“I swear I heard you were all brought here on a LightBlade with grav beams.”
Fury interjects as he slings a rifle on his back. “In hibernation cells. We’ve never tried Solcrue grav beams on bare Titans. But Poppy’s the one to talk to.”
Esthi looks at me. “Where is she?”
Armor>>Poppy: Request location.
Poppy>>Armor: Two decks below you, private hangar Five Charlie.
I encourage Esthi into an adjacent hallway. But as we head for Poppy’s location, my fear of losing Esthi in all of this grows again. Redline gave Aniah affection in front of other Brothers, and it makes me want to do the same with my mate. Finding a quiet corner on our way to Poppy, I grab Esthi, pick her up by the hips, and crush her against the wall, bonding my mouth to hers.
She moans with lust. “Right now?”
Commander Savage interrupts my thoughts and my view of Esthi with a request for a private meeting.
I sigh and nip at her neck. “We don’t have time, but stars, I want you. Just promise me you’ll be safe. I’ve got to help Commander Savage.”
She takes my jaw in her hands, kisses me deeper, and digs her heels into my ass, crushing my rigid length against her hot core. “Watch your back. I want you inside me the moment this is over.”
“You’re not the only one.” I kiss her once more, reluctantly set her feet down, and lead her inside the correct hangar. Poppy hikes out of a repaired LightBlade on rudimentary legs. I’m in such shock that she has become mobile instead of being mounted to her pilot’s seat like all female Titans that I lose my grip on Esthi before I’m ready.
“Poppy!” Esthi hurries to her. “No one’s picked up the Titans after the EMP. I have an idea, but we need your ship.”
Poppy’s red eyes find me from across the hangar. She seems to sort whatever was running through her head and motions Esthi inside.
Armor>>Poppy: Please keep my mate safe.
Poppy salutes me with a fist over her ultromotor.
Poppy>>Armor: With my life.
I hustle out of the hangar, stealing one last glance at Esthi and Poppy in her ship before exiting to meet up with Savage and other gathered Titans in a command center.
Schematics of Corenge are lit up on the screens around us and glow above the holo table in the center of the room.
Karambit punches me in the shoulder as he enters. “Got a little hot in the hallway. I’m a bit jealous.”
“Just focus, please. Or I’ll be the one having to save your ass.”
He casually salutes me as he inspects the schematic.
“I’ve brought you all here for a private mission,” Commander Savage says. “Please lock your network.”
I switch on my com lock so no one else can hear what’s said or what I think.
“MothershipCorengehas been supplying a lot of military support toVessnaandMarst. Amp just relayed that the captain is Jorden Opfner, the Solcrue officer that Cara once served.”
“Amp’s mate, Cara, the half-breed?” Firebolt asks.
“The one throwing bullets in the hangars?” Mace adds.
Commander Savage nods. “This is Opfner’s vessel. His soldiers fill this machine of death and destruction. He hurt Creator Besha’s daughter. He’s killed many of our Brothers, Titan and human.”
“I remember,” Redline remarks. “Please tell me we’re taking him out.”
“Not just him,” Sefina says as she and Menace step forward. She taps a spot in the center of the ship. “This is the fuel depot, where all the engines get their power from. I’ve been onCorengebefore.”
Menace bares his teeth like he’s remembering something he doesn’t like. “Might be a suicide mission. We’re not going to have more than a couple of minutes. But we’re going dark, taking the most shielded and the deadliest of us to end Opfner and his soldiers for good.”
Commander Savage motions through a doorway. “Any who will comply, please form up in Kelta’s hangar.”
Every one of us files out the door. It’s not easy to leave Esthi behind, to know that I’m leaving the ship to go far away. But my Brothers jumped in to help save her. I’m going to do the same for them.
Esthi’s alive, and I carry the taste of her on my lips. That’s all that matters. If I have to greet the Black Death, I am ready.
