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That didn’t mean he didn’t monitor her with keen intent.

However, his gaze was now narrowed on a sleek Bianchi Corvette onscreen.

Its transponder announced it as theAsh Talon.

He observed it as it danced with death, plasma bursts streaking past its flanks as it rolled through the black in a desperate attempt to stay alive.

Xander studied every move, calculating the gunner’s stunning war play with grudging respect.

‘Who the hell is that?’ Santi asked beside him, half-whistling, semi-admiring its piloting like whoever was at the helm was born in the cockpit.

Miral stepped closer. ‘I can show you,’ she purred.

Xander jerked his chin at her. ‘Let’s see it.’

Miral flicked a holo display into the air with a flick of her wrist.

It expanded into digital overlays, schematics, heat maps, encryption logs, and a dossier.

Santi leaned forward as lines of text began to scroll. ‘Pilot’s name is Savvine Bianchi.’

Xander’s jaw ticked.

‘Head of Security on theVenantia Eterna,’ Santi continued. ‘She’s led twelve successful intercepts and neutralized five Lombardi sabotage cells in the past year. Survived two assassination attempts, one bio-drone infiltration, and, damn,hand-cuffed a Castigliano enforcer to an external rail cannon and fired it to take out a tailing frigate. All confirmed.’

Xander’s XO let out a whistle. ‘She’s badass.’

The Commander’s eyes narrowed.

The data rotated.

Images snapped into view: her security file, and her combat profile, with her identikit photo.

It showed her with her helmet off, expression hard, eyes lit with fire and calculation.

It also displayed her beauty: dark-haired, jade emerald eyes, a mouth like sin, high cheekbones.

Xander jolted as his heart lurched.

Her.

His rescue.

Fokk.

His entire being shuddered.

‘She’s exceptional,’ Miral said, echoing his thoughts, folding her arms, her voice silk and static. ‘Hell, she’s got freakin’ balls.’

Xander didn’t answer because he was prowling towards the gunship’s ready room.

‘Commander?’ Miral called, concerned.

‘A moment,’ he grated.

He launched into the room, his entire being thrumming.

As the door closed on him, he shook with pure, unadulterated fever, which battered him hard.