floated out of the space, not once looking back at him.
Marthe and Claude followed her, leaving Truth alone with Valentin.
“Our princess deserves respect.” The male was the first to break the silence. “She is third in line for the throne of Royaume, has served her beings her entire lifespan, making sacrifices very few realize.”
“I might joke and tease.” Truth’s smile wavered. “But I respect my princess. Fraggin’ hole, human.” He swept one of his hands over his hair. “We endured an intense missile attack and she showed not a trace of fear. It is impossible not to respect a being like that.”
He was so blasted proud to be her warrior.
“The Humanoid Alliance occupation tested her.” Some of Valentin’s ire dissipated. “Only Claude, Marthe, and I know how much.”
They were a unit like the crew of the Reckless was a unit. Truth’s head dipped. “Is that why you are recording her escapades?”
The male’s gaze shot upward, meeting his. “How did you know I was doing that?”
“I can hear the whirr. It’s not a concern.” Truth hastily reassured the visibly shaken human. “Few other beings can hear it. Cyborgs have enhanced senses.” He tapped his left ear. “And we are observant. We had to be that way.” His lips quirked. “Unperceptive cyborgs die on the battlefield…or in training.”
“I’m Her Royal Highness’ private secretary.” Valentin relayed his role proudly. “It’s my duty to record everything.” He paused. “And it’s my fondest wish that Royaumes know all the princess has done and risked for them.”
“You plan to release the recordings.” Another cyborg would be appalled by that prospect. The more enemies processed about a being, the more ammunition they had to damage that being. Truth, however, was intrigued by the chaos that might cause. “How would Royaumes react to that?”
“They would love her even more than they currently do.” Valentin loved Truth’s female also. Truth heard that in the male’s voice. “The princess won’t give me permission to release the recordings. I suspect she fears it will harm the crown prince’s place within the kingdom. As spare to the heir, it is her role to protect him.”
What type of being needed protection from public opinion? “He sounds like an ass.”
“He is the crown prince.” Valentin became huffy once more. “Crown princes are not asses.”
While under the Humanoid Alliance’s control, Truth had been exposed to eighty-two crown princes of planets. Sixty-four of them had been asses. “Your role is to protect the princess. Is that correct?”
“That is my most important task. Yes.” Valentin nodded.
“Then, if releasing the recordings would protect my princess, you don’t need her permission.” Truth shrugged. That logic was indisputable.
The male gazed at him for a long moment. “I don’t foresee a situation where releasing the recordings would protect her.”
“I didn’t foresee going on this adventure.” Truth had respect for the randomness of the universe. “Tell me what else your role involves.”
He would find out as much as possible about this being his princess loved and respected while he waited for her to return to him.
She would reappear. He was confident about that.
The ship was small and she wanted him. He’d seen the desire in her eyes, the yearning in her body language, felt her hesitation to leave him. She’d drift back to his side.
And he would claim her.
Chapter Six
The cyborg—Truth—treated her as he might treat a regular female, touching her, teasing her, setting her on his lap while he flew their ship to safety.
That both excited and disturbed Nancy. The warrior couldn’t be controlled, acted on his own command, did exactly what he wished to do.
But what he wished to do was protect her, assist her in rescuing her brother.
Ravish her. Her toes curled in her slippers. And she wanted that also, with all of her being.
“It might be safer if one isn’t a princess during this assignment.” She floated that appealing idea by Marthe as she slipped her hands into the gloves the female held out. The gown chosen for her this planet rotation was slim-fitting yet ornate, pink flimsy fabric trimmed with gold.
“The princess is always a princess.” The female she viewed as a mother smiled, saying that as though it were a good thing.
Nancy would always have a duty to her subjects, would always have a façade to maintain in public. That was her reality, a reality many others would envy.
“One’s activities during the occupation weren’t always princess-like.” She had flirted with the enemy, lied to them, had been forced to kill some beings to safeguard Royaumes.
“No one,