Page 27 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Chapter Sixteen

Moonside on Europa.

Nenn stepped into the shuttle, wishing he’d stayed with Tiny. She fascinated him, with her pink cheeks and sweet smiles. Not to mention the way she managed to do her job despite her blindness. Her strength was to be admired.

Telling her she was beautiful had been as much a surprise to him as it was to her.

He’d stared at her, memorizing the curve of her face.

Her breasts rising and falling with her ragged breathing, her pulse ticking at the base of her throat, and her nipples tenting her tunic had proved she wasn’t immune to him.

Foq . His lips tingled from where he’d pressed them to her temple.

Her skin had smelled so good that he wanted to inhale her exotic perfume until it saturated his senses.

At least, the taking of the facility had been relatively quick.

He’d healed where he could, calmed those traumatized, and returned to the rusted box, grateful he hadn’t needed to carry anyone onboard.

He drew in a deep breath and slapped the side. Its flight worthiness had been confirmed on the trip down. They hadn’t gone up in a blaze of fire despite the shuddering frame and whining engines.

The human pilot, Sonja, kept it powered up until Caah appeared behind her. “Dez is staying. The facility is secure if you wish to disembark now,” he said.

She tossed him a tight smile. “I’m returning for the others.”

“Told you she’ll fly,” Caah said to Nenn when he leaned against the interior bulkhead beside him.

Nenn arched a brow, still finding it odd that a species would genderize inanimate objects.

“I wish to remain on the Mula Pesada ,” Caah said to Drafe when Sonja launched off the moon. “Without having to ask the Q.C.C. for permission. You know how long they take to debate.”

Nenn gawked at Caah, finding his request unexpected yet understandable.

Had Tiny insisted on staying, he might have done the same.

Something stretched between them he couldn’t identify like she was his to protect.

He almost snorted at that nonsense. She’d survived without him and would continue to do so.

He studied Sonja, wondering if any female would inspire the same intensity of emotion. She didn’t have the softer curves and vulnerability that Tiny had. Having not seen another female comparable, he couldn’t say if this attraction was solely for Tiny.

Drafe gathered Vic close. “I shall inform them it was my decision.” He didn’t glance at Caah. “Your skills are needed here, and you will serve as a bridge between humans and Qaldreth. If the Q.C.C. wish to send an ambassador, they may do so at their leisure.”

Caah beamed and gripped Drafe’s forearm, snapping his attention from Vic. “My thanks, darasaho .” He returned to Nenn’s side, brimming with eagerness. Calling Drafe ‘brother’ said much about the crew’s opinion of the arrak who had chosen them for this seemingly pointless mission.

“Drop us on top of the Mula Pesada , Sonja.” Drafe gestured at the massive ship dominating the forevids.

“What?” she squeaked. “Okay, if you say so.” With deep concentration, she veered the shuttle left.

Nenn had no intention of going anywhere without Tiny. He’d told her he’d return, but escorting her along the outside of the ship to reach the Aroagni was a no. It would endanger her, and she didn’t have a nodule to survive in space.

“Get the Aroagni to send a shuttle for pick-up,” he said to Drafe. “I do not want my female walking across a ship, not until I have repaired her vision.”

Drafe chuckled. “Protecting her is your right, Nenn.” He pulled Vic toward the door, crowding it.

“Thanks, Caah, and good luck.” She smiled.

Sonja clipped a mask on, covering her face, then opened the side door.

Nenn, Caah, Drafe, and Vic double-tapped their nodules, summoning their shields.

Out Drafe and Vic leaped, landing on the Mula Pesada’s exterior.

The door shut, and the shuttle shot off, aiming for the starting point of this adventure.

Sonja powered off the engines and skidded the shuttle under the retracting arm.

A thump followed then a jerk before the door groaned across.

“How did it go?” someone asked when they marched down the ramp.

“We did well,” Sonja said with a laugh, glancing at Caah. “Des says to choose: Libertas or Mula Pesada .”

Nenn gripped Caah’s forearm. “I shall leave with Tiny when the shuttle arrives.”

“On its way,” Vaen snapped, his voice buzzing through the nodule. “This is madness, Caah. Insanity.”

“And yet, I am compelled to stay. Osnir urges me to do so,” Caah said, his fingers pressed to his throat.

“Well, incoming,” Vaen growled. “Let whoever know—”

“Granting access to bay 7A,” Computer said. “Follow the flickering lights. Bay doors opening now.”

“Well done.” Grunt beamed, striding toward them. “My company’s pleased with our success. Nenn, if your people need anything, reach out to me.”

Nenn bowed his head, tossed a final glance at Caah, and headed for the med bay. His feet carried him there like they had a mind of their own. Something fluttered in his chest, exploding warmth through him. Tiny would be in his arms soon.

She sat at a table, her hands in her lap, her gaze distant. “Nenn?” She faced the doorway.

“Yes.”

“Oh,” she gasped, a smile teasing her lips. “It went well?”

“The facility has been freed.” He strode across to her, gathered her hands in his, and guided her to her feet. “My shuttle has arrived. Are you ready?”

Her eyes widened. “I thought—”

“You are coming with me.” He wouldn’t tolerate indecision now.

She grinned, squeezing his fingers before releasing them. “I am. Just glad we’re not space walking.”

He lifted her bag. “Bay 7A.”

“Computer, show me the way,” she said then followed the beep. “I’m going to miss it.” She didn’t glance over her shoulder at him.

“Your planet? People?” He kept his gaze on the back of her head, forcing himself not to stare at her swaying hips no matter how much he wanted to.

“The computer. I couldn’t have done this job without it.” She flicked a dismissive wrist as she turned left, then right along a passage. “I was saving tokens to buy my own AI. Do you have any like that on your ship?”

“No, but then I plan to heal your vision.”

She stumbled and caught herself with a thrown-out hand. “I hope so,” she whispered. “Though if you or the Ivoyans can’t, I won’t be angry with you, Nenn. I promise.”

Pain cinched his chest as if Kreta had thrust her claws into him to crush his heart. He didn’t know what to say to Tiny, but her acceptance drove him not to give up. Somewhere, a species had to heal her. If not the Ivoyans, then another world? Would he travel the universe for her?

Certainty poured from every symbiote.

She paused when they reached the bay. “Um, is there a ladder?” In her path was the railing but far lower than where she patted the air.

“Yes. Stay here. Let me deliver your bag.” He gripped the ladder and slid down, sparing no effort to drop her things inside the compartment. Vaen glared at him but didn’t say a word.

Nenn sucked in a breath when he returned to Tiny’s side. “I can guide you.”

She shook her head. “Are you strong?”

He frowned. “Yes, why?”

“Throw me over your shoulder.” She nibbled on her lip, drawing his gaze there. “Is that okay?”

“You will not mind?” His fingers twitched at the opportunity to touch her.

“Nenn,” she said. “Why would I suggest—”

He grasped her by the hips and bent her over his shoulder. She squeaked, her fingers digging into his back as she clung to him.

“Warn me,” she rasped.

He took each rung with care until his boots touched the bay floor.

But he didn’t lower her. Instead, he strode to the shuttle, up the ramp, then stopped by a seat.

He ran his hand from her plump backside, along the delicate curve of her spine, to between her shoulder blades before flipping her to the front of him.

She filled his arms to perfection. He stared at her flushed face, her parted lips, the way her fingers dug into his upper arms.

“Ready?” Vaen called, shutting the door before Nenn could respond.

Nenn glared at him while ushering Tiny into a seat, buckling her in.

“Who’s that?” she whispered, leaning forward to do so.

“Riermus aac Vaen Arrak.” Nenn lowered his voice, a smile widening his mouth. She was too adorable. “And he can hear you.”

“Oh. Sorry. Is he another medic?” she asked, gripping and releasing her knees when Nenn stepped back.

“Arrak stands for guardian. I am a maed.”

“Ah, the ranks are on the end of your name,” she said, staring a little over his left shoulder. Her heartbeat pulsed at the base of her jaw when Vaen reversed the shuttle out of the bay.

Nenn caught her chin between his forefinger and thumb, then swept a caress to her pulse. She raised her unseeing gaze to him, making him doubt she couldn’t see him.

“You’re not hurt?” she asked, her eyelashes fluttering when he ran his touch to her ear then along her neck to her collarbone.

“I am well.”

Her breath came out in a rush. “Good. Describe your ship… Please. What does it look like? That sort of thing.”

“It is beautiful, looking like a polished volcanic rock in the shape of a horizontal teardrop.”

A smile twitched her top lip up. “That’s beautiful. Quite poetic.”

He squatted before her instead of sitting beside her. “Vaen’s bringing us in.”

“That quickly?” She lifted her chin. “Thank you for fetching us, Vaen.”

“Not like I had a choice,” he muttered, but to her, he said, “I serve Qaldreth.”

“Did Nenn force you to come?” she asked.

Vaen twitched and cast a glance over his shoulder, his eyes wide. “You heard me?”

“Of course. Heightened senses.” She chuckled. “But vent away. I understand not wanting to do something yet being made to.”

“It is insanity. Caah remains behind, we have females on the Aroagni , and yes, the mission is complete, but you are also the same species that killed the Senate.” He growled. “This cannot end well.”