Page 108 of Akur

“How long?”

“Two hors. Maybe three.” His jaw clenched as another system failed.

“If we’re lucky.”

A distinct hiss cut through his words. They were losing air. Scrambling, he sealed off the rear of the little vessel. Two hors? Now they only had one, if the gods decided to spare them.

Pulling back on the controls, the remaining engine struggled as the little vessel clawed its way out of the debris field.

Beside him, Kon-stahns’ chest heaved as she studied the scanner. Her cheeks were flushed, her eyes wide. “Are-are they following us?”

The remaining sensors picked up nothing but scattered debris. “Negative.”

Her chest heaved, breaths puffing from her lips before she collapsed in her seat. “You…you did it.”

His chest heaved as he checked the readouts. “Told you it was insane.”

“Insanely brilliant,” she corrected. But there was something underneath her smile. A fear he could feel, too. “You’re a goddamn genius, Mint Man.”

He could only gaze at her. He had a mate. A human mate. And she was…magnificent. He would get her out of this.

Pulling up the new coordinates, the ship lurched as he turned, the damaged hull groaning. They were still bleeding atmosphere somewhere, and their remaining engine wouldn’t last forever. As Kon-stahns tugged out of the restraints, his arms opened as she climbed into his lap, wrapping her thighs around him.

Maybe it was because she could feel the danger they were in. Maybe it was because she wanted him to keep her safe. It didn’t matter why she sought his touch. Tugging her to his chest, he stared out the viewscreen.

Through willpower alone, he’d make sure she made it.

“That was amazing.Youare amazing. You know that?” she whispered, breath tickling his skin.

He forced his voice to stay light, despite the warning lights still flashing around them. “Iamamazing. That is a known fact.”

She slapped him playfully. “Cocky.”

He growled. “What’s this about my cock now?”

Kon-stahns laughed. But her chest was still heaving. The threat of what just occurred still pushing adrenaline through her being.

And they weren’t done.

“They’ll come again, you know,” she whispered.

“Yes.” He did know. He was now in constant awareness of that fact. “Hopefully we get there before more arrive.” Theyhadto.

“There?” Kon-stahns lifted her head, gaze searching his. “There where?”

He wished he could answer.

Looking at the coordinates he just punched in, he couldn’t.

Because the truth was, he had no idea.

29

Constance

She was stillon his lap. She’d have let him go. Allowed him to pilot the ship better, but he didn’t seem to want her to move. One arm wrapped around her, he kept her seated as he focused on the controls.

He’d gone silent, and the silence in the ship was almost deafening. From the near-death experience of a moment before, it felt only natural. She couldn’t talk either.

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