at her with disrespect, how spending an entire shift alone with him every planet rotation was not done, how they should be concentrating on the mission and not on other things.
They didn’t address her relationship with Truth directly, and that allowed her to continue living for herself. She fucked her cyborg multiple times a planet rotation. They talked about…everything.
She did work on a plan to free her brother. That was a priority for her. Her warrior shared details of missions that had succeeded in the past, vowed to obtain the information, the resources, the items she required to make their assignment a success.
Every planet rotation ended with her in his arms. Truth held her while she slept, remained with her when she woke. Sleep wasn’t a requirement for her male.
Nancy was the happiest she had ever been, had laughed more than she could ever remember, felt as normal as a princess undertaking a dangerous assignment could feel.
Their landing on Altair Alpha was uneventful. Judging by the number of ships positioned around them, the rulers of the planet were accustomed to beings coming and going.
“Stay here.” Truth clasped her gloved hands, gazed down at her. He wore the only garments he owned—his black body armor and his big boots. Every sheath and holster built into that protective gear was filled with weapons. “Claude, Valentin, and Marthe will protect you. I’ll survey the terrain, ensure it is safe for you to exit the ship.”
“Be cautious.” The thought of him possibly never returning tormented her.
“Being cautious is no fun.” He leaned forward and pressed his smiling lips to her forehead.
Nancy’s eyelashes fluttered. She suppressed the wild impulse to lift onto the toes of her boots, kiss him properly.
Her entourage was watching them. Marthe, Valentin, and Claude were witnessing their cyborg mercenary embrace their princess.
“Behave.” Truth laughed, appearing not at all concerned about their audience.
He turned and rushed out of the ship, the doors closing behind him.
An awkward silence fell in the space.
Nancy took a deep breath and faced Claude, Marthe, and Valentin. Their expressions were enraged, concerned, offended.
“One is aware there is no future with the cyborg.” The prospect of permanently parting from Truth pained her.
Stars. He had been gone for a few heartbeats and she already missed him.
A future without him was bleak.
But that would be her fate. There was little she could do to avoid it that was honorable. “One is a princess, is expected to forge an alliance with another kingdom. One’s destiny is set, and one cannot change that.”
Valentin exchanged a glance with Claude. “Does that future not please Her Royal Highness?”
“One is resigned to that future.” It didn’t please her. At all. “Keeping Royaume safe should be one’s priority. But one wishes a brief burst of joy before one makes that sacrifice.”
“Sacrifice.” Claude repeated that word.
“The princess could love the being chosen for her.” Marthe, the eternal optimistic, presented that unlikely possibility.
“As the queen loves the king?” Nancy summoned a smile. Her parents disliked each other intensely, spoke only when necessary, found it a hardship to share a chamber. “Before one landed on Nereid Negative One, one wasn’t attracted to any being.” She hadn’t been attracted enough to risk her role. “One doesn’t expect to love the ruler the queen orders one to align with. One will have a match similar to one’s parents—passionless, without caring.”
Marthe made a hurting sound.
Claude’s face darkened.
Valentin, normally the cool, collected one, appeared as stricken by that harsh reality. “Princess—”
“One will do one’s duty.” She didn’t want to hear that lecture once more. “One wishes to have a taste of happiness, of desire, of caring, before that happens.” Nancy met Valentin’s gaze directly. “One longs to experience for a few planet rotations what the three of you enjoy. Is that so difficult to understand?”
The three of them looked at each other, communicating without words as beings in long-term, loving relationships often did.
Nancy sucked back her envy. She would have moments with her cyborg, had to be content with that. It was more than she ever expected to enjoy with anyone.
“Be happy, Princess.” Marthe took her fabric-covered hands. “We will face the future with Your Royal Highness when it comes.”
Claude grunted, nodding.
“That future isn’t set.” Valentin’s spine straightened. “There are options.”
“The future is set for one.” Nancy lifted her chin. “Being a princess is a great honor.” She recited the phrase the queen and others had drilled into her.
It didn’t feel that way. Yet that was her role, her destiny. She wouldn’t forgo it.
Royaumes