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Chapter Four

“W hat happened, Supreme Commander?” Pilot Edon asked the moment Nerx appeared in the scimitar Surata’s comm.

“I do not want to talk about it,” Nerx snapped, pressing the heels of his palms into his eyes while willing them to heal. “How is Lily?” He raised his chin as if he could see but didn’t dare try. Not until Aldur was on board.

“She is well, Supreme Commander. Data Officer Ziot is still with her…drinking no tea out of tiny cups.” The strangeness in Edon’s voice almost made Nerx smile.

He too had attended many a ‘tea party.’ “Has she asked for me?”

“Once.” Edon tapped a button on the console.

“More tea, Uncle Ziot?” Lily’s sweet voice filled the comm.

“Please, Lady Lily.”

At Ziot’s reply, warmth saturated Nerx’s chest at his male’s willingness to spend time with his Lily. He had wonderful males, and they deserved to find happiness either by adopting a child or finding their Dar Eths.

Striding to medical took longer than usual when he trailed his palm along the bulkheads. He pulled himself onto the med-E.D. bed, suspecting Aldur would command him to lie down when he arrived.

Rubbing his eyes, Nerx prayed the elder medic hurried up. For a successful mission, Aldur would have to convince the OB-GYN to abandon Earth for Etteria. Alodon’s balls, did she have to have such an irritating daughter and could they leave her behind?

Their meeting churned in his mind. He replayed everything he’d said. What had driven her to attack him? She’d demanded he leave, that she lived there. Perhaps he should have introduced himself?

No, her reaction was too volatile for the situation.

He’d behaved above board as expected of an Etterian warrior.

Anger swept through him, more potent than he’d experienced in a long while.

His reaction was illogical. It had to be tied to whatever she’d sprayed in his eyes. Perhaps she’d poisoned him?

Fear, dark and seductive, slithered into his bones. If something happened to him, what of Lily? Who would care for her? He needed to be more cautious.

A wayward thought stiffened every muscle. Working on Fuyra would secure her future. That meant returning home, facing his father, and dealing with his grief.

Staying on Etteria was a no. He didn’t know what he’d do with his time.

Perhaps he could serve on the Global Council.

He grimaced. Politics and untruths grated on him, and he was sure to find both on the G.C.

Nor could he serve as an ambassador to Earth, not when he longed to find Lily’s father and torture the male.

No, the options he had were Fuyra and remaining as a supreme commander.

Would he forbid Lily to visit Berrann Falls?

Everything within him roared yes, but doing so would compel her to venture there as he and Kyerx had.

For the first time, he understood his father’s instructions. They’d been for their safety.

Nerx would construct proper steps with a railing for added stability as his father should have done. And he’d take Lily there often, teach her how to swim. He’d also install sensors, sec vids, and a compartment holding med-guns and other necessities. He’d know the moment she went there alone.

Tension eased from between his shoulders at the path that lay before him. Returning wouldn’t be easy, yet he’d do it…for Lily. Once they reached Issneen, he would inform Adviser Kanzo and King Xeus of his decision. Having their support would go a long way with his father.

The burning in his eyes lessoned, though he suspected that was his imagination. What was taking Aldur so long? He rolled onto his side, letting his mind wander.

Blue.

A world so soft and pretty held such wealth.

Yet thorns infested it.

He rubbed his stomach, still smarting from the helmet she hit him with. She’d stunned him next, as if setting his eyes on fire hadn’t been enough. The spark had tickled. Had she used a blaster stun, he might have been in worse condition.

No warrior should visit unaware of its hidden dangers.

Not from the exotic animals,

But the volatility of its females.

No, women. A religious text said that the Maker created man first then drew the woman from the man’s rib. Possible for a creator, still, it explained the ‘wo’ part of woman. But women were in no way like men. And men weren’t like Etterian males.

He tutted. His thoughts circled and didn’t settle.

“This is the common,” Aldur said. “Housing medical, sparring facilities, and the rehydrator.”

Nerx stiffened, sprawled onto his back, and wished he could see. He wanted to face the woman called Britt when she apologized for her unprovoked attack. Would she be as soft as the other women he knew? Or would her outer appearance reveal a violent nature? A hard human? Did such a thing exist?

“What is a rehydrator?”

Nerx squeezed his eyes shut at that voice—its huskiness rippled over his senses like fire to tinder. Britt.

“We order food from it,” said Aldur. “I will demonstrate when you are hungry.”

“Which is now,” she said.

“Britt.” Her mother’s tone was in warning.

“What?” Britt whined, “I’m starving. And you know how hangry I get.”

Hangry? Nerx frowned, not willing to bring attention to himself by speaking the word for his O.D.I. to instruct him.

Aldur said, “Lady Dahlia, I can—”

“Not now, Britt,” Lady Dahlia snapped. “It takes forty days to die of starvation.”

“And three days from thirst. Yeah, so you’ve said…many times.” Britt harumphed. A crackling followed then a snort. “A mint? Why didn’t I think of that? We can save the world’s starving masses with buttloads of peppermints.”

“Give it back then,” Lady Dahlia huffed. “You’re behaving like a child.”

“Fine, if you must know, I broke Kev’s finger.”

Aldur gasped.

Britt’s admission made Nerx nod. Yes, this woman would do such a horrid thing.

“What?” her mother hissed. “Why?”

“He…uh,” Britt cleared her throat, “touched my ass.”

Fire burned through Nerx, an anger as potent as earlier. He formed fists and clenched them to his thighs, trying to calm the urge to port to Earth and beat the man named Kev.

“Well, serves him right,” Lady Dahlia gritted out.

“I probably lost my job. He’ll run to his daddy and tell him I did it for funsies.” Britt chuckled. “And it was fun. The idiot.”

“And you’re telling me this now…here,” her mother whispered, no doubt not knowing all Etterians could hear her.

“Like I’ve had a chance with you stuck in Aldur’s arms. No offense, Aldur.”

“None taken,” Aldur said, amusement saturating his voice.

“Mom, do you think my solarcycle will still be there if we come back?”

“If?” Lady Dahlia’s voice spiked. “And where did you leave it?”

“Next door. It wouldn’t start… I had to push it home.”

“Oh, Britt, you had such a shitty day.”

“Yeah, then I attacked an Etterian. I’m so sorry, Mom. I thought he was a stalker.”

Why did she apologize to her mother and not to him? “Medic Aldur, will this take long?” Nerx demanded, clipping each word.

“Nerx?” Britt whispered as she drew closer.

Aldur proceeded to scan Nerx with a med-gun—its beeps comforting.

“I do not wish to speak to you, female,” Nerx said. “My eyes still burn.” Though the sting was fading fast. A good sign.

“I just wanted to apologize,” she said. “If you’re going to be a baby about this…”

“You dare call me a damu ?” he roared, sitting up to swing his face to ‘look’ at her, even when he squeezed his eyes shut.

“I’ve apologized, twice now. Maybe you should apologize to me, after all you were in the shadows, staring at my mother’s house. I did give you an opportunity to explain why you were spying.”

“Spying?” His breath caught. “I should apologize?” he boomed.

“If you’re sorry, and I’m sorry—” she began on a teasing note that flooded him with anger and…a heat that settled in his core.

“I am not sorry, female.”

“Neither am I.” She chuckled in that raspy way of hers. “Apologizing should be sincere, don’t you think?”

“Maker,” he grumbled. “This woman’s audacity astounds me.”

She cupped his jaw, brushing her thumb over his lips. His world titled at her soft touch. His heart leaped and galloped. He jerked away from her, though it took all his control to do so. He’d wanted to nuzzle her palm, to savor the silkiness of her skin. Madness.

“You stay away from me, and I’ll do the same. Deal?”

Ice exploded outward, cooling his anger. It had a similar tinge as sadness, but why her leaving him alone would summon such an emotion he wasn’t about to figure out. Time away from her to regain his control would be wise.

“Agreed,” he said then lay down to try and calm his erratic heartbeat.

She brought out the most powerful emotions he’d felt since Kyerx died. Which worried him. He may be a ‘grumpy’ male, but he never lost his control. Why did this one woman affect him so? He shuddered. He relived her gentle touch on his jaw, his now tingling lips, as if she’d seared or marked him.

Her soft footfalls faded, then she said, “Show me how this thing works, Sena, please.”

“As you wish, Lady Britta,” Sena said, then started explaining the rehydrator’s functions.

“Alodon’s balls,” Aldur grumbled as he waved the med-gun over Nerx’s eyes, first cooling then lessening the stinging. “I have never seen you react like this. What are you so angry about? Is there anything she did that could justify such a reaction from you?”

“No,” Nerx answered hoarsely. “Her reasons for the attack were sound. Perhaps because she blinded me or is truly unrepentant?”

“You can open your eyes,” Aldur said. “She used what they call pepper spray. It is meant to incapacitate and not blind.”

Nerx blinked his eyes open and moaned in gratitude for his restored vision. They were a little gritty but otherwise good. “Thank you, Aldur,” he said.

“Edon is escorting them to their quarters. I suggest you take the time to calm yourself.”

Wait, are Aldur’s eyes ice blue?

Darkness engulfed Nerx’s chest at the thought of Britta being Aldur’s. Though his reaction made no sense. Any woman triggering the Ethera, no matter who, was precious to Etteria.

He jumped off the bed and grabbed the medic’s shoulders, holding him still. “Your Dar Eth—”

“Is Lady Dahlia.” Aldur beamed.

Joy hit Nerx, expanding his chest. “The Maker has blessed you, my old battle-bond.” He gripped Aldur’s forearm for a warrior-to-warrior clasp, hoping to convey how happy he was for the elder male.

“Yes, He has. I did not expect this, not for one as old as I.” He sliced a glance at the common’s doorway, no doubt keen to see his Dar Eth.

Nerx released him. “I need to check on Lily.”

Aldur bolted, abandoning Nerx.

Sena and Matir sat at the trestle table, kreso before them.

“Edon, set course for Issneen,” Nerx spoke into his O.D.I. as he marched to his quarters.

For the women, he’d assigned the officer quarters to them and had three quarters in the barracks converted into his and Lily’s.

In their small common—the middle room between the two, he found Lily serving Ziot tea.

The poor male had colors painted across his eyelids, cheeks, and lips.

A strange thing hung around his neck in a rainbow of feathers, and his fingernails were a bright red.

Yet, he beamed at Lily, tipping his little finger up as he ‘sipped’ his tea.

“Thank you, Data Officer Ziot,” Nerx said by way of greeting.

“Nerxie,” Lily squealed, leaped to her feet then threw herself into his arms.

“ Minus susa ,” he said, hugging her tight. “Did you have a wonderful time with Uncle Ziot?”

She nodded, tossing a sweet smile at the male.

Ziot rose to his feet and shook Lily’s little hand. “Tea was…awesome?” He arched a brow, as if he was hesitant in using that descriptor.

“You have permission to cleanse, Ziot,” Nerx said as he carried Lily to the rehydrator. “Hungry?” he asked the moment the door shut behind Ziot.

“Ice cream.” Lily pressed her palms together, her eyes wide with hope.

“For you, anything.” Nerx chuckled and placed an order for strawberry ice cream.

As Lily devoured her meal, he pushed his to the side, his appetite absent.

His mind roiled, and yet it seemed to return to the same point…

Britta. He struggled to understand why he couldn’t strip her from his thoughts.

He was no longer angry with her, and there would be no more talk of apologies, thank the Maker.

Her apology hadn’t sat well with him; it had felt wrong, somehow.

Her sincerity-insincerity was hard to discern.

She vacillated between the two, responding with a sense of humor that was out of place and vexing.

And entertaining. He never knew what to expect from her.

Regardless, he need only endure for the duration of this trip. When they reached Etteria, he would no longer have to deal with her.