Page 39 of Star-Crossed Captive
He took two steps inside the med bay when Nia suddenly blocked his way, her face flushed. “Stop! He hasn’t done anything. He—”
Ignoring her squeal of alarm, Mace grasped her elbows, lifted her, and plopped her out of his path. One more step and she was in front of him, hand on his chest, pushing him back. He ignored the awareness spreading through to every part of his body from her touch and encircled her wrist above her bonds to tug her behind him, this time keeping hold. She wouldn’t be able to block him again.
Arms by his sides and face pale, Sorley straightened to his full height, but Mace didn’t stop advancing until their faces were only inches apart. “I told you not to return.”
Sorley visibly swallowed. “I know, but I had to see my boy.”
“Kilian needs his father,” Nia said, twisting to the side and yanking on the wrist he held. Mace tugged her behind him. Her frustrated breath heated the side of his arm.
Trying to ignore her squirming, Mace stared at Sorley his ire continuing to rise. This man attacked Nia, hurt her, and Mace had every right to retaliate. Fuck, it was the law. And he would have proceeded to educate the man on how precarious the rest of his life hung, when something small bashed against his calf.
Mace twitched and whirled around. “Did you kick me?” he asked, incredulous.
“Yes.” Nia yanked on her arm again. “Stop jerking me around.” Her russet eyes flashed at him.
Mace guided her beside him, loosening his grip to hold her hand instead. “Then stay put.” He returned his attention to Sorley but couldn’t help but note the way his side warmed as they stood together, how small her fingers felt in his, and how she didn’t try to move away.
“If you touch her again,” he said to the man in front of him, “I’ll kill you.” The boy behind him was shaking. The fear in his eyes as he stared at Mace twisted something in his chest. A child shouldn’t fear him; he would never hurt an innocent. But this man hadattackedNia.
“I’d deserve it if I did,” Sorley replied immediately, meeting his gaze straight on.
The quick response gave Mace pause. Hesitating, he glanced at Nia who stared at their joined hands as if frozen. It had only taken minutes for her to sway Sorley with her charm.
“Are we good here?” he asked, and her eyes snapped to his.
Her gaze jumped between him and Sorley, then she nodded. “Yes. We’re good.”
Mace loosened his hold with reluctance, allowing her fingers slip through his. Her face flushed as she looked anywhere but him.
A charged silence had settled over the medical bay. He scanned the rest of the occupants, meeting everyone’s gaze in case they thought they could get away with hurting Nia.
When everyone seemed suitably respectful, he strode to the door to speak to Elec. “Anytime he’s in here, I want to be notified. Don’t leave for any reason while he’s here. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
“Any threat he makes toward her, you shoot first and ask questions later. Understood?”
“Yes, sir.”
One last glance over his shoulder revealed everyone's gazes still fixed on him, including Nia's. Brow furrowed, confusion swam in her eyes.
No one would have the opportunity to hurt her again. He would make sure of it.
And that included himself.
Running an agitated hand over his face, he strode out of the med bay, down the corridor, and slapped the panel to call the lift. When the door opened and he stepped on, he released a slow breath.
As the lift ascended, his emotions tumbled over themselves, trying to gain foothold. The need to beat the shit out of someone or something raged against the desire to take over Elec’s post and glare at anyone in the med bay who so much as looked at Nia wrong.
The way she tied him up inside didn’t make sense. If he took an objective step back, and reviewed his choices over the past few days, he knew it looked bad. None of what he’d done since returning toOrionfell into familiar patterns. Attacking a fellow commander, bribing a processing official, keeping a captive in his quarters instead of sending her to common holding—Cache had the right to give him displeased glances and question his commitment level.
That being said, he still had a ward to look out for. He would protect Nia, but he wouldn’t allow her to become a weakness. His work with the tyros, his command here, stopping the CORE from whatever plan they concocted in Sector Four,thoseshould be his priorities.
Feeling empowered, like he’d come to some sort of profound conclusion, Mace stepped off the lift on the fifth level of the atrium and headed for training. He’d only left because Elec had signaled Sorley’s return.
Once through the main corridor, he jogged down the steps to Grey’s side at the edge of the matted arena. His friend raised his eyebrows in question.
“It seems I need to—” Mace stopped when he saw what the tyros were holding. “What in the…?” They all had knives. It was his turn to raise his eyebrows at Grey. “I was only gone a few minutes.”
