Nykyrian pulled out his link and called Rachol and Jayne to start a search. He tossed his link to Caillen. "Keep in touch with them. I'll take Kiara home, then join the search."
"How will we keep up with you?" Caillen asked, tucking the link into his belt.
"I have Darling's link at home."
Guilt gnawed at Kiara while Nykyrian led her to his ship. If not for her getting into trouble again, Nykyrian might have been able to get to Darling in time.
"I'm sorry," she whispered as they launched out of the bay.
"You didn't do anything," Nykyrian said with a sigh. "I should have known better than to leave Hauk with the two of you. Sometimes he just doesn't think."
Kiara remained quiet the rest of the trip, her thoughts whirling over what had happened.
She prayed for Darling's safety.
Nykyrian rushed her inside his house, grabbed the link and was gone before she could even wish him luck. Her heart heavy, Kiara made her way up to bed.
She lay for hours watching the stars twinkling above her head, praying for all their lives.
When she saw Nykyrian's fighter fly over, her heart pounded in relief. Grabbing her robe, she dashed downstairs to wait for him to enter. The lorinas curled about her legs, mewing softly.
Exhausted, Nykyrian came through the door. He dropped his helmet to the floor and opened his arms to receive her tight squeeze. "We found him," he said in a tired voice.
"I hope you beat Arturo to pieces."
Nykyrian held out one of his hands. The knuckles were swollen and bloody. "I did my best."
Kiara smiled, brushing a lock of his hair from his face. "Where's Darling?"
Nykyrian moved away from her and stretched as he walked to the stairs. "He's staying with Jayne and her husband."
*
He paused on the second step and turned to face her. "I'd give anything if you'd carry me upstairs." Kiara laughed. "Come on, soldier. Move it!" Kiara pushed him from behind.
A groan escaped him as her hand slid between his thighs. "If you keep doing that, I might revive myself after all."
"Listen to you" she admonished. "And after the way you ran after that blonde tonight."
Nykyrian threw himself across the bed. "I needed information." He yawned into the pillow.
Kiara shook her head. "If the universe could see Nemesis right now, I doubt they'd find you such a terrible threat."
She waited for him to respond.
"Nykyrian?" Kiara leaned over him and realized he was asleep.
A smile curved her lips. Darling had told her he would get tired like this. Sighing, she turned out the lights. Kiara tugged his clothes from him, folded them neatly, and placed them in his closet.
A warm tingle pulsed in her breast as she watched him in the dull glow of the room. He looked so peaceful. She prayed he would have one night free from his nightmares. But she knew better.
She always knew which nights he actually slept. On those nights she would hear him call for his mother, cursing her, crying for her, or he would remember his missions and come awake trembling. Kiara wondered if he remembered any of his dreams. If he did, he never mentioned them to her later.
Pulling his hair from his cheek, she kissed the stubbly area. She would never leave him.
Kiara spread a blanket over him, then crawled into bed by his side and wrapped her arms about him. With a contented sigh, she drifted off to sleep.
*
Kiara brushed her hair, her cheeks warming at Nykyrian's lustful stare. He leaned back on the bed, a knowing smile on his lips. "Do you realize you m arried me last night?" Her hand stopped mid-stroke. "I what?"
He nodded. "Andarion law states that any two people who profess, uncoerced, to be mates before another individual, are married."
A warm thrill shot through her. "Are you serious?" she gasped, lowering the brush.
He looked away from her, his face stoic. "I take it you want a divorce."
Kiara bit her bottom lip, a smile curving her lips. "Let me think this over. I kind of like the thought of being Tara Nem esis." Kiara sat next to him on the bed. "Is that really all it takes?"
He touched her cheek, his hand burning a trail along her chin. "It is. Andarions aren't big on illustrious ceremonies." He sipped his juice.
Kiara sat back in a pretended huff. "Well, I never thought my wedding day would be so uneventful."
He smiled. "A divorce is just as easy to acquire."
She shook her head, her curls tumbling down in her face. "Oh no. You're stuck with me now!"
Nykyrian's warm hand moved to cup her cheek. The look on his face was one she couldn't place, and it worried her.
"What's wrong?"
He kissed the top of her head. "I thought I'd take you to your father today."
Surprise jolted her. She studied his lovely green eyes, not entirely sure she wanted to go home. "My father might shoot you if he finds out we're married," she said with a smile, running her hand under the blanket.
When her hand closed around him, he snorted his juice up his nose. Kiara laughed.
"That was mean," he accused.