Page 13 of The Intergalactic Duke's Inconvenient Engagement
“I have no idea what you mean by a sonic shower or a pixberry,” she said slowly. “But…thank you. For those things, I guess, but more for saving us.”
“It sounds like you were off to an excellent start at saving yourself and the others.”
She grimaced. “Yes. I would’ve opened our coffins and then probably opened the front door to the space station and blasted us all into space.” She shook her head. “I still can’t believe in all this. Spaceships, black holes, aliens.”
The other side of his mouth quirked up to join the first. “As one of thosethings you don’t believe in, may I urge you to open your mind even if your world is closed?”
She caught her breath a little at the way his genuine amusement transformed him. Something in her that had been shut down in survivor mode woke up, sensing maybe not a friend yet, but an ally at least. She’d been so set for so long on being fiercely independent, reliant on no one—even before this wild,horrible incident—that maybe she’d forgotten what it was like to have someone in her corner and at her side.
Although technically, right now she was in his arms.
She realized then that there was a floating transport pad beside them. Ahead of them, Carmen and Anne were both sitting on a similar pad, though Trixie and Lishelle were walking beside it. He could have put her on the pad if he didn’tthink she could walk. But instead he was carrying her.
That guarded, defensive feeling inside her faded a little more.
When they reached the med bay—she recognized it by the stark, pale walls, shadowless lighting, and smell of antiseptic; was every hospital in the universe the same?—she found herself clinging to his neck for a heartbeat, unwilling to let go now that she’d found someone.
Butthat was crazy. She hadn’t found him.He’dfoundher. And the other women, of course. And anyway, she knew better than to rely on others.
She forced herself to release him as he settled her butt on a flat exam table, and she slapped her palm over her lap as his retreating arm snagged on the fabric of the short shift and nearly flipped up the hem. Although really, at this point, she felt likeshe’d accidentally showed him more vulnerability than just her crotch.
The other women were similarly being assisted onto tables by med staff in pale blue scrubs. One of the aliens started to pull scrolling films between the tables that turned opaque—privacy curtains, Rayna realized—but Trixie recoiled with a thin cry of distress, and Rayna held up her hand.
“Can you…” She met Trixie’s panickedgaze before shifting her attention to the medic. “Can you leave the screen open between us?’
“Is that what you want?” The medic glanced at Trixie.
The girl nodded, her furrowed brow smoothing. “Where we were trapped,” she whispered, “the coffins looked a little like this, in a row, where we couldn’t see or hear…or get out.”
The medic touched her shoulder briefly. “I’ll leave it open. Please,tell me what else will make you comfortable while we continue the exam. We are here to help.”
Trixie swallowed hard and jerked her head once in assent, but her grateful, desperate gaze was fixed on Rayna.
“I want mine open too,” Lishelle said from the farthest table. Carmen and Anne nodded.
The medic gestured at her coworkers who pushed back the screens before she glanced sidelong at Raz.“Your Grace. If you would please…”
Though she didn’t continue, he nodded curtly. “I’ll leave our guests in your well-trained hands, Doctor. See that they are given every care.” The aristo tone was back in voice, making the words sound both admonishing and approving at the same time.
The doctor didn’t seem to mind though and ducked her head in a dutiful bow. “Of course, Your Grace.”
Raynawouldn’t have appreciated that tone at all. But when he pivoted on his heel to leave, her heart skittered in her chest, and she was dimly aware of the control panel at the head of the bed making a muffled alarm sound. “Raz,” she called.
He turned back, his chin angled a little imperiously. “Yes?”
She had no idea why she’d said his name. Just that he was her only touchstone in this strange place,this bizarre situation. “Save me a piece of pie.”
His lips tilted upward. “I’ll make sure the galley is programmed with Earther favorites. I saw a notation that a favored beverage among your kind is called coffee.”
“Coffee?” Lishelle and Carmen spoke up simultaneously from opposite ends of the row of exam tables.
He laughed. “I’ll take that as a yes.” He glanced back at the doctor. “Make themwell.”
Rayna lowered her head again as he strode out.
“Aelazar Amrazal Thorkonos, Duke of Azthronos, Blood Champion of Zalar, Avatar of Azjor, God of Oaths,” she muttered after he’d gone.
Rayna looked at her. “What?”