Page 36 of Stolen Fire (N.O.A.H (Nostradamus Outerspace Advancement of Humanity) #2)

Blaize raced back to The Treasure , Rhysa at her side. She wasn’t leaving Cifer.

The ramp was down. Veda and Bodi stood at the top of the stairs.

“Where’s Cifer?” Veda asked before Blaize had even cleared the ramp.

“Back of a patrol unit last we saw,” Rhysa answered.

“He insisted I leave.” Tears stung Blaize’s eyes. “He said we should launch. Deliver the orb without him.” She sniffed and moved past the group toward the bridge. “I’m not leaving him on Chalcanth.”

“What do you mean, he insisted you leave?” Bodi asked, close on Blaize’s heels.

“I was arrested too, and he got me out of the restraints and opened the door so I could go.” She picked up the pace to jog down the corridor. “He sacrificed himself, but that doesn’t work for me.” She slammed to stop at the entrance to the bridge. “Where’s the captain?”

“Here.” Cyra’s voice echoed in the corridor behind her.

Blaize spun on her heel. “We have to get him back.”

“Who?” Cyra asked.

“Cifer.” Blaize searched for the words to explain. She opened her mouth, and the words poured out.

Cyra glanced at Dez. He nodded as if she’d given her mate instructions. “We’ll get him back.”

Blaize took a full breath. If Dez said it and the captain ordered it, Cifer would be freed. “How?”

“We had a bit more success than you did.” Cyra placed her hand on Dez’s arm.

“Dez found the secret compartment on the ship where they were holding the kids. They’re being reunited with their parents as soon as arrangements can be made.

The captain and several of the crew are in custody.

All we have to do is go to the authorities and explain that Varik was in league with the operation. ”

Blaize admired and respected Captain Cyra, but Varik was a slippery bastard. If there was a way to evade responsibility for his actions, he was already working on it. “We should go now. To the authorities. What if they didn’t search Varik’s ship? He could get away with other kids.”

“You said you pulled the connector?” Cyra asked.

“Yeah, but that’s a five-minute fix.”

“I’ll go,” Dez said.

“I’m going with you.” Blaize crossed her arms.

“We’re all going.” Cyra was flanked by Veda, Bodi, and Rhysa. “We don’t leave a team member behind.” She squeezed Dez’s hand, and he gave her the most loving look.

Blaize sucked in her lip as tears threatened to fall again. Cifer was part of the team, even if he didn’t know it yet.

Cifer belonged on The Treasure .

Cifer gripped the bars of the cell he’d been placed in to keep from pacing.

For a person who prided themselves on never getting caught, he was having an extremely bad run.

He cocked his head to listen more carefully.

He could have sworn Blaize was in the building, but that was impossible.

She’d been running back to The Treasure last he saw her.

His heart pounded in his chest, and the urge to break out rode him hard.

But if he escaped, Blaize would be at risk.

He clenched the bars so hard his fingers ached.

Moments later, an officer opened the door and walked in, followed by Dez. Cifer had never been so overjoyed to see another male. Voices from the offices trailed through the opening. Blaize was there—with the entire team, if his ears didn’t deceive him.

“Furcifer Msuya, you’re free to go.” The officer placed her palm on the biometric pad, and the cage clicked open.

Cifer didn’t question the officer. He didn’t need answers.

He needed freedom. And he was so grateful that they hadn’t left him behind.

As soon as he stepped out and breathed the air outside the cage, which was logically the exact same as the air inside but somehow tasted sweeter, his muscles softened and his lungs inflated a bit more. “Where’s Blaize? Is she okay?”

Cifer had many more questions, but not until they were away from the authorities who had locked him up. Dez didn’t respond. Cifer followed the gray male to the lobby where the rest of the crew waited, including the fiery, beautiful woman who had stolen his heart.

“Blaize.” Her name whispered from his lips like a prayer of thanks, a promise, and a plea.

She launched herself into his waiting arms and answered all of his needs with a single word. “Cifer.”

He clenched her close and buried his face in her hair, breathing her in. Her clean scent was his new definition of home. Too soon, she stepped out of his embrace and clasped his hand.

They were surrounded by the smiling faces of the crew of The Treasure.

“What about the kids?” Cifer demanded.

“All safe and sound, thanks to you.” Blaize squeezed his hand.

“Let’s go home,” Cyra said.

The female meant her ship. The crew’s ship. Blaize’s home.

The only home he’d ever dreamed of was on a planet that was no longer reachable with current technology.

Dez invited him into the galley while the rest of the crew prepped for launch.

Cifer queried Blaize with a look.

“I’ll be in the engine room. Come find me when you’re done.”

He reluctantly released her hand and stared as she walked off in the opposite direction.

“Come on. She’s not going anywhere without you.”

Dez’s words calmed Cifer enough that he could take his eyes off her and go to the galley. At least for a few minutes.

After he got them each a cold fermented beverage, Dez sat at the table. Cifer took the silent invitation and settled into a chair, nervous about what Dez would say.

“So, I know you have tremendous skills and are contracted for exorbitant rates.”

Cifer wasn’t sure how Dez knew that but nodded.

“Veda tells me the orb is locked up in her med lab.”

Cifer nodded again, not sure how the two topics went together.

“Our next stop is Hiargus, so you can get paid and get that thing off our ship.” Dez took a long drink of the brew. “You have any other jobs lined up?”

Cifer hesitated, unused to discussing his business with anyone else. But Dez represented the family he wanted. “Actually, no. The payout for the orb would be enough to keep me and the orphanage funded for a galactic year. I planned to take some time and be selective.”

Dez nodded and took another sip of the brew. Silence didn’t make Cifer antsy, so he let the male take his time in responding, even though the urge to find Blaize rode him hard.

“Would you consider staying on?”

“Staying on The Treasure ?” With Blaize?

“I’ve been filling the role of Chief of Security and negotiating our jobs. You are a much better negotiator.”

Cifer jolted back. “Not sure how you can say that when the first group I negotiated with wanted the food from Din’ Gale to feed stolen kids.”

“The backup buyer you had in place was more than ready to take the goods.” Dez’s yellow-eyed gaze lasered into Cifer.

“You did the work to have two buyers set up. Probably three if I checked. I struggle to negotiate a single deal. To be honest, I hate it. I’ve learned two things trying to fill that role.

Not everyone is as honest as the Din’ Gale people. And two, I don’t like to dicker.”

“It’s a game.” Cifer shrugged. “Played correctly, everyone wins.”

“So, will you do it? Will you join The Treasure ?”

“What does Blaize think of all this?”

“She thinks…”

Cifer twisted in his seat. Blaize was in the doorway, stealing his breath, which only made sense since she already had his heart.

She continued, “She would very much like you to stay and be a partner. The entire team discussed it, and the vote was unanimous to make you a partner. But if you don’t want to stay, obviously we would still meet the terms of the agreement we came to on Cassan and take you to Hiargus and then back to Cassan.

No one is kidnapping you or forcing you to?—”

Cifer stretched out an arm and tugged her close, kissing her rambling mouth. In a perfect world, he’d respectfully wait for her to finish. But neither the world, nor he, was perfect, and he couldn’t wait a moment longer.

She gasped for breath. “Is that a yes?”

“There could be no other answer to such an invitation. I’ll sign whatever contract you need. After.”

“After?” Blaize asked.

“After we launch and I take you back to your quarters—or mine—and seal this partnership properly.”

“Okay,” Blaize replied, her cheeks pink and her gaze dreamy.

“See? Expert negotiator,” Dez said, rising from his chair.

“Everyone gets what they want.” Cifer tugged Blaize behind him to the bridge. The sooner they launched, the sooner he could get her in his bed.