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Krxare slammed my attacker against the side of the transport, then twisted until his wrist made a sickening crunch. The idiot screamed as his weapon clattered to the metal floor. Then Krxare smashed him against the wall again and again, leaving a large skull-shaped indent in the metal.
Behind him, Chris fought the other officer. Both of them were trying to reach the gun when another Kadrixan stepped in through the side door. He and Chris subdued Short and Squat in seconds and trussed him up like a ham.
The tall, skinny asshole was limp now and unresponsive, but Krxare continued pummelling him, punching him in the face over and over. That face was crumpled in, but Krxare didn’t notice. He looked crazed and seemed to be stuck in a loop of red-blooded anger.
“Krxare, he’s dead,” said the other Kadrixan.
Off to the side, Mark was just waking and pulling himself to his feet and wiping the blood from his face.
Krxare didn’t reply or react. He just continued to pummel the already-crushed skull. Chris and the Kadrixan exchanged a look.
“It happens when we are protecting a mate. He’s stuck in a rage. It’s like the rut, but different.” The warrior turned to me. “Only his mate can calm him.”
I’d calmed him before, though the last time, he wasn’t crushing someone’s skull into smithereens. I could do this.
“Krxare.” I stepped timidly toward him. This was my mate. He wouldn’t hurt me. “Krxare,stop. He’s dead.”
My monster froze mid-pummel. It looked as if he was trying hard to regain control of his arms. He shoved the body to the corner of the transport and then turned to me.
“Clara.” He looked at his bloodied fists, then at the body. “I don’t know what came over me.”
“It’s okay. You were protecting me. I know you’ll never hurt me.”
“Never,” he agreed. Then he noticed my wrists. “You are still cuffed.” He searched the body for the keys and released my wrists before rubbing the red and bruising skin. “We will go home now. You will be safe.”
Then, before I could reply, he scooped me into his arms and carried me out of the transport.
“What are we going to do with him?” Chris nudged the tied-up officer with his steel-toed boot. The man was passed out cold but still very much alive.
Krxare turned around with me in his arms. “Question him when he wakes, Trsak. He may have information we need.”
Trsak rubbed his hands together, looking every bit like the demon they said these aliens were. “Gladly.”
“Ask him everything he knows about Utopia,” I suggested. “I bet you there’s plenty of people he’s forced into the project who want out.” I was glad to be rescued but felt a need to help those who hadn’t been so lucky.
“Done.” He turned to Chris and Mark. “Any other requests?”
“We’re staying for the questioning,” Chris said. “There are some answers I’m looking for.”
This was about Ella, I knew. He’d never gotten over her, never dated again. He’d also never trusted a word from the colony again, though he’d hidden his feelings very well.
They continued talking, but I heard no more as Krxare carried me toward the river.
“Where are we going?” I leaned my cheek against his chest, letting the skin contact soothe me. I didn’t know how his body knew what type of hormones to make, sexy time ones or calming ones, but I appreciated it.
“You reek of the two males, and it makes me want to kill something. You must wash it off. I do not wish to fight my allies on the shuttle ride home.”
I looked down at my shirt. It was splattered with blood and the neckline was torn. The top was garbage. My leggings weren’t much better. I bet I reeked, too. Maybe I did need a wash.
He stepped into the river with his clawed feet, the water going up to his inhuman calves. He let me down gently, and I hissed at the feel of cold water through my sandals.
“It’s freezing!” It was still just mid-spring. “I can’t bathe in that.”
“Humans are weak to the elements, but I will warm you after so you do not get sick. I will not let you get sick, my mate.”
Weak? Did he just call me weak? I narrowed my eyes at him and pulled the soiled shirt over my head.
“I will help,” he growled, taking my shirt from me and tossing it over to the bank.
