Page 51 of Fire Forged

When his males stepped into the comm, Nerx laid out his plan.“I want to hit this hard and fast.Sena, Edon will port you to Matir.Get in and get out.Ziot, you have Aldur.If Lady Dahlia is not with him, find a way to reach her.”

Ziot stiffened, tightening his hands behind his back.

“As data officer, you are the best suited to figure out their systems.If not, then try and discover where Lady Dahlia is being held before porting back…with Aldur.”

“What?”Britts snapped, pulling away from Nerx.“You’ll be leaving her alone—”

“He is imprisoned, wounded, and perhaps far from your mother.”Nerx caught Britta’s hands, holding her in place.“If she is elsewhere, sheisalone and without hope.”

A tear slipped down Britta’s cheek.“I understand.Save your men…males, but tell Haiz that she only has one person to rescue.”

Nerx caught the droplet with the pad of his thumb.Helplessness cinched his chest, when all he could do was draw Britta into his embrace.

“I will do everything I can to save your mother, Lady Britta.”

At Ziot’s vow, she gave his forearm a squeeze.

“Thank you, and try not to get yourself killed.”She forced a smile.“My mother wouldn’t like it.”

“Arm yourselves,” Nerx said, pulling Britta closer and out of the way of the armory.

When they were ready, they nodded at Edon.

In the blink of an eye, they were gone.

Britta dug her nails into Nerx’s armor, tension radiating off her.He ran his hand up and down her back, hoping to convey his faith in his males and that she had nothing to worry about.Except, this could go wrong in so many ways.

“Two to port,” Sena commed.

Within moments, Matir and Sena appeared before them.Sena had thrown an arm around a bruised and battered Matir, who couldn’t stand on his own.

“Get him to the med-E.D.And well done, Sena.”Nerx gripped Matir’s forearm.“It is good to have you back, my battle-bond.”

“I have much to tell you,” Matir managed, then nodded his head at Sena to lead him away.

Again, Nerx glanced at Edon, as if he’d know what Ziot had discovered.Seconds passed at an excruciating pace, with worry darkening Britta’s eyes as time passed.

“One to port.”At Ziot’s voice, she threw a glance at Nerx but nibbled her lip, not saying anything

When Ziot appeared, he’d drawn his blaster and nursed his left arm.“Aldur is in their medical.Lady Dahlia is not near him, but neither has she gone far.She is in the next room, making demands.I had a few moments to access a terminal.”

Nerx whipped out his med-gun to scan Ziot’s wound.“You did well.What did you discover?”

“I have schematics of their battleship, though they do us no good now.My initial suggestion would have been to port back with Sena or yourself to snatch Aldur and Lady Dahlia.”Ziot grimaced as Nerx scanned him.“But they spotted me and will be on high alert.”

Nerx clenched and released his jaw.“Can you locate them on the schematics?We can inform Regent Haiz of this.”

Ziot swung his healed arm when Nerx stepped back.“I will get on that.”

“Stay locked onto Aldur’s signal in the meantime, Edon.”Nerx laced his fingers through Britta’s and escorted her to the common.“Order me a hot chocolate, please.”He glanced at Matir on the bed in medical.

“Okay,” she said, pulling away to cross the common.“Though I could do with something stronger,” she muttered.

Nerx stared after her, then headed to the medical.“How is he?”he asked Sena who tapped the med-E.D.’s console.

“Burns, cuts, bruises, and a cracked rib.”Sena pursed his lips.“Impressive for female warriors.I have induced sleep to aid the healing.I should be able to wake him in an hour or two.”

“My thanks, Sena.”Nerx headed to Britta carrying the hot chocolate toward him.

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