“What is it, Dhiro?”
He wouldn’t have Ella alarmed. “Nothing to worry about.”
Just about every major system was malfunctioning. His sensors were firing off left and right. He pulled out his diagnostic pad and began his scans, the reports flashing up one after another. More bad news after the other. How cruel would fate be to cause them to fail right now, so close to saving all his people? Everything would have been for nothing.
The only consolation would be Bronn and Kaalen possibly finding happiness on Earth or another Trenuian making the voyage to Earth now that they knew pregnancies were possible. Life could go on without them. He pushed those thoughts from his head. He needed to save Ella and their child, to get them safely home.
Giving up on them wasn’t an option.
“Is there anything I can do?” Ella asked.
The alarms were ear-piercing, coming from all areas of the ship. Even the faint scent of burning rubber lingered in the air. The atmosphere was chaotic, and he could sense her rising anxiety. He wouldn’t show her his fear.
“I need to tend to the systems now. Please stay calm.”
He rushed off and lifted the hatch to the underbelly, grabbing a support rod and sliding inside feet first, determined to get the ship stable. He prioritized the alarms, handling the most important first. Life support was in jeopardy. It had been their biggest issue back on Earth, the reason his brothers had to be left behind. They were supposed to have enough power for two beings to get home safely, but now it showed only one could make it back alive.
One.
He swallowed hard after discovering the devastating news. There was no way around the facts, no way to fix the oxygen system. Bronn and Kaalen were some of the best ship mechanics, and even they couldn’t repair the issue.
He pounded his fist against the panel again and again.
What the fuck was he supposed to do now? He’d have to sacrifice himself for the sake of his mate and unborn child. It was the only way. He would never experience the joy of fatherhood, never see the love in his mother’s eyes as she held her first grandchild. So many hopes and dreams would be lost forever. Ella would have to raise their child alone far from Earth.
He expected to fight for her, not have to kill himself to protect her.
What other option did he have?
Dhiro worried about Ella being alone on a ship set on self-destruction. She’d be terrified by herself. She had no knowledge about their ships or the complex controls. There was only so much he could teach her in less than an hour—and that was all the time he had. Any longer would make the trip home for even one being impossible.
He wished he had more time.
How would he tell her? She’d panic and demand he find a way to fix the ship, but there was no other way. Unpleasant surges of emotion made it impossible for him to move. His feet felt like lead. A deep-seated sadness rained down on him. The sensors continued to sound off around him, the lights flashing red and orange.
He was broken.
“Dhiro!”
Her voice called down into the lower level, echoing around him.
“A ship. There’s a ship on the viewscreen!”
His brow furrowed. How had his people managed to get this far so fast? A ray of hope shone through his despair. This truly was a miracle. He picked himself up, took a breath, and climbed up to the main level. He took hold of Ella’s hand as they returned to the cockpit together.
Dhiro expanded the viewscreen to full size, zooming in on the ship in the distance as he leaned over the controls. He narrowed his eyes.
“That’s it. Our rescue. It’s a miracle, Dhiro. We’re going to be okay.” She held on to his arm, nearly bouncing up and down.
But he knew the truth.
“Ella. Please don’t get excited.”
“Dhiro, stop being so serious. This is fantastic news!”
He took hold of both her shoulders, giving her a little jostle to get her full attention. “Ella, it’s a Scyathra ship.”
Her joy drained away, leaving her face void of expression. She completely blanched. There was nothing more he needed to say. She knew exactly how dangerous their enemies were from her time on Trenu Zel. Their ship had no defenses, no weaponry. It was barely held together with salvaged parts. The best he could do was to push the ship as hard and fast as it would go, hoping to close the distance between them and Trenu Zel. It would give them the best chance for a rescue.
Being captured wasn’t an option. He wouldn’t even entertain the thoughts of what they would subject his mate to. They were ruthless and violent beings.
He turned on the communication channel to home. His commander’s familiar voice filled the cockpit.
“Have your sensors picked up the other ship?” Dhiro asked.
“What are you seeing? We have no other ship on our readings.”
“They must be cloaked. The Scyathra are fast approaching, and our ship is not space-worthy. Or systems are failing, and I fear they will attempt to destroy our vessel.”
“If they know the human female is with you, they will attempt to board, not destroy. They have been trying to capture her since she arrived on our planet. I will send two of our best ships immediately. Still, I fear we will not get to you in time.”
He didn’t answer. It was the hard truth.
“I will try my best to evade them and get closer to home.”
Dhiro turned off the communications and stood there, staring at the ship closing in on their location.
“I thought they were primitive. They have ships? How is that possible?”
“Primitive in their minds, in their beliefs. They still have advances in many areas,” Dhiro said. He paced back and forth, running one hand through his hair.
If only he could turn off the alarms, he could think straight.
He’d resigned himself to the fact he’d have to die to save his mate. This was worse. The Scyathra would not have mercy on them, especially a lush Earth female like Ella. He had to protect his mate. They’d wanted to get their hands on the breeding female since word got out about his successful voyage back from Earth.
“I won’t let them take you alive,” he said.
“What does that mean?” Tears filled her eyes, and he hated how scared she was. It was his job to shelter her, keep her safe.
“They are ruthless. If they attempt to board, it would be better for us to die than be taken prisoners.”
“Don’t say that, Dhiro! Oh, my God, we have to get back to Trenu Zel.”
He turned away from her, pushing the controls to maximum speed. The ship creaked and groaned, the alarms incessant with no way to turn them off. She held his hand.
“I love you, Dhiro. No matter what.”
“If there were any way, know I would do anything to save you. Our life supports will be the first to go. Oxygen is leaking out at a steady pace.”
“Bronn said there were extra oxygen canisters in the hold under the sleeping chamber. He didn’t want you to know how bad the life support systems were. It was too important for me to get back to your planet.”
He growled. His brother should have told him. Risking his mate like this was unacceptable.
“Stay buckled in your seat. The ship is unstable. I will get the oxygen. Once life support is stable, I can focus on the other systems. Hopefully, it will be enough to get us into Trenu Zel space.”