Kozav (12 page)

K
ozav would destroy
the ship with his bare claws if he did not get answers soon.
“Where is my mate?”

Warriors searched every inch of the ship, going room-to-room as they sought Grace. With each failure to locate her, his anger grew.

As did his fear.

He’d gone after her when she’d walked away, but when he’d emerged from the senchamber, it was to find an empty passageway.

And a splatter of blood on the wall. Her blood.

The ship’s sensors were down and monitoring systems had worked spottily at best, which only left a physical hunt.

Every male had been rolled out of their sleep chambers and ordered to find Grace, and each male vowed he would not stop until she was returned to him. Grace wasn’t merely a female—Preors valued all females—but also a symbol of hope. She was another human who’d matched to a Preor. Another human who may bear his dragonlet.

Gone
.

Kozav stood in the middle of the command deck, gaze not straying from a layout of the entire ship. He sought any odd readings, any hint of where else Impe had sabotaged. Impe had caused havoc and now he had Grace in his clutches. The last time she encountered the male, he’d knocked her unconscious.

What would he do now?

Reports from warriors flowed through the room, comm operators making note of each searcher’s location and failure to save his mate. She needed saving. That thought was upmost in his mind. It thrummed in his veins and pounded in his head. His mate needed him and he was not there for her.

He fisted his hands, frustration and pure rage turning his nails into dragon’s claws. He sought an inner calm that seemed to linger just out of reach, and then he merely begged his body to remain on two legs. He could best find her if he could walk.

“Kozav!” The deep voice was familiar and he turned to find Jarek approaching with Taulan right behind him. Jarek reached him first. “Catch us up on your progress.”

Catch us up…

A human colloquialism. Each day Jarek spent on Earth with his mate resulted in even more changes to the old Preor’s mind and body. Good? Or bad? Impe felt associating with human
breeders
was definitely to the detriment to their people.

That knowledge fueled his rage to burn hotter.

“Warriors are searching every corridor and cargo hold. If it has a door or an access panel, they are exploring the space. They have not found her.” And Kozav’s dragons fire burned hotter because of it.

“What is the status on your hunt for Impe and Sugal?” Jarek spoke once more, acting like the War Master even if he no longer held the title.

“Impe remains unfound and Sugal was recently discovered hiding within one of the engineering tunnels. The sensors were modified so the ship could not sense his presence. Engineer Master Vende located him.” Kozav ran a hand through his hair and cursed himself once more. So many things he could have done differently to stop this and now his mate was gone.

“Does Sugal have anything to say about Impe’s intent?” Taulan’s voice was equally forceful but his tone held something more.

“Not yet.” He shook his head. And the skies knew he’d tried to learn what he could from the Healing Master.

Taulan grunted. “I believe I will speak with Sugal.”

Kozav looked forward to hearing whatever Taulan could discover. In the meantime, the search would continue.

“Do you believe he has taken her off the ship?”

Kozav would not snap at the male. He was to be respected. But did Jarek think he hadn’t had the ship count their shuttles the moment he knew Grace was gone? “No. Shuttle count shows that all are still onboard.”

Jarek grunted. “Ship.”

“Yes, Esteemed Warrior Jarek joi Melissa?”

Exhaustion and worry had him snapping at the elder warrior. “I already asked—”

Jarek held up a hand to silence him. “You are a newly promoted Primary Warrior. When you request something of the ship, its answers are based on pre-programmed inquiries. You ask it how many warriors are on the ship, it will tell you how many
able-bodied
warriors are on the ship. It will not count those who cannot help in its defense.” Kozav nodded and remained silent. “Ship, prepare shuttle count—inoperable and able. Compare it to current shuttle count—inoperable and able—and calculate any discrepancies.”

“One inoperable shuttle is not onboard.”

Kozav felt as if his heart had been ripped from his chest. He stumbled forward and caught himself on the back of a comm officer’s chair, using it to hold him upright. Impe had taken her on a shuttle—an
inoperable
shuttle.

“Time of departure?” Jarek barked.

“My shuttle bay was opened thirty-one minutes, fifty-two seconds ago.”

“Destination?” Jarek still ignored him and continued questioning the ship.

“Ultimate destination unknown. Direction indicated an Earth sea landing near the coast of Florida.”

“No,” he rasped. He did not believe his mate could survive in the waters. Humans were not made… Kozav straightened. Humans and Preor did not like the oceans, but there was an alien race that did. “Ship, transmit last know shuttle coordinates to the Ujal and request recovery assistance. Include images of Grace and Impe for identification. Grace to be rescued, Impe to be captured and held for arrival.”

“Confirmed.” The ship was quick to acknowledge his orders.

Jarek squeezed his shoulder. “And now we will search as well.”

“The oceans of Earth are vast.” He shook his head.

“And your connection to her can stretch across any distance. Ship, transmit all data to the short flight in bay
kuik
.”

Kozav did not get a chance to question the warrior. Not when they began their rapid winding through the passageways and finally to the shuttle bay. He followed Jarek into the shuttle and strapped himself into the co-pilot’s chair. “How will we find her?”

“
You
will find her.” He raised his eyebrows and Jarek grumbled. “Ignorant youth.” Jarek started the engines and in one smooth move had the bay doors open and the shuttle shooting out of the ship. Kozav would not remind the male that he was elder of them. “Mates share a biological connection. When that connection is recognized, the Knowing manifests.” Kozav knew enough to remain silent. “Because of your genetic connection, you can find your mate anywhere. You can connect with her mind.”

“
After
a mating has been sealed.” Kozav pointed out the obvious. “Grace and I have not.”

“Sealing is not necessary. I communicated with Melissa mind to mind before we joined fully. Emotions are the core of the connection.” Jarek had them diving toward the planet, streaming through the layers of the atmosphere. “Do you care for her enough to find her?”

“Yes.” His answer was immediate and heartfelt. He would do anything for Grace. He would live and die at her word and would happily do either on her behalf. “Yes.”

“Then search for her with your mind. I will take us to the coordinates supplied by the ship and we will travel from there.”

It went against everything ingrained in him as a warrior, but Kozav closed his eyes, making himself vulnerable, and looked within. He should be visually searching or relying on technological systems, but he would put his trust in Jarek.

He slowed his breathing and looked inward, searching for any foreign presence and discovered nothing. More and more nothing.

Jarek’s words drifted through his mind.
“Mates share a biological connection.”

Grace wouldn’t be a foreign presence. She was
part
of him. So he sought a softer side of him, one that was tough yet vulnerable. A portion of his soul that welcomed being cared for by others and was also fierce in its protectiveness.

Kozav sought his
rasi
. And found her huddled and crying, calling out for him while blow after blow rained down on her. Scarred metal cut into her flesh, the burnt surface stained red, and he saw through her eyes. Saw Impe lift his hand and then her flinch as she closed her eyes and braced herself for pain. But before she erased his vision, he observed something else.

Something that told him exactly where to find his mate, and with whom.

His eyes snapped open, the rush of battle’s fire coursing through his body and it felt as if his nerves were aflame. He pointed into the distance. “That way. Training platform
ruor
. Come in silently from the North and twenty feet above the waves.”

“Kozav, you can’t—”

Risk being that close to the tumultuous waves. A recent hurricane made the entire area dangerous.

However, he could. It was what he’d trained for. It was why he had a home at the edge of the Gor Ari and why he hated, yet loved, the waves. He’d trained to collect
things
that would make him worthy of a mate. Now he would use those tools and rescue his Grace. This act would make him more than worthy.

“I can. Do it.” He would not be denied and Jarek must have sensed that determination in him.

Jarek brought the shuttle around, communicating with the Ujal within the waves while maneuvering. When they were finally in position, the warrior opened the rear doors, exposing them to the salty air. Jarek approached and hissed with the sting while Kozav rejoiced in the hint of pain.

“I will comm you once it is done.” Kozav stared into the sky, watching the clouds and gauging the gusts of wind. Flashes of color in the seas showed him the Ujal waited and he was pleased the other race would help if needed. He lowered his attention back to the male at his side. “Impe will not survive this.”

The esteemed warrior squeezed his shoulder. “As long as you and your mate live, I do not care.”

Kozav jerked his head in a quick nod, turned his attention back to the sea below… and leapt.

If the situation were not so serious, Kozav would laugh at Jarek’s surprised shout when he jumped from the shuttle. Others would have immediately fought to go upward, but he allowed himself to fall, to nearly skim the uneven surface. His wings caught the updraft coming from the waters and he used the push to launch himself upward. Then steady beats of his wings took him higher. He kept his gaze trained on the metal platform hovering above, refusing to allow his attention to drift in any way.

With each beat of his wings, he thought of his mate—his Grace. Her eyes. Her smile. Her frown. Her growl. Her teeth on his flesh.

He would have that all again.

Kozav drew nearer to the training platform, the edge nearly in reach, and he folded his wings when he approached one of the engine repair posts. A small shelf cut into the side of the platform used by engineers to rest during repair work. He used it for another purpose now. He fought to calm his racing heart and drew air slowly into his lungs. As soon as he’d gotten himself under control again, he would—

The scream that rent the air pushed him into action when he would have waited. He reached up, grasped the top edge of the platform and hauled himself onto the scarred metal. The ship Impe stole teetered near the edge of the opposite side, the large swath of black char showing the path it’d taken when they’d landed. He scanned his surroundings for the male and his mate, and rage infused him when he caught sight of the pair.

Of Impe standing tall, wings spread.

Of Grace huddled on the ground, clothes torn and blood coating her pale skin.

Of Impe pulling his leg back.

Of Grace tightening into a small ball in preparation for the kick.

The roar that tore from him was more dragon than male, and he did not realize he was flying until he landed in front of the other
osri
. He caught Impe’s leg, lifted it and twisted the ankle. The move forced the other male to flip over and fall to the ground. To become vulnerable like his mate.

With a snarl, Impe shot to his feet, wings spread for balance. When the other warrior reached for his blades, Kozav did the same. He would gleefully cut Impe into pieces and feed him to the sharks circling below. Metal clashed, swords gleaming and sparking with each blocked strike. But this was not a sparring match, it was a battle to the death—Impe’s.

So when the male left himself open, Kozav stabbed deep. When the male stumbled, Kozav did not give Impe space to right himself.

Kozav cut and sliced, kicked and shoved, beat the male with the base of his blade and broke Impe’s nose with his forehead. Blood flowed freely, painting the metal in a deep red, and Kozav couldn’t wait to see all of it coating the platform. They circled left, then right, each of them searching for an opening—a vulnerability.

Movement behind Impe reminded Kozav his greatest vulnerability was not his own body, but Grace. Somehow Impe caught his slight inattention and whirled, capturing Grace before Kozav could stop him. The warrior bled freely, but he still had enough strength to hold his mate tightly in his grip.

“No more. Be ssstill,” Impe rasped and Grace strained against the male’s hold. When Impe pressed the tip of his sword to her flesh, she froze. “Good.” Impe glared at Kozav, one eye swollen shut while the other narrowed to a mere slit. “I have your little breeder, Kozav. Will you listen now? Will you hear me when I say that humans can only weaken us? They do not listen. They do not do as they’re told. They will not be good mates and their dragonlets will be
weak
.”

Each word was a blow to Kozav, another ember added to the dragon’s fire in his heart. It pushed him closer to the edge, closer to the point where he’d lose control and kill the man where he stood no matter the cost.

But he could never hurt Grace. It would kill him to harm her and his fury needed to come back under control.

“Weak like you, Impe? Weak like your uncle?”

Impe hissed and Kozav did the same, letting lies leap to his lips. “Taulan did not even have to touch Sugal to get your secrets out of him. We know all, Impe. Release Grace and—”

“
He wouldn’t.
”

No, for all Kozav knew, he hadn’t, but Kozav needed to keep the male unbalanced. “He is weak, like you are weak. Your line should not have even been granted passage and the chance to seek out a mate.” He sneered and stared at Impe, searching for any opening. “Your line is filled with cowards and useless males. Your line is
nothing
.”