Adrik (Titans #1)

Chapter 5

Ember’s heart seized when the male who’d left reentered the holding bay quickly. He barked orders in that guttural foreign tongue, and then he was at the cage door. Before she could prepare, the cell door was opened, and all hell broke loose. From behind her, Vashti surged forward, shoving Ember aside as she lunged at the male.

In a move so fast he blurred, the male caught Vashti, spun, and used a booted foot to kick the cell door closed. A resounding clang filled the bay just as the robotic voice that had been counting down ceased. Ember lunged forward, arm snaking between the bars to reach for Vashti.

“Vashti!”

But Vashti was thrashing, kicking, and screaming as she cursed and fought uselessly against the much larger male.

“Goddamn it, Vashti!” Ember hissed. But her anger quickly transitioned to fear as Vashti was carried from the cargo bay.

“Fffffuck!” Lifting her hands to her head, Ember spun and looked at the other women. They looked as shocked as she felt.

“Wh-what do we do?” Nova sobbed.

Kyan hugged Nova tighter. “Where are they taking her? What are they gonna do to her?”

Turning back to the cell door, Ember gripped it and jerked hard. “I don’t know.”

The other males exited too, and finally alone with the women, Ember’s eyes scanned the cargo hold. It was basic, like any other hold. Nothing useful popped out at her, and as Vashti’s shrieking and cursing grew further and further away, Ember felt defeated in a way she hadn’t for a long time. Yeah, they were prisoners, but up to this point, they’d all managed to stay together. No thanks to Vashti. This wasn’t the first time she’d ignored their plans and acted on her own. It was, however, the first time it had cost her personally.

Standing slowly and stepping to the bars beside Ember, Nova wrapped slender fingers around the bars and whispered, “Do you think they’ll hurt her?”

Yes. No. “I don’t know,” Ember murmured. She wanted to crumble to the ground, curl into a ball, and cry out her frustrations, but for the sake of the others, Ember held her composure. The other women looked up to her, even hardheaded, brash Vashti.

“She’s strong,” Ember encouraged, lifting her voice. “She’s tough.” Turning, she faced the other two women. “She’ll be alright. We’ve gotta worry about us now. That… guy came in fast and hard. Let’s assume they’ll do it again.” Brows spearing down, she commanded, “This time, we stick to the plan. All of us.”

Nova dropped back to her knees, settling back into Kyan’s arms as they huddled tightly. Lifting her gaze from the two young women, Ember shot the empty corridor a dark look. She and Vashti were the fighters, and now, with Vashti gone, it’d be twice as hard for Ember to keep the younger two women safe.

Settling on the cell's floor, closest to the door, Ember sighed and glared at the hall where their captors had disappeared with Vashti. All they could do now was wait and hope. And hope Ember did. She prayed their captors weren’t rapists or flesh-eaters. She prayed Vashti was safe. She prayed for rescue. Mostly, she prayed that their captors were logical and reasonable. Their shape was humanoid, after all, and while Ember knew it was too much to hope that they were human, she could at least hope they were close enough that they wouldn’t devour Ember and her companions.

***

“Report,” Adrik demanded.

Obaida’s response was instant. “Scan completed and implant successfully installed. This female is healthy. Underweight, dehydrated, and suffering from mild exhaustion, but healthy.”

Frowning at the view screen, Adrik’s eyes slid to Kaze when his Second in Command stepped forward. “She’s breeding eligible and compatible with Titans. That means they probably all are.”

Adrik’s frown deepened at the barely veiled excitement in Kaze’s voice. Snapping his eyes dismissively, Adrik slid his dark gaze back to Obaida. “You’re supposed to be implanting translators and checking their health. Nothing else.”

“Take it up with Tyrate,” Obaida groused. “I cannot get the A.I. to decipher what is pertinent medical intel and what is not. Apparently, he feels breeding compatibility and childbearing capability are significant medical factors when diagnosing female health.”

At the mention of his name, the ship's A.I. flashed, filling the bridge momentarily with a bright red light.

Obaida explained impatiently, “After successful breedings between Titan warriors and human females, the Benevolent on Cesca Sol added human anatomy to all med scanners. I didn’t seek out the information specifically,” he snapped. “It’s standard op now.”

Adrik drew in a slow breath, his muscled chest expanding with the action. He knew as much about the med scanners, but he’d forgotten it over time. Honestly, he’d never believed that he or his crew would ever encounter a human female, let alone four. “Any weapons or tracking devices.”

Kaze grew serious standing next to Obaida. “Negative.” He paused a moment, then asked, “Orders?”

“Get the rest of the women scanned and implanted. After, I want them separated. They’re easier to handle that way.” With a snarl of agitation, he turned his back on the viewscreen and an instant later, Tyrate cut the feed.

Breeding eligible and compatible!

It irked him that the intel was playing on a loop in his head. His crew hadn’t had the pleasure of a female body since… Adrik canted his head, trying to remember when they’d last visited one of the intergalactic brothels with female species compatible with Titans. Realizing how long it had been, he huffed an exasperated sound. Having a compatible female for each of his men would wreak havoc on operations by severely distracting his Titans from their duties. Still, Adrik assumed it’d be better than having only one compatible female. The fights she’d cause would be epic. Pacing, Adrik pressed a dark finger into equally dark lips. An image of the shadow female flashed through his head as his throat suddenly went dry.

Breeding eligible and compatible.

He drew in a slow breath and pretended not to notice his clawed hands suddenly began to shake.