“Will you marry me?” he asked, taking my hand in his. “Not for revenge or any reason other than I love you more than I thought possible.”
“I thought you weren’t the marrying type.”
He shrugged, a gesture so completely cocky and completely him it made my heart flutter. “That was before you, sweetheart.”
I didn’t have to think hard. I knew that I’d fallen for him despite his being cocky, infuriating, and way too much like me.
I gave him a wicked smile. “I do feel bad for Serge and all his hard work. I suppose it would only be fair for me to say yes.”
Deklyn yanked me into his embrace, his laughter rumbling against my ear. “So stubborn.”
“So cocky,” I whispered back, then added more seriously, “And I love you so much.”
When he kissed me, I barely registered the cheering that erupted around us.
For the first time since my rescue, I felt truly free. Not because I’d gotten revenge on those who’d wronged me, but because I’d found something better than revenge. I’d found something real, something honest, and something that could survive any storm.
I’d found love.
Chapter
Fifty
Tivek
Ikept a firm hold of General Bowman’s shoulder while Admiral Zoran held the other and Captain Kalex strode briskly in front of us.
“Where are you taking me?” Bowman tried to shake off my grip, but I dug my fingers into the fabric of his uniform.
“To the brig,” Kalex snapped without sparing him a glance.
The Earth general attempted to wrest himself from us again, but Admiral Zoran spun the man to face him so sharply I had to release his shoulder.
The human wasn’t small for a human, but Drexians still towered over all but the tallest Earthling. Zoran fisted a hand in the general’s uniform below the neck and nearly lifted him off his feet. “You have just admitted to treason and cowardice for your own political ideology in front of my officers, your owncolleagues, and a good deal of Earth. If I were you, I would not bother with protesting your rights or your innocence.”
“But I’m a citizen of Earth,” the man blustered, his face reddening.
“And you are on a Drexian space station,” growled Zoran. “The next time you want to brag about how strong Earth is and how you don’t need Drexian help, maybe think about where you are.”
That shut him up long enough for Zoran to drop him to his feet. The admiral let his gaze drift to me, and he gave me a brief nod. “I’ve got this, Tiv.”
Before I could argue that I was happy to assist, I caught a movement from the corner of my eye. Morgan was rushing toward me, concern etched on her face.
I returned the admiral’s knowing look. “Thank you, sir.”
Then Kalex took the general’s other arm, and he and Zoran continued dragging the man through the station and toward a little-seen area where we kept prisoners. I wasn’t sure what would happen to the criminal, but knowing the Drexian’s low tolerance for cowardice and xenophobia, it didn’t look good for him. Not that I believed he should get anything less than the treatment he subjected his own daughter to. I only wondered how many other Earth dignitaries would also pay for their cruelty.
Once the general had been escorted around the corner of the corridor and out of sight, Morgan ran up to me. “Are you okay? I saw you help subdue Sasha’s father and drag him away. It looked like he was fighting you, so I wanted to make sure everything was okay.”
I smiled at the pale-haired woman. “And if it wasn’t? If he’d gotten loose, what was your plan?”
Her cheeks flushed, and she lifted her chin defiantly. “You clearly haven’t seen a girl-fight. I was going to jump on his back and pull his hair.”
I couldn’t help laughing at this. “I would have enjoyed watching that.”
She playfully slapped me on the chest. “Just because I’m smaller than you doesn’t mean I’m weak.”
I sobered instantly, remembering how courageous she’d been during Sasha’s rescue. “I would never accuse you of being weak. If I’ve learned one thing about human women, it’s that you’re much tougher than your smaller stature would indicate.”
