Page 27 of Fire Forged

She settled on the floor, her back against the wall, the blanket over her legs.While nibbling on popcorn, she flicked through the novels she’d downloaded.Before she could blink, she was elbows deep in a fantasy romance and loving every word.

Chapter Eight

“Whyareyouso…flushed,Lily?”Nerx touched his daughter’s cheek.

“Britt played hopscotch with me and Ziot.”Lily bit into her hotdog with gusto before Nerx could ask her another question.

His O.D.I.explained the meaning of the word and its rules.He ate his fourth hotdog, desperate to find the sec vids from the common.Just like that, Britt had become a part of Lily’s life, and all it had taken was a day.Lily was fearful of strangers, yet Britt had won her over with ease.He should see this as a good sign, but until his Dar Eth committed to him, he didn’t want Lily becoming too attached to Britt.Although, if she rejected him, he’d die and orphan Lily.

What have I done?

He stared at his daughter, his chest cinching.Winning Britt was paramount, now more than ever.

“Ziot too?”he asked.

“We’re going to play again tomorrow.”Lily slurped her juice, unable to sit still.

He caught the tail end of her braid, running his fingers along it.Britta.

Lily jumped to her feet to clear her plate and glass, then she shoved her paints and paper into a bag.

“Where are you going?”He blinked at his untouched giyua juice then gulped it down.

“To find Britt.”The door closed behind Lily, leaving him alone.

He cleaned up, not even bothering to finish his last hotdog.Tonight, it would be kreso for him, and he was looking forward to it.His teeth itched for the texture, if that made sense.

Tapping the display vid in his quarters, he summoned the sec vids from the common.His focus shifted between Britta and Lily.Their joy was breathtaking, their interactions inspiring.How easily Britta had charmed his Lily made his soul sing.His Dar Eth was more beautiful to him than an hour ago.

He made it to the common before a sobbing Lily found him.

“I can’t find her, Nerxie.”

He caught her into his arms for a cuddle.“Where did you look?”

“Her mommy said Britt wasn’t there.And she’s not in the common or with Uncle Edon.”Lily’s eyes widened.“Did the sharks take her?”

Nerx bit back a laugh.Lily must have heard about the sharklike Yithians from Lady Ava.“Come, let’s look for her together.”He strode to the ladder and called up, “Lady Britta?”

“Yup?”

Lily squealed, scrambled out of Nerx’s arms, then up the ladder.He followed, but hesitated, even as Lily settled on the edge of Britta’s blanket.

“I hope she is not intruding,” he said, remembering Britta’s desperation for privacy.

“Not at all.This will be mine and Lily’s treehouse, right, squirt?”

Nerx absorbed every feature of the woman before him.Yes, she’d been a pain in his backside since she’d sprayed his eyes, but now, she was nothing short of extraordinarily entertaining.

“No boys allowed,” Lily called, giving Nerx an adorable glare.

Britta laughed.It filled the small space with joy and vibrancy.“You can’t chase away the captain in his own ship.”

Lily giggled.“Nerxie, I stay with Britt.Okay?”

“All right,minus susa.”He dipped his head as he turned to leave.“I shall fetch you…bothfor dinner.”

He met Britta’s gaze and held it until she nodded.Her easy acquiescence gave him hope.He stole glimpses while descending through the hatch, wishing he was the one sitting at her feet.

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