Free Prime Imperative (The Prime Chronicles Book 3) by Monette Michaels Page A

shady freighter captains, con artists, thieves, and murderers—used Hades as a place to let off steam before entering the most dangerous jump gate in the Milky Way: the Charybdis Gate, a frequently treacherous whirlpool of a shortcut to the other side of the Cygnus-Orion arm. Only those who had Obam navigators could use it safely. The benefits were worth the risk by providing shorter travel times and increased profits for the freighters that used it.
    Decent people like his gemate weren’t safe on Jump Station Charybdis, let alone in Hades .
    “Iolyn,” Lia called to him, “she trusts her brother to keep her safe.”
    “How do you know that?” Iolyn looked up from his fisted hands with their white knuckles.
    “She told me about her family once.” Lia chuckled. “She has a great affection for all six of her brothers, but especially Damon. She called him the black sheep since he didn’t want to be a peaceful farmer.”
    “Six brothers?” Iolyn thought of his precious mate growing up around six other males, not of her blood, and snarled.
    “Yeah.” Lia smiled at his snarl as if she knew where his mind had gone. “She always knew she was adopted, but that didn’t stop her from loving them as if they were blood. She had a good life on Gliese 581C due to the Martin family, so you’d better get it in your head to like them and trust them with Brianna’s safety and happiness.”
    “But they weren’t her real brothers.” Iolyn was angry and, yes, jealous. “They could’ve—”
    “Don’t complete that thought. They didn’t. She’s unattached and wants you…” Huw snorted. “…if you can believe that.”
    Iolyn turned and glared at Huw. “Shut up.”
    “Iolyn,” Wulf said, “we have to trust in Brianna’s faith in her family. Keep in mind, she asked the Alliance, and then Lia, to find you. It’s obvious she wants the bond.”
    “Yes.” That was the only thing keeping him halfway sane at the moment. But it was a short moment, a mere nanosecond, before his fears and worries surged to prominence once more.
    “This is a good start to your relationship, Iolyn,” Mel said with a smile. “Remember? I ran from Wulf. At least Brianna is keeping herself safe the only way she knows how…for you.”
    Iolyn looked at Wulf. “How soon can we get to the jump station?”
    “A lot faster than we could to Oz. A slight backtrack and then use the Andromeda Jump Gate which will dump us close to Jump Station Charybdis. This will cut our travel time by a quarter.”
    Maybe another twelve hours until I see her, can hold her in my arms.
    Iolyn nodded. “Good. But I need to let off some energy now. Cleaning and redecorating my quarters didn’t hack it.” Mel and Nadia laughed. “I don’t want to scare my gemate .”
    Especially since I’ll have to lecture her about hiding in a den of iniquity. I need to be calm, reasonable, and not yell.
    Besides not wanting to frighten Brianna, he wanted to make love to her as soon as humanly possible. The way he felt right now, he’d physically hurt her without meaning to.
    “Who’s up for some hand-to-hand?” Iolyn asked.
    Huw had come to stand behind his chair. “I’ll fight you.” He slapped Iolyn on the shoulder. “I still owe you for a few dirty moves you used on me when I was out of my mind over Nadia.”
    Nadia giggled as did Lia and Mel, who added, “Wulf can help. I’ll command the ship while you boys beat the crap out of each other.”
    Joen stood. “I’ll referee. I might even join in. I haven’t had the chance to beat on a Caradoc for a while. Need to keep my skills up. Who knows?—We might have to wade into a bar fight to get Brianna out of Hades .”
    “Joen,” hissed Lia.
    “What?” her mate replied.
    “Iolyn didn’t need to hear that last bit.” Lia turned to Iolyn. “I’m sure Brianna will be kept safely hidden away from the bar patrons. Her brother wouldn’t expose her to any overt danger.”
    The image of his beautiful, fragile, and