Mission: Guardian Angel (Veslor Mates Book 2) Read online

  “We go together,” Drak informed her.

  “You mean when they send down the rope again?”

  He nodded. “Gnaw was above us to act as your guard, if we met with hostility on the surface. But I stay with you at all times. We don’t know what’s up there.”

  “Commander Bills is up there. He won’t hurt me.”

  “We stay together, Abby.” Drak growled the words.

  “Okay.” She wasn’t about to argue with him.

  The drone returned with the rope. She was the one to reach up for it, since Drak had his claws dug into the tunnel to keep them from sliding back down.

  “Clip it to the back of my suit.”

  She pulled herself up higher to see what she was doing. The suits had rings at the back, just under where the helmet attached. She quickly got him clipped to the tether.

  “Done.”

  The drone hovered above them, and Drak looked up. “Tighten the slack. I’m going to bring Abby with me.”

  The drone retreated, and the rope pulled until it was tight. Drak yanked his claws out of the dirt at last, hugged Abby in a tight grip, and then rolled onto his back.

  Then they were being pulled to the surface. It wasn’t as quickly as Gnaw, but they still moved faster than they had while climbing. Soon, she saw daylight, and it was so bright that it almost hurt her eyes. It didn’t matter. They were saved.

  The tunnel flattened about six feet from the top and she clutched Drak tighter when they were lifted completely upright. A frame with arms about ten feet tall had been placed over the hole. The apparatus lifted them out and swung them to solid ground.

  Drak gently set her onto her feet when they came to a halt. She looked around, taking in a group of about fifteen fleet personnel. Their uniforms surprised her—not a single one was tactical. None of them were wearing armor, but they did have wide-brimmed hats and gloves, protecting most of their skin from the bright suns.

  Then she saw Howard. The poor man looked like hell. She was pretty sure he hadn’t slept at all, judging by his haggard expression, stark pallor, and the growth on his face from lack of shaving.

  Drak took a step back from her. One of the fleet medics rushed forward to detach the clip from his suit.

  Abby rushed to Howard. “You came for us!”

  He grabbed the sides of her helmet with both hands and stared at her, almost as if she wasn’t real. “Are you hurt?”

  “I’m fine. The Veslors kept me alive. I told you they would.”

  “What in the hell happened?”

  She didn’t look away as she said, “Milts pushed me in. Tellis grabbed me to stop me from falling, but Peters shoved him. This wasn’t an accident.”

  Howard paled more.

  “Tellis sealed his helmet air vents overnight while we were sleeping, waiting for morning. He felt certain we were dead even if we made it to the surface. He said the teams would make sure we never made it back to tell anyone what really happened.” Tears slid down her face. “He suffocated himself, Howard. I want those assholes to pay for his death!”

  “Jesus.” Howard released her and looked away. “I feel sick. I never considered one of them would try to kill you. It’s…”

  “Shocking. I know. I didn’t expect one of them to try to kill me, either.”

  He held her gaze again. “Why would they do this? I know you’re a hellion, but why try to kill you?”

  For a brief second, she couldn’t meet his stare. “I was going to get the team into trouble for the way they were treating the Veslors. Tellis said that Milts probably did it without orders. I guess he had a temper.” She looked back at him. “But Tellis was also certain Rogers would cover it up to protect his teammates.”

  Howard nodded. “Let’s talk about this later. You look pale and I’m sure you’re hungry.”

  She glanced at the personnel on the ground. “You only brought the medical teams?”

  Howard nodded. “Most of them have combat training. I ordered all tactical teams to be contained to their cabins while this rescue mission was underway. I told myself I was being paranoid to think this was anything but an accident…but I knew Rogers was upset with you.”

  She nodded. “Where are the other two Veslors that returned on the shuttle to Defcon Red?”

  “Locked in their cabins, too. They raised hell, but I gave my word I was personally coming down here with only medics I trusted for this rescue. Roth let me know he’d contacted his king, and that I’d better bring his men back.” Howard smiled. “He’s a tough bastard who had no qualms about threatening me. I like him.”

  “The Veslors are good people, Howard.”

  He nodded. Then his expression turned grim. “I wish I could say the same right now about my own fucking men.”

  Abby turned, staring at Drak. He stayed about ten feet away, beside Gnaw. The medics were talking to them, probably asking if they were injured.

  Howard gripped her helmet again, making her turn his way. “Are you hurt?”

  “No. I’d kill for a shower and a hot meal, though.”

  “You’ll get both, and then we’re going to have a long talk. You are going to tell me everything that happened—in detail.”

  “You bet I will. Tellis committed suicide, and I promised his spirit I’d make sure they paid. He was that afraid of his own teammates…and what they’d do if we survived.”

  Chapter Eight

  Drak had wanted to stay with Abby when the shuttle landed on Defcon Red but the commander had been adamant about having her checked out in the medical bay. The human had immediately ordered her to go with their doctors.

  Abby had called out to him before being led away. “Get some sleep, Drak. I’ll find you later.”

  He’d had to watch her go, unhappy to let her out of his sight.

  Roth embraced Drak and then Gnaw in a tight hug once they’d exited the shuttle, happy to see them. Commander Bills had allowed them out of lockdown to meet them upon arrival. “I want you to tell me everything. Then you need a shower, food, and sleep,” he’d growled at them both.

  “After I scan you for injuries.” Maith embraced them next.

  “We’re not hurt. I’m ready to get clean but my stomach can wait until after I rest,” Gnaw admitted.

  “Rest is more important than food,” Maith agreed. “But shower first. You both smell bad.”

  Drak nodded. He’d sweat a lot in the suit. Exhaustion hit him, now that the adrenaline faded since they were back on the human ship. He and Gnaw hadn’t slept at all. The hours spent underground had been tense while the Cadia had moved around them until they’d finally gone dormant.

  Roth and Maith listened to Gnaw tell them everything that had happened, from the time they’d jumped into the hole until the drone met them climbing toward the surface. Drak was glad the male felt talkative, since he didn’t.

  “I’m grateful you both survived.” Roth sighed. “I worried.”

  “You get clean first,” Drak offered Gnaw as they entered their cabin.

  Gnaw grinned. “That was my plan. I helped you win your female. It’s only fitting I’m first.”

  “What?” Roth stepped into Drak’s path to the sleeping room, gaining his attention. “Your female?”

  “The female agreed to let Drak bare himself to comfort her from her trauma.” Gnaw chuckled.

  “Silence,” Drak growled. “Go get clean.”

  “I am.” Gnaw strode out of their living space into the bathroom.

  “No.” Roth shook his head. “There will be no copulation with human females. You heard what I said before. Our king told me their doctors hounded ours out of fear we’d get them pregnant. You will not get the female pregnant with a cub and ruin the work we’re here to do for our king.”

  “I have no plans to breed Abby for a cub.”

  Roth relaxed. “Good.” He took a step back.

  “But I will copulate with her if she agrees.”

  “You will not.” Roth scowled, shaking his head.