“Cormac, it’s okay. They didn’t hurt me. The doctor was treating me because I was sick and dizzy after transport and you were late.” I glared right back at the big brute. “I expected you to be here when I arrived.” There. I put some sass on that last bit, chastising him for scaring the crap out of me—and for being late. For not being here. For not putting me first. Again. Why was this happening to me again?

“I was hunting.”

That was supposed to be an apology? Oh no he didn’t. I’d spent too many hours waiting for my father while he worked and worked and broke promise after promise. All that old hurt surged to the surface, and I had to fight back tears. “Hunting for what? Your manners? I landed on this transport pad naked and sick, and this Prillon doctor had to take care of me. It should have been you.” Why wasn’t it you?

The golden Prillon stiffened and risked a glance over his shoulder at me. I ignored him and his shocked grin, glaring at my mate.

Cormac looked at the doctor. “Is she well enough to travel?”

The doctor glanced at his green wand thing. “Yes. I believe so. But she will be tired and hungry. Transport is more difficult for humans than it is for us.”

Cormac dipped his chin to acknowledge the doctor, then strode toward me. The Prillons both moved aside as he reached me. He knelt and scooped me up off the floor, the blanket the Prillon had covered me with wrapped around me like I was a burrito.

“We were unaware you had a mate and were only trying to protect her. Apologies, Enforcer.” The golden Prillon sounded sincere.

Cormac grunted. “Speak of this to no one. I do not want her to become a target before I can get her off this station.”

“Of course,” the doctor agreed. “You should know, there is a full contingent of Siren members on level nine.”

“And Cerberus?” Cormac asked. I had no idea who any of these people were, so I stayed quiet in Cormac’s arms. It was like being carried around by a giant tree with arms of solid wood. Everything about him was hard. Unforgiving. Powerful.

I’d never felt safer, which shocked me as much as it made me eager to get him naked. He was mine. Right? He would never hurt me, never leave me, never ignore me or forget I existed. Mine. And I was his. I finally belonged somewhere. With someone.

“Less than five of Cerberus legion onboard. Since the new leader took over, they have not been as much of a problem.”

Without another word, Cormac walked toward the sliding doors. He paused there and pulled the blanket up to cover my face and head.

“Hey!”