Page 44 of Fire Forged

Ignoring her, he carried her to Mom’s quarters and waited at the door for Britt to palm it open.Once inside, he lowered her to her feet, then kneeled.He gripped the hem of the dress, his touch hot where he brushed her skin.With one yank, the silk split up the side.Cool air rushed in, sending a flood of goosebumps all over her body.She swayed as nausea blossomed in her stomach.Catching herself on his shoulder, she forced herself to inhale and exhale slowly while he ran the black box over her.His hair reached for her, the strands stroking any part of her they could reach.

“Foolish woman,” he chided, sliding his fingers up her inner thigh to hold her still.“You could have died.”

“So could you have.”She squeezed her eyes shut and swallowed hard.

“I am trained for war.”

Was he angry that a woman had come to his aid?“So I cannot save you?”

“No.You had one task, Britta.To protect Lily.Where is she now?”He flicked a glance at her, made sexier by his narrowed eyes.

“She’s where you put her.And… And I didn’t leave her alone.”Her face flushed then chilled.Was this thing healing her or what?

He arched a brow at her, made more compelling by the beauty of the black-winged slash against bronzed skin.“I have to trust you to do as instructed.I cannot worry you will endanger yourself andourdaughter.”

Her heartbeat stilled then bounced.Hehadtrusted her wholeheartedly to care for Lily, and she’d abandoned the girl the first chance she could.She opened her mouth then snapped it shut with a wince.“You’re right.Lily comes first.”She twitched her fingers.“Give me the device-thingy.Go get Lily before she wakes up alone.”

He hesitated.

“Scan complete, Supreme Commander,” Ziot said from Nerx’s wrist.“The shuttle has launched and the hatch sealed.”

“Good.”Nerx stood and cupped Britt’s cheek.“Aldur will complete the healing when the med-E.D.is done with him.You need synthetic skin to ensure no scarring.”

He marched to the door.“Stay here.I mean it, Britta.”

“Fine.”She folded her arms across her chest and glared at the door after he left.The pressure crushing her chest didn’t ease.Would those men have stopped at cutting Nerx’s hair?Her instincts screamed no.Still, diplomacy had fallen to the way side.Her fault?Perhaps.But Nerx and Lily were alive.That was all that mattered.

She paced the quarters, wishing she could shower then wear something with a little more coverage.But doing so would put her at a disadvantage.Until they were far away from that battleship, she wouldn’t chance a distraction.

When the door opened minutes later, Nerx carried a bundled Lily in his arms.He’d tucked the blanket over her face, probably to hide the carnage around them.

“Hello, sleepy head,” Britt said, holding out her arms for him to transfer Lily.He did so without hesitation.She nuzzled the girl, tucked her face into the curve of her neck, then nudged her chin at the door.“I’ll put her to bed.You deal with the rest of this.”

“Oh?”A smirk teased his gorgeous mouth.“Stun two males then take a nap?”

She smiled.“I thought you wanted me not causing trouble?I could follow you—”

“No, you are wise to excuse yourself.”He wrapped his arms around them both, snatching a kiss.“I shall come for you when we have escaped them.”

“I’m sorry if we started a war, Nerx.That wasn’t my intention when I rushed in.”She met his gaze when he pulled away.

“I know,ensa.”He stepped into the passage and waited for her to pass him.

She glanced over her shoulder then headed to the barracks.

Nerx’s raised voice halted her.“What do you mean…gone?”he demanded, his focus on the common.

She peeked around the corner.Bodies still littered the floor.A glance confirmed Lily still asleep and shielded by the blanket.

Sena gestured to the hatch where the shuttle had been.“Medic Aldur, Lady Dahlia, and Sub-Commander Matir…are gone.”

“Ziot,” Nerx bellowed at the ceiling.

“Checking sec vids now.”Seconds ticked past as they waited.

Britt held her breath as fear bathed her senses in ice.A deafening roar dominated her hearing like she was underwater, distorting and slowing sounds.No, no, no, Mom had returned to the engine room.She had to have.No way was shenoton this ship.But Aldur not lying on the floor of the medical or dominating the big bed screamed otherwise.MyAldur, Mom had said.Nor would she have stepped into that shuttle willingly.Mom was the most reliable and predictable woman Britt knew.

“Nerx?”she squeaked past the tears she couldn’t stem.“Not my mother.”

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