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.Without skynet, they'd be overrun by imperial troopers.More overrun, she correctedherself, biting her knuckles to stifle a hysterical laugh.Anger and helpless despair threatened to overwhelm her.Then, her chin lifted, her spinestraightened, and she unclenched her fists.If she did nothing then her mates would die.Prado would win and she'd be right backwhere she'd started.Living on Basilisk Prime, letting the emperor drain her power, anddying of grief for the loss of the mates she'd failed.If she stood by and let that happen then she was a loser, who didn't deserve the love oftwo fearsome demons.Carefully, she stepped away, distancing herself from Diablo.* * * *Gusts and small eddies of wind still stirred.However, at least the beast had stoppedblasting their troops with his powerful gusts of icy air.Gunn assessed the battleground from the corner of his vision while keeping one eye onguiding the fiery meteor showers.One of the troop transports had flamed out, careeninginto the particle storm that raged continually in the narrow band of null space where thegalaxies met.Another transport broke off, probably low on fuel.He grinned fiercely,concentrating his meteor storm on the one imperial vessel still hovering.Then, a new spacecraft hove into his view.Too far away from him to attack, Gunncontented himself with a scowl and muttered curse."Attend me, Zaynah," the dragon's voice was so thick and distorted the words were barelycomprehensible.The deep rumble from the beast, sent chills of terror trickling down Gunn's spine.When Zaynah staggered toward the dragon, the chills turned to icy horror.He yelled ahoarse, "No!"She turned back, holding his gaze for a second.Her eyes glowed bright with ruby fire.She seemed to waver.Then, reluctantly, she chose.Slowly, she stumbled toward the monster and away from him.Chained by duty to theskynet console, there was not a bloody thing he could do to stop her.Gunn's heart silently screamed for the loss of his mate.It felt like a dragon's fist hadwrapped around it, squeezing out the last of his life's blood.The beast grunted at her, "Come closer, d'skeku I have need of you."When the dragon reached for her, lethal silver talons extended from his scaly blue paws.The wicked claws halved the distance between his monstrous form and Zaynah.The last of the station's squads pounded the imperial troops with duranium-poweredphasers, hitting the royal guards and the giant dragon squarely.The imperial troopers'shields shimmied, distorting the smoky air, but they held.While the killing blasts barelytarnished the beast's scaly hide."Hurry soldier.Together we're unstoppable.We can rid this rock of vermin and claimRanin Seven for the empire," the silver monster rumbled, fixing its one good eye onZaynah.Gunn sickened at the compulsion underlining the monster's words and he hadn't been thedragon's target.Worse, the beast spoke truth.With Zaynah's power added to the monster's, the alliedforces had no chance.Gunn sought frantically for some strategy to stop the disaster unfolding in front of him.However, there was no way to stop the dragon.And Gunn couldn't lift a hand againstZaynah.She was his mate--his heart.He'd gladly lay down his own life for hers.The desire to protect her burned even hotter inhim the closer she got to the monstrous dragon until the need, threatened to consume hissanity.He was failing at what mattered most and he was helpless against the evil beastbent on destroying everything he held dear.Tears threatened, he scrubbed his eyes impatiently.He wanted to weep for Zaynah.Hislittle dragon shifter had never had the joy of unleashing her inner fire.Bloody dragonheads, he swore silently.He couldn't let it end like this.Dragons were hardto kill.Not impossible.Fire could kill an air dragon and he was fire demon.He reached inside himself, gathering his power and calling forth the Goddess of fire toguide his aim.The comlink squawked to life."Ranin Seven, we're locked and loaded for royal dragonhunting, requesting permission to land.Briefly, Gunn wondered who it was, however right then he would've welcome theGoddess of Air her evil self, if she'd pledged to help him kill the imperial forces."Permission granted," he growled."Land where you can, docking bays have been blownto the seven hells.""I read you, Commander." The hailer left the comlink open as he spoke to someone onhis ship."Prepare of surface landing, their bays have been damaged."Then, at last, the one remaining imperial transport he'd been bombarding imploded.Grabbing a helmet and phaser, Gunn joined the battle.* * * *A shard of fresh agony pierced Diablo, rousing him from exhaustion.It took a minute forhim to understand the pain wasn't his.Zaynah was hurt.Her pain fueled him faster than anything else would have.Gathering power, he struggledto his feet.Blackness narrowed his field of vision for a few seconds and then passed asthe Goddess's strength infused him with her power.It didn't take him long to find his mate.A few meters to his left, she stood with her lipspressed into a tight white line.Her body twisted by the torturous force of her first shift.Ashoulder popped so loudly, he heard it plainly and winced.Careless of his own safety, he crossed the space separating them."Don't do this, babe.Ican't stand seeing you hurt
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