The second she was free Kerra was in my arms and I lifted her up, hugging my human’s body close while I inhaled the sweet fragrance of her skin as she cried and blubbered nonsense.
“I wasn’t going to die,breh’ha,” I assured her, my fingers brushing across her cheek with a possessive and assuring touch. “Neither were you. The Zhorn were the only ones in danger.”
Relief flashed within her green irises and I leaned in, tempted to press my lips to hers, touched by her genuine concern.
“I thought you were going to be sucked into space, too.”
A warm chuckle sounded behind us as Rexnor caught our attention. “My brother is one stubborn bastard. He wasn’t leaving you.”
Orion snorted. “Something like that.”
Valtus waltzed into the room, his expression grim. “I hate to break up the happy moment, but we’re compromised, Commander. TheVindicatoris badly damaged. Shields are at thirty percent. Systems are failing all over the ship. Life support is the only one currently functioning since I switched the emergency power to boost it. The warp drive is damaged, and the cloaking tech is malfunctioning. We won’t be traveling any further on this vessel.”
Orion cursed under his breath.
“I suggest we leave via the pods. There’s no way we can make the necessary repairs without additional risk. We’re still attached to the Zhorn vessel even with most of their crew dead or incapacitated. Their emergency beacon is engaged. It won’t be long before more warships arrive.”
“The transport was also damaged when the Zhorn attacked,” Orion added. “Not to mention the fact that they can track that vessel much easier than the pods.”
Sighing, I held Kerra tighter and nodded to Valtus. “Inform the council of our detour. We’ll land on the closest planet and find a ship to take us the rest of the journey to Vindar.”
Valtus crossed his arm over his chest and then bowed, turning on his heel to leave the room.
We didn’t hesitate to make our preparations. I was lowering myself into one of the horizontal pods only minutes later. A small pack of essentials was placed in the only empty compartment behind my head. These escape pods were designed as a sleek and fast way to depart but only intended for one body and quick trips. The air would give out twice as fast with two and so the distance we could travel was shortened. I didn’t inform Kerra she was the cause of this slight setback.
“Climb inside and I’ll strap us in.”
Her doubtful expression was comical. “Are you sure about this?”
Smirking, I lifted a hand. “Would you rather stay behind and wait for more of the Zhorn? Or perhaps the Tylons are more to your liking?”
She didn’t answer but stuck her little pink tongue out at me as she climbed in and sat on my lap. I had to lay all the way back, but she fit snug against my body. The belt crisscrossed over our chests and then lower over our hips. She was safe but I couldn’t resist wrapping my arms around her anyway. She shifted until her cheek rested against my suit and directly over my hearts.
That indescribable pull I felt when she was near filled and consumed my thoughts as I placed a gentle kiss on the top of her head. “This may be a bit unsettling.”
She immediately lifted her head to stare into my eyes. “Explain.”
“These pods move fast and enter the atmosphere at alarming speeds. Don’t worry. There’s an emergency control panel if anything malfunctions.”
“If anything malfunctions!?” she squeaked, her voice rising much too high. I could feel her heart begin to race. “We’re going to die!”
“No,” I replied calmly, “we arenot. This is a common means of travel. All is well.”
“It’s not well!” she contradicted as her breath increased and I thought she might hyperventilate.
“Kerra.”
She wasn’t listening.
“Kerra,” I called more firmly. “I won’t allow anything to happen to you.”
Her glassy stare worried me, and I did the only thing I could think of in that moment. I leaned down and pressed the softest of kisses against her warm and supple lips. The connection sent jolts of electricity through my veins and I was flooded with a barrage of desire and liquid fire. The flames licked their way through every cell in my body as I briefly shivered.
Cosmoshelp me. I was already in way over my head.
“Kerra,” I breathed against her lips. “Iwillprotect you.”
Her eyes deepened the shade of emerald as they focused on my own. “You kissed me,” she whispered in shock.
