Page 68 of Fire Forged

“Thamani.”Chuckling, he whisked her into his arms to cup her cheek, burying his fingers in her hair.His smile faded when he dipped to brush his mouth across hers.

He didn’t answer her, just clasped her hand and led her from the room.She’d probably burned that bridge when she’d charged in and shot two people.No way would he trust her with another weapon.She huffed, even as he weaved through the crowded common to the bay.His males were boarding the shuttle along with three Viqrians and Haiz.They stood or sank into fold-down chairs, with Etterians opting to stand in the center.

“Supreme Commander, the battleshipsUsahaandKushinhave arrived,” Matir said through Nerx’s O.D.I.

“Patch me through,” Nerx said as he strapped Britt into the chair closest to the pilot seat but farthest from the door.Then from a pocket, he withdrew a thin chain, no thicker than her pinky.

She gasped, wiggling to watch him clip it to her belt and to the chair’s frame.“But—”

“Nerx, what do you need?”

Britt glared at Nerx, shaking the chain at him.

“Prince Citus?”He stroked her ear.“Matir, share the co-ordinates.We are en route to deliver the Viqrians, my prince.”

Prince, she mouthed.Etteria had royalty?Oh, wait, Aldur had mentioned a king and queen.Although, she hadn’t believed him at the time.Sure, ‘I’m on a quest for my queen.’When would that not sound bizarre?

“We will meet you there.”The call ended.

“Ziot, take us out,” Nerx commanded.

The shuttle’s door shut with a defining thud.

Giving up on convincing him to unchain her, she leaned forward to watch via the front window how Ziot spun them then shot through the bay doors.Nerx inched closer, until her temple touched his stomach.She gripped his waist, giving him a squeeze.

Her breath lodged in her throat at the endless expanse of black space and stars.In a ship with just the treehouse and the communications room giving her glimpses of the outside, she hadn’t grasped the full extent of where she was.A massive purple planet with multi-colored swirls loomed, but Ziot veered to the side, aiming for a tiny dot.

“We’re landing on that?”she whispered, raising her gaze to Nerx’s.

He brushed curls off her cheek and ran a caressing finger along her jaw, all while staring into her eyes.A sweet smile teased his lips.

Something in his expression resonated in her soul.She couldn’t put her finger on it, nor truly understand what it meant, but she couldn’t breathe, like air had been sucked out of her lungs.He said nothing, just stood there, their gazes locked.Thamani?He’d called her that instead of ‘brat’ or ‘little cat.’

“Two minutes,” Ziot said.

Nerx whipped his head up, narrowed his eyes on the window, then scowled.“Are we first to arrive?”

“Yes, Supreme Commander.”

“Come, Britta.”Nerx unbuckled her then gripped her shoulders, twisting her to face the front.The chain pooled on the floor behind her feet.“Look.”He settled behind her, then wrapped an arm around her waist, while gripping a strap hanging from the ceiling.

Details formed on that dot: rolling hills, forests, waterfalls, gigantic lakes, and snowcapped mountains.She couldn’t help the idea that this was Earth millions of years ago.

“It’s beautiful,” she said, cupping Nerx’s hand at her stomach.

The colorful fauna and flora filled the view when Ziot landed.The tranquility made her bounce on her toes in excitement.Nerx tightened his arm, crushing her against him.

He mumbled in her ear, “Quit moving,ensa.”

She twisted to smile at him.“Make me.”

“We will discuss this later,” he said, as the shuttle’s door opened, flooding the compartment with fresh, organic-smelling air.“Remember your vow.Wait here.”He drew his blaster and strode out, leaving her alone with Ziot.

With the chain granting her some leeway, she inched closer to the weak sunlight streaming in.Her mouth dropped open.It was the sounds she relished.Screeches came from overhead and lizard-like birds flew above.Rustles and tweets came from the bushes on the outskirts of the clearing.She had to assume those were insects or crawling animals.The wind filled her ears while the sun warmed her outstretched hand.Four men formed a circle around the shuttle’s entrance then took up spots on the outskirts, gazing outward.

Nerx escorted Haiz and her team about seven meters away but close enough to run back if they needed to.They gathered between him and the shuttle, their stances that of exhaustion.They’d been healed, fed, had rested, as far as Britta knew.She winced at her selfishness.For the first time, she realized whatever they’d seen on board their sister battleship might have been traumatic for them.

Nerx took this seriously, as expected of a commander.Pride expanded her chest.She gazed at him, no longer interested in this moon and its landscape.That’s my man.Three shuttles landing blew dust around her, so she shifted away from the door until the wind died.Out marched about a dozen Etterians per shuttle, bolstering the men guarding the parameter.

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