MINE! [New World Book 8] by C.L. Scholey Page A

shadows. She frowned in concentration. Spooky. Ghostly. For a moment, Huck pulled her back further and more of her shoulders rested against his bare chest. Sensations of emotions swirled through her. Something told her there was more to the complexity of what he wanted from her.
    “I won’t mate you.”
    He stiffened then relaxed. “If we were on my planet, you would have no choice.”
    “We’re not on your planet.”
    “My planet is as lost to me as Earth is to you. Everything I know is disappearing. Cobra and his warriors and others live on a beautiful planet, I’ve seen images. But there is war. I’m selfish and arrogant, but I know I can help protect their way of life because it will be my way of life. I have to try.”
    There was a hint of desperation in his tone. She wondered how long he’d been alone wandering the universe. For a moment, she understood his grief. Space was a large void to fill. Too many thoughts over too many miles. Darkness wasn’t the glamour of the final frontier when the endlessness was what was final and infinite.
    “Maybe there is still time for you to find another female.” Her words were hushed but not cruel.
    “I’ve been out here months. You’re the first living human female I have come across. I’m guessing you’ll be the last. My last. You have no idea the devastation your people have suffered. Yes, at Tonan hands. I understand why you don’t want me. You don’t understand why I need you. My shield isn’t cruel, but I sense it wishes you would cry. It can absorb emotion to help it sense you better.”
    “I don’t cry often, and sure as hell not on command. I’m broken, Huck. I’m also fierce as hell. What I saw on Earth hurt my soul. A certain sex doesn’t make a warrior. A desire to have someone watch my back was replaced with me wanting only me to take care of me. I make me fine.”
    “Then we make a great pair. I need you. I never said I want you. You need me; you don’t have to want me either.”
    The planet came into view, closer. They hovered near the atmosphere. Huck turned her in his arms. His warmth was intrusive. His scent filled her.
    “I don’t think I can love a female because of my biological father; he was evil to the core. That makes part of me evil, too,” Huck said. “My nature is as confusing to me now as it was when I was small. My shield has my back; I don’t want you watching it. I only need you to belong with a hive, nothing more. You may think you don’t need me, but I can sense you’re wounded. If I sense that, so will a Castian warrior. You war within yourself. There is a buildup of rage, a fury so intense you would battle anything to make the pain go away. The scent is suspicious. Deceptive and combative. Not unpleasant to a Tonan, more compelling. Cobra, a Castian, will take one whiff of you and put you somewhere until he can deal with you. Dissect your emotions to make certain you are harmless when there is a war going on inside of you. That will take time. If we show up on his doorstep the way we are, we may both be rejected.”
    “So what?” she challenged. “I couldn’t care less what Cobra or anyone thinks.”
    “Endless wandering is on the other side of a tarnished coin. The universe is empty as hell or can be. When you kick ass, make certain it’s the right ass you kick for the right reason.”
    The shuttle settled on the planet with a small bump. He stepped away from her and for a second, she missed his contact. The replicator came to life when Huck programed meat, cheese and bread to be served in a satchel for travel. Huck pushed the brown leather bag into her hands and moved to the shuttle door. His head bowed.
    Becky sidled up beside him. Her life had crumbled so many times, what was once more? “Maybe we both need time to think.” She fingered the heavy bag, the contents made her belly rumble. If nothing else, he provided for her.
    “This is a good place to start.” With a grand gesture he opened the door and