Ami was the only girl in the family. The only daughter, the only sister. It was clear they adored her and doted on her and couldn’t imagine not being able to do so anymore.
Taelon had warned Lisa repeatedly that his parents and brothers would likely transfer all of that protective energy to her and the baby once they reached Lasara.
Lisa didn’t mind. She missed having a family. And she had always wanted siblings.
“Not like these,” Taelon had said with a laugh when she’d mentioned as much. “My brothers can be a handful.”
That was okay. She’d take them. Especially since they really seemed to have accepted her without qualms. Whenever she and Taelon spoke with them, remarkably without any long delays, they were always warm and friendly and fun to talk to. And his brothers appeared to be prone to mischief and teasing, so she could easily believe they were a handful.
Eliana, one of Seth’s Immortal Guardians, and Ganix, a male Lasaran, swung around a corner and strode toward her. Ganix wore a dark gray uniform that indicated he was part of the engineering crew. Eliana wore all black and looked every bit the warrior she was despite her diminutive height. The hilts of two shoto swords peeked over her shoulders. And two daggers were strapped to her slender thighs.
Eliana was smiling and talking earnestly while Ganix shook his head and maintained a careful distance between them.
Taelon hadn’t been exaggerating when he had described the no-touch rule. As far as she could tell, male Lasarans didn’t even brush arms with the females on board.
Needless to say, Lisa and Taelon had drawn a lot of stares during the first month of their voyage because they freely—and frequently—expressed their affection for each other openly.
Eliana glanced up and spotted her. “Hi, Lisa!” she called, tossing her a jaunty wave.
Lisa grinned and waved back.
Eliana was one of five Immortal Guardian females Seth had assigned to guard the ten gifted ones who had volunteered to be the first to travel to Lasara in search of lifemates. As powerful as Immortal Guardians were, Lisa suspected one could have easily fulfilled the duty. But Taelon’s parents had offered to invoke the Sectas’ aid in studying the virus that infected immortals and see if they could find a cure that would allow immortals to live an ordinary human life once more if they so desired.
As Eliana and Ganix drew near, Ganix stopped and bowed. “Your Highness.”
Lisa didn’t think she would ever be comfortable with that title. “Hi, Ganix,” she responded with a smile. “Hi, Eliana.”
Ganix’s curious teal eyes fastened on Abby.
Lisa stopped. “Would you like to say hi to Abby?”
He nodded. “Hello, Princess Abby.” He even offered her a bow.
Abby chortled and kicked her legs harder, then flung a hand out toward him and gripped a fistful of his dark hair.
“Oops!” Lisa hastily disengaged her daughter’s grip. “Sorry about that.”
He straightened with a smile. “Prince Taelon is right. She is strong.”
“Very much so.” Especially when she didn’t want her diaper changed. “Would you like to hold her?” Most of the men and women on-board had never seen, let alone held, a baby.
He kept his hands at his sides. “Touching an unbonded female is forbidden.”
Lisa had heard the same many times and always ignored it. “Surely that only applies to females who are of childbearing age. Not children.”
He looked uncertain but steadfastly kept his distance.
“Oh no,” Eliana exclaimed with false dismay. “The crazy Earth woman doesn’t know the rules.” Taking Ganix’s hand, she moved it close to Abby.
Abby instantly wrapped a fist around his index finger.
Ganix’s eyes widened.
Eliana released him. “Oh no,” she said again. “Princess Abby has grabbed an innocent Ganix’s finger and won’t let go. Surely he dare not offend her and spark a royal tantrum by prying her little fingers loose.”
Ganix’s face flushed, but he didn’t let go.
Lisa laughed and looked at Eliana. “You’re so bad.”
“I know,” she replied, grinning unrepentantly.
Ganix smoothed his thumb across Abby’s little hand. “She’s so soft!” he said reverently.
Abby tugged his finger hard.
He grinned. “She is strong.”
Abby bounced and kicked and waved her fists, jerking his hand around.
He laughed, then glanced behind her. Dismay flickered over his face as he tried to gently extricate his finger.
Abby would have none of it and merely held on tighter.
Lisa glanced over her shoulder.
Taelon strode toward them.
“It’s okay,” she told Ganix. “He won’t be angry.” Far from it. She knew the look on Taelon’s face well. It was his patented How quickly can we get the baby down for a nap so I can strip you bare and worship your body? look. And that was all it took to get her blood pumping.
Unable to free his finger, Ganix orchestrated an awkward bow as Taelon joined them. “Prince Taelon.”
Taelon smiled. “Ganix. Eliana.” His glance fell to his daughter. “I see she’s gained another conquest.”
As soon as she heard her daddy’s voice, Abby squealed. Releasing Ganix’s finger, she turned her head and held out her arms.
“There’s my girl.”
As usual, the affection that lit his handsome features and filled his voice when he addressed his daughter warmed Lisa’s heart.
Taelon caught one of his daughter’s flailing hands and brought it to his lips. “Are you tormenting Chief Engineer Ganix?” he asked sweetly. “Hmm? I saw you trying to tug his finger off.”
She bounced in the sling and babbled baby talk.
Color flooded Ganix’s face once more.
“At ease,” Taelon said with a smile as he straightened. “She isn’t of childbearing age. As long as you obtain permission first, you may play with her.”
Ganix bowed. “Thank you, Prince Taelon.”
Eliana nudged the man with her shoulder. “I told you it would be fine. I saw Ari’k hold her earlier.”
Ganix jumped at the brief contact and stepped away, glancing swiftly at Taelon to see if he would decry the casual touch.
Taelon ignored it.
Eliana laughed. “That was freaking hilarious, by the way. Ari’k did not know what to do with a squirming baby.”
Lisa chuckled. It had been pretty funny.
Taelon rested a hand on her lower back and moved it in slow circles. When she looked up at him, he bent his head and stole a kiss. “Hello, dashura,” he murmured.
“Hi.”
He smiled at Eliana, ignoring Ganix’s fascinated gaze. They’d been on the ship for four months, and the crew still gawked whenever Taelon kissed her or hugged her or offered an affectionate caress. “Eliana, how are the other Earth women doing?”
She smiled. “They’re doing well. I would’ve thought they would be getting cabin fever by now, but there are so many fascinating things on this ship to distract them that they never grow bored.”
Ganix looked alarmed. “Cabin fever? Should I alert the medics?”
Lisa shook her head. “It isn’t an illness. It’s just a saying we have to indicate someone is starting to go a little crazy from being cooped up in one place for too long.”
“Ah.” He nodded. “Quite a few of us Lasarans experienced that while awaiting word from Prince Taelon.”
Three years stuck up here twiddling their thumbs? She could understand that.
Eliana bent forward and made funny faces at Abby.
Abby giggled and kicked her legs.
Smiling, the immortal warrior straightened. “Prince Taelon, are there any rules that would prevent a Yona soldier from sparring with me?”
His eyebrows rose. “Technically speaking, you aren’t Lasaran, so there are no rules governing interactions with you specifically. Has a Yona offended you in some way?”
Lisa grinned. “They don’t feel emotion.” At least Taelon insisted they didn’t. She still wasn’t so sure.
Eliana smiled wryly. “I know. That’s what everyone keeps telling me. But I could’ve sworn I saw a teeny tiny spark of mirth in Ari’k’s eyes the last time I tried to make him laugh. I was kinda hoping I could get him to spar with me so I can see if that evokes any emotion.”
Taelon shrugged. “It won’t. But you’re welcome to engage him if he is willing.”
Eliana thrust a triumphant fist in the air. “Yes! Woohoo! That big-ass warrior is going down, baby! If I can’t make him laugh, I can sure 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.”
“I can’t just abandon my people!”
“You aren’t. Your second-in-command has control of the bridge. You handpicked him because you believed him to be the most qualified to take over if you were injured.”
Taelon looked at Lisa. He could feel her trembling where he gripped her arm, could see the fear on her face. He couldn’t lose her, couldn’t let anything happen to her or Abby. They were his world, his everything. But how could he turn his back on his people and seek safety while they fought in his stead?
Lisa stared up at him. “It’s okay.” Swallowing hard, she nodded. “It’s okay. We’ll be okay. Your people need you. I understand that. Just… please don’t die, Taelon.”
He jerked her into a tight hug. “I love you, dashura.”
“I love you, too. Please come back to me.”
“I will.” Releasing her, he turned to Ari’k. “Get them to safety.” His heart tearing in two, he moved to push past the Yona guards.
Ari’k again grabbed Taelon’s arm and detained him. “Under Article 65228379, Section 4, I hereby relieve you of your position as commander. I have already given Jamis control of the bridge so I will be free to get you, your lifemate, and your heir to the royal transport. The rest of the Yona guard and the Lasaran pilots are launching a counterattack as we speak and will defend the ship and your people to the death in your absence.”
“What?” Taelon struggled to free himself as the Yona soldiers surged down a side hallway, taking him and Lisa with them. “You can’t do this. That isn’t what that article is for. Release me!”
Kuxa, a second Yona warrior, joined their scuffle.
Ari’k held firm. “My duty is to protect the royal family—to protect you—and make decisions unclouded by emotion. You are of more value to your people if you leave now than if you remain. You are single-handedly ensuring the continuation of your race. Protesting is futile. If you continue, I will incapacitate you.”
And his struggles were slowing them down. Drek! Taelon wanted to get Lisa and Abby into the royal transport so if the worst happened…
Swearing, he stopped fighting and broke into a jog. Relief rippled across Lisa’s features as she held on to Abby and jogged beside him.
“Wait.” Taelon stopped long enough to pluck a wailing Abby from the sling. Relieved of the extra weight, Lisa was able to run much faster when they once more raced toward the civilian docking bay.
Taelon cradled the baby to him with one arm and curled his other hand around Lisa’s biceps, steadying her when the floor beneath them shifted violently.
Something dark zipped
past so quickly it was a blur.
Seconds later it zipped back and Eliana appeared in front of them. “Are you okay?” she called over the noise, turning to run alongside them.
“Yes,” Lisa called back.
Eliana looked at Taelon. “Are you going to one of the escape pods? I can get you there faster.” She sure as drek could. When she ran at preternatural speeds, her movement was barely discernible to the naked eye.
He shook his head. “Royal transport. The Yona will get us there safely. See to the other Earth women.”
She nodded. “I’ve already gotten six of them into pods. I’ll go get the others, then help your people. Yell if you need me.” She zipped away in another blur of motion.
The docking bay, when they reached it, was bereft of people.
“Where is everyone?” Lisa asked, her breath coming in ragged gasps. Seven months in a coma had not left her in the best running condition.
“Hopefully they’re seeking refuge in escape pods,” Taelon said grimly, stunned that the situation had deteriorated so quickly. This damn qhov’rum had left them too vulnerable. “Civilian transports are for short-term travel and carry few supplies.” They were primarily used to carry passengers to and from planets while the ship remained in orbit. “The escape pods can sustain life for two of Earth’s months.”
Thunderous booms filled the docking bay as ammunition struck the invisible shield and birthed bright orange explosions. The shield flickered with a pale blue light, but it held.
Taelon urged Lisa to run faster as they raced across the barren floor.
More explosions lit the shield like Earth fireworks, one after another.
“Shield integrity compromised,” the ship’s computer announced in a pleasant female voice. “Shields at seventy-nine percent.”
More booms. More fiery explosions.
Drek!
Boom. Boom. Boom.
“Shields at fifty-four percent.”
“Carry her!” Taelon shouted.
Ari’k scooped Lisa up and put on a burst of speed. Taelon kept pace with him, Abby wailing against his chest and clutching him tightly. The other Yona followed.
A ramp lowered from the royal transport.
The Lasaran (Aldebarian Alliance Book 1) Page 30