She bit her lip, hesitated, and sighed. “Our males do the mating, True. They are the ones with the strong instincts to cement the bond. Human females are submissive enough to allow it to happen. Human males aren’t dominant enough for a Species female. I have very strong feelings for my human and he usually makes me happy but there is distance between us. Do you understand? He isn’t in tune to my needs the way a mate would be. I’m fine with it for now but that doesn’t mean I don’t have moments of envy for real mates. I can guarantee he’ll never carry my scent around with him or need to rush home to mount me just because it’s been a few hours.”

“Why?”

“He doesn’t have our strong sex drive.” She stood. “Humans can stand the touch of others after they claim a mate. Species can’t because other females smell bad after they bond.”

“Your mate seeks other females?” It horrified True.

“Do you see him in a body cast? Fear is a strong motivation for him to stay loyal since I’ve made certain he knows I’d smell her on him if he is ever unfaithful, even if he showers afterward.” She paced. “That’s enough about my life. I don’t want to discuss it. Tell me everything your human said about this Agent Brice. I’ve been reading mystery novels. I’m good at figuring out clues.”

True growled. “The task force called Fuller to transfer her there.”

“It’s going to be difficult to ask her more questions when she wakes if she’s no longer here. We need those answers to figure this out.”

He inched closer to the bed. Polanitis lived at Fuller and it was clear that he’d been responsible for whatever had happened to Jeanie. “I won’t allow them to take her near that monster, Polanitis.”

“It won’t be your decision. You need to share what we’ve learned with Justice.”

True growled, his temper building to a red-hot sensation inside his chest. He didn’t like the idea that her life and future were in the hands of another male. “Harris released her from his care so they could transfer her to Fuller, correct?”

“Yes. She’ll need regular checkups but any doctor will do. We don’t keep human prisoners here after they are out of danger.”

“You’re sure she won’t suffer an overdose from the sedative you gave her?”

“She’ll wake fine in a few hours. We’d know by now if she had an adverse reaction.”

He scooped Jeanie into his arms, cradling her gently against his chest and turned. “Tell them she’s with me. She is staying at Homeland.”

Midnight’s eyebrows rose. “I don’t think that will work.”

He growled. “I’ll fight anyone who attempts to take her away from me. She’s mine to protect.”

“You need to clear that with Justice.”

“I don’t. I take full responsibility for her. Give me five minutes before you make the call to inform them that I’ve taken her home. She’ll be safe with me.”

“At the men’s dorms?”

“Yes.”

“True, be reasonable.” Midnight stood. “Just let them know what is going on and we won’t send her to Fuller. I’m sure that Justice, Fury and Slade will be happy to come here to discuss this with you if you are worried about leaving her alone. I wouldn’t allow anyone to take her until you return if you wish to go to the offices instead. I’m your friend and you can trust me to protect her.”

“She’s been through enough. I just want her to wake someplace safe.”

The female Species shook her head. “I think she’ll feel safer if you return her to that bed and I’m the first face she sees. I wasn’t the kindest to her but that’s because I believed she was our enemy. I’ve learned otherwise.”

“Tell them she’s with me.” He stalked forward, the urge to take her home too overpowering to resist. “She’ll stay inside my home until she’s no longer in any danger of being sent to Fuller.”

“I want to help you figure this out.”

He paused at the door. “Share what we’ve learned with our people. I’ll talk to her when she’s not drugged and get more details. Thank you for your help.”

“Wait!” Midnight grabbed a blanket and covered Jeanie with it. “She chills easily.”

Chapter Five

True expected stares when he entered the men’s dorm with a female cradled in his arms. The blanket was tucked around her enough to hide most of her but her sex was obvious from her small shape and her long hair falling over his arm. The males watching the sports game on the large TV turned their heads, all gawking at him.

“She’s fine,” he called out. “She’s just sedated.”

Book stood. “Who is she and why do you have her?”

“She’s human.”

Darkness exited the bathroom and halted. “What is going on?”

True turned to stare at him. “This is Technician Jeanie Shiver.”

“She’s the human the task force team wanted me to interrogate? I said I wouldn’t do it. Take her back to Medical. I haven’t changed my mind.” His nose flared and he growled. “It smells as if you terrified her enough without me. I have no stomach for menacing a female.”

“That’s not why I have her. They were going to transfer her to Fuller. I won’t allow it.”

“Why?” Book took a few steps closer, openly curious.

“She’s not my enemy and she doesn’t belong with the humans who live there.”

“Security allowed you to just walk off with her?” Darkness lifted one eyebrow and didn’t look convinced. “What have you done? I know protocol.”

“I took her from her bed at Medical.” True tensed, prepared to fight anyone who interfered. “She wasn’t safe there. The task force called Fuller for pick-up.”

“Justice approved this?”

“No.” True showed his sharp teeth. “I didn’t ask. He has no say about what happens to her. She’s mine to protect.”

“She’s your mate?” Book took a step back. “She agreed to that?”

“She’s not my mate but I owe her my life.”

Darkness approached him but stopped three feet away, his confusion clear. “What are you talking about? I read her file when they approached me to perform the interrogation. She worked for two suspected research subsidiaries of Mercile Industries. One of them was where you were kept.”

“Yes. She saved my life in New Mexico. I haven’t figured out what is going on yet but I believe she was there helping save the lives of Species.”

Darkness shook his head. “She was a valued and obviously trusted employee of high rank to work at both facilities.”

“She drew blood from me but she wasn’t a doctor or a high-ranking employee,” True growled, angry the male stood too close. “There is a human pretending to work for the NSO who used her. She believed she was helping us through him. That’s why she was at Cornas where she was captured. She thought she was saving our kind by giving him information.”

“What human?”

“I don’t know. I need to figure that out. He claimed to be an agent and sent her to the last location.”

“You have proof?” Darkness backed away a step but withdrew his cell phone from his jeans pocket. “Let’s deal with this in a rational way. I’ll call Tim Oberto and Trey Roberts.”

“She told me this while drugged.”

“There is no proof then.” The male touched the face of the phone.

“Don’t do that,” True demanded. “Hear me out first before you get them involved.”

“They are already involved. They work for us, deal with the humans.”

“I don’t want them near her. They didn’t believe what she said, but I do.”

“He is highly attracted to her,” Book whispered. “Look at how tense he is and the protective stance. Don’t get close to her again, Darkness.”

True growled, turning his head to shoot the male a dirty look. “This isn’t about attraction. It’s about a debt. I owe her enough to allow her to prove her innocence. She can’t do that from Fuller.”

Book lifted both hands, palms out. “She smells good. I totally understand the desire to just take her home with you. I’ve been there myself. She is out cold, so easy to just pick up and walk off with, and you probably imagine she’ll wake happy to be naked in your bed. I’d be tempted to do the same. I’ve had that fantasy but I’ve been assured they would scream and not be as impressed as we would wish at the sight of an aroused male, ready to pounce on them for shared sex.”