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“One to port.” At Ziot’s voice, she threw a glance at Nerx but nibbled her lip, not saying anything

When Ziot appeared, he’d drawn his blaster and nursed his left arm. “Aldur is in their medical. Lady Dahlia is not near him, but neither has she gone far. She is in the next room, making demands. I had a few moments to access a terminal.”

Nerx whipped out his med-gun to scan Ziot’s wound. “You did well. What did you discover?”

“I have schematics of their battleship, though they do us no good now. My initial suggestion would have been to port back with Sena or yourself to snatch Aldur and Lady Dahlia.” Ziot grimaced as Nerx scanned him. “But they spotted me and will be on high alert.”

Nerx clenched and released his jaw. “Can you locate them on the schematics? We can inform Regent Haiz of this.”

Ziot swung his healed arm when Nerx stepped back. “I will get on that.”

“Stay locked onto Aldur’s signal in the meantime, Edon.” Nerx laced his fingers through Britta’s and escorted her to the common. “Order me a hot chocolate, please.” He glanced at Matir on the bed in medical.

“Okay,” she said, pulling away to cross the common. “Though I could do with something stronger,” she muttered.

Nerx stared after her, then headed to the medical. “How is he?” he asked Sena who tapped the med-E.D.’s console.

“Burns, cuts, bruises, and a cracked rib.” Sena pursed his lips. “Impressive for female warriors. I have induced sleep to aid the healing. I should be able to wake him in an hour or two.”

“My thanks, Sena.” Nerx headed to Britta carrying the hot chocolate toward him.

“Hot cocoa has too much sugar. But I guess, cocoa, steak, sauce, pizza… With your advanced medical technology, whatever you do to your body can be cured. Except for a broken heart.” She offered him a cup, then sank onto the bench to sip her hot chocolate.

Nerx grinned at that bit of nonsense. “Our hearts cannot break.”

She chuckled. “No, it’s a metaphor, silly.”

“I am not silly.” He drew his cup closer.

She ran her tongue over her bottom lip, catching a droplet of hot chocolate. “I didn’t intend it as an insult, babe.”

His focus snagged on her mouth, remembering how incredible it was to kiss her. “I am not a damu either. You will cease with these endearments unless they have meaning to you.”

She opened her mouth then snapped it shut. “You’re serious?” She grinned. “So only Nerxie? What about ‘honey?’”

“No.” He snorted at her absurd idea that he was sweet.

“Sweetheart? Sugarplums? Sexy Stud?” She giggled. “Pumpkin? Dreamboat? Snookums? Darling?”

He swallowed a bark of laughter, raised his hot chocolate and peered at her over the cup’s rim. “All no.”

She huffed, although her pursed lips hinted at a smile. “Well, then no calling me ‘ minus cesu’ or whatever.”

“Little cat?” He smirked, licking his lips.

“Yes.” Her cheeks flushed. “None of that.”

He placed his cup on the table, snatched hers to join his, then lifted her. Spinning her, he pinned her to the bulkhead. With her face so close to his, he caught and held her gaze. “I will call you whatever I want, ensa .”

Her sensual smile hit him hard.

He snatched a kiss while layering his body over hers.

“Double standards, huh?” she said, trailing her nails down his upper arms.

“I mean ‘ensa,’ you do not mean any of yours.” He planted kisses from her collarbone to her earlobe, enjoying the way her body arched into him, her feathered breathing, her erratic heartbeat, and that beautiful explosion of peach across her cheeks.

He pretended to kiss her but stopped an inch from her lips.

Using the bulkhead to push off, he abandoned her, choosing instead to stride away, when what he wanted was her beneath him… again.

“ ‘Ensa’ means ‘brat,’ doesn’t it?” she called.

“Get some rest. I will find you when I have news.”

Her string of curses made him laugh.

T he grin Nerx tossed at her and his laughter echoing from the comm weakened Britta’s knees. She dropped to the nearest bench. Fainting would give him an idea of what he made her feel and garner a full medical check-up.

How could she explain her symptoms stemmed from madness? Finding Nerx attractive—though that word lacked oomph—stole her voice, burned her cheeks, turned her bones to jello, and made her shy. The latter the worst in her book.

When he’d given her a chance to run, she should’ve said yes, postponed the inevitable.

Not knowing how good he was in bed meant she could function and wouldn’t confuse lust with affection.

Maybe if she rubbed out an orgasm, she wouldn’t want to seduce him, to beg him to thrust into her, stroking her very insides with his ridged cock.

She shuddered. But screaming in ecstasy so close to the common didn’t sit well with her, either.

Nerx would come to the rescue, charging in to find her fingers between her thighs.

Her senses exploded into a thousand tingles at the thought of him…intruding. Would he lick her, dominate her with the power of his thrusts, steal a kiss when the taste of his lips unraveled her thoughts?

Yup, she was mad. It was official. Certifiable.

She should be worrying about Mom. Disappointment should be in control of her thoughts and emotions, like a rogue rollercoaster. Instead, the news that Mom was alive, well, and defiant had flooded Britta with hope and happiness.

She veered toward Nerx’s quarters. Although Aldur’s was closest to the communications room and Nerx, she’d be there if Lily awoke.

Stripping off her jeans, T-shirt, and underwear, she slipped into the baggy sleepshirt and climbed onto his bed.

She lay there, snuggled under the blanket.

The silence was deafening. She left her warm cocoon to check on Lily, tucking in her leg where it hung off the bed’s edge.

She picked up a stuffed elephant and stacked it with its zoo friends.

No one knew, not even Mom, how much Britta wanted children.

So how had the Ethera known to match her to a readymade family?

She tiptoed to Nerx’s bed and settled again, pulling the blanket to her chin.

He’d been right to mention the future. Once Mom was safe, she’d be busy with Aldur, doing doctory stuff.

Which left Britta twiddling her thumbs. And by the sounds of things, Nerx’s home wasn’t on Etteria.

Where he’d let his brother die? Now that had been revealing.

And since it had been decades since he went home, she had to assume that was when he lost his brother.

He mourned still, that was clear. She’d be far from Mom, unable to make sure she ate, slept, didn’t throw herself off a cliff… That sort of thing.

Britta’s heart twanged like it had been doing way too often lately.

Leaving Mom alone went against every ounce of her being.

What had she expected? To marry a man and move in with Mom?

No, she’d hoped Mom rediscovering herself happened before a Mr.-Right-For-Britta came into the picture.

Though, finding Mr. Soulmates for them both and at the same time was a godsend.

When Mom was back on board this ship, Britt planned to have a heart-to-heart with her—a mother (Britt) to daughter (Mom) chat.

And it was time to put her reckless side to bed.

Her overreactions and gung-ho attitude had been a futile attempt to hold onto her inner child.

Dad was gone, Mom was finding her mojo, which meant Britt could calm down, especially when her actions taught her new daughter how to act.

She grinned. But her sass she was keeping. Nerx loved it, if she judged his laughter well. And anything that summoned that man’s dimple was enough of an incentive for her. Humming, she let sleep claim her with a hope-filled future filling her dreams for the first time in a long while.

A n hour later, Nerx was back in the common to speak to Matir. The male lay in the med-E.D. with his gaze focused. Already his bruises had faded even though he favored one side of his torso.

“Supreme Commander.” He settled on Nerx’s hair and winced. Only then did Nerx notice the short braid resting on Matir’s shoulder.

“You too?” He lifted the ends then let it fall.

“Indeed. They find our long hair amusing.” Matir closed his eyes, pain contorting his features. “They believe cutting it off weakens us...physically.”

Nerx blinked, then chuckled. “That is preposterous.”

Matir cracked a smile. “I know.”

“Perhaps it is the way we react when our honor is threatened?” Sena said while tapping the med-E.D.’s console.

“What I gathered between beatings is that they’re a rogue faction of female warriors, tired of their old ways of servitude or death.” Matir frowned. “They spoke of ordering daughters from laboratories.”

Nerx stepped back to lean against the bulkhead. “Do you mean they genetically modify their offspring?” He shook his head. “We attempted it once. I do believe those damu were too weak to live past the first month.”

“I only saw females. And the one who beat me could’ve rivaled Garix in height and bulk.”

Nerx gaped. “That is impossible. Garix is a rarity among us.”

“Perhaps she is the same for Viqrians. Regardless, her punch carries much weight and power.” Matir rubbed his mottled jaw.

“What questions did they ask?”

“The number of operational battleships. If it was true how many unmated males we have. Whether we have a patriarchal society. How much galaxy-wide authority did we have? Where could they find the most males? I thought, at first, they meant to conquer us. Or attempt to. But as the questions turned intimate, I figured out they mean to steal males.”

“Steal?” Nerx snapped. “Is that why they kidnapped Aldur and yourself?”

“For compatibility tests and information. They are wary of harming Lady Dahlia. Not only is she a female, but she has ancient knowledge on child bearing.” Matir held up a hand. “I vow, Supreme Commander, that was their words.”

“And they know that how? Surely not before they took you three.”

“She tried to plead with them, revealing her mission to Etteria.” Matir offered a tight smile. “She fought like a sogair when they took her from Aldur’s side.”

“It is good news that they do not wish to kill her. Perhaps we should rescue Aldur…” Nerx settled his gaze on Matir.

“I can confirm the Bronvol and its crew have gone rogue. Three Viqrian battleships surround it. I spoke with a Regent Haiz and negotiated a swap—two of her females for Aldur and Lady Dahlia.”

Matir stilled. “They mean to breach their own battleship?”

“Seems like it. She was most apologetic and pretended fury when I mentioned how they’d mistreated you. If they take the Bronvol and leave our galaxy, I will not pursue her, as long as she is an honorable female. I want done with this.”

“I agree. Better I not remember what I have endured. I did wonder though, with their copper skin tones and black hair, whether they were descendants of Etteria.”

“And how would that have come about?” Nerx arched a brow at that nonsensical idea. “We do not have enough females to crew a battleship, never mind any Etterian male sending them into space without protection.”

“Unless it was before the Durn’s genetic modifications. Perhaps a few females commandeered a shuttle, tired of their males constantly at war?” Sena nodded. “My elder mother once mentioned leaving my elder father if he continued to argue with her.” He smiled as if cherishing the memory.

“It is possible,” Matir said, then lay back with a grateful sigh. “I suggest we test them, just to be sure.”

Nerx glanced at Sena as Matir drifted off. “Take blood samples from the corpses while they’re fresh. Have the system analyze it, then send the results to the medical council.”

“It will be done, Supreme Commander.” Sena took an injection gun from a drawer and headed for the shuttle bay.

Nerx stared after him. If the Viqrians were descendants, they might be compatible, or more so, trigger the Ethera in his males. He flicked his hair out of his face. If he’d stumbled upon more females for Etteria, it might go a long way to restoring his honor. And Matir’s.