Page 57 of Fire Forged

She pushed the loaded plate in front of Nerx while sucking her thumb.“Here, have mine.”

He forgot himself for a moment as he gazed into her eyes.With a sigh, he used a fork to cut off a piece.He stilled when the flavors exploded in his mouth.This was so much better than hotdogs and fish fingers.He said as much, relishing her untamed laughter.

“Supreme Commander, requesting permission to port the operatives?”Edon said from Nerx’s O.D.I.

“Permission granted,” he said, taking the time to lick a fingertip.

Hope conquered his soul.The operatives on board meant he’d have back up when they ventured planetside to collect Aldur and Britta’s mother.With the delicious food before him, Britta warming his side, and Lily teasing Ziot with a strip of bacon, his world was complete.

Chapter Sixteen

Fourmenappearinginthe common shouldn’t scare the shit out of Britt.Still, this porting thing, though Edon had forewarned her, wasn’t something she was used to seeing.People didn’t just appear out of thin air.Well, not in her world.The tech to do that still blew her mind, though.

Their reaction to Nerx and Matir’s shorter hair was better than Sena’s.They didn’t gawk or lower their gazes as if they were fearful of being caught staring.And yet, pain flickered across their eyes as if in sympathy.

“My apologies, Supreme Commander,” a male said.“These females should be punished for their dismissal of your honor.Yours too, Sub-Commander.”

Britt bit her tongue, squirming as anger burned through her.Unable to endure it a moment longer, she blurted, “My Dar Eth is honorable, long hair or not.”

Nerx blinked at her, then laughed with that damn dimple peeking out.“You aremyDar Eth.I am your Eth.”

“Potato, potahto.”She harumphed.

He stole a kiss, smearing syrup across her lips.“My thanks for the defense.”

“You speak truth, milady,” the male said.“Supreme Commander Nerx et Tarx is renowned for his honor.None will think less of him for this slight.”

“Malia pa,” Nerx said, pushed off the bench, then collected his clip lying next to the old data cubes.He snapped it on the ends then let the short braid drape over a shoulder.“I must admit, it is light, as if a burden has been lifted off my shoulders.”

Matir glanced up and grinned.“Indeed.Though I still move as if I might trip over it.”

“When you are well, we shall spar.I look forward to the experience.”Nerx kissed Britt’s temple, tickled Lily’s side then gestured to the men to follow him to the comm.

Matir grabbed his plate and hurried after them, leaving Lily and Britt with Ziot.

“Going to join them?”she asked, hitching her thumb at their backs.

Ziot shook his head.“Only if summoned.French toast?What is it made of?”he asked, a syrup-drenched chunk stuck to his fork.

As Britt described the ingredients and the cooking process, she picked at her meal.With the operatives here, the meet-up would happen soon.Mom could be back by dinner.

Her heart fluttered even as butterflies dive-bombed her stomach.Lily squirming beside her snapped her from the ever-spiraling worry coating her thoughts.

“How about a fruit juice?”she asked as she leaped up to order a coffee.“You, Ziot?”

“Whatever you are having, Lady Britta,” he said, still staring at his overburdened fork.Syrup dribbled off it.

Again, she was tempted to order cider vinegar.Instead, she slid a cappuccino across to him and placed a grape juice before Lily.With her coffee in hand, she settled on the bench though facing outward.Nerx and his men would be deciding things that could be endangering Mom further.Old Britt would’ve snuck up to the communications room to eavesdrop.Part of her was tempted to, but Lily would tag along.

This is where trust came in, and it was damn hard.Her mother’s life was at stake.Aldur’s too.Then again, she wasn’t military, and these ‘operatives’ would know what the hell to do.She’d be a fifth wheel—in the way.Despite knowing all this, she wanted to go with, to land on an unnamed planet, to welcome her mom with open arms.

She glanced at Lily, who had two animal-shaped strips of French toast attacking each other, with sound effects.“What do you feel like doing today, cupcake?”

“Mm,” she hummed between growls, fake-screams, and threats of bodily harm.“Something fun.”

“Like?”Britt asked while finger-combing Lily’s black hair.“Marbles?Card games?Or…I can teach you how to crochet.”She grinned, warming to the idea.“We can make hats, gloves, or handbags.”

“A shirt for Ollie?”Lily’s eyes widened.

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