Page 20 of Touch the Stars
Kaitlyn snorted a half-laugh.“Aw, poor little alien warrior.Looks like you’re as much of a hostage as I am.”
“You are not a hostage.”He met her gaze and raised one eyebrow.“And, your lack of sincerity has been noted, Empress.”
As had her pluck in speaking to him in such a manner.Did nothing intimidate her?
“Whatever.”She shrugged her shoulders.“All the excitement in here is justkillingme.I need a nap.”
Ah, so she was tired, not hungry.“Very well.”
“I wasn’t asking for your permission, dumbass.”
“Of course not.”
“Fine.”She strode toward the door then stopped.“Nel.Tie.”
The wall wavered as it transformed, and she shot a triumphant smirk over her shoulder before proceeding through.The corners of his mouth twitched with suppressed amusement.She had no idea yet that he had reprogrammed the ship’s system to respond to her English Earth word “open.”Despite their current impasse, it had pleased him to do this small thing to help ease her transition into her new life.Even if she was ungrateful.
He leaned back in the command chair.So, the future empress had two names.Kaitlyn and Bergh.How unfortunate her planet did not have enough unique, individual names for all their people.There had been Baatars before him, and there would be more after him.It was a good, strong name.A fitting name, as it meant “dark warrior.”His parents had chosen well.
What were the meanings of Kaitlyn’s names?It would not matter once she assumed her imperial duties and relinquished all her given names for the Gharan Empire’s most glorious and humble title.Still, the question tickled his curiosity.Perhaps once her anger over not searching for her sister had abated, she would enlighten him.
Ifher anger abated.Her love for her sister was as strong as the love he bore for his brother.
Technically, they had a few spare days to track the Bajiki freighter, but that would not aid her in accepting and embracing her responsibilities.It was his duty to be her first guide on this journey.To help make her transition smooth…like an emissary of peace.
He breathed out a soft, pleased harrumph.Emissary of Peace.Yes, those words clarified his role quite well.He already honored her by using her soon-to-be title, but there were other things he could do to help her adjust.
It might take every day of the journey to Ghara for her to realize this, and he was the warrior for the job.But, did he really want to use the full thirteen days left to him when he could be back on Ghara in about half that time?
Decisions, decisions.
Chapter 7
Kaitlyn.
Ha.Somewarriorhewas.
She paused just inside her room and took a shaky breath.Weakness invaded her limbs and her entire body shivered.Had that damn alien really not noticed what she’d done?She uncurled the fingers of her right hand.The cylindrical, silver-metal device looked like the same thing Baatar had used to zap her.What’d he call it?A…blanker?
Not a manicotti noodle.
A small laugh bubbled out of her.It’d been so easy to lift it from the open-top case attached to his belt.
Eight years, and I’ve still got the touch.
Not that pickpocketing was a skill to be proud of, but her situation was desperate.There was no way she was going to some weird-ass planet and leaving Kris to a God-knew-what future.Fuck that.
Now, the next step in thwarting the plans a bunch of aliens had made for her was to figure out which was the business-end of the blanker.She climbed onto the bed, settled cross-legged, then set the thing on the cover.It was kind of pretty, with swirling darkened grooves etched in the pewter-color metal.Even the half-inch band of smooth, rubber-like material around the middle had swirls.As much a piece of art as a functioning weapon that knocked people on their asses.
Impressive for something barely three inches around and four inches long.Again, how had Baatar missed seeing the ends of it sticking out of her fist when she’d left the command center?He wasn’t an idiot, so she could only chalk it up to pure luck.
She gave the band a poke.It was soft and warm.With a little pressure, it gave like rubber.Clearly, it wasn’t there just to hold the thing together.So, why was this part different from the rest of it?Wait, was this the part Baatar pushed on to shoot her?
“The trigger?Clever.”She let the ‘r’ drag out a bit.
These aliens had all kinds of cool tech… Self-aware AI ship, semi-permeable doors, universal translator jewelry.Even the built-in dishwasher thing in the galley, which would be great in her condo.
She refocused on the blanker, then gave the band a quick, gentle squeeze between her thumb and forefinger.A soft buzz filled the air, and the left end of the baton glowed pale blue, like it had when Bataar had zapped her.
