York (The Vorge Crew Book 3) Read online

  Marrow shook her head. “Don’t worry about who’s taking him down. The shaft-head sent enough proof to the Tryleskians to establish his guilt. Including an image of his purchase.” Her gaze darted to Sara before returning to him. “He’s convicted himself. Raff has offered to tag along. I’ll fly the larger shuttle to the surface and he’ll pull guard duty. Dovis is also going, to fill out the legal documents, since he’s officially our head of security. We’ve got this. Go bond.”

  York didn’t need to be told twice. He grabbed Sara’s hand and led her off the bridge. “You’re always safe, Sara. Never forget that.”

  “I won’t.”

  They reached their cabin within minutes and York lifted her into his arms the second the door sealed behind them. He kissed her, carrying her to their bed. The overriding urge to plant his seed inside her and watch her belly expand in size with his young had his shaft swollen and hurting. He gently put her down, bending to remove his boots.

  Sara stripped fast, too. “God, you are so sexy.”

  “So are you, my heart.”

  He removed the last of his clothing, reaching for his bond mate.

  There was an urgency to their lovemaking. He explored her body feverishly with his hands and mouth, loving the tiny moans she made, and the way she touched him back. He kissed her deep when she was wet and ready for him, her thighs parting to wrap around his hips, and he surged forward, claiming her.

  Pleasure had him groaning her name as he furiously pumped his hips, her sounds of pending climax growing louder when he increased the pace.

  He hoped when his seed expelled from his shaft, that it would result in a child. Fate had blessed them once already. He was hopeful for a second time.

  Chapter Nine

  Sara couldn’t believe she was already back on Relon. The authorities had asked that she appear before one of their judging committees as proof she was the human Prince Azerba had illegally purchased. It seemed the Dunng were trying to state their prince had been set up, a tactic by the Tryleskians in order to gain Piz crystals.

  York kept making angry noises at her side, and he tightened his hold on her hand. “They have no honor!”

  “It’s bullshit,” Sara agreed. “But we’ve got this.”

  York was upset, and she didn’t blame him. He hadn’t wanted her to go down to the planet surface, certain the Dunng meant to attack or outright kill her before she could arrive in court.

  She glanced at their party. York, Marrow, Raff, Cathian, and one of the Pods were with her. She felt safe.

  “It’s going to be fine, York. You heard Cathian. The Dunng believe my race is weak and too frightened to face their prince in court. They’re hoping I won’t show, so they can get the charges dismissed to free him.”

  “Exactly,” Cathian agreed. “These idiots have no idea how strong and determined humans can be. Nara wanted to come with us but I talked her into helping Dovis defend The Vorge while we’re down here. They might try to attack it after their prince is found guilty.”

  “It feels like a trap,” York muttered.

  “I’m certain it is.” Raff almost sounded excited. “When shit goes bad, Marrow can shield One. York, you’re on Sara. I’ll kill anything that comes at us from the front and sides, while Cathian will cover our asses. They might slow us down, but we’ll make it to court on time.”

  Sara glanced at Raff. He actually looked happy for once. She was glad he was on their side. York, however, still appeared grim, his gaze taking in everything around them, ready to protect her if they were attacked. She trusted him.

  The street outside the transport shuttle was congested with aliens. Most saw their group and scattered, making a wide path. York pulled her closer to his side. One walked next to Sara, with Marrow on his other side. Raff stayed ahead of them, with Cathian at their backs. It left One and Sara completely surrounded.

  A small hand brushed hers, and she startled before grasping One’s hand. A sense of calm filled her, and she wondered if pushing emotions into others was one of the Pod’s gifts, besides reading minds. It seemed he was trying to let her know everything would be okay.

  “Everything will be fine, and yes, we can,” One said quietly, in response to her thoughts. “Captain, two minds are focused on us,” he warned. “They are Yuna, who are working for the Dunng. The first is surprised we showed, the other is frustrated Sara didn’t come with just one guard. He’s under orders to grab her and take her to a waiting Dunng ship. He now realizes that’s not possible.” He paused—then giggled. “He’s afraid of York. He saw a Parri male in a jealous rage once, when one of the Yuna’s friends made the mistake of groping the breast of a Parri female in the market, to see if it was as soft as it looked. His friend didn’t survive.”

  Sara had a mental flashback of the shelter instructor showing her the result of a Parri attack. She wondered if that alien’s friend had been the same dead Yuna in the picture, the one who’d been torn to pieces. Despite the grisly reminder, her fear faded. York could definitely fight. She trusted his friends to keep her safe, too.

  It had confused her at first, why One had come with them, but now she understood. He was the perfect detection system if anyone meant to attack.

  “I’m good at it, too,” One boasted. “Captain, we’re being followed by the first one. They want her alive to return to the prince, but they’re allowed to kill her if capture isn’t possible. He’s in communication with two groups, letting them know when to attack. They didn’t want a public street fight but are under orders to not let the human reach court.”

  “Yes!”

  Sara startled from Raff’s outburst before he glanced back at their group. A wide grin stretched his lips and sheer excitement glowed on his features. He faced forward again, his hands fondling the blade handles at his hips.

  York urged her to keep walking. “He gets unnaturally thrilled about fighting. Try to ignore it.”

  Marrow snorted. “Is your shaft hard, Raff? Most males get turned on by a naked woman, but not you.”

  “The condition of my shaft is never any of your business,” Raff grunted.

  “We have incoming,” One announced. “There are too many minds to get an accurate count but it’s in the dozens. They are in front of us and to the left.” He paused. “They have an echo launcher!”

  York released Sara’s hand, grabbed her around her waist, and swiftly jerked her off her feet.

  She gasped, seeing that Marrow had done the same to One. York ran to a public communication box and shoved her inside.

  “Get down and stay there!”

  She’d barely sat when One was dropped on top of her in the enclosed space. It was a good thing he didn’t weigh much. The box reminded her of Earth’s version of an old telephone booth. One wiggled a bit, getting off her lap and pressing against her side, and Sara drew her legs up, making herself a smaller target. They were squeezed together tightly, with York in front of them, blocking the opening.

  “We’ll be fine.” One patted her hand. “No one will reach us.”

  “What’s an echo launcher?”

  “It projects strong wind,” he whispered.

  “That doesn’t sound too bad.” She’d been afraid they’d launch bombs or toxic gas that would kill everyone.

  One gasped, then yelled, “Launching!”

  York suddenly turned, grabbed the small counter above them, and curved his body over theirs.

  A loud blast hit, hurting Sara’s ears.

  She could see between York’s slightly parted legs in front of them. There was a store about fifteen feet away—and the glass in the front shattered inward and people inside were thrown off their feet, towards the back of the store. All the merchandise on the shelves inside went flying, too. It reminded Sara of a shockwave effect.

  Her ears rang from the noise, and the box they were in shook but held firm.

  York shoved himself back, gone in a flash. He moved out of their sight, and Sara tried to leave the box to go help, but One clut