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It sealed itself to her frame with a hiss and ripple of metanoids, adjusting to her vitals in real time.

It was lighter than she expected, soft as air, cool with stored charge.

Another second tap activated a HUD helmet that slid over her head like liquid, powered by the quantum-infused noids.

She wandered towards the exit and was tightening the clasps on her boots when she sensed a gaze on her.

Xander leaned against the open door frame of the Corvette’s loading rear compartment, arms folded, the dim light glinting on his dark violet hair.

‘If I knew that suit would look like that on you, I’d have banned it on this ship.’

Savvine turned slowly, giving him a dry, amused look beneath her new HUD visor. ‘You like?’

‘I adore,’ he said, voice molten, eyes raking her from collar to toe. ‘However, I’m starting to regret seeing you in it. It’s killing me softly.’

‘You’ll survive.’

He shoved off the wall with lazy grace, sauntering over to her. ‘Will I? I know you’re a badass security chief, but the man in me loathes letting you go on a dangerous mission.’

He tapped a button on her shoulder, and her helmet retracted away so he could see her face.

‘I can’t afford to think about danger.’

‘It’s not you I’m worried about, it’s those who you’ll kill looking like that.’

She laughed, the nerves in her chest loosening a notch.

Still, the dread of what lay ahead played on her mind.

She had no idea what they’d find when they entered her ship to confront the man formerly known as Eugene.

He took note of her worry.

‘Hey.’

His fingers lifted her chin. ‘It’ll be fine,mi cielo.’

He dipped his head, banded his arms around her waist, and kissed her in a long, deep, anchoring caress.

She melted into him despite the armored suits between them.

He embraced her, tongues melding, as she reached into his hair with her free hand and lashed his mouth.

When they pulled apart, she let her forehead rest against his. ‘You better not lose me out there.’

‘Over my dead, lycan body,’ he whispered, brushing her lips once more before jerking his chin toward the cockpit. ‘Let’s roll.’

She followed him up the stairs, strapping into the crash couch beside him.

He took the pilot’s seat, his element, hands dancing over the console as the systems powered to life.

Sleek lights pulsed along the control deck, and her HUD synced with the ship’s nav tools, streaming mission objectives and theEterna’smap overlays into her peripheral vision.

Around them, the other Signet Company Corvettes shimmered to life, dark, angular shadows stealthed to near invisibility.

Mak and Rigo in one. Zev and Kaal in another.

Boaz piloting the last, with Miral curled like a cat in his co-chair.