Page 30 of Warrior (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #2)

Daisy

I jerked awake, startled to find myself alone in bed—even more startled to realize I’d slept at all. The last thing I remembered was lying wrapped in Daicon’s arms as he told him about the Bardaga and everything we would do once we escaped this moon.

My fingertips traced over my heart, the beat steady despite worry for the day. The way the organ squeezed when Daicon said he loved me imparted a strange, faint soreness, as though my heart had to stretch to accept and accommodate his love.

And I did love him… more than I’d ever expected to feel for anyone again.

I still loved Gavin—I always would—but the love of Daicon was so different, all abandon and wild passion too strong to deny.

Gavin was my past… my memories and love for him remained tucked away in a part of my heart always treasured and cherished.

But life moves on. And my life and heart belonged with Daicon… if the good Lord allows us to survive the escape.

I slipped out of bed, fluffing the pillow and straightening the blanket before dressing.

Normally, I wore some version of the gray shift dress the guards provided, but with running surely on the menu for today, I’d modified a pair of pants and tunic absconded from the children’s laundry.

The bag I’d packed last night sat beside the chair, holding a few loaves of bread and dried meat.

Each child carried the same supplies, along with clothes and tools.

By my calculation, we should have enough food to last until we rendezvous with the Bardaga.

Daicon said travel rations would be on the ship we planned to steal.

If those rations were anything like the brown goo, I’d had to eat on the trip to the moon—no thanks.

How crazy was it that I felt a pang of sadness leaving the small windowless room?

An ache that only grew sharper as I walked past the kitchen.

Images flashed in my brain… doing dishes with little Ewok laughing by my side.

Nights spent in Daicon’s arms. Maybe missing this place wasn’t so crazy after all.

I’d found moments of true happiness here.

I’d found love again in this dingy, dreary mine, and in a way, I'd found myself… the me I’d always wanted to be.

The voices floating up from the common area sounded happy, not weighed by worry about what came next. I descended the stone steps, noticing the loose rocks and slanted concept. Overhead, the glass dome showed a gray sky with just a hint of orange sun hovering on the horizon.

A group of tiny alien children raced across the room so fast my eyes barely kept up with the movement.

George chose ten little darlings as bait.

My worry waited as I watched them act out the plan, racing across the common area and scrambling into the tunnel, only to appear on the upper level seconds later.

George pantomimed tossing a small explosive into the tunnel.

While Daicon felt sure the circumference of the passage was much too small for a guard to squeeze through, we weren’t taking any chances.

"Good job," Daicon yelled, as the kids scrambled back into the tunnel.

I felt the moment his golden eyes turned to me, my skin heating where his gaze touched.

Daicon strode toward me, taking a slight detour to check on Ewok and another group of children.

His large hand mussed the fur atop Ewok’s head, giving the child an indulgent smile.

Ewok preened, although it did little to disguise the tired lines around his eyes.

“Good morning.” Daicon met me at the foot of the stairs.

His hand closed around my wrist, tugging me to a secluded spot beside the stairs before bending to kiss me.

As kisses went, it was practically chaste.

Only the tease of his tongue along my lips.

But it was enough to draw a soft moan from deep in my throat and make me press against him.

“Did you get any sleep?” I asked, slipping my arms around his waist, and laying my cheek against the steady beat of his heart. His pine and snow scent flooded my senses like a drug, and I felt myself relax.

Daicon shook his head and propped his chin on my head. "I'm a war chief. I never sleep before a battle."

“Don’t call it that,” I grumbled. The idea of battle meant more danger than I wanted to consider.

Daicon’s hands cupped the back of my neck, tilting my face upward. His smile meant to comfort me, but a hardened glint remained in his gold eyes that did little to warm the chill in my blood.

“It’s going to be okay, sweetling.”

“Promise?”

“I will promise you anything.”

“I just want this to be over and all of us on that ship. Safe and sound and away from here.”

Daicon glanced toward the overhead dome. I followed his gaze, noticing the faint hue of orange crowding out the gray.

“It’s time,” he murmured, folding me against his chest. I held him tightly. I didn’t want to let go.

I never wanted to let go.

Daicon stepped away from me with a heavy sigh, his hand grasping mine as we walked to the center of the room.

Chatter humming in the air like cicadas on a summer night faded. All eyes turned to the man at my side, gazes filled with equal parts adoration and respect.

“It’s time,” Daicon told them in a gentle but firm voice, his gaze landing on each one in turn. “George, remember Aljani aren’t fast. Keep moving and stay low to the ground. Wait until all the guards are off the stairs before you hit the tunnel."

George gave a solemn nod.

“Ewok.”

The fuzzy darling straightened and squared his shoulders with such rigidity, I half expected him to salute.

"Lead everyone toward the docking tunnel. Take the path through the cavern with the hot springs and stay in the shadows. Don’t go farther than the breach until I get there.”

Ewok gave a curt nod that would make any soldier proud.

The ramshackle squadron gathered their makeshift packs, passing by us in single file. Ewok brought up the rear, pausing to grin at me.

"Don't worry, kida, we'll be okay."

I bit back a small cry as I wrapped my arms around his furry shoulders, squeezing tight. Tears stung my eyes, but I blinked the wetness away. I wouldn’t do that. Ewok, George…all the children deserved my respect for their bravery, not tears of worry.

I felt Daicon move away from my side, pausing to press something small and cold into my palm.

The communicator was the size and shape of the Samsung flip phone I used to have. Instead of flipping open, there was a toggle switch to move the communicator between different channels and a recessed button to push when one wanted to communicate... or explode things.

“Do you remember the sequence?” Daicon asked, folding my fingers over the device.

I nodded, recalling the pattern he taught me last night. "On channel one, it's one press to set off each of the five explosions in the common area. Once the guards are here, I switch to channel two and hold the button down to blow up the stairs.”

“That’s my little warrior.” Daicon smiled ruefully, stroking a fingertip down my cheek. I turned my face into his hand, kissing his palm.

“I do not want to leave your side,” he huffed, stepping closer. “I wish there was a different way.”

“I’ll be fine,” I promised, kissing his palm again. "Besides, who will steal the ship if you're hanging out with me?"

Daicon gripped my shoulders, giving me the faintest shake. “If anything goes wrong... anything, you run. Don’t try to be a hero.”

“Who me?” I kept it light, although my eyes found their way to the spot on the floor where Scarface fell dead. It wasn’t a hero that killed that guard, just a mother bear protecting her cubs. I’d do it again.

Daicon pressed a kiss to my hairline, then rested his forehead against mine. “Please stay safe.” The gold eyes swimming in a cobalt sea held so much emotion—love, worry, happiness, anger—everything he was. Everything I loved.

“I love you,” I whispered, rewarded with a firm press of his lips against mine before Daicon turned on his heel, setting off to follow Ewok and the children.

"Remember, don't set off the explosion until the first ray of sunlight hits the ground.

" Daicon cautioned George and me, pointing to a spot in the center of the floor before walking away. Ewok had waited for Daicon to catch up, his button-brown eyes gazing affectionately at the warrior. Daicon reached Ewok’s side, ruffling the fur atop his head, and I bit my tongue to hold back a sob as two parts of my heart disappeared down the dark tunnel.

“You better get in position, kida,” George suggested as he came to my side.

I gave his pale blue cheek a kiss and hugged him tight. “You be careful, promise me?”

“I promise.” George hugged me back. “I’ll whistle when the sunlight hits.”

My trip on the steps was quicker this time, the communicator clutched tightly in my hand, lest I accidentally hit the button and screw everything up.

The tunnel from the kitchen turned sharply right as it widened onto the landing, creating nooks and crannies perfect for hiding.

I pushed myself into a fissure, letting the early morning shadows act as camouflage.

A crude rock wall surrounded the landing, just tall enough for me to crouch behind unseen.

Once the ruckus started, I could watch from above and set off each of the five explosives as needed.

It felt like hours until I heard the low tone of George's whistle, yet it came all too soon.

Please, God, let this work.

I held the communicator near the only beam of light filtering in my direction to double-check the setting and pushed the button.

Explosions in real life are very different from what you see in television and movies.

Only the beginning of the blast is audible. The painful ringing in my eardrums drowned out most of the sound. It was an immersive experience. In addition to sound came movement, the rumbling of the walls as they shifted against the concussive wave of air.