Cyborg Celebration (Interstellar Brides: The Colony #11)

Chapter 9

9

M arz

As I walked down the dimly lit corridor toward my quarters, the air was thick with tension. The odd scent of iron and dust mingled with the faint scent of ozone from the storm raging outside. Vance’s footsteps echoed beside me, his heavy boots clanking in time with mine on the hard flooring. Unease radiated off him, matching the knot of anxiety that had taken up residence in my gut. We’d just come from final preparations. At daybreak, we would head out into the storm, face the unknown that threatened The Colony. It was the kind of risk we’d faced hundreds of times before, but this one felt different.

We had Rowan.

The thought of her, so young and full of life, had me on edge. Her scent, a hint of something sweet and floral, seemed to cling to me even now. I glanced sideways at Vance, my second, the pilot with whom I now shared more than just battle. His gaze was sharp, jaw set tight, and I knew he shared the weight of my worry.

“Marz.” His voice was a low rumble. “Perhaps you should stay behind.”

I grunted, my mouth dry, as if the very air was leeching the moisture from my throat. I was responsible for security on this planet, that included threat assessment. Vance was the best pilot we had, the only one I trusted to bring the team back alive. I didn’t want to admit the truth—that my thoughts were a tangled mess of fear and longing. I buried the emotions deep, throwing up a blank wall so Vance wouldn’t know how fucked up my headspace was at the moment. That I was terrified I would not make it back to my new bride, or worse, that we both would fail to return. I had considered ordering him to stay behind, finding some excuse to keep him at the base so that if things went sideways, Rowan wouldn’t lose us both. The thought was still forming when we reached our new, larger quarters, and the door slid open.

What I saw inside stole my breath.

The cold, stark living space we’d moved into just two days ago had been utterly transformed. The harsh walls, usually bare and uninviting, were draped in thick, fragrant garlands of green, their piney scent cutting through the usual sterile air of the base. Tiny lights, warm and flickering, dotted the garlands, casting a soft glow across the room that made it feel alive in a way I’d never thought possible. In the corner, a tall, triangular, green tree reached toward the ceiling, its branches laden with shining objects and draped in silver strands that flickered with light. The lights that adorned it glimmered in multiple colors, twinkling like the stars we rarely saw from the red, rocky surface of The Colony. A large star at the top seemed to glow with a magic all its own, a beacon of warmth and cheer that pierced the bleakness outside.

And there, standing in the midst of it all, was Rowan.

She wore a gown the color of the deepest emeralds, a green so rich it seemed to shimmer as if the fabric was woven from the very essence of life itself. The material clung to her curves, the smooth, sleek lines accentuating her figure. Its low neckline revealed the delicate rise of her collarbone and a hint of the skin beneath, while the fabric flowed down around her ankles like a river of silk, rustling softly as she moved. I caught the faintest scent of her— like a flower blooming in the night.

She was breathtaking.

Vance’s breath hitched beside me, and I could feel the tension that rolled off him, an unspoken emotion that hung thick in the air between us. He was staring at her, too, with a look that cut me deep, all the more because I shared the feeling of raw devotion behind it. The collars didn’t just connect us to our mate, but to one another as well. We both loved her. She was ours. The gods had granted a miracle to two warriors who deserved naught. Deserved or not, we would never give her up.

“Rowan...” I managed, though my voice was rougher than I intended. “What is all this?”

She beamed at us, her eyes bright and brimming with a joy that was contagious. Her happiness floated into my mind through our mating collars until I was drunk on it, unable to look away from her. “It’s Christmas,” she said, her voice a lilting melody that danced across my senses.

Vance and I exchanged a puzzled look. “Christmas?” he repeated, his brow furrowing as he glanced around. “What’s a... Christmas?”

Rowan laughed, the sound chiming like little bells, a sweetness that filled the room. “It’s a holiday from Earth,” she explained, her voice softening as she spoke. “A time for celebration, for joy... and for love.” Her gaze slid to me then, lingered, her eyes full of warmth. “When I was a child, Christmas was my favorite holiday. All the children on base are worried, so we decided to decorate the garden and throw the children a Christmas party. And I wanted to bring a little bit of my home here, and share it with you.”

I stepped farther into the room, the scent of the green garlands mixing with the warmth emanating from the lights, a stark contrast to the harsh coldness that usually clung to my quarters. There was something else in the air, a faint smell I didn’t recognize—sweet and spicy, like a warm drink that seemed to seep into my bones, soothing the tension I hadn’t realized I’d been carrying.

“It’s... beautiful,” I said, the words grating in my throat, my chest tight. I didn’t know how to express what was really stirring in me. Awe, mixed with appreciation, and a fear that I wouldn’t get to enjoy this with her for long. That I wouldn’t be able to keep this place. Or her.

Vance’s hand came down on my shoulder, and I could feel the strength in his grip. “You did all this?” he asked, his voice steady but low. “It’s beautiful.” His desire for her simmered just beneath the surface, the heat building as we admired our bride.

Rowan nodded, her cheeks flushed pink, her happiness at Vance’s praise sparkling though my dark soul like magic. “I did,” she said softly, glancing around at her handiwork. “I had some help with the lights from Rezzer and Braun?—”

Instant rage that another male had been in our quarters blasted through my lungs like a blowtorch. Thank the gods I knew both Atlan males were well and truly mated to females of their own, or I might have lost control.

“—but most of it I put together myself. Caroline helped me fine tune my skills using the S-Gen machine.” She touched one of the garlands lightly, as if caressing it. “I thought... I thought it might make things feel less empty.”

The word hit me like a blow. Empty. She was right, of course. My quarters had always been a place to sleep, nothing more. A reminder of isolation. A punishment for my many failures. I’d failed the Coalition Fleet with my capture. Failed my own honor by not fighting to the death during the Hive’s torture. Failed to recognize the forces tearing Perro apart until it was too late. So many failures.

Now with the glow of the lights and the scent of my mate in the air, our quarters felt different—warmer. Like a place where life could happen. Love. Children. A future.

I glanced toward the doorway and noticed a small sprig of green hanging above it, tied with a bright red ribbon. “What’s that?”

Rowan followed my gaze, a smile curving her lips. “Mistletoe.” Her eyes twinkled as she crossed the room and stood directly under the strange decoration. “It’s tradition to kiss whoever stands beneath it.”

Vance chuckled, but the sound held a bittersweet note. “Human traditions are strange,” he murmured, though there was no judgment in his tone, only curiosity.

Rowan stood quietly, the fabric of her gown rustling faintly, and the air seemed to shift, thickening around us. Her gaze met mine, and there was an invitation in her eyes, a hope that made something inside me tighten. I walked toward her. Vance advanced as well, but stopped just out of her reach. I took another step, my senses filled with the scent of her, the memory of warmth radiating from her skin. The room faded, the glow of the lights and the scent of her green garlands falling away until there was only her.

Slowly, as if drawn by an invisible force, I cupped her face in my hands. Her skin was soft beneath my rough palms, a warmth that seeped into my very bones. I could feel her breath against my lips, quick and shallow, as I leaned in. Kissed her. Hard. Full of the emotions I wasn’t ready to speak aloud. The kiss deepened, and she melted into me, her body pressing close. Her lips tasted sweet, like honeyed fruit, and I could feel the pulse of her heartbeat beneath my fingertips, a rhythm that matched the pounding in my own chest.

Vance appeared behind her and gently pulled her golden hair to one side to run his lips over her shoulder and neck.

Our mate was between us, as she should be.

The world disappeared, the storm, the mission, even Vance’s quiet presence—all of it faded away as I lost myself in her. I poured everything into that kiss—my fear of the coming storm, my longing, my unspoken promises. It was a desperate kiss, a promise without words that I would come back to her, no matter what.

When we finally broke apart, she gazed up at me, her cheeks flushed and her eyes glazed with unshed tears. “Promise me,” she whispered, her voice trembling, “Promise you’ll both come back.”

Vance froze, his lips hovering over the curve of her ear. “How did you know that we are both to go on the mission?”

“Rachel told me.” She turned her head and claimed Vance’s lips in a kiss as I watched, my cock already hard and engorged, eager to fill her. She placed one hand on the side of my face to hold me in place. The other she lifted to Vance’s cheek, her need and acceptance like a warm balm to both of our souls. “I just found you. I refuse to lose you. I know that traditionally one of you would remain behind. For me.” Her gaze darted from Vance’s dark gaze to mine. “I also know you are the best at what you do. That The Colony needs you.” She lowered her hand to my lips and traced my bottom lip with gentle fingertips. “But I need you, too.”

I swallowed hard, my throat tight, the lingering taste of her on my lips. I was a warrior, trained to face death without flinching, yet in that moment, with her looking at me like I was her whole world, I was more afraid than I had ever been in any battle. “I promise,” I said, my voice low and rough. “We will come back to you.”

Vance cleared his throat, breaking the spell. I glanced over at him, his face carefully neutral, though there was a shadow of pain in his eyes. I knew he understood why I hadn’t ordered him to stay behind. We had a mission to complete, and he was the one I trusted at my back. And if I had just lied to our mate, if I did not return... I knew he would be here to watch over her.

I stepped back, fighting for control as a savage beast roared to life inside me. Demanded I rip the burgundy gown from her body and fuck her here. Now.

Her breathing shifted and I knew she could feel the need riding me. The scent of her wet pussy soaked the space between us but when I reached for her, my mate held up her small hand, stopped me dead in my tracks. Her blue eyes were wide, filled with something that looked like determination. Before I could say anything else, her chin lifted. Her voice was steady.

“I spoke to Rachel and the governor. I’m coming with you.” Her determination was sharp and clear through the mating collars, leaving no room for doubt. “I’m a geologist. I can help. You need me out there.”

My body went rigid, the shock of her words cutting through the moment like a blade. “No,” I said, my voice low and hard. “Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”

“I know the risks, Marz,” she shot back, her hands on her hips. “But I also know that the storm is behaving differently than any of you predicted. Rachel said they tracked an odd disturbance beneath the surface of the planet. That’s my specialty. Back on Earth, that’s what I studied. Geological formations. Stone. Rocks. Forces at work beneath the surface. If I can get out there, I might be able to figure out what’s causing the anomalies and come up with a solution. If we don’t figure this out, The Colony is in serious danger. That includes all of us.”

My gut twisted. The thought of her out in that storm, battered by winds so strong they threatened to tear the biodomes apart, was enough to make my blood run cold. I shook my head, my jaw clenching. “You’re not going.” The finality in my voice was nothing compared to the resolve I had to keep her safe. “You’re staying here, where it’s safe.”

She took another step forward, her eyes flashing. “It’s not safe. Isn’t that why there is talk of evacuation?”

I refused to respond. I would not encourage her recklessness.

“Marz, I didn’t come all the way across the universe to hide while you and Vance put yourselves at risk. This is my home now. You’re my family. Let me help save it.”

“No.” I took a deep breath, trying to rein in my horror at the idea. “You’re not trained for combat. The storm is unlike anything we’ve ever seen. We could be ambushed by Hive. You would not survive five minutes out there if we come under attack.” My voice was louder than I’d intended, and the pain in her eyes was like a knife twisting in my chest. But that wasn’t what threatened to break me. No. It was the hurt and betrayal coming through our mating collars. Somehow, I’d broken her trust.

I pleaded with her to understand. “Our primary duty is to protect you, mate. Care for you. I can’t do that out in the storm. It’s too dangerous.”

Rowan turned to Vance, desperation lining her features. “Vance,” she said, her voice softer but still insistent. “Please. Make him see reason. I’m not some helpless Earth girl who needs protecting. I’m a scientist. I probably know more about what’s under the surface than anyone at Base 3. All your mining teams, your geologists, are at the other bases. Rachel admitted as much. The transporters aren’t working. I’m all you’ve got. If there’s a way to stabilize the energy fields, or redirect the storm’s path, maybe I can find it. But I need to be out there to do it.”

Vance’s expression softened, and for a moment, I worried that he might side with her. He reached out and took her hands, his touch gentle. “Rowan,” he murmured, his voice thick with emotion. “You mean too much to us.” He glanced at me, his jaw tightening as he turned back to her. “We cannot risk losing you.”

Without another word, he pulled her under the mistletoe, and to my surprise, he kissed her. It was different from the kiss I’d given her—gentler, a sweet kind of longing. I saw the way his hands cradled her face, the way he kissed her as though trying to savor every second of the moment. It wasn’t a kiss of possession or desperation. It was a kiss of farewell, even if he wasn’t prepared to say it aloud.

When Vance finally pulled back, his forehead rested against hers for a brief moment “You mean too much to us,” he repeated softly, his thumb brushing over her cheek. “We are nothing. You are everything. No, mate. We cannot allow you to risk yourself.”

Rowan’s gaze flitted between us, her frustration palpable. “You’re both being ridiculous,” she snapped, taking a step back from Vance and folding her arms across her chest. “I’m not some fragile doll you need to lock away for safekeeping. If you won’t let me come, then I’ll go to the governor and get his approval. I know he’ll listen to me.”

Her words struck me like a physical blow, and a surge of anger flared hot in my chest. I closed the distance between us in two long strides, my hand gripping her arm. “You will not,” I growled, the words coming out harsher than I’d intended. “You’re not going anywhere.”

Before she could argue, I captured her mouth in a kiss that was hard and desperate, a fierce claim filled with all the emotions I couldn’t control. There was no gentleness in me. It was rough, possessive, my lips crashing against hers with a need that bordered on madness. I could feel her resistance falter, the soft gasp that escaped her as she yielded to the kiss, but it wasn’t enough to calm the fury thrumming through me.

When I finally broke away, we were both breathing hard. Her eyes blazed with defiance, her cheeks flushed with a mixture of anger and something else. “Marz,” she said, her voice trembling slightly. “You can’t just order me around like this. I’m not a soldier.”

“No,” I said, my voice low and rough. “You’re my mate. And I’m not going to let you get yourself killed.” Our mate did not yet understand what I was willing to do to protect her. If I had to fuck her into submission, I would. She. Was. Mine.

Perhaps it was time to make sure she understood exactly what that meant.