Page 69 of Bred By Sor'en

I stand taller, my hands fisted at my sides, the bitterness of what they’ve done hitting me again. Melion shares my disgust. “I do not take orders from cowards, nor do I require their concern.”

The males behind me shift and whisper, tossing their hands through their darkening clouds. But no one's cloud is darker than the Balla’mar’s. My body tenses, readying myself, sending Melion a thought to stand down for now. Half surprised when he dissipates, reforming at my flank.

If I wasn’t mistaken, I could swear that was… shame on the Balla’mar’s face.

“Do you truly believe Sor’en deserves to be killed? Do you truly think he would murder a child?”

The arrogant male glances around at the others before him. “He was not to be reasoned with, human. You—"

“So, you tried? You spoke to him about his choice because everyone seemed aware of what he was about to do but me!” my voice ends on a yell, making everyone darken, but only the Balla’mar tries to clear this one away.

“He is unreasonable. Always has been,” he offers simply. “We leave for the temple now. You should be resting.”

“You heard what he said. He was trying to keep you all safe!” I argue, stepping closer to Melion.

“There is a Kalzait warship at my door with enough technology to wipe Silloria from the quadrant! What do you propose I do? Fight? Send all of my males to their deaths so our females are open for the poachers?” he snaps, getting closer to my face. The males and Melion alike tense in the face of his sudden burst of anger, but I know that’s not what this really is.

I see it in his opaque eyes, so much like my mate's, it makes my heart hurt. Of course, I recognize the guilt festering there. I reach out, grabbing the Balla’mar’s hand, making him snap his head down to see what I’ve done. “No Balla’mar, nobody here thinks you would fight, but nobody here doubts my mate would’ve been the first to board that ship to retrieveyou.” That seems to deflate the male as he stares at the hand I’m still clutching. “I want to say thank you to everyone for welcoming me, making this my home.” The Balla’mar doesn’t stop staring at the hand I hold for a long moment before I continue. “But mostly I want to apologize.”

Another male from the back, one I recognize as the younger boy who touched me so many months ago, speaks up next. “What do you have to apologize for, human?”

My eyes meet the glowing orbs of my companion. A singular idea passing between us. “This,” I breathe before jerking my hand from the Balla’mar’s. “Melion, now!”

Chaos erupts in the field as Melion all but tackles the males, expanding wilder and larger than I’ve ever seen as he swallowsthem whole. He won’t hurt them, merely give me long enough to do—

A dark, shadowy tendril slaps at the back of my thighs, making me hiss in pain, halting seconds before I was about to throw myself into a ripple.

Not safe.

Think about where.

Melion shows me a better one, and God help me, I don’t hesitate, thinking about the side of the dome where the warship lies outside its invisible cloak. The veil bleeds around me as I picture the spot I need to be. Its hazy, glimmering hug presses me with taunting warmth, but I can’t stay. A blink later, energy crackles, making my entire body tingle as I step back out, gasping as I fall to my knees just outside of a massive warship. I retch, grateful no actual vomit decided to show up.

A second later, Melion is back at my side, urging me to my feet. I go, vertigo making my stomach swirl as I head toward the open bridge of the ship. Shocked to see there’s no guard there ready to detach my head from my shoulders. Most warships have a hatch just inside, if I can just—

A loud crackling warble grabs my attention as Melion slams into a wall of nothing. His body growing and spreading across an invisible… oh god, it’s a Faraday shield. He can’t cross the ship’s shield.

Stop!Melion begs, throwing himself against the barrier.

It's standard on most space-faring vessels, a smart addition for those not willing to be shot from the stars. I hate it at this moment. Melion’s panic hits me like a killing blow as I take a step away from him. “I have to try, Melion.”

He flings himself at the barrier, his violet light crackling across it.

“I’m sorry!” I whisper-shout before I scramble up the lowered bridge in search of a maintenance hatch.

Ontics later, I’m scrambling down the hall, my hair heavy and knotted as I shove myself into a dark alcove. My heart pounds in tune with the sounds of thumping boots on the ship's metal flooring. I’ve been sneaking in and out of ships and stations all my life, but I’ve never attempted to do so without the help of a maintenance hatch. Hidden hell tunnels great for sneaking unseen by the denizens on the other side of the wall.

That is not the game plan today.

Because I didn’t fit.

I did not fucking fit.

Melion, get somewhere safe. They’re coming to check on the energy disturbance.

I only get a sharp sting of his annoyance and worry from the other side of whatever this bond is, kicking myself for being too chicken shit to bond sooner. Kicking myself at the cold sweat that’s slicking my palms at the prospect of where I am. Kalzaits and their dead eyes, clinical and unnerving, making my already uneasy gut churn.

Can you feel him? Can you tell where he is?