Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,14
synchronizing their efforts.
Nancy’s grip tightened on her daggers’ hilts.
Her cyborg extracted similar weapons from sheaths built into his body armor. He surged toward the males, blocking Nancy’s view.
She had no clear throw. Her lips twisted, her frustration rising.
The cyborg didn’t appear to require her help. He spun dramatically, sweeping the blades over the males’ necks. The cuts were deep. Blood gushed. The attackers fell to the floor.
Truth’s chest heaved. His biceps bulged. All of him was finely honed, all muscle and male. “Does anyone else want to die this planet rotation?” He flipped the daggers in his hands and looked at the other beings in the chamber.
They lowered their gazes, stepped backward.
“He’s qualified.” Claude announced that truth.
“Yes, he’s qualified.” Valentin agreed with him.
“He’s so very…qualified.” Marthe sounded a bit breathless.
Nancy was breathless also from watching Truth but likely for another reason. Mercy. He was hot, moving with the grace, the certainty, of a predator at the top of the hierarchy.
“I’m the being you are searching for, beautiful.” His gaze remained on the other warriors in the chamber. His words were meant for her alone. “Admit that.”
“You’re one’s mercenary.” She wasn’t interested in any other warrior. Not after that demonstration of power and prowess.
“I’m more than your mercenary.” Truth looked over his shoulder and grinned at her. “But for now, I’ll accept that designation.” He sheathed his daggers, turned to face her. “We should leave. Some beings in the beverage outlet are aware of your origins, and they aren’t enthused about the pact you made with their enemy.”
“It wasn’t a pact.” The Humanoid Alliance weren’t the Royaumes’ allies. “One’s kind had to work with them as you had to fight for them. The alternative was death.” Her entire planet, all of the beings residing on it, would have been destroyed. She rose to her booted feet.
Valentin, Claude, and Marthe stood also.
“I’m not judging you.” Truth held out his right hand. “Others are doing that.”
She gazed at his palm, wanting to clasp it, realizing she shouldn’t touch him. Princesses didn’t hold hands. It wasn’t done.
In this case, it was also unwise. She desired him too much, had to keep a distance between them.
“One can walk to one’s ship unassisted.” She lifted her chin.
“I assumed you had that ability.” His eyes sparkled as he lowered his hand. “I love you, female. Don’t ever change.”
He didn’t love her. Nancy pressed her lips together. He didn’t know her.
“Ahhh…I’m receiving the silent treatment.” The cyborg’s gaze shifted to a wide-eyed Marthe. “Is she always this difficult? Say yes and I’ll be the happiest male in the universe.”
“Our pr—Our Nancy is not difficult.” Valentin answered for the female. “Our Nancy is refined. You, sir, are difficult. You—”
“Dere be a Royal Royaume Ship in de landing area.” The Gegenee positioned at the beverage distribution area made that announcement.
Heads turned toward them. Beings rumbled.
Fear crept down Nancy’s spine. She clutched her daggers. “It’s time to leave.”
“Claude goes first.” Truth took charge of the situation. “Valentin follows him. Then the female.”
“Marthe.” Nancy murmured that name, the only one her cyborg must not have overheard.
“Marthe.” Truth repeated it. “You’ll stay behind her. I’ll leave the structure last.”
“She stays behind me, in front of Valentin.” Claude insisted on guarding her.
“There’s a 58.2389 percent chance you’ll be ambushed.” Truth stated that precise probability with a rather scary certainty. “I can protect her from the rear. My frame is projectile-proof. Your task is to protect her from the front. That could require all three of you. Your forms are fragile.”
Their forms were precious to Nancy. But she said nothing because they would insist on protecting her, and they didn’t have time for a lengthy discussion.
Claude looked at her. “The cyborg will be the sole being safeguarding you on one side.”
“I’ll be safeguarding myself also.” She exchanged her daggers for guns, glanced at Truth.
One moment he was standing alone. The next moment, a human-appearing cyborg, wearing body armor identical to Truth’s, appeared at the male’s side.
Nancy quashed her shriek of surprise.
“She must be your female, D Model.” The new cyborg rested his hands on his holstered guns. “Her mere presence provoked a chamber filled with warriors.”
“She believes I’m merely her mercenary.” Truth patted the male on the shoulder.
Nancy frowned. “You are merely one’s mercenary.” He couldn’t be anything more than that. “One—”
“Royaume supported the Humanoid Alliance.” A Palavian interrupted the set down she’d planned to give Truth.
Nancy opened her mouth, prepared to defend her planet.