I want us to haul ass. Now!”

The Adventure dropped two hundred feet before shooting forward. Dax prayed he had enough time until the warp drive could power up and get them out of there.

“The Falcon is turning,” Nyk warned.

Dax had focused most of the ship’s energy on powering the warp drive. As a consequence, the shields weren’t at one hundred percent. One of Ben’s men transported onto the bridge and grabbed Nyk from his seat. All three men wore a look of stunned disbelief. Dax hadn’t expected Hur to send one of his men over. Why in the hell was Ben behaving like this? He’d never seen the man this aggressive before. Not like this. It was as if Ben was determined to take them down at any cost.

Nyk overcame his surprise with impressive speed, quickly shifting into his imposing third form to defend himself. Dax knew how much Nyk hated to fight. But to Dax’s surprise, Nyk was laying into the man with such uncontrolled rage that the two were tearing the bridge apart.

Dax leapt over the banister that separated part of the bridge from the stations, but before he could get to Nyk, another man appeared. The ship rocked sideways with a blast from the Falcon and Dax was nearly knocked off his feet.

“Concentrate on getting us out of here,” Dax yelled to Logan.

The ship took another hit, then another, and the lights on the bridge began to flicker. Dax and his opponent went at each other in full force while Dax tried his best to keep an eye on Nyk.

The bridge doors slid open and Uline hurried inside, coming to a halt as he watched both battles taking place. Dax spared a second to watch Patch race toward Nyk, attacking Nyk’s enemy.

“We’re there,” Logan shouted before the ship jumped into warp drive, shooting them into another part of the galaxy.

Dax killed the man he was fighting, watching as the guy crumpled to the floor. He spun to see Nyk slam into a wall, his left arm limp at his side. There was a large amount of blood on the weapons station and spreading across Nyk’s shoulder.

Dax bared his canines as he grabbed his blaster from its sheath and shot the bastard who’d hurt Nyk.

Nyk shifted back into his human form before he dropped to the floor. Dax raced to him, his heart in his throat. Dax fell to his knees next to his best friend. Nyk’s eyes were closed. He tapped Nyk on the face. “Nyk, can you hear me?”

His best friend didn’t respond. Dax checked Nyk’s wound and saw a long, deep gash running from collarbone to midway down his left pec.

“I’m taking Nyk to sickbay. You have the bridge.”

Logan nodded.

Dax lifted Nyk’s limp form into his arms before he exited the bridge, using the turbolift to take him down to sickbay. The ship was a fucking mess, wires hanging from the ceiling and pieces of metal protruding in places they shouldn’t be.

The ship was crippled. They were going to have to find a place to rest in order to make the necessary repairs. Once in sickbay, Dax set Nyk on one of the tables and then used the intercom to call the bridge.

“Take us off course, to a remote location, and then I want you and Uline to get this ship back in working order.”

“Already on it,” Logan replied.

Dax grabbed the supplies he needed and went to work cleaning the wound. With Nyk unconscious, the man wouldn’t be able to shift to his second form and heal. The blood flowed steadily. Dax poured antiseptic over the hole before clamping off the artery that was pumping out more blood than Nyk could afford to lose.

Dax worked relentlessly to save his best friend. No, Nyk was more than his best friend. He was Dax’s everything. He couldn’t imagine his life without Nyk there, smiling, joking, and being an all-around pain in the ass.

For as long as he could remember, Dax had loved Nyk. But it was more than that. His love for the man ran soul deep. Nyk was a part of him, his left lung, his beating heart, his life.

Dax glanced at Nyk’s vitals displayed on an overhead screen. His pulse was too slow for Dax’s comfort. The man had lost too much blood.

“Come on, baby,” he whispered as he sewed the severed artery, his fingers slippery from the blood. Dax’s chest hurt and his heart was racing as he tried to stop the man from bleeding out. “You are stronger than this. Don’t give out on me now.”

His hands were shaking badly. Dax tried to center himself, but it was hard when Nyk’s life depended on him. Why in the fuck couldn’t this have been a medical transport? A medical transport would have had the equipment needed to stop the bleeding in seconds. Instead, Dax had to work fast and steady, using a delicate needle to put the pieces back together.

Dax wiped his brow, letting go of a long breath as he made the last stitch, closing the wound and praying he hadn’t missed anything. He set the needle aside and began to clean the blood from Nyk’s body. His gut felt as if a lead weight had settled inside as the clear water turned crimson.

Nyk was so still that it scared Dax. He wanted to see those gorgeous green eyes staring at him, sparkling with merriment as the man smiled. How could he fight the way he felt any longer? How could he go through the rest of his life being near Nyk, but being denied the simple pleasure of showing his best friend what they could share together?

It was time he set his fears aside and explored the boundaries beyond mere friendship. Dax was tired of hiding what he felt, of craving but not having the man who meant everything to him.

He wanted what Kayden and Thoran had. Dax was already close to Nyk, but he wanted more, the deep bond only mates shared. The revelation of wanting a family stunned him, but it also felt so damn right.

This was Nykky.

His Nykky.

After cleaning the man up, Dax brushed the back of his knuckles over Nyk’s cheek. “I don’t know what you’re going through, baby, but you’re not alone. We can get through this together, you and me.”

He lifted Nyk’s hand, placing a kiss in the palm before settling back and waiting for his best friend to wake.

Chapter Seven

As Nyk’s sight slowly adjusted to the low lights overhead, he felt the throbbing in his shoulder. It wasn’t pain, per se, which meant someone had given him pain meds.

He turned his head to see Dax sitting in a nearby chair, covered in blood. At first Nyk thought the man had been wounded, until he noticed that they were in sickbay. That was Nyk’s blood all over Dax. His friend had once again come to Nyk’s rescue.

As he lay there, Nyk studied the man. Asleep, Dax’s features were relaxed, peaceful, which made him even more handsome than he already was. His eyes dropped to the man’s thick brows, aquiline nose, and full lips. What would it feel like to have those lips on his, or better yet, kissing every inch of Nyk’s body?

Gah, he was a masochist. He had to be or he wouldn’t keep fantasizing about a man he who didn’t want him. Even so, Nyk couldn’t help but wonder what those callused hands would feel like caressing him, holding him down as Dax fucked him, as Nyk surrendered to the longing he’d felt for so long.

Despite his injuries, Nyk grew hard, his cock a steel pipe between his legs. He glanced down to see that he was naked and uncovered. His erection was in plain sight.

And then Dax opened his enigmatic eyes, the dark depths staring directly at Nyk’s solid shaft. Nyk’s breathing became shallow as he swallowed around the hard lump in his throat.

“How are you feeling?” Dax asked as he continued to gaze at Nyk’s erection.

Nyk shifted slightly under the man’s stare, wishing to the gods that he had a sheet covering his embarrassing state. He curled and uncurled the fingers of his left arm. At least he hadn’t lost the use of it. “Sore.”

Dax’s eyes darted to Nyk’s face before the man stood. Nyk thought Dax was about to leave, but his friend grabbed a clean sheet from the cabinet and draped it over Nyk’s lower body.

His hope that Dax would do something about Nyk’s erection dimmed. He was just being a friend and giving Nyk a modicum of modesty, nothing more. When Dax brushed his fingers over Nyk’s shoulder, his cock jerked under the sheet. Dax’s eyes dropped to Nyk’s groin.

The mixed signals were killing Nyk.

“Do you like when I touch you?” Dax’s voice was low, raspy, and thick with arousal. Nyk wasn’t sure he’d heard the man correctly. This had to be some sort of trick. Was he still sleeping? Nyk wasn’t sure how to reply.

Dax ghosted his knuckles over Nyk’s exposed abdomen and Nyk’s cock jerked once more. Nyk didn’t move a muscle, afraid of breaking whatever spell Dax seemed to be under. The man was taking slow breaths, but Nyk was holding his, paralyzed with confusion and an ache so deep he felt as if he would die if Dax didn’t kiss him.

Nyk kicked his legs until the sheet glided to the floor, exposing his cock for Dax to see, to touch. And his best friend didn’t disappoint. Dax’s hand feathered further down Nyk’s belly until his knuckles brushed over the tip of Nyk’s cock.

Nyk hissed.

Dax’s eyes grew darker.

“Once we cross that line…” Dax didn’t finish and he didn’t have to. Nyk knew there would be no going back. Once they crossed from friends to lovers, that would be it. Either they would remain lovers, or they would ruin a long-standing friendship that Nyk treasured more than his life.

Confessing how he felt toward Dax was the hardest thing Nyk had ever had to do. It was scarier than the guards that used to beat him. It was more terrifying then being taken from the nursery he’d lived in and being thrust into a training facility at the fragile age of five.

“You don’t want a relationship,” Nyk reminded Dax.

Dax’s brows drew together. “When did I ever say that?”

Nyk suddenly wanted the sheet back. He felt exposed, vulnerable. But he toughened his resolve to lay everything on the table. “I heard you talking to Kayden.”

Dax’s brows shot up and then something close to regret filled his eyes. “Ah, that explains your anger. I wasn’t about to tell the man that I was in love with my best friend when I hadn’t even told you.”

Nyk’s insides froze. His heart rate skyrocketed. His mouth grew dry and his body began to shake at Dax’s confession. Nyk’s body flooded with need, wanting awful, wicked things from Dax. He licked his parched lips before he said, “Show me.”

“You’re hurt.”

“Then go easy on me.” Nyk was not about to let Dax back down. Not when the man just confessed to something Nyk had been dying to hear. He’d tape his goddamn arm to his side if he had to.

A devilish grin appeared on Dax’s face. He tucked his fingers under Nyk’s chin, tilted Nyk’s head back, and then brushed his lips over Nyk’s. A shudder racked Nyk’s body. “And if I want to wait until you’re healed?”

Nyk bit Dax’s lower lip, hard. He drew blood before lapping it up. “Then I swear to the gods I’ll cripple you.”

Dax chuckled, his familiar smile helping to ease the tension inside Nyk. This was Dax. His Dax. The man he’d known since he was five years old. His best friend who would never do anything to hurt Nyk.

“Is that right?” Dax’s fingers curled around Nyk’s cock and Nyk saw stars. He had to breathe through his mouth to keep from passing out from the pure pleasure of Dax finally touching him.

Nyk closed his eyes and rolled his head groggily, breathing out through his mouth as Dax’s fingers tightened and then began to move. He jerked his hips, spreading his legs wider as Dax’s lips found his.

“This is right where I belong,” Dax said against Nyk’s lips. “This is where I’ve always belonged.”

Nyk nodded, gasping as Dax stroked him harder. “Right here with me,” Nyk panted. “I want you to—” Nyk’s eyes rolled as his climax grew closer. He was going to come and it was too soon. He hadn’t waited years for this to be over in a split second.

“To what?” Dax licked, nipped, and kissed at Nyk’s jaw. Before Nyk could answer, Dax let go of his erection and then reached under Nyk’s balls, circling a finger around Nyk’s tight hole. “This?”

Nyk whimpered.

Dax’s lips moved to Nyk’s earlobe, nuzzling, kissing. “I’m not going to fuck you.”

Nyk slammed his eyes closed, trying his best to steel himself for the rejection.

“I’m going to mate you, Nykky.” He kissed the side of Nyk’s neck. “My Nykky.”

The breath stuttered out of Nyk’s chest as his entire body grew tight with uncertainty and promise. He grabbed Dax’s wrist, stopping his friend and lover from going any further. Dax pulled back, frowning.

Nyk struggled to sit up. Dax helped him until he was standing. He felt a bit woozy but managed to stay upright. Nyk brushed his hand down Dax’s blood-stained shirt, grabbing the hem and lifting. Dax grasped the edges, nearly ripping the shirt over his head. The expanse of muscles was glorious, the caramel skin mouth-watering. Nyk used his right hand to trace the ridges and hard lines. “So perfect.”

Dax didn’t move, allowing Nyk to slowly explore. He took his time, dipping his head to nibble at Dax’s taut nipple. His lover hissed, his eyes locked onto what Nyk was doing. His strong hand slid over Nyk’s hair. “Do you know how beautiful you are? Like an angel without wings.”

Nyk straightened, gazing into Dax’s dark eyes.

“We share the same soul,” Dax said as he hooked his hand around the nape of Nyk’s neck. “You and me, since forever.”

Nyk smiled. “I never knew you were so poetic.”

Dax gave a soft laugh. “Not in the least, amigo.”

“Okay, then I’ll take a shot at this poetic stuff,” Nyk said as he felt himself blushing. “You’re the best part of me, Daxar Althos. Always have been.”

Dax’s eyes softened as he pulled Nyk close, their tongues tangling as they kissed. Nyk melted into the man. When Dax pulled back, Nyk swayed slightly.

“You shouldn’t be on your feet.” Dax grabbed the discarded sheet, draping it over Nyk’s body. “Let’s take this to my quarters.”

Nyk wasn’t sure he could last that long. They walked out of the sickbay, gazed at one another, and then began to run, laughing as they rushed to Dax’s room. Nick’s shoulder was throbbing heavily, but he pushed the pain down, burying it as they reached the room.

The doors slid open and both men hurried inside. Dax dropped to a chair and removed his boots, his socks, and then his pants. Nyk grinned. “I always suspected you went commando.”

Dax’s nostrils flared. “You contemplated my groin?”

Nyk laughed as he released the sheet, letting it pool at his feet. “For years.”

Dax stood there gloriously naked, his shaft hard and aiming toward the man’s abdomen. It was thick, heavily veined, and made Nyk’s mouth water. Dax closed the distance, pulling Nyk off of his feet, making Nyk laugh once again, before Dax laid him on the bed. “You lie here and take it easy.”

“Not too easy,” Nyk replied as he watched Dax rummage through a drawer before pulling a tube of lube free. Nyk drooled over himself as he finally got a look at Dax’s ass without clothing.

It was even more perfect than he’d imagined.

For a fearful moment, Nyk wondered if they were doing the right thing, if this would work between them. But as Dax climbed into bed, his worries fled, replaced by anticipation.

Dax didn’t just want to fuck him. The man wanted Nyk as his mate. That wasn’t something someone said lightly. It was a lifetime commitment. For better or worse, they would belong to each other, bound, something they had been from the very beginning.

This felt so crazy, so right, and suddenly Nyk wondered why it had taken them so long to get to this point. Dax had always been his and would always be his, until the stars stopped shining and the galaxy ceased to exist.

* * * *

Dax wasn’t sure he was doing the right thing. Not at all. But he couldn’t stop himself now even if he wanted to. Nyk was fully hard and wanted this just as much as Dax did. Come morning, Dax might regret shattering their friendship into a million pieces. Come morning, he might even wish he could take back what they were about to do. But at this very moment, Dax couldn’t find it in himself to pull back the reins and examine the situation. Not when he was rock hard and all logical thought had abandoned him.

But he had a feeling…No, he was positive that, come morning, he would still feel the same way he felt now. That this was the right choice. That this was meant to be. No one in the universe understood Dax the way Nyk did. No one.

Nyk was the one. He had always been the one. No matter who Dax had fucked over the years, secretly, he had always pretended his bed partner was Nyk. That may be selfish, and it more than likely was a bit callous, but it was the damn truth.

It hadn’t always been like that, not sexually at least. He had cared for Nyk since the day they’d met and he could sense the vulnerability in the little boy. They shared a close bond of friendship until Dax had later discovered that his preference leaned toward males.

Still, he hadn’t thought of Nyk as anything more than his best buddy. It wasn’t until Nyk’s first assignment, when his friend had stayed up half the night vomiting because he had to kill someone that something inside Dax had shifted.

That had been seven years ago. And since then, a deep, heartsick yearning had gripped him, shook him, and hadn’t let him go. Dax knew there was no one else out there for him. Not when Nyk was right at his side. Always at his side.

And now Nyk was going to be his mate. It seemed right, fitting. The man already owned Dax’s heart and soul. There was only one more step and that was taking Nyk physically. To his surprise, this felt as natural as breathing.

Dax ran his hand over Nyk’s bare hip, smoothed it over his muscular thigh. His breathing picked up because this was Nyk, the real thing, not a fantasy he was playing out in his head as he fucked a stranger. Nyk was lying under him with a timid smile, hesitation in his green eyes, and he was all Dax’s.

The line between friend and lover melted away, faded in the dim light of the room as Dax’s hand mapped out Nyk’s body. The rigid lines, dips and curves, the hard muscles and the softness blended together so perfectly.

He scraped his fingernails over Nyk’s side, used the callused pads of his fingertips to trace the deep valley of muscles along Nyk’s abdomen, and palmed one hard pec, pinching one nipple until it peaked.

“You are a torturer,” Nyk moaned.

Dax wasn’t trying to torture Nyk. He wanted to drink in every inch of exposed skin, to memorize the man’s body. He hadn’t waited all this time to rush through this. He wasn’t mounting, but mating. There should be gentleness, exploration, and even some fun.

“Ah, yes,” he teased. “You are now my victim, fallen into my snare.”

Dax straddled Nyk’s waist, careful of his weight. He was nearly twice Nyk’s size and didn’t want to crush the guy. His ass rested over Nyk’s thighs, their cocks staring at each other. Dax’s was darker, thicker, while Nyk’s was lighter, longer.

He was tempted to rub them both off. Nyk’s shaft jerked as clear liquid leaked from the head. Dax focused on Nyk’s upper torso. He wanted his best friend mindless before he went near his cock.

Using the palms of his hands, Dax brushed them over Nyk’s peaked nipples, teasing them, watching as the skin grew even tighter. He grinned when Nyk shuddered. “You’re a skin person.”

“I like touching…and being touched.” An almost-boyish grin appeared on Nyk’s face and Dax’s heart pounded in his chest. This was the man he’d fallen in love with. The shy Nyk. The vulnerable Nyk. The I’m-not-sure-what-I’m-doing-but-I’ll-follow-your-lead Nyk.

“I’m not stopping you.” Dax’s palms skimmed over Nyk’s biceps, down his hairy arms, and over the backs of his hands. He gripped Nyk’s right hand and lifted it, placing it on his chest. “Touch me.”

Nyk started to lift the left one, But Dax stopped him. “Let this arm rest.”

Nyk nodded, chewing on his lower lip as his fingers grazed over Dax’s pecs. They’d touched many times, subtly, but never like this, never with such care and consideration. Clear liquid from the tip of Dax’s cock began to pool onto Nyk’s lower abdomen as his best friend, his lover, his soon-to-be mate took his time.

“How can you be so hard and soft at the same time?” Nyk asked as his fingers glided over Dax’s stomach. “It’s amazing, like touching silk over steel.”

Nyk’s hand dropped lower, hesitated for a hair’s breadth and then his thumb swept the clear liquid from the head of Dax’s cock. Nyk gathered the moisture before shoving his thumb into his mouth, licking until there was nothing but saliva left on his digit.

A low, rumbling growl vibrated Dax’s chest when Nyk repeated what he’d done two more times. The cocky bastard smirked, like he knew just how to torment Dax.

“Keep that up and I’m going to make you eat it for real.”

Nyk’s eyelids lowered until his eyes were mere slits. “Is that a challenge?” He slid his finger over the pre-cum and tasted it again.

“You were warned.” Dax swung his leg over Nyk’s body before positioning himself at the head of the bed, guiding the tip of his cock toward Nyk’s parted lips. Nyk teased him by licking his lips, making a fucking show of it like a sultry little minx.

Nyk turned his head and flicked his tongue out, the tip gliding over the head of Dax’s cock. “Tease.”

Dax’s body began to shake as he waited for Nyk to swallow him. And Nyk accused him of being a tormentor! Dax palmed his own sac and tugged, groaning, putting on a show of his own.

“Fucking hell,” Nyk whispered, all amusement gone before he opened his mouth and took Dax to the back of his throat. Dax nearly fell backward off the bed. His body roared to life, his cock jerking as it sank deeper into Nyk’s mouth.

And then Nyk grabbed for Dax’s other hand, guiding it behind his head. Dax wasn’t sure what Nyk wanted him to do until Nyk pressed Dax’s fingers harder into his skull.

He wants me to guide him.

Dax gripped Nyk’s silky brown hair, pushing his lover’s head forward before pulling it back, watching as his cock slipped in and out of Nyk’s mouth.

He squeezed Nyk’s head, lacing his broad fingers through the soft silk of short hair. Nyk’s tongue began to do amazing things, gliding up Dax’s shaft, twirling around the head, before sliding back down to the base. Dax flexed his arm and pulled Nyk closer, fucking his cock into that wonderful wet heat.

Nyk moaned and the vibration shivered along Dax’s cock that was straining in Nyk’s mouth. Dax ground his teeth, slowing his thrusts because his orgasm was building too quickly. He had great recovery time, but he didn’t want things to move too fast.

Dax’s lips thinned as his brows furrowed and he fought his approaching climax. His fingers yanked on Nyk’s hair, pulling the man back, forcing his cock from Nyk’s throat until only the head was in Nyk’s mouth.

“Too fast.”

Nyk’s eyes gained a gleam that was just this side of wicked. He shoved his head forward, taking Dax all the way down his throat before Nyk squeezed his throat muscle and sent Dax spiraling over the edge and free-falling into heaven. He came, hard. Dax fucked Nyk’s mouth with quick bursts, thrusting his hips as his mind shattered and his body sang with his climax.

Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.

Dax shook his head as his mind began to clear, and then he growled. “Think you’re cute?”

His cock slipped from between Nyk’s lips. “Hilarious.” Nyk chuckled.

Dax pushed from the bed. He stood there gazing down at Nyk, his devilish grin, his hard body, and his erection. He grabbed the tube of lube from the bed and squirted some onto his fingers. “Fine. Then spread those legs.”

Nyk laughed as his legs parted, his knees bent. Dax climbed between them and circled his wet fingers around the blushing hole. The muscles were tight and the smile on Nyk’s face faded when Dax worked two fingers past the snug ring.

The sooty hairs on Nyk’s legs rubbed over Dax’s thighs as Nyk moved them closer, pressing his knees into Dax’s body.

“Don’t tighten up on me now.” Dax sank his fingers deeper. Nyk bit his lower lip as he reached between his legs, sliding a finger in next to Dax’s, the two stretching Nyk wide, opening him up.

This was a side to Nyk he’d never seen before. Passive and aggressive. Shy and bold. Two different personalities in one. Dax’s cock was growing hard again as their fingers moved in and out of the slippery entrance. Dax had to have Nyk, had to be buried balls deep in the man soon before he came from the sight of their joined fingers.

“You ready to belong to me?”

Nyk pulled his finger free. “I’ve always belonged to you.”

That was the god’s honest truth.

After pulling his fingers free, Dax lubed his cock, setting the head at Nyk’s entrance. He took in a deep breath as Nyk wiggled underneath him, as if too impatient to wait on Dax. He pushed his bottom over the blunt head, trying to impale himself.

Dax leaned down and nipped Nyk’s chin as he pushed forward a little, barely breathing, as the head of his cock popped inside. Nyk’s eyes grew wide and Dax froze.

“Don’t stop,” Nyk begged. “You’re just so thick, so much to take in.”

Sweat began to gather on Dax’s brow as he waited patiently for Nyk’s body to adjust to his wide girth. His muscles quivered and his body began to shake. The tension was building and Dax wasn’t sure how much longer he could hold out.

Nyk wiggled a little more, taking Dax inch by inch into his body. Dax let Nyk lead, allowing his lover to take control, to determine how much he could handle.

Nyk’s hips swiveled as he lowered himself, one hand on Dax’s shoulder, still chewing on that lower lip. His gaze locked onto Dax’s and Dax could see the shyness, the trust that Nyk was giving him.

And then Nyk wrapped his legs around Dax’s waist and pulled Dax forward, impaling himself the rest of the way on Dax’s cock.

“Holy shit.” Dax dropped forward until his hands were on either side of Nyk’s head, panting heavily at the tightness surrounding his shaft, like a hot hand gripping him hard.

Nyk’s head rolled back, exposing his neck. Dax pressed his lips to Nyk’s collarbone, laying soft kisses along the skin until he reached the place where neck and shoulder connected. There, he scraped the tips of his canines over Nyk’s flesh, watching as Nyk shivered.

“Tell me I can move.” Dax’s voice was barely above a whisper as he choked out the words.

“God…yes.”

Dax pulled back and drove deep until his balls were pressed against the crease of Nyk’s ass. Nyk panted between his teeth as his muscles grew tight.

“Am I hurting you?”

Nyk shook his head. “Just so much—don’t stop.”

Dax could see that Nyk was fighting to breathe. He pulled back again and then thrust forward. Nyk yelped and then smiled, his eyes slowly closing as his hips tilted upward.

Dax leaned down and brushed his lips over Nyk’s. “Open your eyes, Nykky. Don’t hide from me.”

Nyk’s eyes opened and they stared at each other, green eyes to amethyst. Dax brushed his knuckles over Nyk’s cheek. “There you are.”

“Right here.” Nyk leaned his head up and swiped his tongue over Dax’s bottom lip. “Not going anywhere.”

Nyk’s cock was wedged between them, the pre-cum creating a slick wetness that made Dax even harder. He thrust a few more times, feeling the steel pipe slide over his stomach.

“You’re stretching me so wide.” Nyk nibbled at Dax’s lips. “Burns and feels good at the same time.” Nyk’s fingers dug into Dax’s shoulder. “Fuck me harder, Dax.”

Hearing his name on Nyk’s lips brought Dax’s wolf close to the surface. It growled for Dax to bite Nyk, to make the man his.

Patience.

Nyk’s hips rolled as Dax sank his cock deeper. Nyk’s ass was clamped so firmly around him that Dax had to fight not to come. They were fused so tightly that he wasn’t sure where Nyk began and he ended.

Nyk squirmed closer, the friction of their bodies rubbing the man’s cock, jacking him off with no hands, only lean, hard abdomens. Nyk was making crazy noises as he tried to get impossibly closer. His fingers hooked into Dax’s tiny braids, pulling, yanking, fingering, using them as reins as he tilted his hips even higher.

Dax growled, the pain at his scalp tingling along his spine. A spark ignited at the base of his groin and Dax knew he couldn’t hold out much longer. He wanted to. God how he wanted to. Dax wished this could last all night. But his control was slipping faster than he would have liked.

He changed his angle, pegging Nyk’s sweet spot. He watched as Nyk’s eyes widened and his lips parted. His body arched from the bed as he let out a loud and long groan.

Dax did it again.

“God—Dax, I need—It feels…”

“Right here, Nykky.” Dax pistoned inside Nyk as he licked along the man’s shoulder. Nyk cried out, his legs squeezing around Dax’s waist. Dax scraped the tips of his canines over Nyk’s shoulder before sinking them deep into Nyk’s flesh.

“Oh! God…yes!”

Dax pounded his cock into Nyk’s ass, his mate’s hole milking him as Nyk came, his seed erupting between their intertwined bodies. He released Nyk’s shoulder to howl as his climax shattered him for the second time tonight and his cock thickened, knotting inside of Nyk.

His mate nearly jackknifed, grabbing Dax’s nape before Nyk sank his canines deep into Dax’s shoulder. Dax roared, his vision fading before Nyk pulled his teeth free and licked at the wound. He settled back down, panting, sweat covering his body.

As the room gradually came back into view, Dax slowed his movements, resting his weight on his arms as he kissed the spot he’d bitten. Sex had never been this damn good. Dax wanted to go for another round, but Nyk needed his rest, needed time for his shoulder to heal.

Nyk nuzzled into Dax, a contented sigh filling the air between them.

“You fucked up,” Dax said as he rubbed his cheek over Nyk’s.

“How so?”

Dax chuckled. “Now you’re stuck with me.”

Nyk’s body shook and Dax realized the man was laughing. “I think it’s the other way around.” Nyk leaned back and gazed up at Dax, the laughter slowly dying. He rubbed his thumb over Dax’s cheek.

Dax turned his head and placed a kiss in the palm of Nyk’s hand. “Wouldn’t have it any other way.”

Chapter Eight

“What do you want to do?” Azan asked Ben as the Falcon glided through space. “It’s pretty damn ironic that it’s your family who has the cargo.”

It was. Here Ben was chasing down the virus, ready to destroy it to save his family, and it was his family who would have to die in order to stop the virus from spreading.

One of the main reasons he had never liked the Breed Assassins was because they worked for the Empire. But that had all changed with the bounty. A lot of things had changed.

Ben stood on the bridge with his hands tucked behind his back, staring at the darkness of space. He knew what he had to do. There was no other option.

He turned to Azan. “Hunt them down and obliterate the Adventure.”

* * * *

Dax strode through engineering, checking Uline’s work to make sure the mechanic had made the necessary repairs. It had been two days since they were attacked and they were falling behind schedule. If they didn’t make it to Regula soon, some of the cargo would be useless. There were live cultures that needed to be delivered within a certain window of time, and theirs was closing fast.

He checked over the systems gauges and a cold lump formed in his stomach when Dax spotted something small and black tucked into a cooling vent. There was a tiny red light flashing. He shoved the vent aside and pulled the object out, recognizing at once that it was a tracking device.

A sophisticated one at that. As part of their training, the Breed Assassins had worked with many pieces of technology. They’d learned how to arm and disarm explosives, as well as build, operate, and tear apart tracking devices. They’d even learned how to disguise themselves to look like someone of a different species, age, gender, height, and build.

He turned the device over in his hand and his blood ran cold. The Empire’s insignia was etched into the belly. How in the fuck had this gotten here? Logan wouldn’t have planted it there, and neither would Nyk.

He highly doubted that Patch was a spy disguised as a dog.

That only left Uline.

Dax cracked the case and crossed a few wires, disabling the homing beacon. He tucked the device back into the vent and closed it. If he accused Uline of planting it there, the man would only lie. He had to catch the Endorian in the act of trying to repair the malfunctioning piece.

Once the device was back in its hiding place, Dax walked over to one of the cameras in the far west corner and turned it so the lens faced the vent.

Once that was complete, he added one last finishing touch. It took him ten minutes to set up a sensor that would alert him if anyone went near the vent.

Instead of going back to the bridge, Dax strode down the corridor to his office. He took a seat behind his desk and turned on his laptop, pulling up the camera that was watching the vent, and then waited.

The doors to his office slid open and Nyk walked in, Patch on his heels. His mate had the rubber ball in his hand, tossing it up into the air and catching it as he smiled at Dax. “What are you up to?”

He smiled at the easy way Nyk sat down and tossed the ball across the room. Dax no longer complained about the dog, not after Patch tried to take down Nyk’s attacker. Patch had proven his worth.

“Who said I was up to anything?” Dax asked as he glanced at his laptop and then back at Nyk. “Could be nothing more than paperwork.”

Nyk snorted as he took the ball from Patch’s drooling mouth and tossed it again. Yuk. How in the hell could Nyk touch the dog’s slobber without batting an eye?

“You hate paperwork,” Nyk reminded him as skepticism filled his eyes. “You’re always sticking me with it.”

“Okay, I’m spying on someone.”

Nyk leaned forward, a glint of interest filling his face. “Please tell me you’re not trying to see if Logan and Uline are having sex. That’s just creepy. I knew you had to have a little kink in you, but I never pegged you for a voyeur.”

“I might be,” Dax replied. “Just because we’ve known each other forever doesn’t mean you know every facet of who I am.”

“True.” Nyk nodded and Dax could see that his mate was trying hard not to smile. “But you’re not a watcher.”

He still couldn’t believe that he’d mated Nyk. Last night felt like a dream and he feared he’d wake up to find himself still pining for the man. He wasn’t sure why this was so surreal and hard to accept. Nyk was his, always had been, and always would be.

“Seriously, I am spying on someone.”

“Logan eating our entire supply of food again?” Nyk asked as he stood and walked around the desk, leaning in close. Dax inhaled the man’s scent before sliding his arm around Nyk’s waist. “That’s engineering.”

“It is,” Dax admitted.

“Why are you spying on a vent?”

Dax pulled Nyk down onto his lap, circling his arms around his mate. It felt damn good to finally show his best friend just how much he loved and cared about the guy. No more games, no more pretending, no more chaste touches driving him insane with need.

He could touch all he wanted now and Dax loved that. “Just watch.”

Dax wasn’t sure how long it would take for Uline to notice that the tracking device had become inoperable. He hoped it didn’t take days. They would reach Regula soon and he wanted to confront the Endorian before they reached the planet. There would be no way Logan could defend Uline this time. Not when Dax would have definitive proof that the bastard was a mole sent to betray them.

“I don’t get why—” Nyk quieted when Uline came into view. The man glanced around before sliding the vent out of place and grabbing the tracking device.

“Let’s go.” Dax and Nyk stood and quickly exited the office. Dax grabbed his blaster from the holster on his side while calling to the bridge for Logan to meet him in engineering.

He knew his gut hadn’t lied to him. There was something about Uline that had bothered Dax from the very beginning. That alone should have made Dax send the guy packing. How could he have been so damn stupid?

“What’s this about?” Logan asked as he joined them just inside the engineering door.

Dax held a finger to his lips and then gave the signal for Nyk and Logan to follow him quietly. The moved silently until Dax rounded the corner and aimed his blaster at Uline’s head. The Endorian was closing the case of the tracking device when he looked up, his eyes growing wide.

“What the hell are you doing?” Logan asked as he stepped between Dax’s blaster and Uline. “I’m getting fucking tired of you harassing our mechanic.”

Dax’s jaw clenched. “Then ask Uline why he planted a tracking device on our ship—a device with the Empire’s insignia.”

Logan’s features hardened as he spun around, glaring at Uline. “Is that true?”

Nyk grabbed the device from Uline’s hand, examining it before he released a slew of curses. “Dax is right.”

“I can explain,” Uline said as he took a few steps back, his eyes wide with fear.

“Get out of my way, Logan,” Dax snarled as his hand gripped the blaster tightly. There was no way he was going to let Uline live after the man had allowed the Empire to track them down. “I’m going to blow the little son of a bitch’s head off and then send the pieces to the Empire.”

Uline paled.

“Well?” Logan asked as he continued to block Dax from taking a clean shot.

“I had no choice,” Uline explained and Dax could hear a quiver of fear in the man’s voice. He would be afraid, too, if he knew he was about to fucking die. Dax finally lowered his arm. The damn thing was starting to ache.

“Why?” Nyk asked, his tone hard and cold. “I don’t get people like you. How much did the Empire pay you to turn us over?”

“They aren’t paying me,” Uline confessed. “Either I do what they want or I spend the rest of my life mining rocks on Cigtar.”

Although Dax had never been to the mining planet, he’d heard stories of Cigtar. It was a cold and desolate planet where the inmates lived underground, close to the planet’s core. Once a person was sent there, they didn’t return. It was a life sentence. What in the hell could Uline have done to have such a threat issued to him?

“For what?” Logan asked. “You don’t seem like a hardcore criminal to me.”

“Gee, thanks,” Uline said with a touch of indignation before he continued. “When I was in college, I got mixed up with the wrong crowd. I was on the verge of flunking out in my senior year when one of the guys I hung out with pulled a practical joke on one of our professors. The joke went horribly wrong and the professor was killed. The guy covered up what he’d done and made it look as if I was the one who had killed the professor. I’ve been on the run ever since. But the Empire caught up to me a few weeks ago and cut me a deal.”

“Turn us over to save your ass.” Nyk spat the words like they were venom on his tongue. “You filthy little prick.”

“They aren’t going to honor their end of the bargain,” Dax informed Uline. “You set us up for nothing.”

“No!” Uline took a step forward and then backed up when Dax bared his canines. “They promised.”

“You are such an idiot,” Nyk said.

“I didn’t want to do it,” Uline argued, his voice strained. “You have to believe me. I’m not a rat and I don’t betray those I consider friends.”

“But you don’t even know us,” Dax said.

“Nyk and Logan have been nice to me,” Uline replied.

“That’s it?” Dax asked incredulously. “Someone just has to be nice to you in order to gain your trust?”

Uline shrugged. “Pretty much. That’s how I let those losers at school brainwash me. I don’t make friends very easily and…well…it gets kinda lonely when you don’t have anyone.”

Dax growled when the stone mask on Logan’s face began to slip. “Don’t even think about falling for that shit. He could have come to us and told us what was going on.”

“And what?” Uline asked. “Have you kick me off your bay? Tell me you wouldn’t have done that. You didn’t like me from the beginning.”

“That’s because I knew something screwy was going on,” Dax snapped.

“You did?” Nyk asked. “Then why didn’t you say something?”

Dax sighed. “You would have told me that I was just being overly suspicious, as usual.”

“He’s right,” Logan said. “Dax thinks everyone has an ulterior motive.”

Dax shot a finger at Uline. “And I was right!”

“But I didn’t set up the tracking device until two days ago,” Uline said, as if that would lessen the blow of his betrayal. “We have a good head start and the device has malfunctioned anyway.”

“That’s because I shut it off.” Dax holstered his blaster. He still wanted to kill the Endorian, but it seemed Logan wasn’t going to let him. Maybe he could cripple Logan to get him out of the way. The Assassin would be pissed, but he’d get over it.

“But the signal has been broadcasting for two days,” Nyk pointed out. “It gives the Empire and their Feds a general location. Since Regula is the only planet in this quadrant, it doesn’t take a genius to figure out where we’re going.”

“We should cut our losses,” Logan said as he turned toward Dax. “It’s not worth the risk.”

Dax ran a hand down his face, muttering curses under his breath. “And what, show our clients that we’re half-rate runners? That doesn’t look good when we’ve just started our business, Logan. Word will spread like a damn venereal disease that we can’t meet our deadlines. Our other clients will drop us and go with another company.”

“We’ll make our delivery,” Nyk interjected. “But we’ll come up with a plan that will get us in and out before the Feds even know we’re there.”

“How?” Logan asked. “Regula has only one shipping dock. With the load we’re carrying, there’s no way we can fit it on a shuttle. We’ll have to land and that makes us sitting ducks.”

Dax grinned as an idea struck. “Get ahold of Ben Hur. He’s hot to see what we’re carrying but he’s even hotter to take the Empire down. With the Marauders on our side, we might stand half a chance of not only surviving, but getting paid.”

“I can’t believe you want to get him involved,” Logan said as he gave Dax a hard stare. “Do you really want Sakari Shipping’s name attached to the Marauders?”

Dax glared at Uline before he looked at Logan. “You can thank Uline for this. It’s our only chance to stay alive and save our freighting company.”

Chapter Nine

Nyk stood on the bridge, gazing at the viewscreen, watching as they passed close to a nebula. A lot of things were weighing heavily on his mind and he wasn’t sure what to do about any of it. They were heading into a dangerous situation, and Nyk wanted to be at Dax’s side if anything went wrong.

For all they knew, the Feds were already waiting for them on Regula. Nyk would go down fighting to keep not only Dax, but Logan safe.

There was just one slight problem with that oath, and that was what had Nyk standing on the bridge at three in the morning when he should have been cuddled next to his mate.

God, his mate. Nyk smiled as he thought about all the years he’d hidden how he felt toward Dax, only to finally give in and find himself mated to the ornery man.

He slid his hand over his abdomen, the guilt eating away at him. He should have told Dax as soon as he discovered the dark line leading from his navel to his groin. The distinctive spots on either side of the line could only mean one thing.

Nyk was with child.

But if he told Dax, then his mate would send Nyk back to Mavalas IV. Hell, he’d probably call Kayden or Thoran to come pick him up. Nyk was not going to be separated from Dax. There was no room for debate on that subject, no matter how much sense it made.

The doors to the bridge slid open and Nyk knew who it was without turning around. The familiar scent filled his lungs and made Nyk’s chest ache.

“What are you doing up here?” Dax slid his arms around Nyk, resting his chin on Nyk’s shoulder.

Just tell him.

The only thing Nyk had ever hidden from Dax was how he truly felt toward the man. In all the years that they’d known each other, he’d never lied to Dax. He knew he couldn’t start now, but he wasn’t sure how to even begin the conversation. “Thinking.”

Dax pressed his lips to the side of Nyk’s neck. “About what?”

Just tell him.

“How we’re going to off-load and get out of there without fighting our way out.”

Dax’s arms tightened around Nyk. “We’ll get it done. I’m going to have to force Ben into a meeting in order to devise a plan. I don’t like working with him, but it’s our only option.”

Nyk slid his hands over Dax’s that were resting over his stomach. He didn’t like the fact that Dax planned on forcing his way onto Ben’s ship. So many things could go wrong. But he knew that Dax was right. If they didn’t enlist Ben’s help, they just might all be arrested. “We could turn around and pay someone else to deliver the shipment.”

“That’s not how we work, Nyk. You know that. I was going to drop Mr. Traitor’s ass off on Regula and leave him there, but if it will make you feel better, the two of you can take a shuttle and—”

“What?” Nyk frowned as he pulled from Dax’s embrace. “Run with our tails tucked between our legs? I can’t believe you would even suggest something like that.”

“I was going to say that the two of you could circle around to the other side of the planet while Logan and I off-loaded.” Dax frowned. “What’s got your underwear in a bunch, Nyk?”

Just tell him.

“Gee, I don’t know.” Nyk crossed his arms over his chest. “Maybe it’s the fact that you think I’m a fucking coward.”

Dax’s eyes darkened. “I never said that.”

“You implied it.” This was not what Nyk wanted. The hostility between the two of them was giving him a migraine and he hated when Dax was mad at him. But Nyk was scared out of his mind and confused as hell. He wasn’t sure if telling Dax that he was pregnant was the right thing to do. Should he wait until they were back home?

Yeah, like he won’t notice the pregnancy markings the next time you two fuck.

Nyk turned, giving Dax his back as he tried to rein in the hurt he felt at Dax implying that he was a man who would run at the first sign of trouble. He knew that Dax was only trying to look out for him, but it hurt.

Dax moved in behind Nyk, rubbing his hands down Nyk’s arms. “I’m sorry. I’m tired. I don’t want to fight with you.”

And now the man had to go and be nice. Nyk wanted to break down and tell his mate the truth. He was just terrified that Dax would send him away for Nyk’s own safety.

Just tell him.

Dax began to kiss along Nyk’s neck, his nape, and around to the other side. As he pressed kisses along Nyk’s skin, Dax reached around Nyk to press the control that locked the bridge door.

“What are you doing?” The words came out more like a moan than a question as Nyk’s head lolled forward, his eyes slowly closing as his arms fell to his sides.

Dax’s hands slid down Nyk’s back to cup Nyk’s ass. “Bonding with my mate.”

Nyk shuddered at those softly spoken words. He surrendered to what Dax was doing, letting go of his worries and fears for the moment. His head swam at the sensation of Dax’s lips on his body. Fierce yet tender, Dax explored with his hands and lips and it left Nyk breathless. Dax’s kisses were intoxicating as he slid his fingers into the waistband of Nyk’s pants and pulled the material down to his thighs.

“Dax.”

“No one is going to come in, Nykky.”

Nyk shivered as waves of pleasure racked his body in a way he’d been craving since the last time they’d made love. Each kiss, each touch sent a tremor through him and filled Nyk with a white-hot need.

Wet fingers probed at his ass as Dax growled low in Nyk’s ear. The sound resonated through Nyk.

“God, I want you so badly.” Dax kissed the side of Nyk’s neck. “Like I’ve never wanted anyone before.”

The palms of Nyk’s hands landed on the console as he leaned forward, giving Dax what he needed, wanted. Dax’s fingers drove deep and Nyk cried out, his body convulsing with every plunge of Dax’s fingers. He arched his back to draw Dax’s thrusts even deeper.

“I’m sorry, baby.” Dax gasped and then panted. “I want you too much to go slow.”

“Then don’t.”

Nyk was a bit surprised when a bottle of lube was tossed onto the console and then he grinned. Dax had come up here with a purpose. The head of his mate’s cock pressed against Nyk’s ass before the man buried himself inside Nyk.

The air left his lungs as Nyk fought to breathe. Dax’s hands landed on his hips before he began to fuck Nyk with a steady but fast rhythm. Nyk’s head spun at the warmth of Dax’s body pressed into his.

Having Dax this close soothed all of Nyk’s worries. He felt safe in Dax’s arms, like the big, bad universe couldn’t get to him. Closing his eyes, he savored the sensation. His body was pitched on the verge of release already and Nyk bit his lip, trying to keep it under control.

His breathing ragged, Nyk reached for his cock, stroking himself as Dax plunged deeper.

Just tell him.

Not now. Not when his body was completely molten. He never wanted this to end. Nyk loved the way Dax felt inside of him. It was as if his body was on fire. Pleasure was ripping through him and Nyk knew he wasn’t going to last much longer.

“Dax,” Nyk whimpered.

“Right here, baby.” Dax’s fingers tightened on Nyk’s hips. “Right here with you.”

Nyk squeezed his cock and then stroked his shaft faster. His balls drew up tight as an explosion ignited inside of him. Nyk shouted as Dax moved even faster. Each one of his strong, deep strokes took Nyk even higher.

Dax nipped Nyk’s shoulder before he sank his canines in. And then Nyk felt Dax’s release. Dax pulled his canines free and gasped an instant before his body shook around Nyk. His mate’s cock began to swell as Nyk collapsed on the console.

Thank fuck Dax had locked the controls or Nyk might have sent them plunging through space.

His mate buried his hand in Nyk’s hair as he pressed a kiss into Nyk’s back. He chuckled and then kissed Nyk again.

“What’s so funny?”

“I hope like hell no emergency arises because I’m not letting Logan on this bridge while we’re stuck together like this.”

Nyk grinned. “You would think of something like that.”

When Dax’s cock eased from Nyk, he tried to quickly pull his pants back up, but before he could, Dax spun him around. The wide smile on his face faded when his eyes dropped to Nyk’s groin. He stood so still that he resembled a marble statue. Nyk could only hold his breath as he waited for Dax to say something, anything.

Dax’s eyes lifted to meet Nyk’s gaze and they were filled with an emotion Nyk couldn’t pin down.

“Why didn’t you tell me?”

Nyk grabbed the waistband of his pants and pulled them up. When he tried to shove his shirt back into place, Dax’s hand shot out, grabbing Nyk’s wrist. His eyes were glued to the markings on Nyk’s lower belly.

“I–I don’t know.”

Dax’s eyes grew darker. “Stop lying to me. You purposely kept this from me. Why?”

Nyk wanted to be angry as well, but he knew he was in the wrong. He should have told his mate this morning when he discovered the markings. He’d had a full day to tell the man. “I came into your office to tell you earlier, but you were busy watching for Uline.”

Dax took a step back and righted his pants. “Don’t you dare use Uline as an excuse, Nyk. You could have told me.” Dax spun around and walked a few steps away before turning back to Nyk. “I’m calling Kayden and getting you off this damn ship.”

“That’s exactly why I didn’t tell you!” Nyk picked the bottle of lube up and threw it at Dax’s head. “You’re not sending me away!”

“The hell I’m not.” Dax growled. “My pregnant mate is not going into battle.”

Nyk narrowed his eyes, common sense and reason fleeing as his anger began to mount. “Try and stop me.”

“Nyk,” Dax said in warning. “Don’t push me on this.”

Nyk stormed across the bridge toward the door. He needed time to calm down. A shouting match wasn’t going to solve anything. Besides, if he didn’t get away from Dax, he just might punch the man.

Fear had a tight hold on Nyk and it was making him act like a damn fool. He didn’t want to be separated from Dax, even if it was the right thing to do.

“Get back here!”

Nyk flipped Dax off before he exited the bridge and headed down the corridor. Before he could make it to the lift, Dax was on him, shoving Nyk’s back into the wall. “You are not going to Regula, Nyk.”

His tone was softer now, almost pleading for Nyk to be reasonable. Nyk banged the back of his head into the wall, feeling hot tears threatening to spill. “I’ve never been away from you, Dax. Not in twenty damn years. Right now, when I need you the most, you’re trying to send me away.”

“Oh, hon.” Dax pressed his forehead into Nyk’s. “I’m not sending you away. Not like that. Can’t you see that I’m only trying to keep you safe?”

“I’m safest with you,” Nyk argued. “Besides, I know how to defend myself. I’m not helpless.” Dax’s earlier implication that Nyk was a coward gripped Nyk. He didn’t want his mate to look at him as anything less than a man, a warrior. He took pride in knowing that Dax respected him. Telling Nyk to tuck tail and run was the worst kind of insult Dax could have handed him.

“I know you’re not,” Dax replied. “You’re one hell of an Assassin. But we have someone else to think about now.”

The sincerity in Dax’s eyes nearly succeeded in breaking Nyk’s resolve to stay. “I’ll be careful. I promise.”

Dax looked torn as he turned his head, gazing down at the floor. “Nyk.”

Nyk said something he never thought he’d say in this lifetime. “I’ll stay onboard the Falcon.”

Dax’s head snapped up, his eyes so dark they looked murderous. “The hell you will.”

“Either I stay with you or I stay on Ben’s ship. Those are the only two options, Dax. I’m not being sent away.”

Dax slammed his balled fist into the wall as he bared his canines. “You stubborn son of a bitch!”

“I am.” Nyk shoved Dax aside. “Deal with it.”

Dax yanked Nyk back, their bodies colliding. Nyk would have fallen backward if Dax hadn’t wrapped an arm around him. “You don’t leave this ship, understood?”

“Understood,” Nyk replied. He was stubborn, but he’d learned from the best.

And that would be Daxar Althos.

Chapter Ten

“This is insane,” Logan groused as he stood behind the console. “What if Ben won’t listen to you and decides to kill you instead?”

“It’s a chance I have to take.” Dax walked onto the transporter pad. He not only had a mate to protect, but a child as well. Dax was still reeling from the news. “It’s our only hope and you know it.”

“I still don’t like it,” Logan replied. “If that bastard kills you, I’ll hunt him down with everything I have.”

Dax winked at Logan. “Love you, too. Now beam me over.”

It had taken them a full day to find out that Ben was following them. Dax should have known. Ben had been too hell-bent on finding out about their cargo to give up. The Marauder didn’t know that Dax was coming over. Ben hadn’t answered any hailing frequencies. This was their only option.

They’d scanned the ship and found a section that wasn’t too heavy with people. Dax materialized and went on full alert. He pulled his weapon from his holster as he glanced around. He had no illusions that this meeting would be friendly or welcomed.

God, he was going to be a father. Dax was nervous and thrilled in the same measures. Every fiber of his being told him to send Nyk to Kayden, but he knew that Nyk wouldn’t go. Dax took a deep breath and let it out slowly. He couldn’t think of his pregnant mate right now. He had to stay focused.

He slipped down the hallway in silence, managing to elude Ben’s crew until he reached the corridor outside the bridge. There were too many men around and Dax didn’t have time to wait it out or find another way in.

He was going to have to let himself be captured. That wasn’t something he was used to or looked forward to. Although he and Ben did not get along, Dax prayed the man had common sense and would at least listen to him.

Feeling the sweat build over his brow, Dax tried to center himself. Ben would either hear him out or killed him. He counted to three and then stepped into plain view.

“Hello, ladies.” Dax dipped his head with a smirk on his face. “I need to see your captain.”

He was immediately seized. Why in the hell did he think they would take him to the bridge? When they yanked him around and started off a way where he knew Ben to be, Dax had no choice but to fight.

He slammed his fist into one man’s face as he took down another. Dax was winning until he felt something hard press into his back.

“You have a lot of nerve, boy.” It was Ben who was standing behind him. “Give me one good reason why I shouldn’t kill you right now.”

“I’m too damn good looking,” Dax said.

The weapon was shoved harder into his back. “Try again.”

“Look, we need to talk. No matter how much you hate me, I know you hate the Empire even more.”

Ben moved until he was standing in front of Dax. His lip curled in as he pressed his weapon right over Dax’s heart. “Explain why you stole onto my ship or you won’t have a heart for much longer.”

Dax explained. He would rather have Ben eat that fucking phaser, but this wasn’t about him or his pride. He had a crew to save.

Ben laughed. It was deep and methodical. “A traitor. How priceless. Tell me you killed the little bastard.”

Dax thought of Logan and growled. “One of your nephews has taken a liking to the guy.”

Ben shook his head. “Never said my family was sane.”

“Are you going to help us or not?” Dax asked. “We don’t have much longer before we reach our destination.”

“For my family, I’ll help.” Ben snarled the words. “But we’re about to search your ship just to make sure you don’t have the Tahna Weed.”

This should be interesting.

* * * *

Nyk stood on the bridge as the Falcon and the Adventure were almost nose to nose. He chewed on his thumbnail as Ben and Dax stood there arguing. They’d both transported over seconds ago and Ben wanted to search the ship. He had three of his men with him, so what could they do but comply?

“We don’t have any Tahna Weed,” Dax said and Nyk could tell that his mate was edgy as hell right now. Teaming up with the Marauders was the last thing Dax wanted to do and his attitude was proving that point. “We turned the contract down.”

Ben crossed his arms over his chest and gave Dax a look that said he didn’t believe him. “Why would you turn down a contract that would pay three times the amount normally given?”

“Too risky,” Logan answered. “It wasn’t worth the damn headache.”

Ben snapped his fingers at one of his men before turning back to Dax. “Then you won’t mind if we take a look.”

“What’s with you?” Dax snapped.

Nyk could see the wheels in Ben’s head turning before some sort of decision was made. “The Tahna Weed cargo Krige tried to get you to haul is contaminated with a deadly virus that has the potential to wipe out half the galaxy.”

Logan cursed loud and long. “I knew it was too good to be true. That slimy bastard.”

Nyk nearly sagged with relief. The three of them had decided that they weren’t willing to risk being hunted by runners for their cargo, so Dax had told Krige to find another hauler. Thank the gods they hadn’t brought that cargo onto their ship or they would all be dead by now. “Do you know who has it?”

Ben shook his head. “We’re trying to track it down, but we’re not having any luck.”

“Go search,” Dax said and then added, “but only one of you can go and Logan will escort him.”

Ben’s lip curled. “You’re a little too cocky, boy. First you ask for my help and now you want me to stand here and wait while just one of my men search?”

Dax’s canines elongated as his claws shot out. “Call me boy one more time and I’m going to add another hole to your fucking body.”

“Stop me from searching and I promise the same.” Ben Hur and his men walked off the bridge. Logan went after them.

“Fucking bastard.” Dax spun on his heel and walked out, Nyk following. They walked several paces behind Ben and his men. Dax hadn’t said a word to Nyk all morning and Nyk was going insane with the silence. Dax was livid with him, that much was apparent, but Nyk couldn’t take the silent treatment any longer.

“You can’t ignore me forever.”

“I’m not ignoring you,” Dax said. “I’ve just got a lot on my mind right now.”

Nyk stopped walking and balled his fists at his sides. “You never even said if you were happy or angry that I’m pregnant.”

This succeeded in stopping Dax in his tracks. He turned, his eyes wide. He didn’t say anything for the longest moment and then he spoke. “Do you think I’ve loved you my entire life only to reject you when you’re carrying my child?”

Nyk growled. “That’s not a fucking answer, Dax.”

Dax closed the distance and then gripped Nyk’s jaw. The hold was firm, but not painful. “I love you more than my own life, Nyk. Why do you think I’m so fucking angry with you right now? We created a life together and you’re putting that life in jeopardy by being too damn stubborn to see the whole picture.”

“That’s still not an answer.”

Dax actually laughed. “Yes, I’m happy. I’m fucking ecstatic, you moron.” He released Nyk’s jaw and placed his hand over Nyk’s stomach. “I want a life with you, kids, a business, but most of all, I want you to be safe. I haven’t spent my whole life loving you only to risk losing you now. I might have taught you how to be the best Assassin, but not even you can take on the Feds without getting hurt.”

“And what, you have some sort of magic shield that will protect you from them?”

“No, but I do have your uncle on my side.”

Nyk snorted. “You think having Ben Hur on your side will save you from a blaster?”

Dax sighed. “Let’s not fight, Nykky.”

“I don’t want to fight either,” Nyk confessed. “I’ll stay with you on this run”—Nyk held his hand up when Dax opened his mouth to argue—“and then after that, I’ll stay home and manage the business while you and Logan run the freights. Deal?”

“You don’t leave the ship,” Dax reminded him. “Not one damn foot off of this vessel.”

“Promise.”

“Uh-uh,” Dax said. “Let me see those fingers.”

Nyk chuckled and held both hands up. “I didn’t cross my fingers.”

Dax grabbed Nyk’s hand and pulled him down the corridor. “Come on. We have to keep an eye on your uncle.”

They caught up to with the others and stayed with the men as Ben and his guys searched the cargo bay. They did one hell of a thorough job before Ben nodded, satisfied that Dax and his crew didn’t have the Tahna Weed shipment. “Let’s go plan.”

“Fine,” Dax snapped before escorting the men back to the bridge. When they were back on the bridge, Ben seemed at ease as they discussed how they were going to take care of any Feds waiting for them.

Nyk thought about Uline, who was locked in his quarters. He wasn’t sure what Dax planned to do with the guy, but Logan wasn’t going to let anything happen to the Endorian. Nyk wasn’t sure what was going on with the two, but he’d never seen Logan this protective of anyone before.

“We’ll be docking on Regula in about ten hours,” Dax said.

“See you in about eight.” Ben and his men transported off the ship.

“This cargo better be worth it,” Logan said. “If my ass gets shot, I’m going to be pissed at you, Dax.”

Nyk smiled. Logan loved Dax like a brother and vice versa. The man talked a lot of shit, but he would always have his friend’s back. Logan glanced at Nyk and studied him for a long moment. “There’s something different about you.”

Nyk shrugged. “Don’t know what that could be.”

Knowledge filled Logan’s steel-grey eyes before a grin appeared on his olive-colored face. “You and Dax did the deed.”

Nyk growled, feeling his face flush with heat. That only made Logan chuckle.

“I’m right, aren’t I?”

Dax winked at Nyk. “I mated and knocked the man up.”

Logan choked on his laugh before he glanced wide-eyed at Nyk. “No shit.”

Nyk glared at Dax. “You got a big mouth.”

“What the fuck are you doing going to Regula if—” Logan waved a hand at Nyk’s stomach. “You should be on the first transporter out of here.”

“Don’t start,” Nyk snapped. “I’ve already had that argument with Dax.”

“And he’s right,” Logan said. “You shouldn’t be here.”

Dax looked smugly at Nyk, but didn’t say a word.

“Not open for debate.” Nyk left the bridge before the two men ganged up on him and he was forced to wipe the floor with both of them. Right or wrong, Nyk wasn’t leaving Dax to handle this alone.

Chapter Eleven

The Adventure docked on Regula on schedule. Dax’s nerves were drawn so tight that he felt as if he’d snap at any second. Logan was scanning the planet for any signs of the Feds as Nyk talked with the bay captain, declaring their cargo and getting permission to off-load.

Ben Hur’s ship was on the other side of the planet, hidden. But three smaller ships had departed from the Falcon and were flying close by, the Marauders waiting for any kind of attack.

The tension was thick, everyone on alert. Dax couldn’t remember a time when he had been this wound up. His thoughts kept going to Nyk and his unborn child. He’d been honest with Nyk when he said he was happy about their child. Now that Dax had had time to absorb things, he was looking forward to the birth.

What he wasn’t looking forward to was Nyk being here if something went down. Just the thought of his mate getting hurt had his stomach in knots. He would kill anyone who even thought of harming Nyk. Let one of those Feds come anywhere near his mate and Dax would eviscerate them.

“We’ve been cleared,” Nyk announced.

“Then let’s get this done as quickly as possible.” Dax and Logan headed for the bridge door before Dax looked at Nyk. “Remember your promise.”

Nyk’s jaw flexed as he nodded. “I won’t leave the ship.”

Dax and Logan headed down to the cargo bay where they met the dock workers who would unload their shipment. The air had a sterile quality to it, no hint of wildness and flowers, streaming rivers or roaring oceans. Regula was nothing but hilly mountains as far as the eye could see.

A steel-structured research facility sat in the center of what looked like a gigantic crater. The building was several miles wide and seventy stories tall, the levels stacked at odd angles for stability. Out of those UV-protected glass windows the only view was of a barren planet, devoid of vegetation and wildlife. How anyone could call this place home was beyond Dax.

“All clear,” Ben said into the earpiece Dax wore. “So far all is quiet.”

Too quiet in Dax’s opinion. Normally the pristine white docks on Regula were teeming with workers and controlled chaos as cargo ships arrived and medical transports landed and took off. The dock was a virtual ghost town as the workers off-loaded the crates of medical supplies the Adventure had delivered. Even the air around them seemed to have stilled, as if the wind knew trouble was coming their way. A trickle of sweat ran down the side of Dax’s face. It was humid on this planet, and with no breeze to speak of, it felt like they were standing in a low-temperature oven.

“I don’t like this,” Logan said as he scanned the docks. Even the janitorial crew, who were usually a constant, keeping the place spotless, was missing. “My gut is telling me to get the fuck out of here.”

So was Dax’s. “We’re halfway done.”

They had transported twenty large metal crates and so far ten had been taken away. Dax wanted to shout at the workers to hurry the fuck up, but kept his cool.

A man in a bay captain’s white uniform walked over to the ramp, a Vid-pad in his hand and the medical insignia of Regula on his sleeve. “You have to sign the transfer forms.”

Logan took the Vid-pad as Dax observed the guy. He was sweating profusely as his eyes darted around. Dax could see the pulse in the man’s neck beating erratically, too fast for a normal heartbeat.

A worker drove the off-loader onto the ramp, going after another crate when Dax spotted the Empire tattoo on the guy’s neck, barely visible above the coveralls he was wearing.

Logan handed the Vid-pad back to the bay captain and the man couldn’t seem to get away from them fast enough. He all but sprinted across the wide area.

“The workers are Feds,” Dax said under his breath to Logan and Ben. “I think they want the full cargo off our ship before they attack.”

“How many more crates are left?” Ben asked.

“Nine,” Dax said as he watched the workers stacking the metal containers in a corner. It wasn’t in a neat and orderly pile like the normal workers would have meticulously created. Most of the cargo looked as if it would topple over at any second.

Logan walked down the ramp and shouted at the bay captain. “Gonna hit the head.”

The man nodded and then ducked into his office, closing the door behind him before the white blinds dropped down over the large window. Logan wasn’t going to the bathroom. He was setting explosives around the bay. When the Feds made their move, Dax and Logan were going to need a diversion to help them escape.

“I’m taking the Stealth Fury and coming down there with a unit of men,” Ben said. “I’ll be there in ten.”

A Stealth Fury was one of the fastest smaller aircrafts on the market. They were made to avoid detection by using a complex design to reduce the ability of an opponent’s sensors. They were lightning fast, sleek, and could outmaneuver any weapons fired at them with their aerodynamic performance.

The only downside was that they couldn’t be flown in space, only in a planet’s atmosphere. Ben was going to have to bring the Falcon low enough for the Fury to depart.

The off-loader drove onto the ramp again. Now there were eight crates left.

“You better get here soon,” Dax said. “They seem to be working faster getting these crates off my ship.”

As he stood there, Dax counted the men on the dock. There were ten in all, but he knew there were even more hiding, waiting for the last crate to be removed.

“Don’t start the party without me,” Ben said.

“Wouldn’t dream of it.” Dax gazed at the worker driving past him. The man smiled, waved, and loaded another crate onto the forklift.

Bastard.

Logan came back and took up his position next to Dax. Another crate was taken off.

“Seven more,” Dax said to Ben.

“Be there in five.”

“I don’t think we have five,” Logan said so only Dax could hear. “The Feds seem a little impatient to get their hands on us.”

Dax glanced around to see that Logan was right. The workers had moved closer, abandoning the pretense that they belonged on this planet.

They were getting into position as the off-loader pulled another crate from the Adventure, leaving six more to go. Dax centered himself, letting his hand hang loosely at his side, close to his blaster, as he watched every single movement around him.

A wicked smile appeared at the side of Logan’s mouth as his steel-grey eyes gleamed with anticipation.

“Figures you’re getting off on this shit.” Dax shook his head. “And people call me unstable.”

The off-loader set the crate aside, and instead of turning to come back to the ship, it drove further away from the bay. “Looks like they’re tired of the charade,” Logan said.

As the Feds moved closer, Dax spotted the sky moving. He knew it was the Fury, but it blended so well with the blue sky that the slight blur of movement seemed almost ghostlike. It was as if the sky were hiding the aircraft. There was no sound, no indication that anything was even there. It glided seamlessly toward them and then stilled in the sky, hovering just above the open bay.

The Feds didn’t even realize it was there. He wasn’t even sure that Logan noticed its approach. Dax had to get one of those. Who the hell did Ben kill to get such a cool toy?

The Fed closest to them spoke loud and clear. “Daxar Althos and Logan Soukara, by orders of the Empire, you are under arrest for treason.”

“Treason?” Dax laughed. “You’ve got to be fucking kidding me.”

The man continued as if Dax hadn’t interrupted him. “Surrender your vessel and any personnel onboard.”

Logan scoffed. “I hope like hell you brought more men than this.”

The Feds seemed to multiply as the ones Dax suspected of hiding came into view. He glared at Logan. “You just had to open your big mouth.”

Logan shrugged. “At least we know how many pawns are on the chessboard now.”

“You truly are a twisted man.” Dax grabbed his blaster and fired as he jumped off the ramp and took off to the side of the ship. Standing on the ramp just made him cannon fodder. There was nowhere to shield himself. The Feds returned fire, determined to take them down.

“I’m really starting to think they don’t like us,” Dax said as Logan joined him.

“It’s your long braids and eyeliner,” Logan replied as he squatted, spun, and shot two Feds who were trying to race onto the ship. “The combination can be off-putting to some people.”

“Don’t make me shoot you.” Dax watched as Ben’s three fighter ships landed, the Marauders onboard joining the battle. Ben’s Stealth touched down before the man disembarked, looking like the devil himself as he walked off the ship. A few Feds scrambled to get away.

“Now why can’t I have that effect on people?” Dax groused as he rushed from his position and took aim at another man trying to board the Adventure. Although he’d sealed the entrance into the ship that rested inside the cargo bay, Dax wasn’t taking any chances with Nyk inside.

He had a feeling that this wasn’t going to be a cakewalk like he’d been hoping. The Feds weren’t easily defeated. They had been well trained and were proving it as the battle on the bay raged on.

* * * *

Nyk paced the bridge as he watched the fight on the viewscreen and saw his mate and Logan battling the Feds.

He should be down there. Nyk shouldn’t be tucked away as the two men risked their lives.

“Now I see why you guys are so feared,” Uline said from the weapons station. Logan had insisted on the Endorian staying with Nyk for safety reasons. Nyk was still pissed as hell at Uline. If it hadn’t been for that tracking device, the fight on the bay wouldn’t be taking place right now and Nyk wouldn’t be pacing a groove in the floor.

His skin was tight, itchy, his wolf dying to burst free and go after the Feds. But he’d promised Dax that he wouldn’t leave the ship and Nyk wasn’t going to break that promise.

“Dax and Logan are really good fighters.” Uline continued to talk. “Especially Logan. He’s just so hawt right now with that evil smirk on his face.”

Nyk stopped pacing to gaze at Uline. “You do realize that they are battling for not only their lives, but ours as well. What the fuck is so hot about that?”

Uline shrugged. “Look at them.”

Nyk turned to look at the viewscreen. Uline was right. Dax was fighting like a warrior. His muscles flexed as he lunged forward, engaging in hand-to-hand combat. It was the most beautiful and sexy thing Nyk had ever seen. He hit the record button, wanting to capture the moment. Call him weird, but watching Dax all sweaty and in action was a big turn-on.

“Well look who it is.”

Nyk froze at the sound of a voice he had prayed to never hear again—a voice that had haunted him since childhood.

McClain Calvoris.

Nyk swallowed his fear, forcing himself not to shake as the small boy in him balled up into a corner and begged McClain not to beat him anymore, not to torture him.

He steeled his spine as he turned.

Standing at the door of the bridge was a man who could scare even the meanest and baddest runner or cutthroat in the galaxies. He stood close to seven feet tall, muscular and scowling. His coat looked a size too small as his biceps and chest strained to break free.

But it was his face that scared Nyk the most. His clenched jaw and hard chin were stubbled with a day’s growth of black hair, his nose still crooked from the one time Nyk had gotten a lucky strike in and broken the bone. It was malformed and humped.

Nyk met the man’s gaze and wished he hadn’t. Those obsidian eyes were just as Nyk remembered in his nightmares, cold and inhuman.

McClain had two men with him, both relics from Nyk’s past. They were guards who had beaten him as well. Though not quite as cruel as McClain, they were still heartless and unwelcome.

Nyk’s stomach tied into knots and his pulse beat loudly in his ears, almost preventing him from hearing McClain.

“I’m going to finish what I started, Nykky boy.” McClain slid his coat from his body, letting the heavy leather hit the floor. He had tefillin wrapped around his muscular biceps that wound down like striking snakes until the ends covered McClain’s middle fingers. Nyk’s skin burned at the memory of being beaten with those thin straps of leather.

From the corner of his eye, Nyk could see how pale Uline had grown. The man curled into his chair, as if trying to become invisible. Nyk pulled himself up to his full height, showing McClain that he was no longer the little boy that could be intimidated, though his insides were quivering.

“Do you think you’ll have me begging at your heels?” Nyk asked, the fury building until his wolf snarled to break free. “You hold no power over me, McClain.”

A cruel smile appeared, McClain’s eyes brightening. “The sniveling puppy has grown balls. I see being around Dax all these years has given you a false sense of courage. Let’s see how brave you are when I’m beating the very blood from your body.”

McClain uncoiled the whip that had always hung at his side, his weapon of choice, a weapon he had more than mastered. Nyk stopped himself from cringing back as he bared his canines.

The two men with McClain laughed as they crossed their arms over their chests.

McClain started for Nyk and Nyk countered the steps by moving to his left, away from Uline. The Endorian would never survive an attack from this man. As angry as he was with Uline, Nyk never wanted anyone to experience the nightmarish beatings he had endured.

You’re not a little boy any longer, Nyk. You’re a grown man, mated and with child. Protect the babe. Protect Uline. Nyk would do whatever he had to in order to protect the life he and Dax had created.

The whip snapped in the air like a bolt of lightning. The sound echoed in Nyk’s ear, making him flinch. McClain laughed.

Nyk ground his teeth as his claws slid free. Uline gasped from his chair and Nyk cursed when McClain spared the Endorian a glance. “Don’t worry. You’re next.”

Logan should have left Uline locked in his quarters. The man would have been safer there. Though the Feds had to know he was onboard. Uline was their mole, sent to destroy the Breed Assassins.

“I’m so sorry, Nyk,” Uline murmured. “I should have never betrayed you or the others.”

“Shut up,” McClain snapped. “Do you think we relied on your tracking device?” McClain curled his upper lip, making his features even darker, more menacing. “You’re a cowardly little fool by nature. We knew you might double-cross us so we embedded a tracking device under your skin. The Empire doesn’t take chances. We are very thorough. That piece-of-crap device we gave you doesn’t even work.”

Uline’s dark eyebrows shot up before he glanced at Nyk. “I still planted it. You guys wouldn’t be in this mess if it weren’t for me. If it takes my last breath, I’ll make this up to you.”

“Oh, it’ll be your last breath.” McClain snapped the whip in Uline’s direction, the tip slicing across the Endorian’s face. Uline screamed as he grabbed his eye, blood pouring from between his fingers. He hit the floor, writhing around as his cries seared into Nyk’s brain.

Nyk roared as he shifted, his third form emerging.

McClain snapped the whip again, the serpentine cord hitting Nyk across his upper arm. The scent of his own blood filled the air and Nyk went insane.

“I’m going to mount your head on my wall, Nykky boy,” McClain threatened.

Nyk had never liked fighting, never liked violence. He was a capable and deadly Assassin thanks to Dax, but it had never been in him to hurt other people. Until today. Today Nyk was going to take pleasure in killing McClain.

When McClain cracked the whip again, Nyk seized the end, wrapping it around his fur-covered hands, reeling the bastard in. McClain’s eyes widened, stunned that Nyk had caught the corded whip. Nyk yanked and McClain fell forward, stumbled, and then caught himself. When he was within arm’s reach, Nyk curled his fingers around the man’s throat, squeezing the very breath from the man’s evil body.

“You shouldn’t have come,” Nyk said. “You should have stayed in my memories where you did the most damage. Now all I see is a pathetic man who bullies those weaker than him.” Nyk shoved his muzzle into McClain’s crooked nose. “But I’m no longer weak.”

McClain snarled, grabbing at Nyk’s face, digging his nails into his cheeks. Nyk growled, jerked his head to the side, and crushed the man’s windpipe. McClain went limp.

Nyk was too stunned to move. His mind couldn’t seem to comprehend that he’d killed his bête noire. He’d faced his worst nightmare and conquered it. But his daze didn’t last long.

The two guards who had come with McClain pulled their blasters free and began to shoot at Nyk, hitting him in the thigh and hip. Nyk leapt across the distance, grabbing the first guard he reached. He tore the man limb from limb, taking his rage out on the bastard.

When he turned to tear the next man apart, he stood stock-still, gazing at the scene in front of him. Uline was standing there, panting heavily, blood still seeping from the wound on his face. He held a knife in his hands, the blade embedded into the other guard’s gut.

Uline took a step back, releasing the weapon as his mouth opened, a silent scream contorting his face before he fell to the floor and curled into himself, crying.

Nyk shifted back into his human form and grabbed Uline, cradling the man as Uline wept. There was no way the guy had killed his professor. Uline was too horrified by what he’d just done.

The bridge doors slid open and Dax and Logan came to a skidding stop. They glanced around at the carnage before both men raced over to the helm, preparing the ship for liftoff. Nyk held onto Uline, comforting the man, brushing his hand over Uline’s dark hair as the Adventure left Regula and headed out into space.

Chapter Twelve

Dax cleaned the wounds on Nyk’s thigh and hip, grateful that the lacerations weren’t that deep. “You could have gotten killed.”

“I didn’t leave the ship,” Nyk pointed out. “The fight came to me. What was I supposed to do, stand there and let McClain whip me to death?”

Dax’s teeth gnashed together at the mention of McClain’s name. The guard had been nothing but trouble since the children of Sator had first shown up at the training facility, and his favorite target had been Nyk. Dax never understood why the guard had focused on Nyk, but McClain was one of the main reasons Dax had taught Nyk how to fight.

Dax wiped the gauze over the wound, his eyes riveted on Nyk’s stomach. His heart began to pound heavily in his chest as he feared that McClain could have possibly done more damage than what was visible. “Did he hurt the baby?”

Nyk cupped Dax’s cheek and then pressed a kiss to it. “Fuck no. He didn’t get anywhere near our pup.”

The vehemence in Nyk’s voice made the pride in Dax swell. Our pup. Dax gazed at his mate’s abdomen before splaying his fingers over the flat planes, wondering what their child was going to look like. The knowledge that he and Nyk had created a life together still stunned and amazed him, but it also made him feel closer to Nyk than he’d ever felt before.

“You did good, Nykky.” Dax turned his head and kissed the palm of Nyk’s hand. “Damn proud of you.”

“Aw,” Nyk said as he blushed. “You say the sweetest things.”

Dax grunted. “Moron. Get off the table and get back to work.”

“I’m going to check on Uline first,” Nyk said as he dressed. He stood there staring at the floor and Dax could feel the pain coming from his mate. “He fought when he didn’t have to. He stopped the other guard from attacking me. I owe him, Dax.”

“Even though he tried to hand us over to the Feds?”

“People make mistakes. They do things out of fear. But being truly sorry for those mistakes is what separates those of us who actually care from the heartless bastards.” Nyk shook his head. “He deserves another chance. Don’t we all?” Nyk glanced up at Dax and Dax could see the conviction in his mate’s green eyes.

“Since Logan won’t let me toss the little shit out on his ear, I guess we can keep him.” He wasn’t about to say he liked Uline. Dax had to keep up his badass persona. But he would cut the Endorian some slack. Uline was in a world of pain right now, and Dax was concerned that he might lose his eye. Endorians could recover from a lot of things, but the tip of McClain’s whip had been dipped in silver and Ucanty salt. The combination was preventing Uline’s wound from healing properly. He was going to have one nasty-ass scar.

Nyk would as well. With the silver infused into the wounds on his thigh and hip, there would always be a reminder of the battle Nyk had fought and won against his worst nightmare.

“Do you know how sexy these scars are?” Dax ran the tips of his fingers over the wound on Nyk’s thigh and smiled when the muscle jerked.

“You are such a perverted man,” Nyk teased, but his voice had dropped into a husky tone. “Why don’t you kiss it and make it better?”

“Now who’s the perverted one?” Dax dropped to his knees, admiring the hard cock in front of his face. He gave Nyk a wicked grin before he licked his lips. “Which wound was that?”

Nyk palmed his erection, giving the hard flesh a few strokes. “Right here.”

“That’s not your thigh.”

“Close enough.”

Dax leaned forward and swallowed Nyk’s cock. Nyk’s legs shook as Dax worked the erection down his throat. When Dax looked up, Nyk’s eyes were dark, seductive, his lips parting as Nyk moistened them with his tongue. His hips bucked as he moaned. Dax used his tongue to caress Nyk’s cock with slow, easy strokes. His body tightened with need as Nyk’s flesh jerked within Dax’s mouth.

A low, sexy growl filled the silence as Nyk held Dax’s head still, his hips pushing against Dax, then pulling back as his mate sought relief in the humid depths of Dax’s mouth.

The thick shaft stretched Dax’s lips, seared Dax with its heat. He drew on it with a slow, lazy sucking motion, staring up at Nyk, watching his mate’s face contort in pleasure. He worked Nyk’s flesh with his tongue, enveloping it with a suckling heat. Dax drew back, tonguing the tip, then sank his mouth over Nyk’s cock head once again.

Nyk’s lashes drifted closed, as his body visibly tensed. A ragged growl rumbled in his chest. Dax loved that sound. The hotter Nyk became, the more aroused, the deeper his growl became.

Dax knew what was coming, he could sense it. He could feel it. His hand brushed Nyk’s away, stroking the thick flesh slowly. Dax could feel the tension in the middle of the heavy length, a harder pulse of blood, the flesh more heated. A spurt of the pre-cum filled his mouth as a groan ripped from Nyk’s throat. His mate’s cock throbbed, the blood beating furiously through the heavy veins.

“Not like this.” Nyk pulled back. Dax could feel the back of his throat tingling, a deeper hunger coursing through him. He stood and licked at Nyk’s lips, slid his tongue inside the man’s mouth, growled as Nyk opened to him, Nyk’s tongue tangling with his, tasting the dark brew of their combined desire. Nyk’s tongue tasted of a storm, lightning charged, damp and earthy, sweet. There was nothing to compare it to. No other taste Dax had ever known even came close.

With the need to reassure himself that his mate was okay, the hunger wasn’t just indescribable pleasure any longer. It was a firefight inside Dax’s body. He broke the kiss and spun his mate, planting his hand between Nyk’s shoulder blades until Nyk was bent over the table.

They were already bound, forever tied together in their need for each other, in the danger that stalked them. But Dax needed more. He needed to reassert his claim, to let Nyk know who he belonged to.

Dax grabbed the lube from the tray. He wet his fingers in the clear gel before inserting his fingers, stretching Nyk wide.

“I can take it,” Nyk said as he writhed. “I need you inside of me, now.”

A sharp cry left Nyk’s throat as Dax pushed inside to the hilt, his cock pulsing, throbbing with the heated grip Nyk had on it. His beast howled in joy as Dax groaned in pleasure.

“Dax,” Nyk cried out, his head tossing, his body jerking against Dax’s.

“Mine,” Dax growled, his hands clenching on the cheeks of Nyk’s ass as he ground his mate against the torturously hot shaft that screamed out for relief. Swirling vortexes of lightning resounded beneath Dax’s flesh, charged with erotic intensity and carnality. It was like sinking into a whirlwind of such heated delight that the senses exploded. He thrust harder inside Nyk then, faster. Heat seared him, pushing Dax closer as fingers of blistering sensation began to clench along his spine.

He didn’t pause. Dax plunged forward as he reached under Nyk and gripped his mate’s cock, stroking it in time to his rhythm. He gripped Nyk’s cock as he began fucking his mate with fast, forceful thrusts. Each forward lunge was taken with slick ease and with a desperate cry.

Nyk’s back curved in as he shouted Dax’s name, his hot seed exploding in Dax’s hand. The tight grip became too much as Dax sank his canines into Nyk’s flesh, savagely snarling as his climax tore through him. He cock began to swell as Dax slowed, removing his canines and licking the abused flesh.

Dax kissed Nyk between his shoulder blades before resting his cheek on his mate’s sweaty back. He wrapped his arms around Nyk, holding him close. “I love you, Nykky.”

“Soul deep,” Nyk replied as he curled his hands around Dax’s arms. “Since the moment I met you.”

Their lives were anything but normal, but Dax planned on making things as boring as possible for him and his little family. The Empire might be after them, but with added security and a shitload of luck, they just might manage to have a semi-normal life.

* * * *

Uline raced across the bay, shouting at one of the workers as Patch chased him down. Nyk could only shake his head as Uline lit into the worker about the proper procedure for off-loading cargo. It seemed the scar over his right eye had given Uline a measure of bravery he hadn’t had before. He even stated once that it made him look like a badass.

Nyk turned, cradling his son in his arms as Dax walked out onto the bay, kissing Nyk on the cheek before kissing their son on his forehead. “Is he at it again?”

Nyk chuckled. “Uline is like a dog with a bone when it comes to procedure. I’m surprised no one has tried to shoot him yet.”

“That’s because everyone knows they’ll have to answer to Logan if they try.” Dax lifted Matthias from Nyk’s arms and carried him inside, Nyk following. “Thoran called. He and Eaton want us to come for a visit.”

Nyk missed the other Assassins and their mates. It had been five months since Nyk had mated Dax, and life seemed to have settled down. After what happened on Regula, the Feds weren’t so quick to attack. That didn’t mean the bounty still wasn’t a temptation some men couldn’t resist, but Dax and Logan kept the home front safe enough that Nyk wasn’t overly worried.

They’d converted Dax’s bedroom into a nursery and named Uline and Logan Matthias’s godfathers. Uline was thrilled. Over the past five months, the man had opened up and had become a real asset to their freighting company, and a damn good friend as well.

Nyk just wished Logan and Uline would stop arguing long enough to see that the tension between them was sexually charged. But both men were as stubborn as the day was long. Logan wasn’t an easy man to tame and it seemed Uline wasn’t taking any flack from the guy.

Ben still hadn’t found the shipment of Tahna Weed and Nyk was starting to wonder if it even existed. But the Marauders weren’t giving up.

Nyk watched Dax with their son and couldn’t help but smile. To think he had been too afraid to admit how he felt for the man and had nearly lost out on a family he loved more than his own life.

“Are you going to put him down for a nap?” Nyk asked as he grabbed the Vid-pad on his office desk and gazed over the orders that needed to be shipped.

His mate grinned and Nyk knew the man was up to no good.

“Nah, I thought I’d show Matthias the fine art of self-defense.”

Nyk frowned. “But he’s only two months old.”

Patch ran into the office, barking as he wagged his tail. Nyk picked up the rubber ball and tossed it across the room. When one of the workers walked into the office, Patch ran over by Dax and Matthias, growling as he took up a defensive stance.

The worker backed up. “I’ll come back later.”

“With two overprotective fathers, two godfathers, Breed Assassins as his uncles, and Patch, I think Matthias is well guarded,” Nyk pointed out with a chuckle.

“Maybe you’re right.” Dax placed Matthias in the bassinette they kept in the office. “But when he turns five—”

“He’ll be playing kids’ games,” Nyk insisted. “He’ll have plenty of time to learn how to defend himself. Let him enjoy his life, Dax. Let him have what we were denied.”

Dax crossed the room and pulled Nyk into his arms. Nyk sighed, melting into his mate.

“So bossy.” Dax kissed along Nyk’s neck, his masculine, predatory scent filling Nyk’s lungs and making Nyk hard. “Such a turn-on.”

Nyk smacked Dax’s arm. “Don’t even think about it. I’m still recovering from giving birth to Matthias.”

Dax gave him another kiss before he released Nyk. “Keep denying me and I’ll have blue balls.”

Nyk couldn’t help but smile as Dax walked out, grumbling under his breath. He stood there watching, finally feeling as if his life was complete. Dax was stubborn and dominant, but he was Nyk’s best friend, his lover, his mate, and his entire world.

Nyk might have been trained to kill, but he was born to love Dax, and that was what he planned on doing for the rest of his life.

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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Siren Publishing, Inc.

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