Page 105 of Fractured Souls

“Hm. Is that so? Why does it not surprise me that they’ve been experimenting with some weird shit? Tch. You know what our people are like, Ash. Considering you’ve taken out what amounts to an entire squadron on your own, you can take a break. I’ll deal with them. You okay, though?”

“I will be fine.” The Silent One’s voice was colder than the icy Vaal. He was pissed; Nythian could tell. The ex-assassin obviously wasn’t used to not completing his missions, but then again, this wasn’t his preferred style of combat.

No, Ashrael worked best from the shadows, taking out his targets before they even realized he was behind them.

“Hey, at least you ain’t dead.”

“No.” Ashrael’s voice was laced with scorn. “I don’t die that easily. For all your sakes, that is for the best.”

Nythian tensed as a deep metallic groan echoed through the Mhyndin’s hull. The ship listed to one side, and he jumped to his feet and rushed to Alexis, just in case something was wrong.

Kordolian battle cruisers never lost stability like that.

“I have told Noali not to be concerned. She is understandably upset.” Now Ashrael was calm, even slightly amused.

The movement stopped, and the Mhyndin quickly returned to its usual serene state.

“Just a little psychic interference,” Lodan reassured him from the cockpit. “I’ve stabilized it.”

“Your mate’s doing, Ash?” Nythian asked the Silent One.

“She does not like it when I get hurt. Expect more turbulence before I return to Mhyndin. I will do my best to reassure her until then.”

“Thanks for the warning,” Lodan said dryly.

“What the hell was that?” Alexis whispered, looking unsettled.

Nythian caressed the back of her neck with his bare hand, craving the feel of her naked body against his. “It’s just Noali.”

She relaxed at his touch. “She can do all that with her mind?”

“She’s still learning the finer points of control.”

“Everything okay? Maybe I should go and talk with her?”

“Nah. Best not to bother her when she’s dealing with this. Don’t worry, they’re communicating through mindspeech. Ashrael will keep her from flinging us into oblivion.”

“Well, that’s reassuring.” She looked up at him, her expression wry. “You have work to do, I take it?”

For a moment, Nythian couldn’t speak.

He was dangerously aroused and utterly entranced, falling deeper and deeper under her spell.

Her golden brown eyes were like warm embers in the shadows, reminding him of sunset on Earth.

Her lips were slightly parted; deep pink and glistening with a hint of moisture. Her brown skin was dewy and lustrous. Everything about her was lush and tempting. He wanted to run his hands over her bare skin, to taste her essence again…

Her scent was driving him nuts.

But there wasn’t time for this right now.

“I have to go,” he said, his voice hoarse. “Ashrael ran into a little unexpected trouble, but he managed to extract himself. I need to go in and clean up the rest of the mess. Won’t take long.” He kissed her on the top of her head.

“I’d tell you to be careful, but I get the feeling that would be silly.”

He snorted. “You don’t have to worry. This body can take some punishment.”

It was ridiculous that she should be concerned about him—nobody had ever worried about him like this—and yet it pleased him a great deal.

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