“Where are we going?”
“To get your equipment then taking you to my quarters.”
She raised an eyebrow at him. “What for?”
“It’s the safest place for you on the ship. My level is reinforced because it runs the center of the ship.”
Teagan wasn’t sure what to say. He was being protective which was great. They still had a lot to talk about but she realized this wasn’t the time for it. He had a job to do and so did she.
At her quarters she rushed in to grab her computer and the equipment she used to expand radio frequencies. Last week she had LemAN’s people attach little movable satellite dishes to the hull of the ship. She had created a program to search for radio frequencies that the Morins had used to bounce off lunas and camouflage their ships.
They went up another two levels to LemAN’s quarters. It was a little bigger than hers and she knew that he purposely didn’t use the larger quarters available for commanders and important guests. That said a lot about how humble and genuine he was.
“Stay here until an all-clear has been announced. We don’t know what’s waiting out there for us.”
She reached for his hand and pulled him to her, giving him a quick kiss. “Be careful. I’ll notify you if I detect anything.”
He cupped her face with his hands and she couldn’t help but feel small and delicate—protected almost. That wasn’t something she was used to feeling. She kind of liked it.
“You will remain here for me?”
“Yes.”
He kissed her again before letting her go and leaving. She had to sit down on the nearby chair. The man knew how to kiss. She needed to get to work herself and find these bald-headed bastards. Then she and LemAn could get back to working on building a relationship.
After spending time with him, she was coming to know him to be a strong, caring, wonderful man. She had watched him help train his warriors, sacrificing much of his life for his people. He was patient with her despite all the questions she asked, which she knew must be irritating. She now understood the ache he carried inside his heart, and he had stolen a piece of hers without even trying to. She wanted more with LemAN, and was willing to fight for a chance to have it.
*****
LemAN almost turned back to return to Teagan. He worried that she would be scared and he hated that he couldn’t be there to reassure her. How had she suddenly become so important to him in such a short amount of time? Especially since he’d made strides to stay away from her. In a matter of twenty-four hours everything had seemed to change.
Maybe it had been all the time he spent listening to her describe one experiment after another. He couldn’t understand everything she said but he loved to hear her explain it to him. Maybe it had taken seeing her in the arms of another to force him to acknowledge he had feelings for her. Maybe it was the moment when he opened up to her about his mate and child’s deaths. She wanted to comfort him and, Goddess forgive him, he wanted to find comfort and redemption in her arms.
He walked onto the command bridge. “Report!”
“The transports were definitely Morin, but the one being fired upon had older technology.”
“Why would Morins fire upon their own people?” LemAN asked out loud. No one had an answer for him.
Second Commander BorIS responded, “One ship had the ability to cloak, which has made it hard for us to track it. The one that took damage also has a way to hide from us. We’re coordinating our efforts with the Balar military to cover more area.”
“A couple of shuttles landed on Balar and there are Morins on the loose. We don’t know how many. There could be more that we aren’t aware of. Keep open communications with Balar.”
“Yes, sir.”
His comm link went off. “This is Commander LemAN.”
“Hey, I wanted to let you know that my program got a ping farther away. I’m sending the coordinates to Lieutenant ComEY,” Teagan said.
“Thank you. Stay where you are and let me know if you get any more…pings.”
“Will do. Over and out!”
He ended communications. “Lieutenant ComEY, did you get the coordinates?”
“Yes, Commander. Teagan had three sets because she didn’t pinpoint the exact one.”
“Pick the closest and we’ll try that one first.” It was frustrating that they had to take this method of narrowing it down by trial and error.
