Page 52 of Ren: Warlord Brides
“Words.”
Dovak pushed Ren’s hand away and surged to his feet. For a moment, he clenched his fist, and Ren wondered if he had pushed too far.
“I should have left you in the pod.”
“It was rather cramped. Thank you for my retrieval.”
“Your mate has not altered your ship’s flight path, so I assume she does not know how to pilot a craft. Therefore, docking with your ship will be easy.”
“She would need a code to access the controls or have the ability to break the code.” Emmarae might have had such skills. He would not put it past her.
“Good. I want you off my ship.”
Emry
The alarm just wouldn’t shut off.
“Proximity alert!” The computer droned the same message again and again.
“I know! Just shut up.” Emry tried to shoosh away the cat from the control panel but earned a hiss and a narrowly avoided claw swipe for her troubles.
“If we get boarded by space pirates, it’s your fault,” she said, backing away from the very annoyed not-a-housecat. “I should let you handle the pirates. That’ll teach ’em.”
Unknown space pirates versus an irritated wildcat. She pitied the fools who got on Murder Mittens’ bad side.
The volume on the alarm increased, and flashing lights joined the party because why not? Just when she was sure she’d never get rid of this noise and light-induced headache, the ship jolted.
The lights cut out.
“Not ominous at all,” she whispered. She sank back into the pilot’s seat, not quite defeated, but damn close. She had two charges left on the plasma flare and regretted not grabbing the stunner before the lights went out.
Or, you know, grabbing a flashlight.
For whatever reason, Murder Mittens decided that was the moment to jump into Emry’s lap.
Emry froze, holding her breath lest the cat freak out and claw her up.
“Nice kitty?”
Murderous golden eyes blinked. A rumble filled the cabin, and Emry was 100% sure it was the ship breaking spontaneously breaking apart.
“Are you… are you purring?”
The cat stretched up, planted paws on her chest, and bumped her head to Emry’s chin.
It was adorably terrifying.
“Now? You get cutenow?”
The cat sprang away, digging her back claws in to use Emry’s thighs as a springboard.
The cat stood in the door and looked over her shoulder at Emry, tail wagging aggressively.
“Oh, you weren’t being nice. You’re escorting me to my doom.” Still, Emry followed the cat, because that made as much sense as anything.
The cat led her to the airlock. Flashing red lights indicated it was in use. Numbers counted down as it cycled through pressurization.
Emry tightened her grip on the plasma rifle.
