Cherished (Intergalactic Loyalties) by Jessica Coulter Smith

Author:Jessica Coulter Smith [Smith, Jessica Coulter]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: BIN 07023-02262
Published: 2014-06-30T16:00:00+00:00

Chapter Four

When Dryxel entered his chambers, he knew something was wrong. Illuminating the space, he realized Lucie was missing. It was doubtful she would have woken and gone searching for him, not in unfamiliar surroundings, but just to be safe he would search for her. His gut was telling him she’d been taken, but how they managed it he didn’t know. They’d kept an eye on the transport chamber, expecting such an attack. It hadn’t been used since he’d brought Lucie on board.

Gathering a few of his men, he did a sweep of the ship, not the least bit surprised when they came up empty-handed. He’d hoped he was wrong, that she had merely wandered off, but deep down he’d known she wasn’t on board. When he’d felt a pang an hour ago, he should have heeded it and checked on her, but he’d told himself he was imagining things. Now he’d lost his beloved, his other half. Without Lucie, he wasn’t whole.

Addressing the crew, he tried to push away his anxiety and fear over her safety. He had to believe they would find her in one piece. If the Tarnans discovered she’d aided in his escape, he didn’t know what they would do to her. They would see it as a betrayal and might imprison her, or worse. What if they gave her to one of their warriors? The thought of another man touching what was his made rage pour through him.

“Lucie has been taken,” he told his men. “If the Tarnans were smart, they hit hyperdrive and are nearing their planet even as we speak. It would be foolish to go after her right now, no matter how much I want to. We’ll return to Tourmalane and gather more warriors, more ships, then go after our princess.”

“It will take us two days to arrive home and a good five days to reach Tarnan. Our ships aren’t designed to fold space to that destination. We’ll have to take the long way. What if something happens to our princess during that time? A week is too long to wait to strike,” Rylo said. “I fear for her and your unborn child.”

“As do I,” Dryxel muttered.

“What if we continue to travel toward Tarnan and call Tourmalane for backup? You could speak with your father, explain to the king what has happened and have him send more warriors to us. They could meet us at Tarnan,” Kilare said.

Dryxel nodded. “That plan could work. We’d have to stay cloaked until the others arrived, otherwise we could have a war on our hands before we were ready.”

“I’ll get King Razyr on the COMM,” Napir said.

Dryxel watched the men return to their stations, each with a determined look in his eyes. He knew they would do whatever was necessary to retrieve their princess. They might not have known Lucie long, but they all liked her. He’d worried at first that they may not accept her because of her blindness, but he should have known better.

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