Chapter 4
Something about the silent energies that formed the protective dome over the estate added an edge to the sunlight that filtered into the dining room, a sharpness that seemed to cut Trixie off from the rest of this alien world. As if from a vast distance—say, the distance from Earth to Azthronos—she watched her own reactions dispassionately.
She tightened her grip on Lishelle’s handand dragged the bigger woman away from the table, overcome by the urgent need to scuttle away, to hide. She’d always been small; if she could find the right hole, they’d never find her…
The inquisitive stares of the other diners felt more menacing now, like the judgment of a kidnapper assessing their weaknesses. Back down the hallway toward their rooms. She knew the turns, she’d counted the steps,she wouldn’t be stopped until they were safely—
“Trixie.” The deep, masculine voice barely penetrated her mental chant.
It wasn’t until the big shape was actually in her path that she had to stop. Or run him over, which she was totally willing to do.
“Get out of my way, Captain,” she said, dimly surprised her voice wasn’t a scream of panic.
Nor frowned at her. “I just heard the news fromthe duke,” he said. “And I wanted to check on you.”
“We’re okay.” Lishelle tugged free from Trixie’s strangling grasp and stepped up beside her. “Why wouldn’t we be okay? He’s…he’s a long way from here.” Her voice wavered, and its Southern twang sounded more like a broken banjo string.
“Very far,” Nor confirmed. “Of course you’re fine.”
That was what people said when they didn’t want to dealwith freaking out. Trixie knew, because she used the technique all the time.
She brushed past them and sped down the hall, ignoring Lishelle calling her name.
But she couldn’t ignore the captain’s presence right behind her.
She had to stop and face him since she couldn’t stand to have him at her back. “Don’t touch me,” she snapped, feeling for the wall behind her. Her fingertips brushed thepanel’s cool, hard surface (so unlike the captain’s soft, warm lips) and some of her panic eased.
“I didn’t,” he said, then amended in a lower voice, “this time.”
Lishelle rushed up to join them. “Trix, why’re you running off?”
“I need…something from my room.” She couldn’t stop herself from slanting a quick glance up at the captain.
His pale blue eyes narrowed, then he grunted, not quite alaugh. “The blaster.”
Lishelle set back on her heels. “You have a blaster? How’d you get one of those?”
“That’s what I wondered,” Nor muttered.
“And where can I get one?” she finished.
With another mutter, he held out one hand to stop the questions. “Neither of you should have blasters.”
Trixie glared at him. His honey-brown hair was neatly bound in a club at his nape—and his pants were fastened—butshe still saw the rogue in him. Maybe it was that crescent scar beside his too-sharp blue eyes. So why was he judging her concealed carry? “The duke gave it to me,” she said through gritted teeth. “I showed him I can shoot.”
“Yes,” Nor drawled. “You showed me too, as I recall.”
“But I wasn’t sure how long it takes to recharge, and…he’s not here to ask.”
“A stun charge doesn’t take as much energyas a kill shot.” He watched her, his blue eyes piercing. “Keep it quick and you should only need a few minutes for an ambient recharge. Assuming the duke gave you one of the better models.”
She wavered, actually wavered, her knees weakening. But she needed to know, just like she needed to count steps. “Will you…will you look at it?”
He nodded, his expression serious. “Let’s see what you have.”
She hurried to her room so he’d only be behind her for a minute. Plus, Lishelle was back there and would keep him in line.
Palming open her door, she rushed through the sitting area toward her bedroom, calling back to them, “Just wait there.”
