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Buthe didn’t have time for guilt at the moment—he had to get them to the nearest inhabited planet and pray they had the resources to fix the ship…or else a way to call home.
Otherwisethey were all going to be dead or stuck here at the ass end of a strange galaxy for the rest of their lives.
26
CELIA
Theshort ride toJoCostaTwelvewas one of the most terrifying trips ofCelia’slife.Anyminute she expected to start running out of air.Holdhad gotten up to try and fix the oxygen leak, but he seemed to be having trouble finding it because the scary hissing sound could still be heard coming from the back somewhere.
Celiadidn’t say anything toFierce—he was clearly completely absorbed in trying to get the badly damaged ship to their destination.Alsoshe knew, from dealing with a succession of foster fathers, that men don’t like to be questioned when they’re absorbed in a complicated task.Atleast, none of the men in her life had.Soshe left theDarkTwinto his devices.Shewouldn’t botherHoldeither, unless he asked for her help, but shedidneed to pee.
“Wheredo you think you’re going?”Fiercegrowled as she unfastened her harness with trembling fingers.
“Touse the restroom.”Celiasaid shortly.Shestood up but her legs were suddenly so weak and trembly that she almost fell.
“Watchit!”Fiercereached out with his right arm and caught her around the waist before she collapsed.
“Letme go!”Shetwisted in his grip. “Youbigpendejo!”
“Callme all the names you want—I’mnot going to let you fall,” he growled.
Celiawanted to demand that he let her go again, but she couldn’t make her mouth form the words.Whenshe spoke she heard herself say,
“Ithought…thought we were going to die!”Andthen, to her horror, she started to cry.
Fiercedidn’t say a word and his eyes were still glued to the viewscreen and instrument panel but he pulled her close to his right side and wrapped his muscular arm around her shoulders tightly.
Celiadidn’t know if this was his way of saying “I’msorry” for his insensitive remarks earlier or if he was just comforting her to keep her from getting “hysterical” but either way, she appreciated the weight of his arm and the way he just held her.
Tearsleaked from her eyes as she pressed her face to his chest and breathed him in, taking comfort in the warm, spicy scent of his skin.Shewas still angry with theDarkTwin, she told herself—his comment about her having “some other male’s brat” had been extremely hurtful.Butfor the moment, she was willing to put aside her grievance and be comforted.
Amoment later,Holdcame back.Hestared silently at the two of them for a moment untilFiercesaid,
“Whatthe fuck are you staring at?Didyou fix the leak?”
“IthinkIgot the leak fixed, but our oxygen reserve is still very low,”Holdanswered.
“Weonly need fifteen standard minutes and we’ll be toJoCostaTwelve,”Fierceanswered. “Sitdown and buckle in,Brother.”
“IsCeliaall right?”Holdasked andCeliafelt him settle beside her in the passenger seat.
“Ithink so.Justshaken up.You’llhave to take her in a minute—I’llneed both hands to steer when we land.”
“Allright.Comeon—let’s get you buckled in again.”Holdreached for her butFierce’sarm around her shoulders tightened protectively.
“Isaidyou’ll need to take her in a minute.Notyet,” he said tersely. “She’sfine like she is for now.”
“Allright.”Fromthe corner of her eye,Celiacould see theLightTwingiving her and his brother a speculative look.Buthe said nothing more.Hedid, however, reach over and put a hand on her hip, adding his calm and comforting presence to his brother’s energy.
Betweenthe two of them,Celiafelt safe and her tears tapered off.Dios,what was wrong with her?She’dbeen soemotionallately and that really wasn’t like her.
Butthen again, she didn’t usually go through two or three life threatening experiences in as many days, she reminded herself.Justin the past three days she’d nearly drowned in the bathing pool, had been attacked by an enormousV’ranna, had nearly drowned a second timeandfrozen to death in the icy indoor river of the grotto, and had been in a near-death experience in a spaceship.Sofinding herself a little more tearful than usual wasn’t reallythatsurprising.Itwas a wonder she wasn’t a nervous wreck at this point!
AtlastFiercestirred beside her.
“Allright, sweetheart,” he rumbled. “Timeto get your harness back on—we’re about to start our descent.”
Celiastraightened up andHoldhelped her with the harness.
