She gave him a droll look. “Fighter only sits one.”
He arched a brow at her dry tone. “I didn’t know you could fly. You’ve been holding out on m.”
She smiled. “Only Qillaq fighters. I know nothing about other craft.”
Yes and no. Flying was flying. But he could understand her reservation, especially if she couldn’t read the language for the gauges and controls. That was a one-way trip to the hospital.
Or morgue.
And as he stared at her, he realized how much he liked being around her. Even when she made him crazy.
“Are you just going to stare at me?”
He grinned at her question. “I might.”
“Not really productive.”
“But highly entertaining. At least from my perspective.”
She shook her head that was covered by a flight helmet. He had to admit he much preferred her open-face style to the League and Sentella’s closed helmets. This way he was able to enjoy seeing her.
“Okay,” she stretched the word out. “If I cut you off, it’s because I need to lead my people and—”
“That’s what I wanted to talk to you about.”
She frowned at him. “Not sure I like your tone of voice.”
“That’s because I’m not sure how you’re going to take this news.”
She screwed her face up in distaste. “More bad news?”
“From my perspective, definitely. From yours, probably not so much.”
Fury darkened her eyes. “Stop playing this game with me, Caillen. Spit out what I need to know.”
“Your mother’s alive.”
Both of her brows shot up this time. “Pardon?”
“She was in hiding to draw out the traitors. Now that she knows who they are, she’s headed for them to kill them.”
“Is she insane?”
He laughed, grateful she saw it the same way he did. “I’m not touching that one since she’s your mother.”
“Is she alone?”
“Darling should reach her… hopefully in time.”
She cursed with a word that shocked him. “There’s no way to teleport there, is there?”
“Not if you want to be intact when you arrive. The distance is too great and there’s too much interference.”
“Can Darling fight?”
“Oh yeah. Don’t let his diplomatic demeanor fool you. He’s as skilled and fierce a fighter as any assassin the League ever trained. More skilled than most. Something I tend to forget too until I see him in action. He might be shorter than most of us, but he can kick ass with the best of them.”
“If he reaches her in time.”
“Yeah.”
The sudden sadness in her eyes was like a punch to his gut.
“When did you find out she was alive?” she asked.
“A few minutes ago. We were heading to intercept her and Darling when you showed up.”
Disbelief etched itself into her features. “You were going to protect my mother even though you hate her?”
“Only for you, baby. Nothing and no one else could motivate me for this suicide venture I promise you.”
Desideria swallowed at those words that tightened her chest. She’d never loved him more than she did right now. “Thank you.”
He kissed his fingertips, then held them out to her in a sign of respect and caring. “Do me one favor.”
“Sure.”
“When the fighting starts, hang back. I know it flies in the face of your entire being. But for me, hang back.”
Right… he was out of his mind if he thought she was going to send him in and then stay back while he put himself in harm’s way. “What if I asked the same thing of you?”
“Yeah, but—”
“No buts, Cai. I can’t stand the thought of you being hurt and you’re already wounded. It’s not fair of you to ask me to abstain from the fight when you’re not willing to do the same for me.”
“I really hate it when you make sense.”
She smiled. “I know. I feel the same way about you.”
“So should we blow this whole thing off and go grab coffee? Or preferably a bed?”
She rolled her eyes at him. “You’re terrible.”
“True.” He took a deep breath. “Okay so we go with Plan B. Both of us get our asses kicked. Then we limp to a bed where I kiss your boo-boos and you kiss mine. Yeah. That still works.”
She laughed. “What am I going to do with you?”
“As long as it involves our mutual nakedness, I’m up for it.”
“Cai—”
“Really,” he said, interrupting her. He looked down at the bulge in his pants. “I’m definitely up for it.”
Yes, he was adorable in a completely irritating way. “I’m cutting the transmison now.”
“Don’t.”
Desideria hesitated at the grave tone of his voice as he said that single word. “Give me one reason why I shouldn’t.”
“Because when I look at you, I can see into infinity.”
Frowning, she wanted to understand what he was saying. “What does that mean?”
“I love you, Desideria.”
Now he said that? She sucked her breath in sharply at words she’d never expected to hear.
“That was why I said ‘um’ earlier. I couldn’t get the words out in front of other people.”