But no, her gut said he’d never forgive her for deserting.
She considered the intensity with which he’d treated her—watching over her, securing her safety, washing her leggings and returning them neatly folded in the middle of the night. He might not think this thing between them was as casual as she did.
Even that niggling worry couldn’t dissuade her from wanting more of Lundric, though. And soon.
~.~
Lundric couldn’t stop watching Cambry, his beautiful female. She’d blushed when he first saw her, her porcelain skin turning an enchanting shade of pink beneath the smattering of freckles. He wondered how she’d look with that mane of hair flowing free over her shoulders and around her face. Like a vecking goddess. He wanted to bury his fingers in it, wrap it up in his fist, tickle her breasts with the ends.
Rok gave the refugees the rundown on how training was going to go. Lundric had to admire Rok—he wasn’t one to hear himself talk. He kept it brief then ordered them to break into groups of twelve and assigned a Zandian warrior to each group.
“Take them to a ship. Let each one sit in the cockpit and handle the controls. There’s no better way to learn than doing. Test them until they have it down.”
He marched over to take Cambry’s group, which also happened to contain Rok’s female. Rok squared off with him. “I’ve got this one.”
He willed his jaw to relax. “You’ll need to make the rounds and supervise. I’ll take this group after you’re finished demonstrating.”
Rok’s mouth flattened into a thin line. Lily slipped her hand through his arm, and his shoulders relaxed by a fraction. She murmured something only he could hear, and Rok’s expression turned musing as he contemplated Lundric. When he turned to give Cambry the same look, though, Lundric growled.
Rok’s lips twitched. “I see. All right, Captain. We’ll go to the ship together, then.”
Lundric fell in beside Cambry as they walked to the hatch, where they each took an oxygen helmet for the short walk from the pod to the battleship. He resisted the urge to double-check Cambry’s to be sure she had it on correctly. Not only was she an intelligent, capable female, but she wouldn’t appreciate his treating her like a child. He’d seen the way she’d sat front and center for the meeting. She was there to learn. The best thing he could do was stay out of her way.
Once everyone had suited up, they stepped into the interim chamber then out onto the barren land of Shooku, the uninhabitable planet where the pod had crashed. Waterless and made of red dust, the planet’s landscape looked the same in every direction. Its air didn’t have enough oxygen content for their lungs, and the temperature was hot enough to make his clothes stick to his body within moments. They quickly boarded an airship and closed the hatch, crowding into the small cockpit.
“The only way to learn to fly is by practicing,” Rok announced, guiding Lily into the pilot’s seat. “That’s how I learned. It’s how you will learn, too. By the time we enter a real battle, you will know how to fly the hell out of these things.” He then explained every button switch and control on the panel.
One of the human males cleared his throat. “So, how exactly will this battle l
ook?”
Rok flicked a glance at Lundric. A smuggler who had been raised away from Zandians, Rok wasn’t really one of them. He’d earned his position by being the best pilot of their species. “I’m not sure yet. My job is to ready pilots for the fleet. But Prince Zander and others like Captain Lundric have spent most of their lives preparing for this. Isn’t that right?”
He couldn’t deny the flare of satisfaction at the curiosity in Cambry’s gaze. “That’s true, yes.”
“How old were you when Zandia was invaded?” Rok asked.
He cringed. It was odd to have this bonding moment in front of every riveted being on the battleship. “Seven solar cycles. You?”
“Eight. How’d you survive?”
He swallowed hard. The memory wasn’t a pleasant one—not in the least. “I got lucky. I was off-planet at the time with my grandparents.”
Rok leaned past Lily and flicked on the engine then dropped into the co-pilot’s seat. “I escaped with a guard who was able to fly an ancient airship we found, no bigger than this one. If he hadn’t known how to fly, we would’ve died. It’s a skill every being should have. So, let’s get started.”
He instructed Lily and allowed her to take off and fly a few hundred meters before helping her land. “Lundric, take my seat. Let each student practice takeoff and landing—three times each, until they get the feel of it.”
“Yes, Captain.” He didn’t know what Rok’s exact title was, but since he answered to him, he thought he ought to give him one.
Rok’s lips twisted into a lopsided grin. “Am I a captain, now, too?” He bent his arm at a ninety degree angle in the traditional formal Zandian greeting but then threw it away with a cavalier, “Thanks, friend.”
Lundric lifted his chin at Cambry, inviting her into the pilot’s chair. He slid in beside her. She’d paid attention to Rok and was quick to execute the steps necessary for takeoff, as if trying to do them all before he prompted. He closed his mouth and let her do her thing, waiting until she had a question.
“So—like this?” She pushed on the controller.
He covered her hand with his, mostly because he couldn’t stand being near her and not touching that smooth pale skin again. He bumped the level to a higher speed. “Now, push it away from you, gently.”
The ship lifted, wobbled, and touched back down with a sickening jolt. All the beings groaned and shouted in protest as heads bumped and bodies jostled. Yeah, Rok’s method of training probably wasn’t the safest. They didn’t even have seats and harnesses for all the beings crowded on the ship. But who was he to complain? He got to tutor Cambry, which was all he really cared about.