The sound of running steps had Lissi slowing to a stop. A black clad figure paused at the end of the hall. Fear left a metallic taste in her mouth but she recognized the uniform and the green eyes blazing in her direction. He slowed to a cautious walk and stopped in front of her before shoving the bottom half of his mask up to reveal his scarred visage.

Relief flared to life. She lifted her arm to show him what she’d managed to bring with her. “I think this is yours, Kyele.”

He picked up the knife, wiped it on the leg of his pants and slid it into its sheath with a grunt. “You are safe now, Lissi.”

Lissi tumbled toward his arms, catching the ruthless soldier by surprise as evident by his startled eyes. “I want Rydak.”

He caught her against his chest, keeping his hands cupped about her elbows. “I will contact him now.”

Lissi waited as Kyele tapped his ear piece then said a few words to someone. She wished she could hear Rydak’s voice. Tell him of her love.

Kyele kept his expression clear but his body stilled. Lissi’s heart thudded and she clutched the sleeve of his shirt. “Tell me.”

“We need to leave.” He paused, head tipped to the side and she knew he was listening to something important. His lips pressed together and he nudged Lissi’s shoulder, turning her toward the double doors. “Your brother is here.”

What was he avoiding telling her? Lissi dug her heels in. Nothing else mattered in this moment other than getting the answer to her question. “Has Rydak been hurt?”

He shook his dark head, continuing to herd her along. “Jaard is fine.”

Lissi went but only because she didn’t believe Kyele would lie about that. Which meant whatever happened involved one of the others. She couldn’t imagine anything else.

Lissi didn’t breathe easy until she reached the safety and secure walls of the battle cruiser. Kyele disappeared at some point but the medical personnel treated her with utmost care. It was in the middle of answering questions that the door to the sterile all white room opened and her brother stormed in.

Torkel didn’t stop until he reached the bed she sat on the edge of and grabbed her close. Lissi leaned into the strength of his brawny arms and inhaled his familiar scent. He pulled back and clasped her face in the palms of his large hands. “You are in such trouble.”

Tears filled her eyes but Lissi laughed weakly. “Does Maman and Papan know?”

“I have assured them you are well.” His thumbs brushed at the wet tracks. “They worried but are happy to know we are on our way home.”

Lissi nodded and sniffed. Torkel tugged on her hair and moved back a step. “I need to meet with the teams to discuss everything but Rydak will be here shortly.”

“Madlyn.” Memories of her ideal flashed through his mind. “Madlyn from school told Di-Tel about my connection to you. It’s how he knew who I was. He seemed to really have an issue with the Jutaks.”

His deep growl rolled from his chest and his already large form bulked up. “There will be a formal inquiry. Madlyn will receive proper discipline if proved guilty of jeopardizing your safety.”

Lissi couldn’t find it in herself to sympathize for her friend. Madlyn hadn’t hesitated in volunteering personal details about Lissi. She started to add more of her ordeal when the metallic doors opened once more but this time a lean, graceful male with disheveled blond hair entered the room and sent her heart soaring. Lissi smiled, forcing back the urge to cry. She leaped off the bed and ran toward him. “Rydak!”

He caught her in a firm hold and snagged her in close as he pressed kisses to her face. “Lissi. Lissi.”

He rocked her in his embrace and she realized her tough Jutak was shaking. “I’m alright.”

“I love you. I love you.”

Her chest almost burst from containing her happiness. She burrowed against his neck. “I love you. So much Rydak.”

***

Bad news followed bad.

Rydak held a sleeping Lissi during the trip back to Enotia. A thick, brown blanket was draped over her shoulders and clutched tight between her fingers. All of them had been assigned private quarters but Lissi refused to stay in medical or her own room. She’d threatened her brother until he agreed to let her stay with Rydak. Reluctantly, Rydak left her in medical to finish, trusting the guards to escort her back once cleared.

Later when Kyele opened the door to his room, Lissi ignored his gathered teammates as she made her way to where Rydak sat, climbed into his lap and promptly fell asleep. The medic had treated her few bruises and pronounced her fit. That had been several hours ago and Rydak feared moving less he wake her. The others had gradually left leaving him alone with Torkel.

“I’m sorry to deliver it to you this way, Rydak but knew you’d want to know immediately.”

Genuine remorse darkened Torkel’s brown eyes, because there was no good time to find out his Nonja had passed away peacefully while he was out rescuing Lissi.

“She left arrangements in the event of her death. The advantage of her sight you could say.” Rydak would only to need follow her detailed instructions.

“The Jutaks will stand by you for whatever you need.” Torkel nodded at his sister. “I can’t thank you enough.”

Rydak smoothed a hand down tousled blonde curls. Leather against silk. He wanted to take off his glove, feel the rich texture beneath his hand and bury his face in the scent of a freshly cleaned Lissi. The only reason Rydak held back from the skin to skin contact he craved was because he feared he’d break down and cry.

“No thanks for doing what we’re trained to do,” he said instead.

Torkel smirked and his brow winged upward. “My sister is more than a mission for you.”

True. “I know.”

“I only ask that you make her happy, Rydak.”

“Every day she’ll let me.” Rydak breathed the words against her forehead. He cleared his throat and eyed Torkel. “Any more word or detail on the two others Lissi mentioned?”

No recorded database contained the names Theron or Talon in any variation. From the way she described them, it seemed as if the males had changed their minds about working with Di-Tel. If not for their assistance in the end, Lissi claimed she might not have survived.

“Nothing.” The disgruntled expression on Torkel’s face gave Rydak a small spurt of humor.

“What about the guests? Complaints?”

Everything had been rushed. Torkel’s arrival, a transport to load Jahul because Rydak refused to leave his side and then waiting until Kyele brought Lissi onboard the cruiser.

“None.” Torkel shifted on his feet. With an abrupt expulsion of breath, he nodded once more to Rydak. “I will talk to my sister later.”

Unable to deal with the onslaught of emotions, Rydak leaned back in the lounger and closed his eyes as Torkel left. Lissi twisted about and settled with her head resting on his chest. “Rydak?”

“I am here.” He tipped his face down to see her but she was already back to sleep.

He briefly considered making his way to the small bed then decided to rest exactly where they were. Exhaustion hit hard and Rydak’s eyes closed on his next breath.

Lissi shifting about woke him in what seemed like minutes later. Her breath was like puffs of air on his chest where his shirt parted. Long slim legs straightened out and she stirred enough to lift her head. “You’re here.”

As if he wanted to be anywhere else. “Yes.”

“How close are we to home?”

Rydak took the opportunity to stretch out on his right side on the lounger and fixed Lissi to lie between his thighs facing him. “We will land shortly.”

As soon as he had her situated, he ripped his glove off of his left hand. His fingers hovered inches from her jaw. Lissi clasped his hand and drew it to her mouth to kiss his palm.

Touch. Rydak trembled and dropped his head to hers. No intrusive thoughts. Silence. Suddenly the impact of everything he’d gone through in a short time slammed into him. Worry for Lissi, the loss of Jahul, the loss of his nonja. He wouldn’t have been able to deal with someone else’s emotions on top of his own.

“I need you, Lissi.”

Lissi nipped his fingertip. Sensations rolled down his spine. He leaned close and kissed her deeply, his mind and body needing the intimate gesture. Lissi strained toward him, her borrowed blanket falling to the floor and the spare shirt and pants she wore bagged on her frame.

Rydak eased back and curled around Lissi. “Let me hold you, touch you a little longer.”

“You don’t have to ask.” Attuned to him as always, Lissi placed his bare palm to her cheek and they rested like that until it was time to deboard.