The only problem was, whenever she glanced at him like that, he had to remind himself not to throw his shoulders back and preen like a proud peacock. While he normally didn’t enjoy people staring at him, he rather liked it when she did.
“Negative, Azazel.” JR14’s voice, crisp and mechanical, held a hint of wryness that jerked him out of his musings. “Vaeloryx’s sanctuary is located 87.3 kilometers away from this route’s trajectory. Alterations to our trajectory are needed to ensure efficiency.” The bot paused, and his ochre-colored optics flickered. “However, if your organic sentimentality dictates you do not adhere to my specifications, we can continue on our current path.”
“Check him out.” Toni snorted, crossing her arms. “Organic sentimentality. I think you’re being chastised.”
Azazel might agree, but they had more pressing matters. “I think it’s best we follow your advice, JR14.” He addressed the small droid on his shoulder. “It’s better if we go your way, even if it costs us time.” Eying Toni, he watched her lips twist into a grimace. She must’ve hurt herself more than she let on. “It’ll give us a chance to catch our breath. And, if we’re lucky, we’ll figure a way off this ship without the Krystalii knowing.”
“Yeah.” Toni agreed as she leaned against the crystal wall, her arms still crossed. “I’m all for taking time to stop running around this ship like crazy people.” She gave a brief chuckle. “Besides, I could use a break.”
On that, Azazel agreed. He didn’t like how pale she was. “Have you finished analyzing the quickest and safest route to Vaeloryx’s refuge from here?” he asked his AI companion.
JR14’s optics flickered, changing from dark orange to a light-pumpkin color. “Analyzing.” The bot’s front claws clicked in a soothing rhythm. “Unconfirmed. The energy fields in this sector disrupt precise navigation. However, I have developed coordinates that will align with a 63.4 percent probability of intersecting the rebels’ approximate location.”
Azazel clenched his jaw. “Can you narrow those options down?”
“Organic impatience is counterproductive. Additional data required…”
If Azazel wasn’t mistaken, JR14’s tone carried a hint of exasperation. Talk about impatience. Looks like the droid was learning emotional reactions after all. “I’m afraid we don’t have time for additional data,kalu.” He laced his tone with a soothing cadence. “We cannot wait for perfection. Please finalize the best direct route.”
Toni stepped toward him and firmly gripped his arm.
His breath caught as the pleasure at her touch tightened something low inside him. How could her innocent touch be so provocative?
“Who is this Vaeloryx rebel you keep talking about? More importantly, is he willing to help us?” She worried her bottom lip. “Or will we walk into a Krystalii trap?”
Azazel covered her hand with his. He couldn’t resist the lure of caressing her back. The sensual sensation of holding his skin to hers deepened. “I thought the same thing when I first met him.” He squeezed her hand. “But he and his fellow rebels aren’t like the other Krystalii. They are determined to not only stop the invasion but want to overthrow Baelon. Without their help, we don’t stand a chance of escaping.”
She tilted her head, which caused her silky hair to swish across her shoulders. “That doesn’t explain how you can trust him.”
The intelligence in her bright blue eyes was piercing, as if searching for sincerity in whatever he said.
“I feel he hates Baelon more than he hates us,” Azazel replied. With reluctance, he let her go and stepped back. “And right now, that’s enough for me.” His skin where she’d held him broke out in chill bumps, as if mourning the loss of her warmth.
“Path selected,” JR14 interjected. “Probability of success increased to 71.2 percent. Proceeding requires entering an auxiliary maintenance shaft twenty-three meters ahead.”
“Well—” Toni shrugged with a grin. “—at least it’s not another dusty, claustrophobic ventilation tunnel.”
“Yeah, thank the goddess for small favors.” Azazel agreed. “Okay, JR14, lead the way.”
She fell into step beside him as the spider-bot flew in front. “I have to admit I’m still concerned,” she whispered. “Trusting a Krystalii seems like a reckless thing to do.”
“Sometimes relying on instinct is the only thing you can depend on,” Azazel replied. A memory of him accidentally teleporting his three brothers seven thousand years into the future was a prime example. He’d only been trying to take them to a waiting spaceship in a hangar across a courtyard under attack. But instead, he transported them far into the future—and ended up in the right place at the right time. It turned out doing something so unexpected saved the day. Even if it wasn’t what he meant to do.
Out of the corner of his eye, he watched Toni’s lips twitch into a reluctant smile as she kept pace with him. Trying not to be obvious, he observed her.
She had a slight limp but otherwise didn’t let on if she was in any pain.
A spark of pride flared as he watched her.
Everything she’d endured could’ve broken her—but it hadn’t. She wasn’t just surviving, she was fighting back and reclaiming every piece of herself.
After what seemed like an endless amount of time, the corridor ahead narrowed into a dark, crystalline hallway. Just wide enough for them to pass in a single file.
Azazel crouched and gestured to make sure Toni followed as JR14 scanned the area in front of them. Thankfully, she tiptoed with quiet steps behind him in the oppressive stillness.
Before they reached the end of the shaft, JR14’s voice buzzed in Azazel’s ear.
“Energy signatures detected ahead. Non-hostile alignment. Likely match for Vaeloryx’s faction is 95.2 percent.”
