Theodora's POVI glanced back to the sliding doors, now numerous goons guarding the exit. My gun was only a few feet from me. All it took was a well-timed lunge. Six bullets.Nine men in this room including the Pantomath. Not enough for each of them, but I didn't need it. The gears turned in my head, a plan forming in a few seconds. Then there was the question of Javier by my feet. How the hell was I going to drag his massive body out of this club with henchmen on my tail? I didn't have super strength, only an impeccable aim.Wait. I mulled over the conversation. The Pantomath was cocky, and it helped that I played stupid. It's amazing how much he lets slip out of his lips.The Pantomath said that the serum would wear off shortly. I needed to stall. "Don't even think about it, Theodora," The Pantomath said, clearly pleased with himself. "I forgot to tell you that STC answers to me. Your ship is grounded until I say otherwise." Fuck. I tilted my head to the side.

Theodora's POVPuffing on a joint, I tried to quell my flashbacks. I was only in my sports bra, weaving stitches through my arm. A rogue tear slipped down my cheek, but I used a bloodied hand to wipe it away quickly.My chin wouldn't stop quivering as I inhaled deeply, releasing a bout of smoke to soothe my torment. My goal wasn't to get high. In fact, I preferred the sensation of being drunk to the sensation of being high, but I smoked to silence the voice.The intrusive thoughts about how I almost got my crew killed. How I got out this time, but my luck was running out. I'd lose my crew just like I lost my platoon back on the Hermes Cluster. All except for Benji and Ellie.My hands shook, my arm aching from my crude stitches. I slapped a bandage over it, letting the pain wash over me. It anchored me into the present, so I wouldn't get sucked back down onto that Cluster with bombs falling around us.Panicked eyes stared up at me as I outstretched my hand, trying to pull them

Theodora's POVWe were approaching the last known location of the cargo ship holding Sol. I was feeling better now than I did earlier after talking to Mads. He always knew how to make me feel better. A smile curled the side of my mouth thinking about how he demolished a stack of pancakes. Ellie couldn't get them out fast enough.I'd be lying if I said I didn't miss him. Because I did. I missed how he knew me and how I never felt the need to hide anything from him. After all, Mads was my friend before we fling-ified our relationship. I sighed, not knowing why I dwelled over him. Mads and I would never happen. I wasn't a loving person. I wasn't passionate or romantic. I didn't even like cuddling. Mads was too sweet and too thoughtful to not be reciprocated. Sure he came across as rude and cold at times, but once he made that connection, Mads was a real softie. Stupid to think we could be casual. I liked him too much to be transactional. But I had to leave it there. I'd only kee

Javier's POVI felt like I had just walked in on something. Mads and Theo were a few feet apart, but I noticed how Theo's body quivered.Theo's cheeks flushed and beautifully crimson. Her lips were swollen and wet. Pupils expanded and she blinked slowly. I even noticed the tremble in her knees. I could scent the way her blood throbbed through her veins, sweetening the air around her. Spun sugar that melted on my tongue.That craving for blood fired up within me again. It puzzled me how it only happened around Theo. I didn't feel the craving toward anyone else. After we got back from Sol's ship, I had to pop my supplements. A few months' supply dwindling to nothing. I popped them like candy, thinking it was enough.I could scent Theo's blood from across the ship, but it felt far more potent now. My jaw ached, longing to feel its power thrum through my body. The taste of her blood would be as rich as the nectar from between her legs. And I had my fill of it. Still cravin

Javier's POVStill disoriented from the incredibly rough landing, Mads and I climbed the steps into the main cabin area of the ship. Debris was hanging from the rafters. Metal paneling was torn up and scattered across the couches. The cabinets in the kitchen were entirely broken off and crumbled on the ground. There was a massive fissure through the ship so deep I could look up and see a blue sky from where we landed. Damn. The ship looked like shit. But I was alive. Thanks to Mads.I glanced next to me at the towering werewolf, who seemed to be taking inventory of all the damages as we made our way to the bridge. "Hey! You guys okay?" Daxton shouted from the busted-up hallway. He was limping in our direction as fast as he could. "Yeah. The engine room is a mess though," Mads replied, pausing so Daxton could catch up. "Do you know what happened?" Daxton groaned. "No idea. I was napping when, all of a sudden, I was thrown from the bed on the ride of my life." Ma