Page 73 of Star Prince

Gann’s hand shot up. “Don’t want to know about it.”

Muffin said in a quieter tone, “Ian doesn’t know who Tee is, though he did suspect she wasVashand was hiding it. And the looks they’ve been giving each other lately...” He cracked a smile. “Makes me wonder what’s developed between them.”

“We don’t want that. She’s not yet promised to the Vedla heir, but she will be when we get her home.” Gann rubbed his chin. “Ian’s not been matched yet, though, has he?”

Muffin shook his shaggy head. “I hope it happens soon, his promise ceremony. The last thing the lad needs is scandal. And that’s what will happen if he steals Tee’ah away.”

“I trust Ian will do what is right. He always has.”

Muffin shrugged. Then his attention shifted to Lara. “You want my opinion with her? Ask for flying lessons.”

“I know how to fly.”

Muffin rolled his eyes. “Ask for a refresher course—on her rig. How and why do you think I learned to fly all those years ago, a skill I haven’t used since?” The bodyguard’s face creased into a smile. “Trust me, my friend; it was a venture well worth the trouble.”

Chuckling, a rich and deep sound, Muffin left Gann standing there, pondering the possibilities.

Thirty-three minutes.

On the pod, the temperature climbed as the air quality spiraled slowly downward. Curled on her side on the padded floor, Tee woke from a fitful doze.

Ian stroked her tousled bangs off her forehead. “Hey, pixie.”

She pressed her hands together, palm to palm, and wedged them under her cheek. “Anyone call while I was out?”

He tightened his jaw and shifted his gaze outside. “No.” But nonetheless they waited, fully dressed, for some rescue he now doubted would get to them in time.

She sat up. He rubbed her back. “Sore?”

“A little.” She smiled shyly. “But it was well worth it.”

Ian drew her snugly against his chest and touched his lips to her hair. “Come back with me,” he said. “To Sienna.”

She gave a mournful laugh. “Can you imagine the uproar that would cause?”

“We’ll make it work,” he said firmly, though there was too little time remaining to figure out how.

She sighed. “When I told you I wasVash Nadah,I didn’t tell you everything. But now…I don’t want any secrets between us.”

He stroked her damp, close-cropped hair. “After the past few hours, I can’t imagine we have any secrets left.”

“Well, there’s one. A rather big one.”

He moved her back.

She touched a fingertip to his lips. “You know your cousin Tee’ah?”

While he tried and failed to picture the woman, she said, “Well, I’m her. Princess Tee’ah, daughter of the Dars.”

He snatched her hand, moved it away. Squinted at her. “No.”

“Yes.”

“You’re Tee’ah.” He prayed it was a bad joke brought on by their impending asphyxiation.

“Yes. That’s how I knew who Klark was. That’s how I eventually figured out who you were.” Quieter, she said, “That’s why everything you’re trying to accomplish in the frontier means so much to me.”

Speechless, he stared into her pale golden eyes, the eyes of aVash Nadahprincess, a princess he had just deflowered out of wedlock, going against every law theVashhad in place. Every law he had pledged to uphold. He was lightheaded and not from lack of air. “The way I treated you…The places I took you—”

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