Testing Truth (Cyborg Space Exploration #6) - Cynthia Sax Page 0,20

except for Valentin, Claude, and I, know of those activities.” Marthe clucked her tongue.

“That is true.” Nancy nodded. If she wasn’t princess-like with her cyborg, no one would know of those activities either. A smile curled her lips. It would be one of the many secrets she kept.

“I cleaned out the supply chamber.” Claude wandered into her private chambers, and Nancy pushed away her naughty thoughts, concentrating on the male she loved like a father. “I put a sleeping support in there. It’s small but it should do for the cyborg.”

“I have a beautiful covering cloth I’ll place on the sleeping support.” Marthe sprayed Nancy’s hair with pink pigment. “That will make the chamber more stylish.”

“He’s a warrior, Marthe.” Claude’s face was red. “Warriors don’t care about style.”

“You didn’t care about style until I met you.” The older female smiled at the guard as she set the container of pigment on a horizontal support.

“I was hopeless before I met you.” He tugged on his chest covering. “Even Valentin benefited from your insights.”

The love Claude, Marthe, and Valentin had for each other caused an ache in Nancy’s heart.

Her thoughts returned to Truth. When she was alone with him, she might have a semblance of that—of caring, of a relationship.

It wouldn’t last forever. Once the prince was rescued, she and her cyborg would have to part. But it would be more than she’d ever had.

And it might be all she’d have.

They might not survive the task they’d been assigned. As Truth had said, no one had ever freed a being from that model of Humanoid Alliance prison ship.

She could die without having experienced anything for herself.

“The cyborg won’t require the chambers for a shift.” Nancy would assign him to the bridge.

He was the youngest of the three males. Before she’d left the space, she had peeked at him from under lowered eyelashes. The wounds on his face had already healed. He could forgo rest for a longer duration.

She had plans for him, for his big body, his rough hands, laughing lips. “Valentin will join the two of you in your chambers.” The three members of her entourage shared a very large sleeping support. “One will serve as the cyborg’s co-pilot.”

He had held her while others watched. She suspected he’d take more liberties with her form when they were alone.

A tremor of anticipation skittered down her spine.

Claude and Marthe exchanged emotion-laden glances.

“The cyborg looks at the princess with…disrespect.” Claude was the first being to voice his concerns.

The cyborg looked at her with unabashed lust. Nancy smothered a smile. “Is there fear he might harm oneself?”

Marthe held out a tiara and Nancy lowered her head.

“He blocked projectiles with his own form to protect one.” That had turned her on.

Marthe set the tiara on her head. The stones were simulated. It had very little value, but the older female insisted Nancy dress as a princess when that was at all possible.

And Nancy humored her…because she loved the older female, would do anything to make her happy.

“There are many ways to harm a princess.” Claude’s gaze slipped from hers.

Those ways included more than the act of violence he was referring to. Loneliness, being untouched, unloved, all harmed a princess also.

She wished they understood that, wished she could tell them how she was feeling.

But that wasn’t done.

“Our princess has been dealing with disrespectful males for solar cycles.” Marthe adjusted Nancy’s sleeves. “Dealing with one more won’t be a hardship.”

Nancy stood still as she was prodded and poked, her appearance carefully crafted.

Those other disrespectful males had been different. She hadn’t wanted them.

“One isn’t concerned.” She was eager to return to Truth’s side, not fretful. “One has been trained well, has three of the best beings in the universe as advisers.” She smiled warmly at Marthe and Claude. “One will deal with the cyborg.”

Marthe beamed back at her.

Claude’s chest expanded, that act straining his jacket. Her overprotective guard appeared less convinced of her ability to handle Truth.

“You are to rest.” She issued that order, not wanting any interruptions. “One will see you in a shift and not a moment before then.”

“Yes, Princess.” Their heads dipped.

Marthe, Claude, and Valentin would spend the rest cycle together. The next time she saw them, they’d glow, their love shining from their eyes.

She wouldn’t experience love. That emotion wasn’t often bestowed on princesses with kingdoms to protect. But she wouldn’t be alone this planet rotation.

Nancy walked toward the bridge, moving slower than she wanted to move. Royalty didn’t run…unless it was absolutely necessary. It