Page 156 of Return of the Nine

Security moved in and spoke to all concerned. Ianka was surprised to be questioned.

“How long have you been in a relationship with Attack Master Derion?”

She blinked. “We are not in a relationship. We haven’t had any physical contact whatsoever. All I know is those guys started looking me over and then poof, Derion got taller.”

“Did you touch him at all?” The officer had wings that flicked in agitation.

“No. I was warned against it. Is he in trouble?” She looked around to find him.

Derion was calm and he was speaking quietly with another officer.

“Yes and no. He will be taken to medical and a check will be made on his blood to see if he has triggered any mating reactions. If he was just being protective of you, he will be released immediately. If there was another reason, he will be treated.”

“Okay. Good. As long as he is released before we are due to leave. I don’t want anything to interfere with launch.”

The officer’s eyes widened. “Oh, you arethatGaian.”

She could feel her forehead wrinkling. “What do you mean?”

“All of our councillors have asked for participation in the action you are heading up. There are more volunteers than spaces on the ships, though if this fight gets out, that number might double.”

She asked the officer, “Why are you all so eager to fight?”

“We come from active and aggressive races. This is the first opportunity to go into action and we are all eager for the chance.”

The officers across the hall were trying to get Derion to accompany them, but he was shaking his head.

“I was charged with watching out for her, and I will see her safely to her quarters before I go to medical.” He crossed his arms over his chest and had an immovable stance.

The officers looked at each other but the one speaking to her raised his hand. “I will go with them and escort Master Derion to medical.”

Derion looked at him and nodded. “Acceptable, shall we go?”

Ianka nodded. “Lead on.”

The men gathered in the hall parted, and Derion and Ianka walked at a leisurely pace through the halls with the officer that had spoken to her. She could feel his gaze on them and there was approval at her back. It was nearly palpable.

At her quarters, she thanked Derion for his escort and smiled wistfully. “I guess that I will have to find somewhere else to exercise.”

He chuckled. “Why? The Fury fight often. With the gym closed, it just made it harder to find a place to let it out. If I had run into them an hour later, the result would have been the same, but it would have been in the facility.”

“Seriously? I wasn’t the cause?”

He rocked his head a little. “You were and you weren’t. Their interest was growing and you are under my charge. I had to stop two of them from escalating into interest in you and the others would be distracted.”

“It certainly was distracting.” She grinned.

He smiled. “Good. I was worried you would be frightened.”

“Nope, just a little surprised. You have a very good tailor.”

It took him a moment before he laughed and he grinned at her. “Have a good evening, Miss Senior. Welcome to the mother ship.”

She slipped into her quarters and closed the door as the officer took Derion back down the hall. It had certainly been an interesting evening, but she needed a shower and then she needed some sleep.

The probe was on its way and it would start broadcasting as soon as it got close to the target area that Vida had found. Iankahated waiting, but perhaps she could find someone to show her how to fly a ship. How long could that take?

Chapter Six

---