“Especially Dieter?”Vic teased.
Tiny swallowed a growl.“No,” she pursed her lips, “go ahead.Kick his ass.”
“What the farg?”Vic cursed.“You’re coming with us.Pack what you need.”
Tiny gaped.Sure, she’d wanted off the ship but to where?For all she knew, she was going from the pan into the fire.“But—”
“Do you want to stay on theMula Pesadaif it’s true, Tiny?Wouldn’t that make you complicit in whatever the hell Nikko’s up to?”
Tiny slumped and placed the clippers in the bowl.“No, you’re right.I’ll be ready.”
They stomped out except for one.She waited.Hot hands clasped hers again.She offered Nenn a tentative smile.
“I am pleased to have met you, Tiny.”He pinched her chin and angled her head with the gentlest of nudges.“I look forward to learning all there is know about you.”
Then he was gone, taking his volcanic touch and smell with him.She shuddered, sucked in a sharp breath, but didn’t move.She stood there, hugging herself.With a gasp, she hurried to her room to pack.It didn’t take her long.Accumulating pretty things had fallen to the wayside many months ago.
With careful steps, she headed to the med bay, bag in hand, to collect her chess set.No way was she leaving it behind.She’d just dropped her bag in the corner and sank into the chair when Leah approached.
“Your turn to man the bridge,” she snapped.
Heat splashed across Tiny’s cheeks at almost being caught with her bag in hand.That would have raised suspicion for sure.“Is it that time already?”
“Whatever,” Leah said.“Get your ass there.I need to piss.”
“Oh.”Tiny scrambled to her feet, waited for Leah’s footsteps to fade, then darted onto the bridge.
She couldn’t see the console and its many buttons or figure out what they did.What she did do was listen to the beeps.A single beep seconds apart meant all was well.Anything else, she had to notify Nikko or Leah.
Manning the bridge was dull work.She couldn’t listen to her audiobook for fear she’d miss a bad beep, so she sat there, spinning the chair until dizziness drove her to stop.
While she waited for her cybersickness to dissipate, she sifted through worst-case scenarios.This could all go bad, fast.She needed backup.“Computer, patch me through to Grunt.Secure the channel.”
“Grunt is unavailable.”
Farg.“And Trent?”
“Asleep.Do you wish to wake him?”
She slumped.“No… No, thank you.”
She gripped the edge of the console and prayed everything worked out in the end.Never had she been so helpless, with Vic’s and the warriors’ arrival ramping up the tension in her shoulders.More than her life was in her hands.And that included the prisoners,ifthey existed.She’d better act normal like everything depended on it.
Because it did.
Leah couldn’t suspect a thing.
Chapter Fourteen
NenntrailedDrafealongthe narrow passages, the walls touching his upper arms.He frowned, casting a glance at the too-low ceiling.For such a big ship, theMula Pesadawas too cramped for his liking.
A melodic croon snapped his gaze ahead.Over Drafe’s shoulder, Nenn caught a flash of pale purple—the color of russmar in spring.The delicate curve of a cheek led his gaze to a pointy chin on a short human female.Something squeezed his chest.Breathing became irrelevant.
He shifted between Drafe and Caah, inching closer to admire her better.In a loose tunic over tight pants to barely covered feet was a female in full bloom, softness in every part of her body.There wasn’t a thing about her he didn’t like.Even her smile snagged his attention, so vivacious and joyful.
Finding out she was a medic, too, made his thoughts spin.Andshe was blind.How did she function without sight?Never mind, the Ivoyans would heal her.
He tried to ignore the bounce in his stride, more energized than was wise.She’d be with them when they returned to theAroagni.Without hesitating, he tapped his implant.
