Page 156

He studied her for a beat. ‘Bueno, but stay well within theSombra’ssafety perimeter. Our enemies are still out there, waiting to pounce.’

‘I’ll be careful,’ she said.

He prowled to her bedside and gave her another melting kiss. ‘See you at breakfast.’

‘Mmm,’ she murmured.

‘Will you move back into my place after?’

She narrowed her eyes at him. ‘Tis what I need to also think about.’

‘Fokkthinking, you belong in my bed,’ he growled possessively before stroking her cheek, giving her his two-fingered salute, and strolling out of the room.

Half an hour later, she strode out of the quarters after a shower and a change into a flight suit.

She took the corridor at a clipped pace, nodding to the few passing crew members.

Her spine was straight, her chin high, her smile genuine, but fire licked at her ribs.

It was restlessness, the kind only deep space and speed could burn out of her.

She had questions she needed answered.

Was Xander the man for her? Would her family accept him?

If they didn’t, what did that mean for their relationship? Would she promise to stay with him despite the family’s disapproval? How would she feel about them choosing between her kin and Xander?

Where would they live? On the Sombra or the Eterna? Could she reside on the Sombra with its different societal and cultural differences?

She knew she was reaching and overthinking things, but she sensed Xander was not; he was going with pure emotion.

She favored logic, even though their connection was incredible and out of this world.

The cargo bay hissed open.

Dim lights cast long shadows over his gunship.

His prized baby, theÚltima X,perched like a sleek predator on its loading rails.

She crossed the gantry to its access panel and placed her face at the interface.

It whirred, a security sweep glimmered over her face, and there was a slight pause.

Then it accepted her neural node authorization, which still worked.

She located the racer in the Corvette’s hold, already synced to her node imprint.

The deck doors unlatched with a hiss, as did the craft’s capsule.

Savvine slid into the cockpit, her breath catching his scent for the briefest moment.

Bergamot, musk, citrus, and spice.

She breathed in and sat at the pilot’s chair, her touch dancing across the controls with practiced ease.

The seat molded to her, the HUD blinked awake, and the launch sequence ran without a hitch. The engines rumbled to life under her touch, eager and hungry.

‘Savvine Bianchi,’ she whispered. ‘Time to get lost.’