Page 45 of Red Zone Awakened

Mate,the voice in his head whispered.

Mace stilled.There was really no getting around the fact his other half was talking to him.Since he’d woken three years earlier, they’d communicated through images, as well as sharing experiences and memories, but this was different—this was words.

I’m in your head.I know you hear me.

Mace gritted his teeth.He would not answer.It was a step too far.He refused to hold a conversation with a flying rodent.Sure, he’d shouted at it earlier, but that was the stress of the situation.Now he was drawing the line.No chitchat with bats.

Don’t talk.Doesn’t matter.She’s still our mate.

The voice was so smug that Mace snapped and answered:Bats don’t mate.

He had no idea if that was true.He’d been in denial about his animal for the past three years and done very little research into the species.Still, it felt true.

We do,the contrary rodent said from somewhere outside the building.Mace got the impression of trees and water and lots of bugs.Yuck.

Humans don’t mate, either, he lied.

The bat wasn’t fooled.Yes, you do.

He ran a hand through his hair in pure frustration.Listen up, you flying rat.Keiko isn’t our mate.She isn’t anything to us.

Mace got the distinct impression the bat was laughing at him.Ours,was all it said.

Not ours.Once this is over, Keiko and I will go our separate ways.

There was no reply, just a dull ache in his chest at the thought of never seeing her again.He shook his head.Damn bat was putting ideas into it that shouldn’t be there.Keiko Sato wasn’t for the likes of him, and that was all there was to it.

But he couldn’t stop his eyes from straying to her and drinking her in.