Domik’s hand stilled on her back. “The pods are programmed to return to the Zataras.”
CJ nodded. She remembered that from the training. The pods were programmed to return to whichever battleship the shuttle was attached to. Unless, of course, the programming was overridden, which could be done from inside the pod. Or unless they were damaged.
The escape pods were designed for one person, with enough oxygen to survive for a day or two at most. There was a medi-wand and a data tablet in each pod, as well as a pack of emergency rations that, if someone had been checking the pods regularly, should still be edible.
But how long could the two of them survive in a pod designed for one?
And would they even make it back to the Zataras? Given how chaotic the fighting was, it was debatable if they would even make it back through the mass of space junk that now littered the expanse between them and the big battleship.
Where was that tablet? If she could get to it, she could check their oxygen levels and work out how long they had.
There was a small hatch in the wall opposite the passenger’s seat, so that would mean it was behind her. CJ wriggled around, trying to get her hand to find the latch, but they were so cramped she could not do so.
“Stop.” Domik’s voice was pained.
She ignored the command, twisting around to get her hands on the panel. His arm dragged her against him, and with sudden clarity, she realized why he’d asked her to stop. She was pressed from head to toe up against Domik. His muscular torso was warm against her, and a very solid and thick bar was pressed against the seam of her pants.
Oh.
She stilled, flushing and looking up at him through sooty eyelashes. He wasn’t looking at her, instead staring at something above her head with an intensity that would have melted her panties off.
“Sorry,” she said quietly. “I was just trying to get the tablet.”
Domik grunted, moving his hand behind her back. A few seconds later, he offered the tablet to her, which she took with a smile of thanks.
She flicked it on and scrolled through to check the stats of the pod.
“So, we have twelve hours of oxygen remaining… and the cloak is still intact, as you thought.” She sighed in relief, thankful that their primary protection was still in place.
Domik’s chest rumbled underneath her. “What about the autopilot?”
CJ’s brows furrowed as she flicked through to the relevant screen. “Working fine.” She smiled up at him. “We should be fine—”
A blast cut off her words and she let out a shriek of fright, clutching at Domik and dropping the tablet to clatter against the side of the pod, then float somewhere around their shoulders.
Domik made a grab for the tablet and handed it back to her. “We will survive this.” His words were calming to her, and she nodded.
“I just...”
“Shhh, it’s OK.” He brushed his hand over the back of her head, crooning to her in his deep baritone rumbling through her as he smoothed her hair back.
She relaxed against his chest, somehow soothed by this giant of a warrior who could crush her in one hand, should he wish. Something in her heart shifted, and she felt the walls she had built up around herself crack—just a little.
“I locked myself in a freezer, you know.” She surprised herself by speaking the words she had never said before. To anyone. “On Mars. During the Xakul attack.”
“I know.”
“You know?” She looked up in surprise. “How?” He just raised an eyebrow slightly. She huffed out a breath. “I suppose word gets around, doesn’t it?” She shook her head. “I hate small spaces,” she whispered.
Domik said nothing, just letting her speak and rubbing a hand up and down her back, the motion calming. She relaxed a little, and the words tumbled out. About how she had survived the Mars attack by hiding in a freezer in the morgue and staying quiet. How she had heard the screams as people were slaughtered by the Xakul soldiers and had done nothing.
“I should have done something. Every time I think about what happened, I tell myself I should have fought, but I was so scared.” She gulped lungfuls of air as she rapidly blinked, trying to ease the stinging of her eyes.
Domik lifted his hand and captured one of her tears, rubbing it between his thumb and forefinger. His gaze was intent as he turned to her. “You would have been slaughtered. Just like the others. I am glad you weren’t.”
Her mouth fell open as she stared up at him. Then, remembering herself, she cleared her throat. “Do you think everyone made it back to the Zataras?”
Domik checked his wrist comm. “They’ve had enough time.” He took the tablet from her listless fingers and tapped at the screen. “That’s odd.” His eyebrows drew together.
