Orient Fevre

My mouth gaped like a fish out of water. I almost answered him before I realised I didn’t need to dive into this madhouse. “I’m out of here.”

“The prince has also instructed me to notify your condition to your captain, in the event you refuse my care.”

“Oh, don’t you dare!”

“Then let me examine you, and we shall keep this matter between us.” Dr. Hayworth opened his medical bag and proceeded to sanitise his hands. He donned a pair of medical gloves. “It won’t take long. I need to check if there’s any bruising or tearing. I also need to run a test to find out if the joining was fruitful.”

“You have got to be kidding me.”

“The prince is in his mating cycle. He’s very fertile. Your birth control device could have been rendered obsolete when you mated a Draconian during this phase. Don’t worry, Miss Cross, it won’t take long, I promise. It’ll be over before you know it. I’ll also give some ointment for your discomfort. You’ll be yourself again in no time.”

Dr. Hayworth watched me under his stern gaze, assuring me he wasn’t bluffing. He’d go to Hawk if I refused to be examined. I had no choice. Half-heartedly, I scrambled up and unbuckled my belt.

Yes, I was fucking pathetic.

Chapter Three

After Dr. Hayworth examined me, Levy came and announced he had requested Captain Hawk to have me moved into his stateroom, saying he needed my protection around the clock until we arrived at D’Keghan. I was so ticked, having had to endure the last half hour with Hayworth prodding my intimate places and asking me all kinds of embarrassing questions. I ‘d had enough of Levy’s shenanigans for the day. I marched to my captain’s office to protest.

Someone had beaten me in there. I saw Mac when I barged in. My ex was in the middle of griping about the fact we had changed course to D’Keghan without informing him in advance. As Chief Security Officer having the ship’s plans cancelled at the last minute meant he’d had to revoke his emergency leave.

I stood in silence as Captain Hawk listened to Mac’s rants. My captain caught my eyes and lifted an eyebrow as if to ask, “What’s up?”

Mac stopped and looked at me.

“No, no, continue. I can wait.” I gestured to Mac in a casual manner and took a seat without being told by my captain.

“Do you mind?” Mac seemed annoyed.

“Yes, I mind,” I snapped back. I was in a dark mood and nobody could kick me out of Hawk’s office except my own captain. “I have something important to discuss with the captain.”

“Can’t you wait outside?” Mac demanded.

“No. This chair is comfortable.”

“I think Cross should hear about this,” Captain Hawk interjected, taking the middle ground.

Mac looked pissed that Captain Hawk had taken my side. “We aren’t fit to fly to D’Keghan. Our engine core is running at less than two-thirds of its capacity since the last refitting from Mazur.”

I straightened up in my seat, alarmed. “How come I haven’t been informed of this? The last time I checked our pre-flight status, our core reactor was running perfectly.”

“The report you had wasn’t accurate.”

“It’s your men who gave me those reports. Are you telling me your own men did a sloppy job?”

“Don’t try to pin this bullshit on me because some idiots under me did a sloppy job.”

“Of course I’d pin this bullshit on you since you’re the head of your department. You’re responsible for the quality of their work.”

“Enough!” Captain Hawk broke our argument. “How do you propose to fix this problem? Headquarters put us on a high priority that we fulfil the contract with the Draconians.”

Mac crossed his arms, his face stony. “I have a suggestion.”

“Let’s hear it.”

“Fuel buster.”

I snorted. “Are you nuts? You want to put Orient Fevre out of commission?”