Kyan held Laura to his chest. Her soft, rounded, whole derriere pressed against his lower waist.

She was unharmed.

The dragons on this warship would be allowed to live.

He pressed the interference signal in his pocket. The survival systems restarted.

Meanwhile, he needed to have a chat. “Misunderstanding?”

The captain stared down Kyan’s barrel. He spoke fast. “I answered a distress call from my nephew. He was badly disfigured and the human aggressor was hiding on this planet. We had no idea that was your lair.”

“Your mistake.”

He swallowed and glanced at his grizzled security officer. The experienced male had the good sense to remain seated with his hands in his lap.

“I need that distress call.”

“There was more than one.” The captain clicked buttons on his armrest. “If you restore our power, they’re yours.”

Laura leaned against Kyan. “We’re not really going to crash, are we?”

The lights blinked, and the warship shuddered. Engines revved to reverse the warship’s free-fall and regain cruising altitude. On the wall screen, Earth tilted to a safe distance.

“No,” he said.

She released a big sigh. “I didn’t think so.”

The doors flew open, and the officers raced in. They fanned out, seeking an opening to attack.

Foolishness. Kyan would not give them one.

The captain held up a hand. “At ease! At ease.”

They froze.

“Here. The distress calls.” He offered Kyan a clear military file.

Laura and took the file. It was big in her small hands. “Neat.”

“Where can we escort you?”

“The Onyx Corporation head office.”

The captain nodded to his officers. They returned cautiously to their seats, gazes never straying far from Kyan’s gun — unless it was to Laura under his arm.

His fingers tightened possessively.

“I hope you weren’t frightened when your lair blew up,” she said. “I’m really sorry about that, by the way.”

“You are not to blame,” he murmured, his mouth near her ear.

She shivered.

What a delicious reaction.

He nuzzled her, unable to stop himself. The thought of losing her had shaken something dangerous loose in his soul.

She turned her head and tilted her lips up, silently inviting him to claim her.

Cravings warred with his control.

Control won.

“Were you treated well?” he murmured.

“Hmm?” Her lids opened wider. “Oh. Yes. Actually, once we got past the misunderstanding, everyone was super nice. I’d like to come back.”

The captain’s taut shoulder seemed to ease. His officers’ hard gazes softened.

Laura made friends in the most unlikely of places.

“You want to come back,” Kyan repeated.

“They could use the services of a nurse. I want to come back with real medical supplies and treat what I diagnosed.”

Possessiveness fired through him. “They should be treated by their medics.”

“But their injuries are minor, you know? The ones that ‘aren’t worth it.’ Except even minor injuries can turn into major problems.” She shook her head. “It’s criminal to ignore the pain of a child, and flat out stupid to deny good health to adults. How can ill soldiers give their best? They should be in peak physical condition. It only makes sense.”

He didn’t know what to say.

The captain did. “The Gnashing Teeth would be well-served by your healing. In exchange, we could take you anywhere in the galaxy you wished.”

The sentiment on the bridge seemed to match.

“Wow.” She blinked, stunned. “I always wanted to travel to exotic places. Around the galaxy is farther than I imagined.”

“It is an unparalleled opportunity to leave Earth’s orbit and experience the Empire.”

“I graduate in a month.”

“We would be honored by your return.”

Kyan’s arm tightened. “A month is a long time.”

The captain’s eyes narrowed. But he said nothing.

Their warship hovered over the Onyx Corporation office.

The captain rose and straightened his uniform. “I will personally escort you to the doors so there will be no further misunderstandings.”

Kyan lifted Laura, but kept his weapon trained on the captain’s chest.

The grizzled security officer’s fingers twitched. Otherwise, the captain’s bridge dragons remained under perfect control.

They flew through the ship.

At the external doors, Laura stroked Kyan’s neck. “Do you think I could get my boots back?”

He addressed the captain. “Her belongings?”

The captain ordered the nearest crew member. A short time later, Laura released Kyan to pull on her boots and his over-sized trench coat, bundling her parka and alpine gear into an easier to carry package.

Kyan strapped his weapon. He still had the captain under guard, but by the exit, he no longer felt at risk from the crew.

The captain watched Laura lace her boots. “She is your mate?” he asked under his breath.

Irritation warred with pain. “No.”

The captain eyed him with surprise and schooled his expression. “Good.”

Possessiveness flared. “She will not mate any dragon on this ship.”

“Good.” The captain stared down his imperious nose, an aristocrat lording over lesser creatures. “Humans are kind, fragile creatures. Mating a military dragon compromises their safety.”

Kyan’s irritation increased. Did the aristocrat think he didn’t know? Of course she would be safer far from him.

He swallowed his growl. “A dragon family is selling Draconis technology to local humans.”

“Weapons?”

“Medkits.”

“It is still illegal,” the captain commented, almost to himself. “Which family?”

“I will contact you.”

“Do.” He rested his hand on the butt of his weapon — a jeweled gun he had never drawn. “They will answer to the Empress.”

Laura finished lacing her boots, rolled up his trench coat sleeves, and bounced to him. Her warm smile evaporated, and she stroked Kyan’s scarred cheek. “Don’t be sad.”

“I am not.”

“Hmm. Okay.” She turned to the captain and held out her hand. “It was nice to meet you.”

His serious expression broke, and he cleared his throat several times, then shook her hand. “Indeed.”

“I hope the next meeting is less exciting.”

“Indeed.” He stepped back and nodded at his technician.

The external doors cracked. Fresh air scented with late afternoon rain whooshed in.

She twined her arms around Kyan’s neck and he snugged her close,

The captain’s disapproving gaze rested on them like a weight.

Disapprove. Kyan felt a sudden rebellious streak as if once again, he’d channeled Pyro. First, because a gorgeous female plastered to him, and second, because he wanted to attack the captain recklessly without provocation.

Neither was him. He was not the kind to do such a thing. Laura made him forget himself. Forget his control.

And that was the most dangerous of all.