We covered the short distance to the control room and buckled into our seats. “Some of these devices have proximity sensors. I can’t assume the target is my brother. I have many enemies. Should someone wish to kill me, the explosive could be triggered by the protections and scanners we have in place on the edge of our space. Or it could be programmed to detonate in a specific area of space.”

“What about a remote control?”

I shook my head. “No. The lining of our ships is specially designed to block all communication and signals that do not come in through the ship’s designated sensors.”

“So…if you’re smuggling something, no one can figure out what you have on your ship?”

“Exactly.” I found myself smiling. “We will make a pirate of you yet.”

“I don’t know about that. But whoever it is better not be trying to kill you. I’ll have to hunt them down and—”

“And?”

“I don’t know. But I’d do something. I may be small, but I can be sneaky.”

I glanced over at my mate to find her completely serious. Fierce. A small creature spitting fire to protect me. Me.

Absurd. No one protected me. I was the monster, the Enforcer. A killer. I was Styx’s right hand and his executioner. I was the hunter, not the prey.

So why did her words make me feel like I would kneel at this female’s feet? Do anything to make her happy? To protect her? To make fucking certain she never had to face off with anyone, especially not one of Siren legion’s thugs?

Fuck. She owned me, and she didn’t even know it.

Watching the monitor I’d instructed Abby to leave in place near the explosive device, I slowed the ship, then brought us to a halt. I commed the nearest relay that would give me access to Rogue 5 and waited impatiently for my brother to answer. He’d better fucking answer. I used our private emergency codes.

Seconds later, the comm screen lit up with Styx’s very annoyed face. “This better be good, brother.” Styx was naked, his tattoos clearly visible from the chest up on the screen. He looked like he’d just left Harper in bed.

“It is.”

Behind him, a female’s cries of pleasure rang out loud and clear. Abby put her hand over her face, covering her eyes as if she didn’t dare look. Her cheeks had that same pink blush I’d questioned her about earlier.

“Tell Blade to stop. Harper’s cries are upsetting my mate.”

Styx shook his head. “You tell him to stop giving his essence to our mate. I dare you.”

Fuck. Not touching that one. The bite we gave our mate was sacred.

I looked over at Abby. “Are you all right?”