Chapter 14

CHAPTER 14

Anna

I t took a little time to come back to my body. To feel like I was connected to reality and that what had just happened, had actually happened. Lashe and I were mates. That was a fact. When my human friends on the Destran Solas had described it, I couldn’t quite relate. Now, I could. This was a feeling of closeness that I hadn’t even been able to fathom before. It was a connection that wasn’t something typical of the human experience, but if my skin was capable of bearing the mating marks, I’d have them.

I rolled over in bed and looked at Lashe, who lay on his side, sleeping. We had spent the last three hours exploring each other’s bodies. We’d made love two more times, until my body became sore and exhaustion made our limbs heavy. I felt soft all over, as if my bones had turned to clay and my skin to cloth and I had no reason to move or speak or even think. I’d never known such peace. It was temporary, I knew that. We only had this sleep cycle to enjoy each other and rest before we needed to attempt a departure from this asteroid creature.

After we were out of here—and I was determined that we’d get out of here—Lashe and I would start our lives together. I wasn’t sure what that would look like, but we would make it work. I wasn’t letting him go, no matter what. My hand rested on his wide chest, which pulsed in shades of aqua and purple. Naked, he was even more gorgeous than I’d thought he’d be. He was all solid muscle and firm skin. All mine.

I let myself fall off to sleep, knowing that soon enough, our plan would be in place and we’d know our fate. After a few hours of rest, we’d be up against the creature and hopefully be free of it.

I awoke at the end of the sleep cycle to the quiet movements of someone in the main cabin. After getting up and wrapping the sheet around myself, I found Lashe dressed in his lifesuit , talking quietly to Stelis. He held a tether and had attached it to the waist of his lifesuit . The helmet wasn’t on, yet. It looked like they were testing the tether and deciding where to attach it.

“Good morning, Anna,” said Stelis, even though “morning” was a useless term so far from any sunrise.

Lashe looked up at me and smiled. “Hello, Anna.” His voice was low and soft, with an intimate roughness that sent memories of the previous night purring through my skin.

“Hi.” I sat on one of the chairs in the main cabin and took in the scene. “You and Stelis have been busy.”

He nodded. “With the lifesuit on, the ship can lift off even if I’m not inside of it. The wind won’t affect anything if I’m attached to the shuttle.”

“Good thinking,” I said, snuggling into the warm sheet I’d wrapped around myself like a toga. “Is it strong enough?”

“Should be. I took it from the emergency supply chest.” He lifted the thick, silver rope. “This is what it’s made for, if gravity boots fail or for full space repairs. I plan to be fast out there.”

“Can you bring a weapon?” I asked. “There must be blasters on this ship.”

“There are,” he said. “But firing one close to the thrusters could ignite the conduit and cause an explosion in the power cell. Can’t risk it.”

“Lashe and I have a plan for the operation,” said Stelis. “And several contingencies. The probability for success is sixty-nine point four percent.”

I winced. “That could be higher.”

“There are too many variables we cannot account for,” said Stelis. “Including the full capabilities of our adversary. This life form, as we are experiencing it, is not listed in any available records. I cannot identify its species, and interference has prevented further scans from revealing more information about it.”

“So you’re saying it may have more tricks up its sleeve,” I said.

“There is no indication that this being has sleeves,” Stelis said. “But I understand your meaning. Yes. It could have further destructive capabilities that we have not yet discovered.”

“Let’s hope not.” I rose and got my rations from the replicator, along with my small amount of tea-flavored water. The meal from the previous evening had been delicious, making the nutrient bar even more unpleasant to eat.

“The tether will work,” said Lashe. “Even if the wind prevents me from reentering the shuttle, Stelis can take off. I can get inside after we’re free from the asteroid.”

I frowned. “Is that safe, with the thrusters?”

“I will make sure I’m clear of them,” he replied. “That’s what Stelis and I were working on—where to attach the tether to the ship.”

I closed my eyes and took a sip of tea. “Find a good place,” I said fervently. “I cannot imagine losing you.”

“We identified the best location we could find that would be secure.” He came over and pressed a kiss to my mouth. “You will not lose me.”

“Which brings us to the change in your relationship status,” said Stelis, matter-of-factly. “I will need to update the official reports. How shall I define your association?”

“Can we not do this now, Stelis?” I asked. “It’s a bad time.”

“We are mates,” said Lashe, holding my gaze. “As defined by the Destran people and in accordance with our laws. Anna is my lifelong, bonded mate, and she has accepted me as hers.”

I stared at him. “Wow. That sounded like marriage vows.”

“What we have is more binding than a marriage,” he said. “It cannot be severed, except by death. And even then, the surviving partner will always care for the other.”

I swallowed, even though my throat felt thick with emotion, the depth of what I’d just entered into beginning to settle in. “There you have it, Stelis.”

“You consent to this designation?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said with a smile. “I do.”

“Very well. I will update your personal files. The Earth and Destran authorities will decide on Lashe’s new title.”

“Title?” Lashe looked at me, one brow raised.

“As the mate of an ambassador, your role will be reevaluated,” said Stelis. “You will likely have a choice among the options offered.”

He shook his head. “I am Anna’s transport operator and protector. I want no role, other than that.”

“I will include that in your file,” said Stelis.

He looked at me. “I’d better not get some annoying title.”

I shrugged. “Well, I’m called Lady Anna, or Ambassador Anna, on the Destran planet, so you might be called Lord Lashe.” I smiled. “That has a cute ring to it.”

His skin turned a grayish yellow. “Only the Sola lords are called that. I do not have a symbiont living ship. Nor am I an ambassador.”

“They’ll call you what they call you, Lashe,” I said as the smile faded from my mouth. “Being with me isn’t all easy.”

His expression softened. “It’s an honor.” He picked up his helmet. “One I will treasure for years to come.”

I moved my gaze over him, dressed in his suit and about to go outside. “I hope so.”

He kissed me again, hard and deep and full of promises. “I love you, Anna. Get dressed and strap yourself in to the other operator’s seat. Stelis may need your help up there.”

I nodded, my heart beating way too fast, way too hard, and way to aching. “Okay.”