swaying like a banner before him.
“You won’t hear me, beautiful.” Truth followed her closely, carrying Claude. “You’re human. And I’m a cyborg. Your auditory system can’t detect my movements.”
The ramp retracted and the doors closed behind him.
“I can’t hear your movements, but I can hear your chatter.” Amusement lilted her voice. “And I always sense your proximity.” Her tone grew husky. “My entire body comes to life when you’re close to me.”
“I can hear both of you.” Claude grumbled that from his position over Truth’s shoulder. “And I would rather not.”
“Ummm…” Truth’s female slowed, then stopped. “This is awkward.”
Truth looked over her head.
The Palavian lay on the floor of the vessel. He must have utilized every bit of energy he had to escape, had nothing more to convey him further.
The prince bent over him, brushed strands of hair away from the male’s homely face. He whispered into the Palavian’s ear, telling him how proud he was to be with him, how much he loved the male, that was now his turn to take care of him.
Valentin must have hopped over them. The male might be human, but he was impressively sure-footed.
Truth’s female, in contrast, was too short to jump over the two males. She frowned at them. Her cute little gun-filled hands rested on her hips. Her booted feet were braced far apart.
“You’re coming with me, Princess.” Truth hoisted her over his free shoulder. “You can speak with your brother later. We have to move this ship to open space now.”
“Put me down, cyborg.” She slapped his body armor-covered back.
Truth ignored her protests, leapt over the males, dashed toward the bridge.
The engines rumbled. The floor vibrated under them.
Marthe wasn’t delaying their departure. By the time he entered the bridge with his princess and Claude, the ship had lifted off. The older female was guiding it through the docking bay.
She required assistance.
Truth tossed Claude into a seat, claimed the captain’s chair. He set his princess onto his lap and placed his hands on the controls.
“Claude?” Lines creased Marthe’s face. Her tone was concerned.
“Get us to safety, sweetness.” The male must have decided to revel in the dramatics later. “We’re counting on you.”
“We’re counting on both of you.” Nancy squeezed Truth’s arms. “Take us home.”
“Let’s have some fun, Marthe.” He helped steady the ship as the female accelerated.
The bright lights of the docking bay whizzed by them. That illumination was replaced with stark darkness as they shot into open space.
“Warning: Incoming Missile.” The ship’s system announced that threat, its voice robotic.
“Oh my.” Marthe’s hands shook on the controls as she raised the shields.
The female wasn’t accustomed to piloting a ship taking enemy fire. She’d made that confession to Truth three planet rotations, one and three-quarters shift ago.
“I have this.” He would train her during the trip to Royaume. In that moment, he seized command, jerked the ship to the right.
The missile skimmed over their left side, detonated in the distance.
Truth waited. The ship’s simulated voice was silent.
“Are we being pursued?” He’d find that vastly entertaining.
Not trusting the system’s antiquated monitoring system, he reversed the view on the screen, looked between them. No spacecrafts could be detected by his visual system.
Escape pods drifted around the prison ship. Flashes of orange and red lit sections of the vessel.
“They’re blowing up their ship.” His female gaped at the images.
“Sometimes you have to destroy everything you know to truly be free.” He wrapped one of his arms around her waist, relishing the feel of her against him.
The mission had been a success. Her brother was rescued. No one on their team had died. His kill rate had increased.
And he was holding the bravest, kindest, most beautiful female in the universe.
“I love this planet rotation.” Truth laughed, unable to contain his joy.
Chapter Twelve
Nancy leaned back, resting against her cyborg, as he flew their vessel away from the prison ship. They headed toward Royaume. She didn’t want to return to her home planet.
Because it meant parting with Truth.
Everyone had survived the rescue…due to him, to his insights, his skill in battle, his strength. He had carried Claude when her father became injured, had led them all to safety.
Gratitude and love for her cyborg swelled inside Nancy.
While trepidation over their future gripped her.
“Give us an update on the big fool.” Valentin’s affectionate tone softened his bluntly stated words. He was concerned about Claude.
“He requires sutures.” Marthe crouched beside her patient. “And he needs pain inhibitors.”
“I couldn’t walk.” Claude winced as the female poked and prodded at his wound. “The