The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance #1) - Dianne Duvall Page 0,113
as hell piss him off.”
Taelon and Lisa burst into laughter.
Eliana rounded on a wide-eyed Ganix and flashed him a grin. “And you, my friend, are going to talk him into sparring with me.”
Ganix stared at her in stunned disbelief. “What?”
“I’ve spent enough time around you to know you can talk anyone into doing just about anything. Come on. Let’s go find him.” Taking Ganix’s arm, she hurried back down the hallway. “See ya later!” she called over her shoulder.
“You aren’t supposed to touch me,” Ganix whispered.
Eliana didn’t let go. “Didn’t you hear Prince Taelon? The rules don’t apply to me. I can do whatever I want.”
Taelon looked down at Lisa. “That wasn’t precisely what I meant.”
She chuckled. “I know. But she’s been really great, watching over all the women, so I say we let her have some fun.”
He dropped another kiss on her lips. “Whatever makes you happy.”
Lisa reached up and curled a hand around his neck, drawing him down for a longer, more thorough kiss. Her pulse picked up. Her body began to hum with desire. “You know what would really make me happy?” she murmured.
His look turned hungry. “I do. Let’s go see if we can get Abby down for a nap.” Taking her hand, he strode down the hallway and turned toward their quarters.
Lisa bit back a laugh. He walked so quickly she practically had to jog to keep up with him.
Alarms began to blare.
Taelon stopped short.
Abby jerked in surprise at the loud noise and began to cry.
“What’s that?” Lisa wrapped her arms around Abby and tried to console her.
“All crew members to battle stations,” Jamis—Taelon’s second-in-command—called over the ship-wide speakers. “Repeat—all crew members to battle stations. We are under attack.”
Chapter Nineteen
Shock tore through Taelon. Grabbing Lisa’s hand again, he took off running back toward the bridge.
“Is this a drill?” she asked breathlessly.
“No.” They were passing through a qhov’rum, or what Lisa called a wormhole. How could someone be attacking them? Why would they be attacking them? And why here, where there was so little room to maneuver, instead of simply lying in wait at the qhov’rum’s exit?
The ship rocked beneath their feet as a muffled explosion carried to their ears.
Lisa stumbled and threw her arms out.
Taelon caught her and pulled her and the baby close. “Who the drek is attacking us?” he muttered. The Lasarans were known throughout the galaxy as a peaceful nation who, nevertheless, would not hesitate to destroy any enemy who sought to harm them. The last nation to suffer their wrath had been the Gathendiens. As soon as Lasaran medics had determined that the cause of female Lasaran infertility was a virus unleashed by the Gathendiens, one bioengineered specifically for that purpose, Taelon’s father had unleashed the might of the Lasaran military upon the bastards. Lasarans, along with their allies, had devastated the Gathendien fleet and driven what was left of it limping from their corner of the galaxy decades ago.
Had a new enemy arisen during his absence? His family had made no mention of it.
Or were there other hostile worlds like Earth in this sector that they had yet to encounter, worlds whose inhabitants chose to attack any who strayed their way?
More explosions rocked the ship as he and Lisa hurried forward. If the ship continued to take hits as powerful and frequent as this, the shields would begin to fail.
They had almost reached the bridge when Ari’k and three other Yona warriors jogged around a corner.
“Who is attacking us?” Taelon demanded.
“Unknown,” Ari’k replied. “Their ship is camouflaged so well we can’t even discern the shape. But we have noted the positions of their weapons and are returning fire. We should soon inflict enough damage to eradicate the facade and identify them.”
The ship shook again, then again and again and again under what was now a constant barrage.
“Have we taken out any of their weapons?”
“No. Their shield appears to be as strong as ours, possibly stronger.”
Taelon swore and started to push through the soldiers.
Ari’k grabbed his arm. “The qhov’rum is restricting our ability to evade fire. We need to get you to the royal transport and prepare to evacuate.”
“Drek that!” Taelon bit out. “This is my ship. I belong on the bridge!”
“Were you anyone else, I would agree. But you are a member of the Lasaran royal family and your lifemate holds your heir, the only one born of your generation. My sole duty is to protect the three of you.”