will covet what is mine.”

Laughing, I take some oil and rub it in to his chest. “I’m sure they all want scarred females.”

“You laugh now, but when they are all trying to lure you from me, you will see that I am correct.”

“If they dare to touch me, I promise you they’ll pull back a bloody stub.”

His eyes light up. “I will fit you with my most prized dagger. Feel free to mangle any males who approach you.” Motioning with one hand, his voice becomes serious. “Of course for that to happen, they will need to fight their way through me.”

“Wow, you sound like you’re going to keep me for real.”

Cupping my chin, he tilts my face up. “You, my ferocious brooder, will be mine forever. I vow to you that under my protective wing you will never know hunger, thirst, or loneliness.”

“Don’t forget all the thrilling action and adventure we’re going to have.”

“That goes without saying, my sweet. You have the heart of a warrior. The young we make will be fit to rule the galaxy.”

Grinning like a mad fool, I respond warmly, “You always know what to say to make my heart beat a little faster.”

Drawing me close to his chest, I lay my head on his shoulder. “I always feel safe with you, handsome.”

Before he can reply, klaxons sound, alerting us of incoming danger.

Shooting me a worried look, Tarion mumbles, “I believe your talk about feeling safe with me has tempted fate.”

“You’re wrong about that. That’s just the sound of action and adventure calling our name.”

Standing, he brings me up along with him and sits me on my feet outside the tub. “No time for drying, grab a uniform.”

Glancing over my shoulder at his belated comment, I’m already halfway to my clothing. He tosses me a soft square package and I’m thrilled to find it’s another of the self-forming suits. Pulling it on my wet body isn’t much fun, but desperate times call for desperate measures. Heck, I’m in such a rush that I forget all about looking at Tarion while he dresses. No matter how often I see him naked it’s never enough.

Twirling my wet hair into a twist, I spear two long hair ornaments he gave me through the knot to keep it in place. Tarion jerks his chin at the door and rushes to the bridge to figure out what’s going on.

14

Carissa

Being at his side and wearing one of his crew uniforms feels right. Rushing to the bridge to face danger together should trigger my anxiety, but it doesn’t because I’ve finally found my place in the verse. Tarion man and his crew are now my entire world. Come what may, I’ll do what I must to help them fend off whatever menace is lurking out there in the black of space. We shove our way through a melee of warriors, all rushing to get to their stations. No one seems to care as we’re working for a common cause.

The blaring klaxons thump like ancient drums of war, causing something to awaken inside of me. I don’t know what it is, but it seems like a wild beast chomping at the bit to fight and protect. The bite on my shoulder throbs to the tune of the klaxons and I realize it’s because my heart is thumping to the same beat.

As Tarion and I near the bridge, we see a grouping of ships growing closer in the view screen. Unfortunately, I recognize the design. The ships are all painted stark white, like their owners. The boxy design and red lights are like no other in the known verse. “Those ships are from the Pax Alliance. They’ve come for me.”

Most of Tarion’s ships stayed behind on the pleasure planet. Even if he called them right now, the fight would be over by the time they got here. Tarion and Lehar are bent over a console, working out a strategy to fight off the alliance ships. My heart stutters in my chest at the thought of Tarion or any of his crew dying because of me.

While they are distracted, I rush from the bridge without looking back. At a full run, I make my way to the hanger. They’re in danger because of me. I hesitate to guess what the penalty for harboring a killer is, but I imagine if they manage to survive, they’ll end up in slave collars. I can’t let that happen.

When the hanger doors open, no one notices me slip in. The place is a madhouse. Most of Tarion’s crew are busy fueling the last of their fighters. The others are glued to the communi-channel on the bridge in order to get the latest information on their defense plan. I manage to board one of the ships sitting in the back of the hanger without garnering notice. Engaging the locking mechanisms, I drop down into the pilot’s seat. My hands fly over the controls, quickly starting the pre-launch sequence.

My eyes lock on the gently glowing console as I work out the logistics of saving Tarion and his crew. I’ve only got two choices, make a run for it or turn myself in. I can’t decide which will stop the attack sooner. Truth be told, both options suck because they separate me from the dragon warrior.

If I turn myself over, they might still attack Tarion’s ship. As I consider surrendering, I feel the huge ship rock beneath me. The Pax have fired on us. Not a full ten seconds later, the sound of pulse cannons thud in the background as Tarion returns fire. Turning myself in is no longer an option. Since Tarion returned fire, they won’t let him survive. The Pax are real assholes that way.

My only other option is to run. I reach out to fire the engine and stop with a finger over the button. Images of my crimson dragon’s haggard face rise in my mind. The last time I ran, it nearly broke his spirit. Running might

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