Chapter 14
CHAPTER FOURTEEN
Xaber wanted nothing more than to get Tix somewhere private so he could get her out of her wet clothes and into something more comfortable… like a hot shower or a bed.
It wasn’t just that he wanted her. The chemistry between the three of them was undeniable. But being with her was fun. He couldn’t remember the last time he’d felt so relaxed and happy. Even when dark thoughts had threatened, she’d helped him find the light again.
They meandered back the way they’d come, lingering in the desert area until they were merely damp instead of dripping wet. After that, they went to pick up dinner. Mace had sent the name and location to him through their link.
“Is he there yet?” Tix asked. They were on the promenade now, dry enough not to attract attention.
“He went inside a minute or so ago.” Mace had kept him updated until he reached the hotel. Since then, he’d gone quiet.
“The connection between you must be really handy sometimes.” She waved a hand vaguely. “I know. I know. You both said it can be annoying. Still, I can think of so many ways that could be useful.”
He spoke without thinking. “There are humans on this station with the same tech implanted. The Vardarians have something similar, too.”
He saw the flaw in his logic a split second after he spoke.
Tix shook her head. “They all have nanotech. Either they’re mated to Vardarians, or they were injected with medi-bots because they have cyborg partners and good connections. According to the gossip I’ve heard, that stuff is almost impossible to get.”
“It is. But it won’t be that way forever.
” The corporations had tried to stop the tech from spreading, but they’d failed.
Now that the Vardarians were in this part of the galaxy with their own version of the nanotech, it was inevitable that more beings would obtain the nanotech in one form or another.
“That’s true, but do you really think someone like me could get it?”
“We don’t know what the future will look like. I mean, ten years ago I thought I’d be a war-slave until I died on a battlefield in some forsaken part of the galaxy. Things change.”
It occurred to him that if Tix stayed with them, they’d need to figure out a way to get her the medi-bot treatment. Cyborgs lived lifetimes longer than normal humans. He’d lost too many beings he cared about to lose another one. Not if there was a way to stop it.
They were at the kiosk picking up dinner when Mace finally got back in touch. “Tell Tix I have her things and the refund has been processed. I’ll meet you at the ship.”
“Tix will be happy to hear it. She’s worried about you. Everything go okay?”
“Well enough. No blood spilled. Where are you?”
“We’re acquiring dinner. Tix took a while to decide. If you get there first, sort out the bedrooms and make sure she’s got access.”
“On it.”
He paid for their order and accepted the bag from the cheerful Pheran vendor. Once they were on their way again, he let Tix know Mace had accomplished his mission.
“Was there any fallout?” she asked.
“All he said was that he didn’t spill any blood. I know my batch-brother well enough to know that he means he did some emotional damage but nothing more.”
Tix laughed. “She earned that much. Could you tell Mace thank you for me? And I’ll want to hear all about it later.”
“Done.”
He didn’t bother relaying the message. He simply sent a recording of that snippet of their conversation.
“Tell her it was my honor.”
“He says it was his honor to do it. Which is Mace-speak for ‘anything for you, Tix.’”
She laughed. “That sounds right.”
He let go of her hand, but only so he could place his hand against the small of her back. It was a small gesture, but the declaration was clear. She was with him.
It didn’t take long to get back to the True. Mace had arrived only a few minutes ahead of them, and he sent the all-clear message Xaber had been waiting for.
“Why don’t you open the door?” he suggested.
“It’s not my ship,” she pointed out, but she raised her hand to the scanner, anyway.
It scanned her handprint and turned green as the hatch slid open. Mace stood on the other side, grinning.
“You gave me access?” she asked.
“We did,” Mace said. “We talked while I was off getting your things. We’ve got plenty of room on board.”
“And we wanted to offer you a place here. With us,” Xaber finished the offer. They’d agreed that they wanted it to come from both of them.
“Whatever room you like, it’s yours,” Mace added as he moved back to give them space to come inside.
“Me. Here. With you two.” Tix looked at Mace and then back at him. “You’re sure?”
“We’re sure,” they both said at the same time.
Several expressions flickered across her features so rapidly that only a cyborg could see them. Relief, uncertainty, and finally, acceptance. She said something so softly that he barely caught it. Something about target acquired? He wasn’t sure, but it was not the time to ask questions.
“Yes,” she said a second later, her smile bright enough to rival a star. “My answer is yes.”
Mace whooped and grabbed her by the hand. “The cabins are on this deck. This way.”
Xaber was only a few steps behind them. Tonight was the start of something special, and he had no intention of missing a moment of it.