Page 52 of Touch the Stars
She danced back a few steps.“Oh no you don’t.”
Baatar sprinted forward, something flashing in his fist before he jabbed it into Rocky’s armpit and gave it a sharp twist.The boulder-like body stiffened, then released a gust of air from its open mouth as it slumped to the ground with a shudder of finality.Blood pooled beneath it, creeping out like fingers grasping for prey.
Please let him be dead.
It was time for this shit to be over.
Baatar stood up, breathing heavily as he straddled the unmoving body.Ragatian blood dripped from his hand.He looked as sexy as fucking sin.
Great.She’d just stabbed a guy, escaped, nearly been killed again, and her first rational thought was to jump Baatar’s bones?She was such a nympho for him.
A shiver shook her from head to toe.“I think…I’m going to yack.”
Baatar was at her side, wrapping her in his arms and holding her tight against his body faster than she could blink.Ah, warmth.And she didn’t even care about the blood.
“I feared you had been killed,” he murmured against her hair.
“You and me, both.”She relaxed against his chest and inhaled his spicy scent.“Thank you for stopping him.”
Others had arrived in the clearing, but no one moved.They all seemed to be focused on the lights hovering over the dead emperor’s head.
Were they going to attack her and Baatar next?She ran her tongue over her lips.“Umm, what are they doing?”
“Departing.”A deep undercurrent of grief laced the strange blond guy’s reply, then he stretched his hands toward the apricot-color sky.
The lights raced across the clearing to dance around his hands and swirl up and down his body.Then, one by one, they flickered out of existence.When the last one disappeared, he lowered his arms, then rose to his feet.
“It is done, as was foreseen.”There was so much sorrow in his words.
Baatar stiffened.“What do you mean?”
“Kait!”A familiar and loved voice rang out from the growing crowd of imperial attendants.
“Kris?”But where was she?“Kris?”
“Outta my way, Conan.”A woman stepped around the blond alien.
It was Kris…with no hair, but fuck that.A shriek escaped her.Then she was suddenly across the clearing, holding her sister in a mutually rib-cracking hug.
“I can’t believe it.I can’t fucking believe it.”
“Believe it, sis,” Kris murmured.“We’re both here.”
She pulled back and swiped the backs of her hands over her cheeks.“How’d you get here?”
“That story must wait.”Conan had not moved.“The matter of succession needs to be resolved.”
Nak, the mouse-on-steroids, scurried toward her.“The grand empress, all hail!”
He flopped onto his back, his beady eyes full of worship.
“All hail the grand empress!”several voices responded, and more attendants prostrated themselves.
Oh, shit, not this again.It’d be nice if everyone just forgot about her and picked someone else for the job.
“Hold!”Conan boomed.
Nak popped up off the ground like a corn kernel exploding.He folded his furry arms over his chest.“To know first whoyouare, and what became of Daarga, is what must be resolved.”
