Page 3 of Nyanine's Divide

My comm rings as we drive along, and I dig it out of the pocket of my skirt, lifting it to see Charlie. “Hey, Captain, I got your message. I’ll set up a meet in a few days time for me, I’m about to head out on a rescue mission. I’ll message you when we’re ready, and we can go from there?” He cocks a brow, his face serious. He looks a tad older than last time I saw him, facial hair beginningto shadow his jaw and lip, his hair longer, his voice more stern. I wonder what he’s been going through since we last spoke and how much of a dilation there is between us.

“Yeah, that sounds good. Charlie, if you need anything, help, advice, I’m here. I wish you luck in your mission.”

He nods once. “Thanks, Cap. We’ll be in touch soon.”

The call disconnects, and I sigh, relaxing back into the seat, my thoughts centered on my bed and its comforts as we finally exit the city and its all-seeing eyes.

Chapter 3

Kari

Waking from my power nap as we arrive home, I climb out of the vehicle myself and head around to the back porch. Despite the rest, I still feel unsure and very uneasy about this path I’m on. They say knowledge is power, but what if you can’t get the knowledge you need to gain the power? Where does that leave you? It leaves you where I am.

Lost.

Lost and powerless.

Vahru follows as Kosiiba calls that he’s doing a perimeter check. I wave over my shoulder as his footsteps rush off into the distance. Cresting the step onto the porch, I settle into one of the rocking chairs Vahru has sitting outside. My gaze is focused on the forest around us, the little twinkling lights of the Guardians reminding me of the fireflies from Earth. Fireflies were only onecolor, so this is even more beautiful to witness as they’re an array of colors, like little rainbow lights.

Vahru sits beside me, his gaze on me for a long moment before he turns and looks out at the forest with me. “What troubles you, Princess?”

A heavy sigh escapes me as I collapse forward, my elbows on my knees as I look at the wood beneath my feet. “I just feel lost and confused. How am I supposed to learn the truth and get the upper hand I need to fix this mess if I can’t even get a hold of the knowledge to do so in the first place? I’m really struggling with the hopelessness of it all right now, honey.”

His big hand lands on my back, rubbing up and down in soothing motions. Looking up, I stare at the twinkling lights around me. “What do you have to say? Huh? This is the right path, but I have no resources, no information. What am I to do?” I yell out at the forest around me, but the Guardians merely blink at me, refusing to give me the answers I seek.

“You’ll figure this all out, I have no doubt. I believe in you, okay? Things are not right, the history doesn’t make sense, and all we understand is that the technology is what drove us apart. We just don’t really understand how, but it did. To us, it seems simple because we don’t want it, we like our lives this way. I know that whatever the truth is, you’ll find it. Give it time, don’t give up.”

Standing, I step over and crawl into his lap, taking the comfort he’s offering me. Sitting sideways across his thighs, I rest my head on his shoulder and let his warmth soothe me against the chill of the night. “I don’t know how you manage to stay so optimistic. When it feels like everything is against us, it’s hard to see that silver lining. I know it’s there, but it’s like I’m blind to it.”

He hmm’s and continues rubbing at my back. “Well, how did you handle things like this as a space captain? When things seemimpossible, what would you do? I know you didn’t give up.” He cocks a brow at me as he tucks his chin to look at me in his shoulder.

I huff a laugh, a grin pulling at my lips. “No, I definitely did not give up, that would cost lives. If I couldn’t fix the issue myself, I contacted mission control or sought help from the astronauts with me. If that still wasn’t enough, another angle was needed to solve the issue. There’s always a way around something, it’s a matter of persevering until you get there.”

“Very wise words, Captain.” He chuckles, poking my nose as I let out a self-deprecating laugh, rolling my eyes at him. I see what he’s doing, using my own words against me. However, I also know he’s right, so I can’t even be angry about it.

The problem with this right now is that I’m not seeing another angle. I’m not seeing what I’m missing, and there are so many missing pieces to this puzzle that I have no idea what the final picture is. I know I’ll figure it out one way or another eventually, but right now, it feels like an impossibility. I just have too much to uncover.

“I see what you’re doing, and I hate it.” He laughs out loud at my words, standing and taking me with him.

“Come on, you need some rest to find that new perspective.” He marches inside, shutting the door behind him with his foot.

I groan and hang limp in his arms, making him chuckle. “But, Daddy, I’m not tired!” I whine loudly, acting like a child to tease him or make him laugh. I am absolutely tired, but I’m also enjoying our time together. He always knows how to make me feel better and lift the storm clouds over my head.

He chuckles as he continues into the bedroom, dropping me unceremoniously onto the bed. “Hey!” I cry out, adjusting so I can sit up and glare at him, but he leans over me, forcing me to remain on my back in the middle of the bed.

His nose brushes mine as he growls with a smirk, “Call me that again.”

My left brow cocks up in shock as I stare into his ocean eyes, swirling like a storm. He has a daddy kink? How many kinks can one man have, for star’s sake!? “You mean… Daddy?” I draw the name out, all seductive like, as I grin, and he licks his lips, his eyes watching mine.

“You’re always testing me, pushing my limits, teasing me at the most inopportune times. It seems awfully fitting that Daddy be the one to punish you, doesn’t it, my bratty little princess?”

Now my right brow joins the left, rising well into my forehead as I chuckle awkwardly. “You want to punish me? I haven’t done anything,” I state cautiously, not entirely sure where this is going but not entirely hating it either.

“No? How about this defeatist attitude? That’s definitely punishable for someone who never gives up. You and I both know you’ll find a way through this, and there’s no reason for that negativity. It’s time you learned your lesson. Daddy won’t tolerate you being so down on yourself.” There’s a pause as he stares at me, a wicked grin on his face, one that sends a chill through me. He’s looking at me as if I’m his prey; he’s not letting me get away no matter what. “So, roll over and present that ass, Princess.”

I scoff, staring at him as if he’s crazy as my stomach clenches. I can’t deny that I often love it when he’s dominant and bossy in bed, but I’d be lying if I didn’t admit that I also love testing his dominance, pushing my own boundaries to see what I can get away with. “You can’t be serious.” An awkward and confused smile crests my lips, my brows furrowed as I watch him closely.

He growls as he grabs my legs, flipping me onto my stomach in one swift movement. I gasp as he grips my hips, lifting them before a single swat lands on my right cheek, startling me. The sting is painful, causing me to bite my lip to refrain from yelling.He leans over me, his lips brushing my ear as he gently rubs his hand across my ass, soothing it. “Does it look like I’m kidding?”

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