Page 75 of Black Star

Nani had intended to simply lie there with him and enjoy the feel of holding him again, but his deep, even breathing and soft, steady heartbeat soon lulled her into a comfortable drowsiness. She knew she’d sleep. And she didn’t care. She was with the only man she’d ever loved. Somehow, everything would work out.

* * *

Both Nani and Darian sat straight up in bed when the alarm klaxon blared throughout the corridors of theBlack Star. Psycomm chatter filtered through Nani’s mind, and she was amazed at the ease with which she sifted through it.

“I’m not.” Darian smiled at her even as he dressed hurriedly. “There was never anything you couldn’t do given enough time.”

She threw a shirt at him she’d found in the closet. It fit him perfectly. “Did I give you permission to prowl around in my head?”

“No.” He chuckled. She loved that about him. They both knew there was danger, but he never missed an opportunity to laugh, and it always made her feel better. “Get used to it. I’m never leaving you again. You’ll have absolutely no privacy, so don’t go look at that handsome pilot. I’m the only pilot you can have.”

She winked at him, pulling on her jumpsuit. “Wouldn’t dream of it.”

“If you thought it would torment me, yes, you would.”

Both of them stomped into their uniform boots and ran down the corridor to Command where they entered quietly. Darian went to a console directly behind the command center where he had a good view of everyone and, more importantly, their computer screens. Nani took up the station she’d hacked into before and simply watched and listened. The comm channels were wild with activity on the part of the Vok’nair fleet. She now truly understood the benefits of psycomm linkage.

Who’s in command, Damon?Her quiet, unobtrusive question could easily have been ignored by Damon if he needed his attention elsewhere, but he answered her immediately, as if he’d been waiting for her.

I don’t know. But they don’t appear to be united as a fleet, and Admiral Amos has joined them.

Nani blinked, and the hurt and anger flooded her all over again until Darian’s calming touch kissed her mind. She took several calming breaths before addressing Damon again.

What do you make of that?

It’s hard to make out, but I think he’s trying to mount a mutiny and take command of the fleet from whoever their supreme commander might be. He’s on the flagship, which is cowering in the center of the ships he brought with him. Something’s definitely up. Don’t count the admiral an enemy yet.

Several minutes went by, and the bulk of Admiral Amos’s fleet moved between theBlack StarandSword Breaker, acting as a shield from the new fleet. Enough was enough. Nani would not hide behind anyone. The Vok’nair Empire was hers to take, and she intended to claim her birthright. Now.

Damon-- she began, but he cut her off.

Absolutely you can have command. I might have the better military experience, but no amount of that will help us if all of those ships decide to attack us. We’re two against a hundred.

She moved swiftly into the command chair with Damon standing beside her should she need him. He placed a fatherly, reassuring hand on her shoulder and squeezed.

Comm chatter among a hundred vessels was damned near impossible to filter through, and Nani had no intention of doing such.

Jam all outgoing transmissions from everyone but theBlack Star, Sword Breaker, and Admiral Amos, she commed.If that doesn’t get their attention, nothing will.

Immediately, the chatter ceased.

“About damned time,Black Star.” Admiral Amos’s gruff voice cut through to them clearly now. “I assume you have something to address?”

He was giving her the perfect opening. He, as a ranking officer in the Vok’nair space fleet, had just ordered everyone to listen to what she had to say. It might not carry weight with their supreme commander, but with their outgoing communication blocked, she’d have sent her message, and her proof, before anyone could order them not to listen.

Nani stabbed the transmit button and asked, “Who is supreme commander here?”

When a crewman raised an eyebrow at her and commed,The ship in the center of their formation is addressing us, Nani nodded her head and a chillingly familiar voice flooded the external communications system.

“I am the Vok’nair king, you idiot! Samair Kone! You will surrender that ship to me and face the consequences of your actions immediately, or I’ll see to it your entire family -- your entire world -- pays for your insolence!”

“I’ve already paid, Samair.” Her voice was calm and sure, but inside her heart pounded. Darian’s familiar touch soothed her, and she clung to him. She also found Damon’s hand gripping her shoulder with her own hand. She needed the physical presence of those she trusted. “Now it’s your turn.”

There was silence. Nani was afraid he wouldn’t respond, but she should have known better.

“I don’t know who you are, but you’ll pay for your insolence.”

“You know very well who I am, and I have the DNA to prove it. You’ve claimed the throne long enough, Samair. It’s over.”

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