Chapter 4

CHAPTER 4

Lashe

I wouldn’t let her die.

It was the worst possible material we could’ve run into. Undetectable by sensors until you were right in the middle of it, the small, irradiated particles were absolutely lethal to the shuttle’s propulsion system. It reduced our speed tremendously and damaged several systems. Another big burn would do nothing but cause more destruction.

The only way to repair this was to find a good space station and have the entire power core and exhaust ducts flushed, cleaned, and possibly rebuilt.

There were absolutely no stations in this sector. It was considered a deep stretch , meaning that ships in distress out here were typically in distress for quite some time. It was not a common route. But the darkspace channel I was heading for, which would take us directly to the remote Destran planet, could only be reached through this sector.

So here we were. I winced at the amount of debris I saw around us. I was able to maneuver around larger pieces, but smaller chunks struck the shuttle. The hull was strong and thick enough to withstand it, but the much smaller irradiated dust had sickened my ship as effectively as a virus would a human.

I still had navigation and eight percent of thrusters, but they would not hold for long. We needed to land. I sighed and shook my head. “Stelis, your assistance, please.”

The smooth female voice immediately replied. “How can I help you, Lashe?”

“I know you’ve tapped into my ship systems. Can you boost the scanner signal to detect a landmass we can land on?”

“Yes, just a moment.”

Stelis went quiet and the scanner increased enough for me to get a good look at the area.

“Thank you. I see a large asteroid that might work for us.”

“I diverted power from the stabilizers and replicator,” said Stelis. “Are your coordinates locked? If so, I will return the power to those systems.”

“Yes, thank you.” I turned in my seat, even though Anna could hear everything I was saying to Stelis. “I found a place to land us. It’s little more than a rock, but it will give me a chance to do some repairs. I hope they’ll get us into a region of settled space and allow me to get the long-range communication systems up.”

She looked pale and small and terrified. “Okay. Thanks.”

“Try not to worry. I won’t let anything happen to you.”

“Not sure you have control over that, out here in the vacuum of space,” she said.

“Look.” I pointed through the viewport. “We’re landing on that asteroid, where I can do some repairs to get us out of here.”

Her eyes lit up as she saw the rock formation we were headed for. “That’s pretty big.”

“I suggest you stay strapped in the seat because there will be turbulence the whole way.”

“I’m not going anywhere,” she said.

I gave her a reassuring smile. “Neither am I. My job is to keep you safe. That is what I’ll do.”

She blinked and a fraction of that anxiety eased from her eyes. “Thank you.”

For a moment, I thought I saw something more in her gaze. Something a little deeper than just gratitude and appreciation. But I’d be foolish to read into anything. Of course , she was thankful for my piloting skills. I was trained for almost every complication that could occur on trips. She expected nothing less of me.

I turned back around, facing front, and pushed the idea of it from my mind. What she couldn’t see was that I was terrified by the knowledge that I was the only thing between her and a hard death in the icy depths of space.

“Stelis, go through the systems and utilize any unnecessary power sources, rerouting what you can to boost thruster efficiency. Let’s try to get to this asteroid as fast as we can.”

“Right away, sir.”

Sir? That was the first time the AOA had ever called me that. “Just call me Lashe.”

“As you wish, Lashe.”

The thrusters choked on dust, but picked up speed as we headed for the asteroid. I could get used to Stelis answering to me. Having an onboard AI was helpful. It saved me the time of manually going through systems and rerouting power.

I did not take my eyes off the controls or the view ahead of me until the details of that rocky gray asteroid became clear. It was nothing to look at. If it had an atmosphere at all, it would be thin. The gravity would be weak. But landing there would give me a chance to get outside and repair the damage.

“Initiating landing sequence.” I turned in my seat to reassure Anna that we had reached our temporary destination. I opened my mouth, but closed it as I took in the sight in the main cabin. She had drawn her knees up and tucked her arms tight against her body. She’d shifted to one side and had fallen asleep, head cocked at an angle that would probably mean a stiff neck later. I allowed myself a long moment of running my gaze over the female I had wanted for so long.

In sleep, the strain she carried around her eyes and mouth melted away. She was soft and beautiful. I wished I could pick her up and carry her into her quarters where she could rest more comfortably than curled up in that chair with the safety straps on.

“Shall I awaken her?” Stelis asked.

“No, let her sleep. We have a little longer before we touch down and honestly, I could use a rest too. That was taxing on the ship and us.”

It was a little weird to be open with the AOA. But it was true—that had been the most challenging encounter I’d had since taking this job. I was not as young as I’d been when I was a warrior in Damiron’s Sola. I had fought beside him against the enemies we faced during the attacks on our precious Sola. Then again, I lacked fresh lami to heal and invigorate myself. I would be waiting longer for that, as the Destran planet was farther away than ever.

The shuttle touched down on the rocky surface, at the flattest stretch I could find. Readings outside were strange. It was windless, cold, and it had little oxygen, but also no toxic chemicals in the air. Still, I frowned at what I saw around me. The surface gave the look of a stormy, windblown planet. But there was no wind to be found. It was still and quiet.

I rose and crossed back to the main cabin. I crouched down before Anna. “Ambassador,” I said. “Wake up.”

She opened her eyes slowly, then they flew wide open, and she sat up straight. “I fell asleep.” She said it as if she was surprised and disappointed in herself.

I smiled wearily. “Yes. And you’re going to continue sleeping. Go to your chambers and go to bed. It is the dead of night in your day-night schedule. Rest in your bed.”

“What about you?”

“I admit, I need rest. I will sleep here.” I nodded to the main cabin.

“You don’t usually sleep.”

“True. But if I am to repair this ship, I need rest just as you do. So go on. I’m fine out here.”

Her gaze moved over my face and her brow knitted in concern. “I don’t think the floor is very comfortable.”

“I’ve slept on far worse. I am fine.”

She unclipped her safety straps and stood up stiffly, stretching her neck with a wince. “Don’t let me sleep too long. I want to help in any way I can.”

I stood up myself and took a step backwards. “Of course.”

She looked outside, eyes wide. “It looks rough out there.”

“It’s not that bad, honestly. We’re lucky we found this place. In a different sector, it could’ve taken years at our speed to make it to any space formation, like this one.” I gave another reassuring smile, pressing down the myriad concerns I did have. There were so many things that could go wrong. So many systems that might not be able to go back online with the tools I had here. “Sleep, Anna. You’re safe.”

For now.

She let out a little sound, like a cross between a whimper and a sigh, and came forward and wrapped her arms around me.

I stood there, frozen. Her body pressed against mine. The side of her face resting on my chest. Soft arms holding me. Slowly, as if controlled by a force other than me, my arms came around her. Holding her in return. My mind was a frantic mess. I could not allow her skin to touch mine. The full body suits we wore prevented that, but if she were to just move her arms up and touch my neck…

I struggled to think with the scent of her hair in my nostrils, the feel of her warm body, the beat of her heart against my ribs. Undoubtedly my skin was a shocking color. My emotions were untamable. Hunger ran hot. Need and desire reminded me that this was my female.

My body shuddered. I could feel my cock harden. I needed to end this embrace. Instantly. My hands closed on her waist and set her back. The sudden break of contact felt like a cold blast. Every fiber of my being wanted to yank her against me again. Crush my mouth to hers. Tell her how much she meant to me.

“Enough,” I said tightly. “Go off to sleep now. I will see you later.” I turned away for self-preservation.

“Okay,” she said in a small voice. “I’m sorry. I didn’t mean to make you uncomfortable.”

“You didn’t,” I said. “This has been a difficult experience for both of us.” I glanced back over my shoulder. “You could never make me uncomfortable, Ambassador.”

“If I hear that word one more time, I’m going to scream.”

“Ambassador? But that is your title.”

“I know, but…” She made a sound of annoyance. “Look. Call me Anna. I’m not an ambassador out here. You’re not my employee. We’re in this together. We’re going to get out of here together, too.”

I inclined my head. “Very well, Anna.”

She reached out again and held my forearm. What was it with this female and her desire for touch? She couldn’t know the effect it had on me. The heat that shot through my veins with even this little contact. “Thank you.”

“You’ve nothing to thank me for. We are not out of danger yet.”

She smiled up at me with those dazzling eyes. “No, but we will be. I have faith in you, Lashe.”

She squeezed my arm, then dropped her hand and turned and went into her private quarters, closing the door behind her, thankfully.

I have faith in you. Her words were almost too much to take. I wasn’t entirely sure that her trust and faith were well placed. All I could say for sure was that I would do everything in my power, move the universe itself, to get her to safety. Even if it killed me, Anna would live.