Azazel glanced at her, his expression tight, his almond-shaped eyes narrowed. “We’re not lost.”
“Oh yeah? Because this hallway looks exactly like the last four we’ve been down.” She gestured at the glittering, translucent walls. “I declare, walking around this sparkly-doom fun house is like a place you can check out any time you like but you can never leave.” Kudos to the classic rock band Eagles for an astute description of the wandering shit show she was in.
JR14, perched on Azazel’s shoulder, flicked one of his metallic front legs. “Clarification: Sub-Node failure has resulted in temporary navigational impairment. Probability of current route leading to rendezvous point: 16.8 percent.”
Azazel’s scowl deepened as he stopped and glared at the spider-droid. “And you couldn’t have mentioned that sooner?”
JR14 clicked his forelegs in what Toni swore sounded like a condescending rhythm. “Organic impatience noted. Suggested course correction: Utilize map matrix manual override.”
“Which I couldn’t do while I carried her.” Azazel countered in a low tone.
Toni bristled. “Well, good thing you’re not carrying me now, eh?” She’d be darned if she took the blame for them getting lost. “So, go ahead. Nothing’s stopping you from playing with whatever toys you’ve got up your sleeve, now is there?”
He turned, his towering figure seeming to fill the narrow space.
She sucked in a breath as his nearness did all sorts of uncomfortable things inside her. Especially to her lady parts, now paying close attention. Crossing her arms to cover her hard nipples, she glowered and stared back. For a moment, his eyes burned into hers with an unspoken challenge in their depths.
“You could barely stand.”
Azazel's soft words caressed her like velvet wrapped around steel.
“Much less run with the speed necessary to escape that stronghold.”
He stepped closer, and his tantalizing scent teased her nose.
“I assure you, I will do my best to take you to a place where we can escape the Krystalii. Shall we continue?”
Her cheeks flushed, a mix of anger and embarrassment for acting like one of those spoiled divas she had to work with. “Of course,” she muttered, looking away. Great, trust her to let the great bitch of the galaxy named Antonia Soo-min Choi out. Way to alienate the hunky guy trying to save her.
Azazel’s slight smile warmed before he turned and moved forward again, his long strides steady, his thick braid swinging back and forth.
Toni couldn’t help getting lost in the play of his backside muscles under his loose trousers once again. The simple power in his every movement was sensual and primal as hell.
No.Focus, you friggin’ floozie. He could still be a trap, just like everything else on this asinine ship.
When she followed Azazel around a corner, she skidded to a stop to avoid running into him.
They’d hit a dead end.
A large door dominated the space, its surface etched with strange, shimmering symbols.
The faint hum around them grew louder.
Azazel hesitated, his hand resting on the hilt of his katana. “JR14, what’s behind that door?”
“Unknown,” the AI replied. “However, energy readings are consistent with Krystalii life-support systems.”
“Well, that sounds just sound peachy.” she stated in a dry tone, standing next to him. She rubbed her arms, trying to ward off the chill that made her skin pebble. Did it just get colder here, or was she imagining things?
Azazel paused before the crystalline door. His hand hovered above the glowing surface as he studied it with narrowed eyes. An eternity passed before he placed his palm against it. He closed his eyes as if listening to something only he could hear.
Toni stepped closer, a tight grip on her upper arms. “What are you doing?”
“One moment, please,” he murmured, his voice low and distant. The faint light from the door pulsed in rhythm with his touch.
She frowned when a crease formed between his brows. “Okay, this is officially weird. What’s going on? Are you… feeling something?”
Azazel’s eyes opened, their usual sharpness softened by a distant glaze. “Krystalii signatures. They’re here… but not fully.”
