Page 32 of Dark Survivor (The Qaldreth Warriors #2)

Chapter Nineteen

Nenn couldn’t recall a time he’d slept this badly.

He tossed and turned, awoke to listen in on her room, confirming she wasn’t disturbed, only to kick off his blankets and eventually rise.

His constant arousal didn’t help matters.

He sat at the table in the galley, the silence of the ship soothing his frazzled symbiotes.

“What has you up so early?” Vaen said, striding past to order from the replicate.

“She is not mine yet.”

“Ah.” Vaen sipped his water. “I must admit I thought you mad, but I can see the appeal.” He brought his jar and sat opposite Nenn. “Is she soft all over?”

“I hope to find out soon,” Nenn said, cupping his lukewarm russmar tisane. “I can share that face-latching or kissing is magnificent.”

“Oh?” Vaen arched a brow.

“Tiny says it is reserved for lovers.”

Vaen hummed. “Good to know.” He twirled the jar. “I believe her blindness might save her.”

“Why?” Nenn frowned, focusing on Vaen’s pensive expression.

“To the Ivoyans, healing her might be more tempting than studying her.”

Nenn sucked in a sharp breath. “Let us pray Osnir lights the way for her.”

“Vic finding who caused the explosion might help your cause.”

“Indeed,” Nenn said, offering Vaen a smile. To save Tiny, he’d need all the advice he could get.

Vaen twisted to rest his back against the wall and his legs along the bench. “Perhaps I should get my own human.” He grinned.

Nenn blinked at it. Twice in one day? “It would mean returning for Caah.” Nenn shrugged. “He might have a female by then.”

“True. If we were not cautious with our fuel reserves, we would travel faster than a lunar month.” With a wince, Vaen swept his gaze across the galley. “I do not enjoy long voyages.”

Nenn chuckled. “Bored?”

Smirking, Vaen rested his head back. “Indeed.” He slapped the table. “Now, head to bed or cover the bridge so I can sleep. Your choice.”

Nenn nudged his chin in the direction of the quarters. “Go. I will monitor the ship.” He rose, emptied his tisane into the waste disposal, then paused beside Vaen. “Thank you for your guidance.”

Alone, on the bridge, Nenn scanned the black forevids splattered with stars. The lights on the console remained red. White would be a concern, but none were that color. The silence engulfed him, and he lost himself to the space flickering past.

When they reached Ivoy, he needed to have his defense in place.

Hiding Tiny on the ship was a start, but he couldn’t do so for long.

The udaps would ask why if he disappeared for extended periods of time.

He had to report to duty and pretend all was well.

Not to mention that sneaking a female into the Med-Tech barracks unseen would be impossible.

And it wouldn’t be fair on Tiny to keep her imprisoned.

No, the truth had to come out. But he didn’t know how to phrase it to ensure she wasn’t harmed.

“Your concern bothers me, Maed,” Aehort said, gliding to stand beside him.

Nenn stiffened at the intrusion then slumped. The Ivoyan was far too perceptive. “My apologies, Aehort Uz,” he said.

“You care for this female?” he asked.

“I am starting to,” Nenn said. There was no point in lying to an Ivoyan. As skilled empaths, they perceived far more about himself than even he knew.

“You have taken on a burden because you are trained to offer healing. No, the Senate will not heal your Tiny. I have foreseen it.” Aehort patted Nenn’s shoulder with his elongated orange fingers.

His hope shattered, dampening his vision until darkness circled it. If no healing, that meant… “Will we be able to return her to Lunar Base?”

Aehort remained quiet. “This has not been revealed to me.” He focused his all-seeing gaze on Nenn. “Do not worry over this when it is beyond your control. All things will be resolved.” He left a bowed Nenn resting his chin on his chest.

He’d promised Tiny.

How could he tell her this was all for nothing?

“She will understand,” Aehort called from the passage. “Have faith, young Qaldreth.”

Nenn squared his shoulders. Aehort was right. He had to trust Osnir wouldn’t abandon him. As he wouldn’t forsake Tiny. Despite the awful news, peace consumed him. If he hadn’t promised Vaen, he’d head to bed.

He glanced at the dial on the wall. A half-dark, half-light ball spun as time passed, marking the end and start of the next ‘day.’ Soon, he would awaken Tiny, perhaps with a kiss.

Like Vaen had said, the journey to Ivoy would take a lunar month.

Plenty of opportunities to get to know Tiny better.

Perhaps together, they could learn how to play a reed.

It wasn’t a skill that had interested him, but to spend time with her, he’d do it.

He swept his gaze across the console and the forevids, then at the ball, watching time inch by. And repeat until his neck ached. He’d start with a shower, then collect her for a meal.

A squeal woke him. He must have dozed off. A glance at everything showed all was well, and the day imminent. Then, what had—

His eyes widened, and he bolted for Tiny’s room.

“Grunt, you sly dog, I love you,” she sang.

Nenn faltered, slowing as he reached her door.

“Play audiobook,” she said.

A faint monotone voice responded.

‘“What the frack? Those were synths?”

“It shouldn’t surprise us. After all, they’re the product.” Naomi snuggled her backside deeper into her chair and leaned back. “The Zetas are impressive as an introduction to their deluxe range.”

“I couldn’t tell they weren’t human,” Gibs grumbled. “State of the art and certainly not anything they currently sell.”

“How would you know?” She popped an eye open while her ruby lips curled in a sensual smirk.

“Research, rookie, especially considering Thomas Walker’s infatuation. And before you assume the worst, I didn’t fuck any of them.”

She arched a knowing brow. “Just checking, partner.”

Silence filled the chaser, and he pinched his lips. His mother’s nasal voice reprimanded him, and he found himself blurting out an apology. Without alcohol having passed his lips, too.

“Sorry for the blow-job remark. Just not used to…partners.”

“Women.” She kept her eyes closed as if the day had tested her, too.

“Huh?” He allowed his gaze to travel along the arch of her throat, the stubborn tilt to her jaw, and the ruby softness of her lips.

“You’re not used to women.”’

Tiny chuckled. “Yup, you summed that up quite nicely, girl.”

The spray of water drowned out the odd voice.

With his heart pounding against the cavity of his ribs, Nenn slumped against the wall beside her door.

She was fine. He nodded at Juunn striding toward the bridge but didn’t say anything.

What to feed her settled on Nenn’s mind.

She couldn’t exist on tulsig cakes, and he wasn’t sure she’d take to any of their strange foods or whether it was safe for her.

Swiveling on a heel, he headed to Gusin’s quarters and tapped the panel, alerting the male that Nenn waited outside. The door opened.

“What is it?” Gusin asked, rubbing his face.

“As our taed, would it be possible to add human foods to the replicate?” Nenn splayed his fingers on the bulkhead near the top of the door.

“No. Without a sample, the replicate cannot dissolve, analyze, and reform the item.” Gusin arched both brows when Nenn hesitated. “Will that be all?”

“Thanks,” Nenn said and returned to Tiny’s door.

Unless she’d hidden something edible in her bag, there was nothing he could do but let her try what the tribes ate. He shuddered at the idea of ordering slimy malugu from Awayar, and he doubted her teeth could penetrate the carapace of os-ayys.

He let her know he was outside while he sifted through the options available. Perhaps he should introduce foods by tribe? She’d started with Meorri, liking the tulsig cakes. It was the oily, gooey, saltiness of them that made his tongue sing.

“Morning, Nenn,” she said, a bright smile in place. Wearing odd-flowered leggings and a baggy sleepshirt in blinding yellow, her hair still damp, she glowed with life and beauty.

“Ready to journey through each tribe’s preferred meals?” He caught her hand and ushered her toward him. Because he couldn’t resist, he gave her mouth a peck. The taste of her alone tempted him to deepen the kiss to French. A sharp flavor that wasn’t unappealing coated her breath.

“All at once?” she asked, splaying her fingers across his chest.

He laughed. “One at each meal.”

“Phew.” She slid her hand across his forearm to loop her arm through his.

“What has you so happy?” he asked, not wanting to reveal she’d woken him this morning with her antics.

“Grunt left me a tablet.” She sighed. “I love him. I do. Such a sweet gesture.”

Nenn kept a smile in place by sheer will. “Love him for that?”

“I’m just so grateful,” she said, pressing her cheek to Nenn’s upper arm. “Now I have my beats and audiobooks. Is there a way I can connect the sound to a speaker? I like my music loud.”

“Music?” He twisted to glance at her.

“Yes, what did you think I meant by beats?”

“Tribal drums?” he said, grinning at her.

“Oh, yes, there’s that, but wait until you hear it all, Nenn.” She jiggled on the spot.

He dipped his gaze lower and lingered on her breasts.

In Giniiri, no female danced around the bonfire.

Not even during mating season when males offered gifts in the hopes of snaring a mate.

All applicants had to demonstrate their flexibility, physique, and stamina before the females chose.

Kimgi hadn’t averted her gaze from Tugo the entire evening.

Her open admiration had made Nenn’s heart ache.

He wanted a female to gaze upon him with such devotion. Cupping Tiny’s face, he ran his thumb over her lips. “I look forward to you sharing this with me,” he said.

She clasped his wrist and beamed. “I want to teach you chess, too.”

He laughed. “And we can learn to play the reed together.”

Her cheeks pinkened. She parted her lips to speak.

“Morning,” Drafe said, a plate of tulsig in hand.

She angled her head, lines marring her brow.

“Drafe, would Vic have any human food?” Nenn asked, revealing who stood before Tiny.

“No.” The male frowned. “A good idea, though.” He glanced at the plate. “If we send a ship for Caah, we shall task them to expand the replicate’s offerings.”

“My thanks,” Nenn said and ushered Tiny to the galley.

“Human food?” she asked, sinking onto the bench he led her to.

“Yes, in case none of our choices suit your palette.”

“Aw, Nenn, that’s so thoughtful. I like tulsig and your tisane so far.” She rested her elbows on the table and her chin on her palm.

“We shall continue with Meorri this morning,” he said and turned away.

The tisane was the quickest, which he placed before her while the replicate worked on her breakfast. At the ding, he grabbed the plate and sat beside her.

“I have not tried all that the Meorri have to offer. We shall taste them together.”

What followed was a memory he’d cherish forever: her squeals of delight, her gags, the smacking of her lips to the licking of her fingers. She hummed when something pleased her, and she sampled all the food between sips of russmar tisane.

“I cannot believe you shared your vile-smelling tisane,” Gusin said, sliding onto the bench with his gaze on the almost empty plate.

“It’s yummy,” Tiny said, flushing a smile. “Smells awful, though. Have you tried it?”

Gusin jerked back. “No.”

“Then no complaining until you do.” She wagged a finger in an odd gesture. “Otherwise, you have no leg to stand on.”

Gusin laughed. “I have two legs.”

“No one likes a smart ass,” she snapped. “It’s a human saying that means if you don’t have experience, your opinion doesn’t matter.”

“Fair enough,” Gusin said, snatching Nenn’s half-drunk jar. After a taste, he stilled, his mouth gaping. “It is …yummy. My apologies, Nenn. Now, do I have a leg, Tiny?”

She giggled, her shoulders shaking. “You have two.”