Eighteen hours later, Edge left Andy and Gail on the bridge while he made his way down to the upper-level area near the bridge. Walking along the corridor, he searched each room until he found what he was looking for—the Captain’s quarters. It was the only room designed for sleeping on this level.

He stepped inside, and searched it. Whoever had owned the ship before had made sure to leave behind as few identifying articles as possible. He discovered fresh linens in one of the storage compartments. The adjoining cleansing room, again, gave no clues as to who had once piloted the ship.

He retraced his steps before continuing down to the mid-level where the medical bay was located. Bailey was lying on the infirmary bed. She sat up and rubbed her eyes.

“How did she do through the night?” he asked, walking over to the surgery unit.

Bailey slid off the bed and stretched. “Okay. That thing is pretty incredible. I thought having the tooth cleaning stuff in your water so you never had to worry about brushing your teeth was pretty cool, but this thing totally blows the rest of our medical technology right out of the water,” she replied with a yawn.

He looked at Lina’s stats on the monitor attached to the unit. All of her bio-stats were within normal ranges. Opening the unit, he gently pulled up her shirt, so he could check her wound. Now, only a thin, pale scar existed, about the length of his palm. The skin around it looked pink and healthy.

“Wow!” Bailey said, coming to stand next to him.

His lips twitched at the awe in her voice. “She will sleep for several more hours. The monitor attached to her neck will continue to give her small doses of anesthesia. This is being done to give her body time to heal,” he said, bending over and sliding his arms under Lina’s relaxed body.

Bailey frowned when he raised up Lina’s shoulders and knees to hold her against his chest. He could see the confusion on her face. He ignored it, moving to step around her, but Bailey cut him off.

“Where are you taking her?” Bailey asked with a raised eyebrow.

“To our cabin,” he replied, stepping to the side.

Bailey followed him. This time, it was his turn to raise an eyebrow. He was tired. He wanted to refresh both Lina and himself before getting some sleep.

“Wait a minute! What do you mean by our cabin? Is Lina aware of this?” Bailey demanded, placing her hands on her hips.

He frowned at the curvy brunette. Bailey might be small compared to him, but if there was one thing he had learned over the past several weeks, it was that these women more than made up for what they lacked in size with their indomitable determination. At the moment though, his only concern was his need to hold Lina. Over the last several hours that need had grown until he couldn’t focus on anything else.

“She has slept in my arms for the past three weeks. Do you think she would not wish to do so now?” he asked in a blunt tone.

Bailey’s eyes widened at his statement. Yes, he might have exaggerated about the length of time Lina and he had slept together, but not by much. It was closer to the past week, but none of the other women needed to know that. He impatiently waited for Bailey to move out of his way.

“Well, okay. I mean, as long as it is okay with Lina,” she said, looking at Lina’s relaxed face.

“Bailey.” He waited for Bailey to look up at him. “I would never harm her. I swear on my life as a Trivator warrior.”

He saw the expression in Bailey’s eyes soften before she nodded and finally stepped to the side. She briefly touched his arm as he started to pass her. He turned his head to look into her warm hazel eyes.

“If you need anything, just call. I’m going to go get a bite to eat. I can bring something to your room if you’d like,” she offered.

He shook his head. “Maybe later,” he said before continuing out of the room.

Walking down the corridor, he passed by the galley. Mirela and Mechelle stopped talking as he walked by but quickly began again once he passed the doorway. He stepped into the Captain’s cabin when the door slid open. It closed behind him, sealing the two of them in the dimly lit room.

Taking his time, he gently laid her on the bed and stripped the bloodstained clothing from her body. He rose and placed the soiled clothes in the clothing refresher before returning to the bed. He lightly brushed his fingers along the scar on her side.

He laid his hand over the mark, feeling the natural warmth of her skin. The knowledge that he had come so close to losing the woman who had captured his heart shook him. Taking a deep breath, he retrieved a bottle of cleansing foam and a cloth from the other room. He gently bathed Lina, wiping away the residual blood from her side and stomach. Once he was finished, he drew the covers over her.

She immediately sighed and rolled onto her side. As much as he wanted to slide in next to her, he forced himself to return to the cleansing room. He stripped out of his clothing and stepped into the cleanser enclosure. The curved door slid shut behind him. Laying his palm against the panel, he bowed his head.

Warm jets of foaming cleanser coated his body. He lifted his hands and ran them through his long, black hair. Running his hands down his body, he wrapped one hand around his cock. As much as he wanted to relieve some of the tension, he would not. In his heart and mind, he had given himself to Lina whether he wore the marks of her claim or she wore his.

Washing his body, he tilted his head back and closed his eyes as the foaming mist finished cleansing him and the unit began the rinse cycle. The cleanser tingled as it was rinsed away. Lifting his arms above his head, he gripped the safety bar above the unit and waited. Once the rinse was completed, jets of warm air swirled around him, quickly drying his hair and body.

The door opened when the unit’s cycles were complete. Stepping out, he ran his fingers through his hair, divided it into sections, and braided it. His hand ran over his upper lip and chin. He had never worn facial hair before but decided he liked it. It wouldn’t have mattered if he hadn’t. He’d left the bag of items Lina had gathered for him on the bridge. He would have to remember to retrieve it later.

He gathered his dirty clothing and stepped into the other room. After placing the items in the clothing refresher with Lina’s, he turned on the power. At least when they woke, they would both have clean clothes to wear.

Walking over to the bed, he pulled the covers aside and slid in beside Lina. She murmured in her sleep and rolled toward him, snuggling close to his nude body. The feel of her long body pressed against his drew an immediate reaction.

Edge released a tired sigh. He wanted her. His body didn’t care that now was not the time. He knew her deep slumber was caused by a combination of the medication and her body’s need to heal. The memory of her soft lips against his, their bodies joined as one, sent a shaft of need through him. Lifting her hand to his lips, he pressed a kiss to her palm.

“You hold my heart in your hands, my beautiful goddess. You have given me a gift I never thought possible,” he murmured.

He closed his eyes. Using the strategy Lina had shown him, he pictured his home back on Rathon with Lina in it. They would swim together in the shallow cove or hike to the market in the nearby village. His body relaxed as he dreamed of their life together.

The dark, chaotic thoughts that always hovered along the edges of his mind since his capture slowly calmed. He tightened his arm around Lina when she moved so that her head was against his shoulder. He desperately clung to the vision of her in his mind as the swirling thoughts grew louder.

Lina must have sensed his unrest because she murmured his name in her sleep. He tightened his grip on her hand when she slid her leg along his calf and tucked her foot between his legs. A sense of peace and warmth flowed through him when her hand glided across his chest and she curled her fingers around the curve of his shoulder. He wasn’t alone in the darkness. His little goddess was there with him.

* * *

Oculus IX Spaceport

Prymorus gazed down at the billowing smoke with rage while Deppar gripped the edge of the desk. The sound of more explosions could be heard going off far below them. From this view, Prymorus could see the panicked residents and visitors to the Spaceport frantically searching for a way off.

“The fires must have spread through the sewer and access tunnels. The blast doors and electrical systems were damaged. There is an outer perimeter breach on Level Two. What in the hell did the Drethulans do to my Spaceport?” Deppar demanded, watching in horror as one system after another began to fail.

“It was the Trivator and the human,” Prymorus stated in a cold voice.

Deppar’s head jerked up and he stared at his half-brother in disbelief. “Do you expect me to believe that a half-dead Trivator and a female could cause this much damage? I told you not to bring the Drethulans on Oculus IX. They are unpredictable. This is your fault. I will seek compensation for the damages. Our uncle will…,” Deppar’s rant suddenly ended.

Prymorus stared at his half-brother. Deppar’s expression was frozen with shock and disbelief as a stream of blood slowly seeped from the hole in the center of his forehead. Prymorus lowered the pistol in his hand as his now dead half-brother slowly collapsed to the floor.

Turning back to look down at the city, he gripped the beam between the plates of glass and watched as the city below him began to cave in on itself. Furious, he knew in his gut that the Trivator and human female were not only responsible for the initial explosion, but that they had somehow managed to escape as well.

Prymorus continued to watch the hundreds of spaceships frantically trying to evacuate the Spaceport. It would be impossible to know which one had provided the Trivator and the human safe haven and escape. He turned when the door opened behind him.

“Sir, the structure is unsafe. The Drethulans have requested that you return to the ship so they can depart,” his guard relayed.

Prymorus slowly crossed the room. The Trivator and human would try to escape beyond the Waxian borders and sphere of influence. It was time to visit his uncle and take over his new position as the future Prime Ruler of the Waxian empire.