Suddenly, his eyes shot open.
“Xander?” she whispered.
His eyes flickered. “Status.”
Not a question, an order. The corner of her lips twitched. “On course. An hour from Khan.”
At her husky murmur, his dark eyebrows drew together. When she’d first seen him, she’d thought him completely voidof emotion. But a childhood spent travelling the galaxy with her dad had made her a people watcher and she was starting to glimpse tiny hints that he did feel something, sometimes. Drawn brows, the tightening of his jaw, the longer than normal pauses.
“My systems are…damaged.”
“Whatever you did to stabilize the ship, it took you out. You’ve been unconscious.”
He tried to move and groaned.
She dragged in a breath and tried to move too. With no success. She slumped forward again. She had no energy. She just wanted to sleep.
“Malin, something else is wrong.”
“Enviro’s failing.”
His jaw tightened. “Have you?—?”
“I’ve tried every trick I know.”
“Have you sent a distress call?”
“Comms are damaged.”
“Without my systems functioning, I’m unable to do anything more.”
“Well, all I’ve got left is prayer.”
“You believe in gods?”
She studied his face. Nothing showed in his extraordinary eyes but she could swear he was curious. “Not really. I don’t like the idea of dancing to some god’s whim. I believe in doing every damn thing I can to make my life the way I want it to be.” Not that it always worked. She managed a shrug. “And when life’s out of control, sometimes you just have to wing it.”
“Wing it?” His brows drew together.
Something told her Xander Saros never winged it. She wanted to laugh but exhaustion washed over her like a wave and her eyelids fluttered closed.
“Malin! Open your eyes.”
She did. “So bossy.”
“I was created to give orders.” A pause. “You can’t sleep.”
He said it in such a tone of command, she gave a faint hiccupping laugh. “Keep me awake then, tough guy. Talk to me. Not that it seems to be your strong suit.”
“Talk about what?”
“I don’t know. You. Centax.” Her gaze landed on the silver implant at his temple. “When did you get your first implant? It usually starts around sixteen, right?”
“I was eleven.”
His voice was so quiet she barely heard him. Her stomach clenched. “So young?”
“Yes. I am superbly adapted to receiving enhancements.”
