The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,112

a fist around his index finger.

Ganix’s eyes widened.

Eliana released him. “Oh no,” she said again. “Princess Abby has grabbed an innocent Ganix’s finger and won’t let go. Surely he dare not offend her and spark a royal tantrum by prying her little fingers loose.”

Ganix’s face flushed, but he didn’t let go.

Lisa laughed and looked at Eliana. “You’re so bad.”

“I know,” she replied, grinning unrepentantly.

Ganix smoothed his thumb across Abby’s little hand. “She’s so soft!” he said reverently.

Abby tugged his finger hard.

He grinned. “She is strong.”

Abby bounced and kicked and waved her fists, jerking his hand around.

He laughed, then glanced behind her. Dismay flickered over his face as he tried to gently extricate his finger.

Abby would have none of it and merely held on tighter.

Lisa glanced over her shoulder.

Taelon strode toward them.

“It’s okay,” she told Ganix. “He won’t be angry.” Far from it. She knew the look on Taelon’s face well. It was his patented How quickly can we get the baby down for a nap so I can strip you bare and worship your body? look. And that was all it took to get her blood pumping.

Unable to free his finger, Ganix orchestrated an awkward bow as Taelon joined them. “Prince Taelon.”

Taelon smiled. “Ganix. Eliana.” His glance fell to his daughter. “I see she’s gained another conquest.”

As soon as she heard her daddy’s voice, Abby squealed. Releasing Ganix’s finger, she turned her head and held out her arms.

“There’s my girl.”

As usual, the affection that lit his handsome features and filled his voice when he addressed his daughter warmed Lisa’s heart.

Taelon caught one of his daughter’s flailing hands and brought it to his lips. “Are you tormenting Chief Engineer Ganix?” he asked sweetly. “Hmm? I saw you trying to tug his finger off.”

She bounced in the sling and babbled baby talk.

Color flooded Ganix’s face once more.

“At ease,” Taelon said with a smile as he straightened. “She isn’t of childbearing age. As long as you obtain permission first, you may play with her.”

Ganix bowed. “Thank you, Prince Taelon.”

Eliana nudged the man with her shoulder. “I told you it would be fine. I saw Ari’k hold her earlier.”

Ganix jumped at the brief contact and stepped away, glancing swiftly at Taelon to see if he would decry the casual touch.

Taelon ignored it.

Eliana laughed. “That was freaking hilarious, by the way. Ari’k did not know what to do with a squirming baby.”

Lisa chuckled. It had been pretty funny.

Taelon rested a hand on her lower back and moved it in slow circles. When she looked up at him, he bent his head and stole a kiss. “Hello, dashura,” he murmured.

“Hi.”

He smiled at Eliana, ignoring Ganix’s fascinated gaze. They’d been on the ship for four months, and the crew still gawked whenever Taelon kissed her or hugged her or offered an affectionate caress. “Eliana, how are the other Earth women doing?”

She smiled. “They’re doing well. I would’ve thought they would be getting cabin fever by now, but there are so many fascinating things on this ship to distract them that they never grow bored.”

Ganix looked alarmed. “Cabin fever? Should I alert the medics?”

Lisa shook her head. “It isn’t an illness. It’s just a saying we have to indicate someone is starting to go a little crazy from being cooped up in one place for too long.”

“Ah.” He nodded. “Quite a few of us Lasarans experienced that while awaiting word from Prince Taelon.”

Three years stuck up here twiddling their thumbs? She could understand that.

Eliana bent forward and made funny faces at Abby.

Abby giggled and kicked her legs.

Smiling, the immortal warrior straightened. “Prince Taelon, are there any rules that would prevent a Yona soldier from sparring with me?”

His eyebrows rose. “Technically speaking, you aren’t Lasaran, so there are no rules governing interactions with you specifically. Has a Yona offended you in some way?”

“Only when he didn’t laugh at my jokes.”

Lisa grinned. “They don’t feel emotion.” At least Taelon insisted they didn’t. She still wasn’t so sure.

Eliana smiled wryly. “I know. That’s what everyone keeps telling me. But I could’ve sworn I saw a teeny tiny spark of mirth in Ari’k’s eyes the last time I tried to make him laugh. I was kinda hoping I could get him to spar with me so I can see if that evokes any emotion.”

Taelon shrugged. “It won’t. But you’re welcome to engage him if he is willing.”

Eliana thrust a triumphant fist in the air. “Yes! Woohoo! That big-ass warrior is going down, baby! If I can’t make him laugh, I can sure