Ascension Saga (Interstellar Brides): Book 1

“Get down!” I yelled at the females, hoping they would listen. Raising my own weapon. He wore protective armor, but that would not stop me from killing him with a precise shot to his head. I frowned when the assassin turned and ran, disappearing down the hallway where I assumed there was a bedroom.

I had no doubt the consort would be found there, dead. Had the female’s Ardor been slaked first? I doubted it based on the timeline of events. There hadn’t even been time to disrobe, let alone fuck an Ardor away.

The two females near the chair ignored my order the moment their attacker was gone and stood, turning to the third female, still locked in combat.

Fuck. Two were seemingly safe, but the third was in trouble.

“Kick him away from you!” I yelled as I dashed toward her. The assassin was much bigger than she and I was surprised she’d held him off so long.

She heard me, delivering a hard, swift kick to the assassin’s abdomen and stepped back, out of range. Purposely giving me the shot. I lifted my weapon, aimed.

“Don’t kill him!” A female near the chair screamed the order, but I ignored her command. This particular band of assassins was too dangerous to remain alive. He had to die. One of them had already escaped. I wouldn’t lose two.

He was armored, as I knew he would be. I fired at his chest anyway, momentarily halting his movement. That was all I needed to take the head shot.

He dropped like a rock. Remained still. The female he’d been fighting stepped forward, bent arms raised, hands fisted tightly as if she were ready to keep fighting, and kicked him in the side with heavy black boots, just to make sure I’d gotten the job done.

“He’s dead. I assure you,” I said, coming up to stand beside her.

She turned to me, glanced up, her purple hair flying. Her eyes were a bright blue, and completely without fear. Her pupils were dilated, but it seemed more from the rush of fighting than fear. She was small. Her odd clothes couldn’t hide the curves of her gender. And she’d just fought off one of our planet’s deadliest assassins.

It seemed Earth females were brave. Bold. Fierce. But why were they here? Now? And why did someone want them dead?

“Who are you, and what do you want?” The voice washed over me like the burning heat of a fire and my cock stirred. Again. Just as I’d felt earlier. No, not just stirred, but thickened. Lengthened.

Shocked, I turned swiftly back to the females near the chair. One had long brown hair and large, dark eyes. She looked warm. Soft. Too gentle to be the female who’d spoken in such a commanding tone.

My gaze shifted to the other.

Holy. Fuck.

Instantly, I bowed low to the most magnificent female I’d ever seen, but I kept my eyes on her. I couldn’t look away if I wanted. Golden hair surrounded her head and shoulders in a silken wave I couldn’t wait to touch. Her eyes were a deep, intense blue, and staring me down, analyzing my every move. Her lips were a soft pink I longed to taste, to feel wrapped around my cock.

My fingers twitched at my side and I cleared my throat to disguise the groan of need I felt building like an explosion within my body as my cock came fully erect. Pressed against my uniform pants, which had suddenly become ridiculously too small. I was rock hard, long and thick, but now? Gods, now it was as if I had a pipe growing larger and larger down the inside of my thigh. I’d had no idea how erect I would get.

For the first time in my life, I ached. I wanted, no needed, to get closer to her. To get her naked and needy and screaming my name.

Just one sentence from her and I knew. She was mine. The magnificent creature staring me down over the top of a blaster was The One. My mate.

Fuck.

My earlier thoughts of remaining a bachelor soldier were all but forgotten. I inwardly laughed at my ignorant self. I would never be alone again because I’d never let this female out of my sight. Or away from my touch.

The clothing she wore did nothing to hide her form. Trim pants that were blue, worn and faded as if she didn’t have an S-Gen unit available and wore this pair again and again. A shirt that bared her arms. While tall and lean, she had ample curves. Round and soft in all the right places. I could nuzzle and lick, grip and even spank.

And she’d almost been killed by fucking assassins. I saw red, wished I could kill the one all over again, race after the one who’d escaped.

My protective instincts roared like a caged monster, the remnants of the attack, the bodies on the floor, the blood, the threat to my mate taking on colors and intensity I’d not felt moments ago.

Mine.

Trembling with equal parts rage and need, I dropped to one knee and bowed to the female I would devote myself to for the rest of my life. “I am Captain Leoron Turaya. Prime Nial asked me to protect you and assist you in any way I can. I am sorry I arrived so late to the battle. Are you well?”

“Prime Nial sent you? What’s the code word?” my mate asked, one pale eyebrow raised. She didn’t lower her weapon. I didn’t blame her, for she was smart to be cautious. She should trust no one. No one but me, but she hadn’t learned that yet.

I lifted my head, gazed up at her. Confused. Code word? I searched my mind and found what she sought. Prime Nial’s mate, Jessica, had said something strange about Trinity’s favorite food being code. Now, I understood. “Strawberry ice cream.”

I had absolutely no idea what I’d just said, some strange Earth term, but all three females relaxed. My mate put the weapon down and I noticed her hands trembled. That would not do. She shouldn’t feel anything but happiness. Peace. I longed to take her into my arms and offer comfort, but she wasn’t safe here. None of them were. The assassin had fled, but he’d be back for her. His kind didn’t leave a job unfinished. If these three were as valuable dead as I assumed, the next attack would be more cunning. And brutal.