Chapter 9
Armathea
Somewhere in the Galaxy
Armathea’s bridge was spacious, littered with multiple command stations, each dedicated to specific functions such as navigation, communications, engineering, and tactical operations.
The captain's chair was centrally located and surrounded by navigational charts, star maps, and real-time data.
At the head, a reinforced glass window offered a stunning view of planetary systems and glittering stars that lay ahead.
Odin was lounging in the captain’s chair, pouring over holographic maps when he heard the door open. He looked up to watch Tia enter. “How’s our passenger?” he inquired, curious about their Taleari guest.
“Well, he’s very tall and well built,” Tia declared, a hint of a smile tugging her lips as she flipped her ponytail. “And extremely attractive for a mere Taleari.”
Odin rolled his eyes, aware Tia was baiting him.
He resumed plotting their next smuggling run.
Once they unloaded their passenger, and collected water from Elorex, it would be time for them to go to work.
The tidy sum the stranger had paid for a tow would come in handy, especially on Elorex where they could purchase extra water, extra fuel, and some unnecessary frivolous items.
“I think Kendra finds him attractive too,” Tia said.
Quinn threw his legs atop his control panel, crossing them at the ankle, grinning. “No doubt. Our Kendra is in love with him, what was his name again? Reyne, I think. She just doesn’t know it yet.”
Odin’s head shot up, a deep frown creasing his forehead. “What did you just say?”
“Kendra finds him attractive.” “She is in love.” They both answered at the same time.
“No. Not that. His name!" Odin's face turned a bright shade of red. “Please…tell me you did not say his name is Reyne?”
“Yes, Reyne. Why?” Quinn asked, observing Odin with a puzzled expression.
Odin surged to his feet, fists balled at his sides. “What does he look like? Black hair, light grey eyes?”
“Yes,” Tia answered. She punched some buttons and Reyne’s image from his cargo bay scan popped up. “Here, look.”
Odin leaned over her to stare at the image in shock. “Fuck. I’m going to beat him to a bloody pulp.” He stormed off the bridge without a backwards glance, leaving a stunned Tia and Quinn staring at the closed door in confusion.
“Do you think we should follow him?” Tia asked, worry knotting her brow. “I’ve never seen him so out of sorts before?”
“I don’t know, but Kendra is not going to take kindly to Odin pummeling the man she loves,” Quinn suggested with a wide grin.
Tia smacked him on the head, further messing up his brown spiky hair. “She’s not in love, you ass. She’s known him for less than a day. Sheesh. Stop being dramatic.”
“What? I’ve had plenty of women fall in love with me. Many in less than a day.”
The door hissed open, and Garrett strode in. He noticed them huddling together and his brows snapped together. “What’s going on?”
Tia wrapped her arms around Quinn’s shoulders from behind, giving him a tight squeeze. “Quinn here, was just telling me about the long list of women who have fallen madly, and hopelessly, and deeply, in love with him.”
“It’s true,” Quinn pointed out. “Women find me, how shall I say it? Completely irresistible.”
Garrett laughed. “I knew it. You really are delusional. Now, I finally have proof.”
Quinn leaned back and rolled his eyes upwards while he indulged his memories. “There was Illiana. Ahh, she was quite the beauty, and such an energetic lover. Tears covered her pretty cheeks when I was finally forced to leave her luscious thighs.”
Garrett pulled a face in disgust.
“And then there was Lady Arabella. She caught me trying to steal her tanzenite pendant, but decided my charms were too irresistible to resist.”
“Lady Arabella? Isn’t she the one who sent you to prison for theft of a sacred treasure?”
“Yes, but it was worth it. The lady had the nicest…” He held both hands towards the ceiling, pretending to fondle a pair of invisible breasts.
Garrett’s deep rolling laughter cut him off. “So, your cock got you thrown in prison? That’s hilarious.”
Quinn scowled. “Screw off, Garrett.”
Tia chuckled and gave Quinn a quick platonic kiss on his cheek.
Kendra left her room with a flutter of excitement. She even hummed on the way to Reyne’s quarters—something she never did. She buzzed his intercom, her heart beating in a non-stop pitter-patter that made her dizzy.
No response.
Frowning, she began to search for her missing guest. She found him in the athletic room. He was in the middle of the ring, his inky locks tousled about his shoulders, bare-chested and barefoot, wearing only snug black trousers and a wide black armband on his left bicep.
Stopping just inside the threshold, she observed him practicing for several minutes without his knowledge.
She felt like a sneaky spy, watching him this way, but couldn’t help admiring his well-muscled physique and the agile power of his movements as he swung the sparring staff in a wide arch in one direction, then pivoting and swinging in the opposite direction.
Then, he split the staff, like Tia had done yesterday, simultaneously spinning them gracefully in his hands like the two weapons were designed just for him, an extension of his appendages.
Holding one in the air, he lunged swiftly with the other. His moves were so military-like and smooth, like that of a wild beast ready to make a calculated kill—precise and executed to perfection.
So much for beating him, she thought, wondering how she even entertained that absurd idea in the first place. Wishful thinking. Unable to tear her gaze away, she continued to watch his practiced warrior poses, his muscles flexing with each move. She suddenly felt flushed. feverish.
Kendra had trained with Garrett and Quinn many times, so handsome bare-chested men were nothing new, but they were like brothers to her, unlike this virile man, who was definitely not like a brother. Far from it.
The man was utterly magnificent.
Reyne must have sensed her presence, for he glanced in her direction, his steel gaze locked on hers as his lips slowly tugged into a disarming smile. “Hello, Kendra.”
Embarrassed to have been caught staring, a blush crept up her neck and stained her cheeks.
She attempted to clear her throat without being obvious.
“Getting an early start, I see.” She padded barefoot to the wall and grabbed a staff.
Today she wore a snug brown tank top that exposed her midriff and matching knee length leggings.
Her long fiery mass was held its typical braid.
Reyne snapped the staff back together, his gaze tracking her every move. “Yes. I decided to practice with the staff. Get the feel of its weight and length in my hands.”
“You appear to be a natural with it.”
“I train with similar weapons on Talear.” He smiled, spinning the wood above his head. “And I'm hoping to impress you with my prowess.”
Had anyone ever tried to impress her before?
Never. Her pulse leapt and her heart swelled.
“Hold this.” Kendra tossed her staff to him, which he caught mid-air.
When she set the timer, eight blue and eight red rings appeared on both.
She took a deep, calming breath before she moved into the ring to stand close to him.
Kendra took her staff back, leaving him with the one with glowing blue rings.
She lowered her head. He bowed back.
“The most basic move is to attack fast, retreat faster.” She demonstrated by swinging her staff at his.
A whack rang out as their staffs collided.
She knocked off one ring but also knocked off one of her own.
Damn. She let loose a nervous laugh. “Let me point out that the object is not to knock off your ring in the process.”
Reyne grinned and mimicked her move, only his attack was much swifter and much more precise. Whack. She lost a second ring, while he lost none during his strike. “Like that?” he asked.
She raised a brow at his arrogant tone. “Yes, exactly like that.” She attacked again, going for the low approach this time. Whack. She managed to knock off one of his, without losing another of hers this time. “Or like that.”
Reyne swung low. This time, she anticipated that he would mimic her last move and sidestepped and swung her staff out of harm’s way at the last possible second. His staff met with nothing but a whoosh of air.
She grinned, pleased with herself. “The next move is also pretty common. I call it ‘the slide’.” She swung her staff at his, but instead of immediately pulling back when they collided, she pushed hers tight against his, sliding it across the wood in an outward motion, hitting all the remaining rings on that side of his staff.
“I like that move.” He swung his staff in a wide arc, forcing her to throw her staff in front of her or be hit by his oncoming attack. Whack. He knocked off two of her rings before he pulled back and attacked her other side. Whack.
For the rest of the match, Kendra did her best to defend her last ring, while Reyne took on the role of aggressor. After several minutes of energetic attacks, Reyne knocked off her last ring.
A loud buzz rang out.
“Wow, you really have a knack for this.” she said with a breathless smile and departed the ring to slump onto a bench.
Reyne followed, stretching his long muscular legs out, crossing them at the ankle. “I like ‘The Game’.”
His annoying sarcasm was back. “Since you won, I would expect you would enjoy it. But I’m done going easy on you.”
“Is that what you were doing?” His beautiful eyes glittered. “Going easy on me?”
“Of course, but the beginner treatment is over.”
Reyne chuckled.