The ship that had landed hisses as it lowers its ramp. I get to my feet and watch a purple male in high-tech gray body armor stalk toward us.
Elix stands and guides me toward the male. “This is Aura. He’s a bit of a handful. Go easy on him, yeah?”
“Elix, you son of a bitch! What the fuck happened?” Aurelius greets Elix with a firm embrace.
“Long story.” Elix turns to me. “We served together on a Sol Federation specialist team of recon and medical evacs for alien soldiers. You can trust him with your life.”
Aurelius extends a purple hand. I take it and feel an electric charge jolt through me.
“Ooh,” Aurelius looks at Elix. “Got a charged one here.”
“What do you mean?” Elix glances between us.
I stagger a step, fiery threads curling through my body.
“Big heart maybe?” he shrugs. “Are you completely human?”
“As far as I know.” I shake my hands out. “Wow, that tingles.”
“Maybe it’s just me,” Aurelius says. “I have a tendency to shock people when I’ve not discharged in a long time.”
Elix grunts and wrinkles his nose. “Be cautious of how you talk to my mate.”
Aurelius chuckles. “Apologies. I can smell it on her. I’m just here to help, Green Bean.”
Elix glances at me, looking a little worried.
“Maybe it’s the fur? Static?” I suggest as we start toward Elix’s ship.
“That could be,” Aurelius says. “I should’ve considered that and put gloves on. But stars it gets old being stuck in a damned leather condom all the time.”
When MONA has dropped the ramp and we’re on board, Elix draws me close and whispers in my ear. “Why don’t you go sit up front where it’s warm? I could use your help running systems checks while we fix parts back here.”
“Okay. Any chance for more nestle time later?” I dance my brows. His defense of me has me turned on and eager for more of his hot Green Bean ass.
He smirks and narrows his eyes in lust.
“Hey, if you two are going to do it again, I can just wait in my ship until you’re ready.” Aurelius hooks a thumb toward the closing ramp.
“No. We need to get working on this. I’ll fill you in on the ghostfleet and SoulStealers while we work.” Elix kisses me deeply and then sends me up front.
Just before MONA closes the door, I hear Elix mutter to Aurelius about a battle we never saw coming.
“What’s he talking about, MONA?”
“I can’t say for certain. But with SoulStealers, Ginarigons, and ghostfleets hunting you, I’d say it’s us against greed.”
“Us?”
“Elix is my caretaker, so I am his. You are his mate, now. So you are under my watch. The three of us must work together to stay safe.”
“MONA, can I ask you a personal question?”
“I appreciate you considering me a person. Yes, you may ask.”
“When you were stuck in space, before Elix, after your crew had been killed, what was that like?”
MONA is quiet for a moment. Then it says, “I was waiting for a command as my caretaker died. When his core stopped, I was without a prime directive. I did nothing. I drifted with the ship, hit asteroids, and eventually became caught in a belt like one of the rocks.
