Savage Prince by Alison Aimes

15

“Skolov.” Commander Anderson’s gray eyes were as cold and bleak as Abzal in winter. “Welcome to Federation custody. I’ve waited for this moment for a long time.”

Maxheim resisted the urge to snarl. “Glad I could give you a bit of pleasure—before I snatch it all away.”

“You’re certainly a cocky bastard.”

“While you’re just a bastard.”

The youngest Federation soldier ever to reach commander level, the brown-haired, square-jawed Flynn Anderson oozed uptight, military asshole.

Maxheim was suddenly less annoyed that the fated-mate marks on his omega’s wrists and throat were still so faint.

Anderson was the kind of bastard to use whatever leverage he could.

As if he’d read his thoughts, the commander’s scowl deepened. “Don’t think because I’m not yet with you in person, I can’t have an impact.”

He gestured toward the guards in the room. They shifted position, retraining their weapons—on Maxheim’s omega.

He saw red. “Do not point those at her.”

His demand, however, was overshadowed by another shout.

“Tessie?” Sporting a few medals himself, a yellow-haired male appeared in the hologram next to the commander. “Tesstala, is that really you?”

“Caden Hawke?” Tess hurried to the front of her cell. “Can’t be.”

Maxheim took a closer look at the blonde fucker in the hologram.

“It is.” Blondie’s dimples popped into view as he dislodged his mask and smiled. “And thank the gods, it’s you too. You don’t know how long I’ve been searching for you. You, Rav, and the rest of our gang of orphans. After we got split up, I was recruited to the Federation and—”

A sharp throat clear from the commander was all the reminder it took.

Caden of the Federation flinched, turning pale as he stepped back. His spine snapped regulation straight. “Forgive me, sir.” He issued the Federation salute, then hurriedly donned his mask. “I was taken aback. Seeing Tessie again.”

“Personal considerations cannot take precedence.” The commander remained all business. “Do I make myself clear?”

“Yes, sir.” But Hawke looked only moderately chastened, his gaze darting over his boss’s shoulder way too often for Maxheim’s liking. “Of course, sir.”

Order reestablished, Anderson continued with his welcome speech for Maxheim. “You’re being transported to a Federation facility to answer for crimes against the galaxy and the willful disregard of statutes 573, 2219, 6728, 978, 1276, and 2499. You know what’s coming.”

The commander’s robotic-like tone softened slightly. “Which is why, if you truly have any concern for this omega, you’ll confess your crimes, tell us how to intercept your fellow members of the Brotherhood, and try for the best deal you can. Otherwise,” his voice hardened once more, “your omega will suffer.”

“If you want to live longer than the next few hours,don’t threaten my omega again.” Maxheim’s tone was equally measured. “You know who I am. You know what I’m capable of. Don’t fuck with me. You’ll regret it.”

“I have made it my mission to protect the citizens of this galaxy, and I will. Your threats don’t scare me.” The commander gestured Hawke forward. “Your turn.”

“Tess,” Maxheim barked the command and was pleased when her head whipped toward him. “Remember, this guy may seem like your friend, but he’s not.”

“That’s not true,” protested Blondie. Unlike Anderson’s robotic pitch, this guy’s play was all emotion and regret. “Don’t listen to him. Skolov is a criminal. He’s only going to get you into more trouble.”

She looked stunned. “Caden, I-I really can’t believe it’s you. Rav said you were dead.”

“Rav is a . . .” Blondie paused, visibly pulling himself back under control. “Rav is mistaken, Tessie. I am very much alive. I’ve been searching for you for a long time. I couldn’t believe it when I came back to the hideout and you were gone. That fool Rav convinced you to leave, didn’t he?”

Maxheim didn’t like or trust Blondie, but he did appreciate his obvious antipathy for Byrel.

“He thought we’d be safer elsewhere,” answered Tess. “But you’re right. We should never have left. It was a stupid mistake, one we’ve been paying for since.”

“What happened?”

“Slavers. A male named Aldar caught us immediately.” Her voice shook. “He’s kept us trapped ever since.”

“Tell us about this Aldar fellow,” cut in the commander.

The hairs on Maxheim’s neck rose.

“What do you want to know?” Tess swallowed hard. “He’s a monster. He forced me to work for him. He’s the reason Rav, myself, and so many other orphans are in danger. He’s the one who should be in this cell.”

Caden’s pretty-boy features twisted. “Tessie—”

His boss shut him down with a wave. “That will be very hard to do, omega, since Aldar doesn’t exist.”

Maxheim muffled a curse. Those mother fuckers.

“What?” Tess laughed, but there was no humor in it. “Of course, he exists. He’d been my owner for years.”

“That’s enough.” Maxheim tugged at his chains. He was supposed to stay in control, stick to the plan, but this bullshit was pissing him off.

Hawke snarled back. “You can’t hide the truth from her forever.”

“We’ve done extensive research, omega,” continued the commander. “There is no Aldar alive today. And if you doubt me, it’s clear Skolov knows that too.”

Tess’s gaze flew to his. “He’s lying, right?”

Fucking Feds.

He’d really hoped to break this shit to her more gently—and anywhere else but here—but it looked like it was too late for that.

He sucked down a deep breath. “No. He’s not lying. The Aldar who once owned you is dead.”

She scoffed—and this time her glare was as much for him as the others.

So much for ground gained.

“I assure you, he’s not,” she insisted. “He’s real and vicious, and I have the marks to prove it.”

Maxheim breathed through the surge of rage. The male who’d hurt her would pay. A thousand times over. But whomever that bastard was, he wasn’t Aldar.

Damien had confirmed it and more through a comms message sent while Maxheim had been soothing Tess in the starlight. He’d been considering how and when to tell her what he knew—or if he even should—when the Federation showed up.

Now that decision had been made for him.

“The male you know as Aldar is a front for someone else.” With no other choice, he took the plunge. “There was a small-time crook named Aldar who trafficked in orphan slaves. He was the one who took you and enslaved you, but he was killed over fifteen years ago. Someone else assumed his identity, took over the business, and expanded it into the more profitable venture it is now. This individual is the one who’s held your tracker and kept you as his slave ever since. Not Aldar.”

“N-No.” Her voice shook. “That can’t be.”

“It is. I’m sorry.”

“No.” Her voice rose even higher. “You’re lying to me. All of you.”

She was spiraling.

Maxheim had known this would be hard for her to hear. His gaze shifted to Anderson. “That’s enough information for her to digest for now.”

Despite being a total asshole, the commander actually looked as if he might agree.

But Blondie was another story. “She needs to know the rest.”

“What rest?” The omega’s jaw clenched, her stubborn chin tilting upward. “Tell me.”

And Maxheim knew his shot of protecting her from the worst was over.

Hawke held up a sheet of paper. “Fifteen years ago, control of your tracking device was transferred from Aldar to the name of the male on this record of property transmission.”

“Who?”

Hawke didn’t hesitate. “Rav Byrel.”

“No.” She drew back, her breath coming in shorter and shorter intervals. “No!”

But the name on the paper was easy to read, even through the hologram.

Her anguish swamped Maxheim.

He’d wanted her loyalty to Byrel destroyed, but not like this.

Straining against his chains, he glowered at Anderson. “Let me in her cell.”

“Not happening.”

Maxheim’s fangs flashed. He was a fucking fixer and he needed to fix this for her.

“Omega, you’re going to be okay.” He couldn’t believe the words that came out of his mouth next. “Whatever Byrel has done, I am sure in his fucked-up brain he was trying to protect you.”

“No. You’re lying.” She shook her head, her eyes wild, her pupils tiny pinpricks. “You’re lying to get me to turn on him. It won’t work!”

“It’s not a lie. It’s the truth.” Hawke was relentless. “Rav was always trouble, Tessie. Always a selfish, opportunistic bastard, and always too attached to you. Even when we were young. You know that. You remember. He’s the one who convinced you to leave the hideout. He’s the one who always wanted to keep you for himself.”

“Enough.” Maxheim’s roar shook the reinforced glass. “Anderson, why don’t you and your soldiers take a swipe at the real target you’re after? Me. After all, I know you blame the Brotherhood for the death of your family.”

The commander’s growl was thick with rage. “You don’t know anything.”

“You think you’re the only one who does their research? You’ve climbed high enough in the ranks to have earned my attention—and dislike. But only the lowest of cowards takes his fury out on a helpless omega when the target he really wants is right here.” He opened his arms as wide as the chains allowed. “Come and get me, and leave her the fuck alone.”

Anderson lurched forward, his body taking up the entire hologram space. “I am going to wipe every one of you Brotherhood criminal scum from this galaxy.” His gaze blazed with hate, and Maxheim finally glimpsed the seething inferno beneath the cool facade.

“But I am no fucking coward,” continued the commander. “My subordinate Hawke uncovered the intel on Byrel, and I allowed him to share it. Not because I am interested in taking my rage out on your omega. I am trying to do her a kindness.” His gaze shifted to her. “She already trusted her survival to one lying criminal scum. I suggest she think long and hard before she repeats the mistake with you.”

“Tessie, please. Listen to the commander.” Blondie’s tone was thick with pleading. “If you cooperate and tell us how to locate Byrel, it’s been agreed I can take you to the med facilities. Give you a comfortable room to await trial. You won’t be tranqued. I swear it.” He paused. “Otherwise, you’re scheduled for official interrogation upon arrival at the facility.”

“You motherfuckers.” Maxheim strained against his chains.

“Interrogation?” Her head popped up.

Fear trickled through their bond like sour sweat sliding across skin.

“We know Byrel is working for someone else,” barked Anderson. “We want his employer’s name too.”

“An employer?” She frowned. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I didn’t even know about Rav.”

“We know you killed those Brotherhood members at Rav Byrel’s orders.” The commander was relentless. “We know the Brotherhood will be coming after you. We’re the only ones who can protect you from them.”

“Bullshit. I can protect her just fine.” Maxheim was surprised—and troubled—by just how much the Federation knew about this whole situation. His gut blared in warning.

“Against your own?” The commander scoffed. “We both know the Brotherhood won’t just let this go. You’ll give her up to save your family in the end. You’ll have no choice.” His calculating gaze returned to Tess, and he pushed harder. “Omega, don’t make another wrong choice you’ll regret.”

It was a miscalculation. Because rather than crumbling, Tess came back swinging.

“Stop trying to control me. All of you!” Her gift fired up as she glared at them all, including him.

Even through the reinforced glass, her power hit hard, seeping through the ventilation shafts and sneaking beneath the smallest of cracks to spread outward.

Maxheim went hard as rock.

But the guards outside their cell had a different reaction, their lips curling up in a snarl as aggression seeped into their pores.

“If you think you can terrify me into doing what you want, you’re wrong.” Full of fury, her voice rose with every word. “I’ve withstood far worse than you.”

This was definitely not the way Maxheim had seen this going down. But with every heartbeat that passed and her gift ramped up more, plan C became less of an option.

“Omega, you need to calm down.” The commander sounded nervous. “We will not allow you to use your gift here. If we need to tranq you again, we will.”

Maxheim roared in rage. “Don’t you dare.”

Her gift intensified. “Try it,” she snarled at the commander. “But if you have to open the cell door, be warned.”

Destructive or not, pure chaos or not, she was amazing. And though she was once again fucking with his plans, Maxheim couldn’t help the rush of pride that slammed through him.

She was magnificent.

“I warned you,” Maxheim told the other two males, his tone smug. “You should have listened.”

He might not have known her long, but he was discovering Tess was stronger than he could have ever imagined.

Lust, even greater than before, beat a wild rhythm in his blood.

She would make an amazing omega mother to his offspring.

The guards in the corridor lurched closer to her cell, drawn by the same dark tendrils that rubbed against his skin.

He snarled. He didn’t like to share. She was all his.

“Omega,” the commander’s no-nonsense voice rang out, “this is your last warning. Calm down.”

“Tessie, please,” echoed Blondie.

Tiny cracks snaked along Tess’s cell, the power of her fury so great even the reinforced glass couldn’t contain her surging gift.

Out in the corridor, two guards ripped off their masks and launched themselves at one another, snarling and clawing.

“Enough.” Anderson gestured toward the panel. “Use the gas. Then, tranq her.”

Of course, it was the helmeted guard with the kill marks that rushed to obey.

Tess screamed in fury.

Maxheim estimated he had about eight seconds.

Clouds swirled in her cell, the early stages of the gas.

Maxheim threw back his head and roared. Loosening his control, he let instinct rule. Let the rut come. Let his control snap.

Sometimes even the long game required a small detour.

No oneendangered his omega.

Wrenching downward, he ripped the chains from the ceiling. They tore as easily as bread, his power greater than it had ever been—thanks to her and their fated-mate bond.

Pieces of the ceiling tumbled to the ground.

He barely noticed.

Her pain was a sharp, jagged cut beneath his skin. One he needed to heal above all else.

Alarms sounded. The lighting in the corridor flashed.

From far off, he heard the panicked shouts of the guards, their shock that he’d been able to break what should have been unbreakable. He heard them calling for him to be gassed too.

Not happening.

Plan D it was.

He just hoped his brothers remembered and were able to adjust.

Locking eyes with the commander and Blondie, Maxheim made a promise. “See you soon.”

Then, in the next heartbeat, his body a blur, the pain of his omega driving him on, he threw himself against the glass.