He had to keep telling himself that she wasn’t angry at him, but was instead taking her aggression out on the AI sparring partner. The fine detail in her insults and taunts made his ears burn.
A gasp escaped her as she fell to the ground, gripping her previously injured side.
“Fuck, that hurt,” she muttered as the AI stalked closer, energy blade down.
Idris automatically jumped to her defense, drawing his practice blade as he lunged to block the ‘killing’ blow. He swiped his leg, knocking the projection to the ground before thrusting his weapon into the AI’s heart.
It instantly disintegrated, leaving the default blue sphere in its place and triggering his living suit to glow blue.
“Thank you,” Jaiya muttered.
He moved over to the spot where she’d fallen.
Jaiya’s pained expression turned to shock as soon as he reached her.
“Idris? When did you get here?” she asked, wincing as she held her side.
“Forget about me,” he murmured, studying her body. “What can I do for you? What hurts?”
“I think the program reopened my wound when it struck me,” she mumbled.
“May I have a look?” His eyes locked onto hers. “I can make it feel better.”
Jaiya glanced away, her cheeks darkening even in the room’s dim light. “What will you do?”
“Either I can take you to the infirmary and have them mend you. Or I can call Doctor Qatszo and have him come here to inspect you.” Idris looked down at the hand covering her wound, the tips of his ears burning. “Lastly, I could help you, here and now.”
Silence answered him, and for a moment, he thought he’d been too forward. He cursed himself for his lack of interest, and therefore his lack of experience, in courting a female.
She placed her tiny hand on top of his, halting his inner turmoil.
“What do you need me to do?”
“We need to get you out of this suit, at least until I can heal you,” he whispered. “Then, we can look into getting you new clothes to wear.”
“You need me to take off my suit?” She licked her lips, making him want to kiss them. “Wouldn’t that leave me naked?”
“I can—”
“No!” she yelped, her hand digging into his own. “It’s just . . .”
“It’s just what?”
“You are a prince.”
“Yes . . . I believe we established that a long time ago.”
“Don’t you think it’s strange for a prince to be alone in the dark with a naked female?” she choked. “I mean, I don’t want rumors to spread about me sleeping my way up the ladder of command.”
“Why not?”
“Because I want toearnmy position. Anyone can open their legs—or mouth—to climb up the ranks,” she said pointedly, crossing her arms as she looked away. “Plus, it’s not like there is anything going on between us anyway.”
“What are you saying?” he asked, confused.
“I am saying that you are a prince, and I am not. We are of two separate species who are at war.” She threw up her arms and immediately winced as she held her side with a hiss. “And you don’t even like me! You tolerate me only because you owe me a life debt. If not for that, you would not be here.”
“How do you know?” he demanded. “How do you know how I feel?”
