Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,55

on a whim.” The queen’s tone was indignant.

“Can’t one?” Truth lifted his eyebrows. The queen didn’t know her cyborg. “It took my brethren less than three planet rotations to conquer Royaume. And that wasn’t their whim. They were forced to do so by the Humanoid Alliance. I’m 99.5969 percent certain we would have conquered your planet faster if it had been our whim.”

The king snorted. “The cyborg does have a point.” He didn’t look up from his private viewscreen.

“I’d like to conquer Voisine 5 slowly, however, prolong the fun.” Truth stalked to a viewscreen hanging on a nearby wall. “I’ll contact Captain, ask him which ships are stationed close to the planet.” He tapped on the surface. “My brethren on the Reckless will want to participate. We could conquer Voisine 5 with them alone, but that wouldn’t be fair to the warriors on the other ships. They will want to participate also.”

The queen frowned at Nancy. “Your cyborg isn’t serious about this.”

“Truth is rarely serious about anything.” That was one of the many things she loved about him. “But he is sincere about conquering a planet for me.”

He wouldn’t do it. She would stop the chaos before it spread that far.

But she found the offer vastly romantic.

Her cyborg must care for her…a little.

The image of Truth’s Captain’s face appeared on the viewscreen. “Captain Vector of the Reckless.”

“Captain, I’m conquering Voisine 5.” Her cyborg’s voice lilted with excitement. “How many of our ships are stationed near that planet?”

His Captain’s blank expression didn’t change. “The Reckless is positioned closest to those coordinates. There are seven other ships on non-critical missions within six planet rotations of us. That should be more than sufficient to subdue a planet that size. I’ll—”

“There will be no conquering of Voisine 5.” The queen raised her voice, an event Nancy had only witnessed three times in her lifespan. Two of those previous occasions had resulted in an execution. The third one was when the Humanoid Alliance invaded Royaume. “They are a much-beloved ally.”

“Which planet are we conquering?” Truth was undeterred.

“There will be no conquering of any planets.” The queen stopped the chaos before Nancy had to intervene.

“Fraggin’ hole. That’s no fun.” Truth blew out his breath.

“Contact me if you need the Reckless’ assistance, warrior.” His Captain’s eyes glinted. “I’m ending this communication.” His image faded from the viewscreen.

“Truth is the equal of any ruler.” Nancy returned the focus of the conversation to her relationship with her cyborg. “An alliance with him will strengthen Royaume. He can protect one as well on the cyborg ship as he can protect one on our planet.”

“You’d be safer on the cyborg ship.” Truth was too truthful. “The security around the palace is inferior.”

“You would improve it if we stayed here.” She patted his body armor-clad chest. “But if we remained, attention would shift from the crown prince to us.” Her gaze slid to the queen. “And no one wants that.”

“No one wants that.” Royaume’s ruler shocked Nancy by agreeing with her.

“If they left, that cursed chanting would stop.” The king muttered that comment as though he was speaking to himself. “Royaumes have been cheering for their princess since the footage released.”

They had been cheering for her. Nancy’s chest warmed. “We will leave Royaume because we love the planet and its beings.” She wouldn’t cause conflict for them by remaining in the palace. “If Royaume needs us, contact us and we’ll return.”

“The princess and her entourage will leave before sunset.” The queen’s expression was icy.

Nancy wouldn’t be given the time to say goodbye to her home, to her subjects. “One’s entourage should have the choice to remain on Royaume or leave with one.”

“We have already made that choice, Princess.” Valentin stepped forward. “We leave with our princess and our new prince.”

Stars. She blinked back tears. “You honor one.”

“The honor is ours, Princess.” Marthe smiled at her. She touched her necklace.

“It has been decided.” The queen turned and, without another word, sailed out of the chamber.

Her private secretary nodded at Nancy, then at Truth, and hurried after his ruler.

Nancy looked at the king.

He said nothing, didn’t glance up from his private viewscreen.

She was leaving the planet, perhaps forever, and neither the queen nor the king, the beings claiming to be her parents, had said good-bye to her.

Nancy no longer knew why she cared what they said or did or felt.

Marthe, Claude, and Valentin loved her, were the best parents a princess could ever desire. Her cyborg had killed for her, had been willing to