He’d already done that twice, the first time when he’d saved her from the Drek and nearly got sucked into space, and the second time when he challenged Crukugs, fought him, and landed in jail for his trouble.
She had to trust again. The room seemed to hold its breath; she could have heard one of his pins drop in the silence.
He squeezed her hand. “You’ve drawn out my mating marks, when you visited— the last time we saw each other, and you told me you loved me,” he told her, in a low voice, but Blayze heard it and gasped.
She needed to reply. His two brothers, her two friends, and the lizard officer were waiting for her response. And Darren.
He lifted the front of his jerkin and showed her one or two marks on his top ribs. She reached out to touch one and he winced. “No, actually, that’s a bruise. Here.” Heraised his jerkin higher and showed her more marks, genuine darker shapes marking his skin. They were beautiful, and they showed because of her.
She nodded. “Yes, Darren, I’ll be yours.” She was too choked up to say more and tears stung her eyes. Darren got to his feet and hugged her, rocking them from side to side. Nayli clapped and Kora congratulated them, and his brothers cheered.
When Darren released her, though not totally, he put a possessive arm round her and pressed her to his side, she noticed the female lizard dab her eyes with a handkerchief.
Chapter 27
Resolution
At lunchtime, Pilot Joel joined the brothers in the mess bar in the barracks. Blayze brought the brews, he had to make two trips because he couldn’t carry four upright glasses at once.
“Next time, ask for a tray,” said Lero.
“Genius, I didn’t think of that,” retorted Blayze, his tone saying he had. “They didn’t have one.”
“Cheers, brother,” said Darren. He leaned toward Lero. “Next time, he’ll spit in your drink if you keep speaking to him like that.”
Blayze nodded. “I will.”
“Thank you, Blayze,” said Joel, raising his glass. “Congratulations on your release, Darren. I’m sorry I couldn’t be there at the time, but I had to arrange maintenance on the ship.” Darren accepted his good wishes and they raised their glasses. “How are the girls? I’ve plans to see Prosperity later today before the emperor makes his announcement,” declared Joel.
They all took the first sip. Nothing better than the first taste, Darren thought.
“They’re fine. Happy,” Blayze replied. “Nayli’s fine, and her friends are fine. Those are all I care about.”
“You should have been there when Darren asked Aelanna to be his. You missed quite the drama. He took a knee and made a pretty speech,” Lero told Joel in a sing-song voice.
Darren touched Lero’s shoulder and got him to look at him. He tapped his own face above his top lip. “You got a whitemoustache over your own. Well done for matching your hair but otherwise it doesn’t look good.” Lero frowned as Darren took the wind out of his sails.
“Here comes Mommy,” sang Blayze, aiming a serviette at Lero’s face. Lero snatched it and wiped his mouth.
“Don’t you guys want to hear the news?” asked Joel.
All three turned to him. “What news?” Darren asked.
Joel took another pull at his brew. “Drypso. The Ohirins didn’t want the humans. They stole lizard girls from the Drek. That's why they attacked the Pioneer.”
Understanding transformed the brothers’ faces.
“It makes sense now,” Lero said.
“The emperor has replaced Crukugs with Battle Fleet Commander Gorkorlox. The emperor never liked the crazy scheme to match Earth females to the Ohirins, and the unsuitability of choosing humans to match to lizards. It was Crukugs’ idea. His incompetence led to the Drek’s attack on my ship in retaliation for Ohirins stealing their women,” Joel said.
Darren flicked him a glance before he took a sip from his own glass. “I’ve got orders to see Gorkorlox first thing in the morning. But this evening, I want to see Aelanna.”
“But how? They won’t let us on the females' floor,” Blayze said.
“High Command are still responsible for them until they release them,” added Lero.
Their objections only made Darren’s despondency worse.
