Hollow Space Read Online Free PDF Page B

species.”
    “She’s not thinking straight.” Their alliance was a guarantee. He was a Supreme Commander—all the other leaders of the War Galleys would follow his instructions when it came to deciding on the legislative stupidity spewed by the New Chastity Party.
    “How can she?” Amanassa asked. “She will never be your first wife.” He looked away. “She knows about how much you loved your last mate, but she isn’t deceiving herself either. Jada will eventually come to grips with the fact that it is unlikely she will ever earn all your love.”
    Michaelerus followed him. He waited for Amanassa to pry the crystal from Jada’s death grip before he hugged her tight. “There. There, my t esra . It’s at peace.”
    She turned her torso to hug him back. “It was in so much agony.”
    “I’ll be around in a little while to let her feed,” Amanassa stated as he gingerly wrapped the dead crystal in a piece of crimson velvet. When the man Michaelerus considered a hard-ass lifted his face, a tear cut a slow path down his cheek. “To a certain degree, we’re both just overtired and hungry.”
    “I know.” Michaelerus ground that out. Holding Jada to him with one arm, he hit the communicator imbedded in the tattoo gracing his upper arm. “Captain on duty, come to the forward observation deck, level 131. We have a situation.”
    “At once, Supreme Commander.”
    Michaelerus recognized the voice of one of his closest confidants. He sat back and rocked Jada gently, trying without much success to ease her internal pain. “Shh. Let it go.” He wanted to order her to give the sorrow up to him. To demand she let the sand soothe her.
    You ’ re one to talk. Fifteen years of self-torment, self-torture—was it enough? He didn’t have a firm answer.
    The door slid open. “Locate the owner of this piece of contraband. I want them in my office before seven bells.” He meant every word. His men suddenly were all action. They began to look over the vidi-tuner. “Come along, sweetheart. Let’s get you out of here.”
     
    * * * * *
     
     
    Jada wanted to blame herself for not finding the common crystal sooner but just couldn’t. She wasn’t at fault. “Damn the black market and privateers,” she whispered bitterly. The urge to slam her fist into the closest hard object struck her. “No crystal should have to die like that one did.”
    In her mind, the abuse suffered by the common D-quarterline, and then added to how she’d found the device, was nothing short of murder. But who would have this knowledge? Nobody aboard this ship would understand that the crystal could take a lot , but it had been beaten until it cracked. That was a point of no return once it was energized. The poor crystal was damaged beyond repair.
    “Come here, princess.” Michaelerus held out his hand to her. He’d been sitting behind his desk for the better part of an hour, letting her vent, not interfering with her indignation.
    Capitulating easily, she strode to where he sat. “Sorry.”
    “Why?” He pulled her into his lap. “You are allowed to be angry over what has happened.”
    “Are you now telepathic?”
    “Only with you.” He kissed her cheek. “The sand’s binding ties are strong, and they give a warrior in-depth insight into their mate’s thoughts.”
    Really? How odd. “I can’t imagine being attached to just one person that way.”
    “Why not?”
    “I mean I can read anybody’s thoughts—feel their emotions all the time. It would feel invasive to only be attached to a single psyche.” She shrugged. A long sigh broke from her throat when he nuzzled her neck. His tongue licked the sensitive area at the juncture of her ear and jaw. Delicious tingles raced down her back and raised goose bumps on her arms. “That feels wonderful.”
    “If you ever leave my bed again without waking me, I’ll paddle your behind.” His hand came up and massaged her tit through her shirt. “Am I understood?”
    “Yes.” The single