I don’t think she really expected to survive this.

My gaze flicks from her to move over the room, searching for that strange white doctor, but I don’t sense that anyone else is in there.

“She is alone,” I murmur.

Fer’ro makes a sound like a grunt. “He’rox has…” He pauses. “He will check on her momentarily. “Other things have his attention now.”

I grit my teeth and swallow as a sigh makes my shoulders rise and fall.

Other things.

He means the Gryken.

“Are you ready?” he asks.

I nod. “Yes. I think so.”

I’m suddenly not sure I want to face that monster again.

Just thinking about it, I can feel its slimy arm around my neck, feel it pushing me down in the water, hear its voice in my head.

A shiver runs through me.

You, it had said.

It had spoken to me.

I don’t think I will ever forget the feeling.

“This way,” Fer’ro turns and heads across the room and I follow somewhat behind him.

When another door materializes then disappears, I swallow my hesitation and step forward.

This room is brighter than the others, and it takes a few moments for my eyes to adjust.

In front of us in a large, bare, room, is He’rox.

His back is turned toward us and I’m not sure he has even heard us enter, for his focus is on what’s in front of him.

In a huge cylindrical tank, the terror I’d witnessed in that Scrit hovers in the water.

Dark eyes are focused on He’rox until they suddenly flick.

A shiver runs through me as the Gryken’s gaze finds me.

Staring into its eyes is like staring into a dark, bottomless void.

Its arms are splayed behind it in an arch and they move slowly, keeping it in place.

To think that what I am looking at is an intelligent being. One set to destroy my planet.

It stares at me, and I stare back.

I don’t realize I’ve moved forward until I’m standing beside the white male.

He’rox’s head turns as he glances down at me and his tentacles twitch a little, but I can’t focus on him.

My sole attention is on the monster before me.

“You,” I say to it.

It hovers, watching me, and its fleshy head lifts a little, giving me a glimpse of those wicked rows of teeth underneath.

“It cannot hear you,” He’rox says. “This tank blocks its brain signals. Nothing gets out.” He’rox moves his shoulders in what I assume is a shrug. “But nothing gets in either.”

There’s warmth at my back and I know Fer’ro is there. I ease back a little and our bodies touch.

“Won’t the others of its kind know something is wrong though? Won’t they suspect anything?”

He’rox’s tentacles move. “We don’t know all the intricacies of Gryken communication, but this Gryken is not dead. They can still sense it is alive and well. That will serve our purpose for now.”

I nod and pull my eyes away from the thing.

Looking at it sends all sorts of unease across my spine.

“We don’t have to stay any longer.” Fer’ro pulls me against him and in the corner of my eyes, He’rox remains rigid, only his head turns to the side as he watches us embrace.

I nod, allowing myself to relax against Fer’ro.

Seeing the Gryken right before me, I know time is not on our side.

There’s a sinister sort of intelligence in its eyes.

The longer we wait to take them down, the more we put ourselves in danger.

I hold its gaze for a few more long minutes.

It probably hates me.

Well, the feeling is mutual.

I risked my life to catch it so that we can have a chance.

I’m not about to let the opportunity go.

I hope it can see the determination in my eyes. I hope it can see that humanity is not giving up.

I will do everything in my power to give my world a second chance.

“Let’s go,” I whisper.

Chapter Thirty-Six

ADIRA

We’re walking down the corridor, the med bay behind us when I grip on to Fer’ro and stop.

His ba’clan bristle and he pulls me to his side.

“You are safe, Adee’ra.” His low voice seems heightened with the walls on either side of us. “It cannot hurt you.”

I put a smile on my face as I wrap my arms around his waist. “I know.”

I don’t know why I stopped walking. I just need to feel grounded, I guess.

Even with the Gryken in the tank, hardly moving, just standing before it took all the strength I had.

A few Vullan approach on the other end of the corridor and pause when they see us.

I’m about to pull away when Fer’ro’s arms tighten around me.

I just know he’s glaring at the them when their ears hit the sides of their head and they avert their gazes.

They salute us, their foreheads hitting their palms, as they continue on their way, but I don’t miss the glances as they pass us or the low clicks that echo down the corridor once they are out of sight.

That’s another thing.

They’re all going to know about Fer’ro and me.

My eyes widen a little.

Sam and Mina…

How will I explain that I’ve fallen in love with—

Fallen in love?

I gulp as the words settle within my mind.

But they don’t feel wrong.

They feel…right.

And I realize something.

Missing is the anxiety and second-guessing I’m usually doing when I fall too quickly for someone.

I’m not scared about moving too fast with Fer’ro.

I’m not scared of him getting bored of me, or of him leaving me for someone else.

What I feel is calm security that I’ve never felt before.

I blink up at him as I realize this, my gaze searching his.

I’m still holding on to him when a door materializes to our right and a huge Vullan steps out, blocking our path.

Ga’Var.

I recognize him only because of his burgundy eyes.

“Oh, hi Ga—” I’m easing off Fer’ro to greet the other male when the words cut off in my throat.

A chill fills the air as Ga’Var’s blades appear across his entire body, his ba’clan on edge.

He isn’t looking at me, he is completely focused on Fer’ro.

In one movement, Fer’ro places me behind him and out of the way as his blades extend too.

My eyes go wide.

“What’s—”

There’s a low rumbling that fills the corridor and it takes me a moment to realize it is the two of them snarling at each other.

It’s a suddenly vicious scene.

Both look like they’re ready to fight.

Before I can say anything, Fer’ro launches himself through the air.

He’s so quick, he’s but a streak of flying black.

He’s airborne, pure rage on his face as Ga’Var charges forward as well.

But Fer’ro is faster.

He lands on Ga’Var and they both skid across the corridor.

My heart slams against my chest.

I don’t know what the hell is happening.

“Fer’ro!” I scream his name as Ga’Var uses one of his bladed arms to swipe at Fer’ro, almost slitting Fer’ro’s throat.

“You’ve mated with her!” Ga’Var roars. “Do not lie to me or I will rekking kill you right here, right now!”

Fer’ro snarls. His fangs look even longer than usual. His eyes blood red as he flips Ga’Var and throws him across the hall.

Ga’Var smashes into the wall but he doesn’t get to recover before Fer’ro is on him again.

A dangerously long blade appears on Fer’ro’s arm and with one hand, Fer’ro pins Ga’Var against the wall while the arm with the blade is brought to Ga’Var’s skull.

If either of them so much as move the wrong way, the blade will pierce Ga’Var right through the brain.

I’m running toward them without even thinking about it.

“You mated her!” Ga’Var roars again, his fangs also looking longer than usual, and his rage-filled gaze on Fer’ro.

“Yes,” Fer’ro answers. “I mated her. More than once I mated with her and I intend to do so many, many more times.”

Fer’ro’s words stop me in my tracks.