Ascension Saga (Interstellar Brides): Book 8

I pursed my lips. Duh. Of course I was going to get into trouble. That’s what I did.

“How do you plan to defend yourself, Princess? An army of one out there alone wandering the planet? No guards?”

“No babysitters, you mean.” His hips were nestled between my legs, his cock so close to my core all I had to do was lift my hips and he’d slide right in. But he was heavy, and if he didn’t cooperate, I’d look like an even bigger fool than I did now. Didn’t stop my pussy from clenching like a grasping, greedy little animal. Still, I wanted to try. Angry sex was good. Arguing and fucking was good. Possibly great. Nix made me crazy. I made him crazy, that was obvious. That’s all there was to it.

“The queen’s guard is dedicated to your safety. As am I. We do not watch over infants, although your stubborn pride is making you sound like a child. You have responsibilities to the people of Alera, and to me.”

Now that just made me mad. How dare he lecture me? I pushed against his chest, tried to get him off of me. Tried. “Nix, I’ll have you know—”

There was a knock on the door. The first sound from outside of this room in two days. “Princess Destiny. Nix,” a man shouted.

Nix closed his eyes for a moment. “Not now. Fuck,” he growled. Pissed we’d been interrupted. He wanted whatever this was between us worked out. I was all for delaying because I had no answers.

“Who is it?” I asked Nix, who obviously had recognized the owner of the voice.

“Captain Turaya. Leo’s father.” Nix leaned back, away from me, and instantly I shivered with cold. “We can’t ignore him. He is my commanding officer, and he knows you are in your Ardor. He would not interrupt us if it was not urgent.”

Nix pushed off the bed and grabbed my hand, tugged me so I was standing before him.

“Duty calls, Princess,” he replied, all lust or even playfulness gone from his voice.

He walked over to a couch where I’d tossed a robe… yesterday? I contentedly watched the taut play of his ass muscles as he walked away, then took in the sight of his cock as he turned about and returned to me.

“Here, put this on,” he told me. “No one needs to see you as I do.”

I would have protested the order, but I was not interested in Leo’s dad seeing me naked. And the gesture was kinda sweet. And I was kinda cold.

He went to the door, clearly unconcerned for his own modesty. He arched a brow as he looked back at me, hand on the knob as he waited.

I tugged on the silky robe, tied the sash. Only then did he open the door.

The older soldier in the doorway kept his gaze affixed to Nix’s. He didn’t react to Nix’s nakedness, although it appeared he was too professional to gawk. But then, he was a soldier. He’d probably seen more naked men than I could if I took a new man to bed every night for the rest of my life.

Not that I wanted to do that. The only man I was currently interested in having in my bed was a chest-pounding, overly protective Aleran. And I had no idea how we were going to come to terms. Or if we would.

Captain Turaya bowed slightly to me, looking over Nix’s shoulder. “Princess Destiny, Captain Nix. Princess Trinity requests your immediate presence in the main salon.”

I pushed at Nix, trying to get to the door, but he blocked me in a stop short motion of his arm, so I ducked under. “Why?”

Nix’s hands settled on my shoulders.

“You have received another notice from Elder Cleric Amandine. The meeting location has moved. And the names of several attendees have been included in the missive.”

“She knows who the traitors are?” I asked, excitement pounding through my body like electricity. Finally, I could go kick someone’s ass.

He shook his head. “Only Princess Trinity has read the note. She awaits your arrival.”

“Okay. Thanks.” Nix’s hand lowered to rest at the base of my spine, and I wasn’t sure if it was meant to offer support or remind me that I wasn’t allowed to leave him behind again.

The first would be fantastic, but I was pretty sure it was the second.

“We will be there as soon as possible,” Nix told him.

Captain Turaya nodded and turned to leave. Nix closed the door and went to the S-Gen machine on the wall.

“Nix,” I said, not sure what to say. He wanted to control my life. I loved the sex, but I didn’t want forever with a man who would try to keep me in a bubble. I needed to be able to fight. To protect my sisters. To do… something.

Being a pampered princess mated to a guard who protected them—and me—wasn’t the same thing at all.