She wanted to, though. There were a thousand words in her head, each more unlikely than the next, every last one of them exactly as over-the-top as the general's confessions of love. The words were in her mouth, on her tongue, beating at her teeth and needing to be heard.
It was all Naima could do not to submit to him then and there, let herself be free and safe in his strong arms, but she suddenly had two lives to think about and consider.
It made sense for her to agree to the bond now when there was a baby in play, but she didn't think of it like that. Her child deserved the best possible life and until Naima wasn't sure it was with Braen, she didn't want to spoil the fragile peace between them. She needed to digest the situation a little, see if she could really bring herself to trust in herself first. Her trust in Braen by now was… well, it was a scary kind of certainty, actually.
The answer was there, however, in all of those words in her heart.
"How are you feeling?" the general asked.
"Good, I think," Naima said, glancing at the man she suddenly found herself falling for without hope of ever escaping him. "Happy."
Braen's voice had been rougher than usual, saying that and Naima noticed the blue had faded away, replaced by something a little darker.
"If you want me to take you back to Matthos IV, I will," the general said then to her utter surprise. "Or to Terra, wherever you'll feel safe. I can leave you with the Palians or fly you to Briolina. Wherever you go, you'd have my protection and warriors to defend you with their lives. If the Palians manage to make the bracelet you envisioned, you shouldn't be in any danger."
"What about – what about the Fearless?" Naima asked, the shock of that offer so strong it made her shake a little.
"Audrey Price and I can handle it," Braen said, his voice hollow and emotionless. "It would be harder, but you know she would agree to it. With your condition, she wouldn't hesitate to take your place. Perhaps I'll find someone else to create the connection, a young warrior who doesn't know too much to give away to the enemy."
"I can't ask Audrey to do that," Naima argued, remembering how tired and worn down the woman had looked.
"I can," Braen said. "For the safety of you and our baby."
Endless possibilities were rushing through Naima's head with such speed she felt dizzy. It all sounded great in theory. To leave the dark and gloomy Benevolent behind. To be safe under the protection of the new and improved bracelet, to never actually have to face the Fearless. It was supposed to be a dream come true.
It wasn't.
Nothing of the sort, in fact. All Naima could think about was that it meant she'd have to leave Braen. Even with all their fighting and the general's maddening bravado and his cursed thick-headed approach to everything... faced with the choice, she didn't want to go anywhere.
The gigantic flagship didn't feel so dark lately, not when Braen was there with her.
They were sailing to meet the most dangerous creature in the galaxy and every approaching inch put Naima in greater danger, but she didn't care. With the general, she felt safe against all reason.
Braen's offer sounded like the logical choice, but it couldn't compete with the feeling in Naima's heart that she wasn't able to deny. That she and their baby belonged with the general, come what may.
"No," she said. "I will stay until the mission is over. Audrey is too far. She can’t get you close enough to the Fearless and you know it."
I will stay with you, her heart corrected.
The light blue flash of happiness that brightened up Braen's otherwise stern face didn't go unnoticed by Naima.
"Are you sure?" the general asked, barely able to hide his gladness. "The closer we get to the Darnetta system, the more likely it is that the Fearless can get to you, even with the bracelet."
"I know," Naima said, holding her hand protectively over her belly, although she knew there wasn't anything to protect yet but a promise of life. "After everything I've been through and seen, I don't think distance or warriors are going to make a difference. I wouldn't be safe anywhere and besides...
“I'd worry. At least while I'm with you, I know you're alive."
This time, Braen couldn't resist leaning in closer and placing a soft kiss on her lips. A moan escaped Naima's mouth and in the next moment, she found herself pulled from the seat into the general's lap. His hands were wrapped around her, holding her gently and surely, his lips demanding and hungry for hers.#p#分页标题#e#
Responding to him wasn't even a question. Naima had grown so used to fighting everyone that it just felt so good to give in, to let the general kiss her lovingly and passionately.
Maybe it will work out, her mind helpfully added. Maybe I can be better… all that he deserves…
Every last bit of Braen was driving her out of her mind faster than she could cope. The general's arms were firmly holding her against him, his lips drawing moan after moan from Naima. When he pulled her hair, she whimpered in need, desire quickly overrunning her body and will.
She knew in that moment she'd fallen too hopelessly and too far.
It just so happened that Palians had one of those days when they were bound to keep doing everything wrong. A surprised cough brought Naima back to the real world after she'd been lost in Braen's scent and strength and power.
In her heart, she was starting to suspect it was like a drug to be with the general. And she wasn't strong enough to even pretend to want to get off of it.
"Excuse me for interrupting," Gelo said, edging into the room. "I understand congratulations are in order, General. Miss Jones."
Braen growled. Naima smiled.
"I came to tell you of my success immediately," the Palian went on. "I thought you'd be excited to know that Miss Jones was right."
Gods be good, can it be? Can I actually get some peace?
She dashed from Braen's arms to the scientist who held a weird contraption. It didn't resemble her bracelet at all, more like a... glove. Just what she'd imagined. Her face lit up as she looked at it, admiring the craftsmanship.
"Does it work?" Naima asked, unable to contain her excitement.
"All the diagnostics show that it does, but I thought we could try and see if it needs some tinkering," Gelo said. "Will you give me your hand?"
Naima reached out her left arm, the one without the bracelet. As the Palian slipped the thin glove on, she was astonished. Even the general came closer to see.
It was truly something to behold. Thin and silvery, so flexible it was almost like a cloth, but sturdy like metal. It crisscrossed over her skin like a floral pattern. The surface was pleasantly warm, pulsing very lightly from the lifestone embedded above her wrist. Naima noticed they'd only used a piece of it, but considering the power of the stone, it was more than enough.
"I followed your instructions to the point, as you may see," Gelo said as Naima pulled the glove slightly over her elbow. "The glove is made of nanobots that will conform to your movements, so it shouldn't be in the way. It weighs practically nothing and is so thin you almost can't see it under fabric."
"It really doesn't feel like I'm wearing anything," Naima agreed, moving her hand a little. "I mean, look at the way it presses against my skin. It looks like I have a silver tattoo."
"Something of the sort," the Palians agreed, clearly proud of his work. "And this is merely the prototype. If I had more time, I might perfect it, but you insisted on speed."
"I did," Naima said, exchanging a look with Braen. "We need to find the Fearless. Will you send one of your better prototypes to Audrey Price on Verien? With my greetings."
"Of course," Gelo assured her and took a step back. "Are you ready to turn it on? General, join us, please."
Braen frowned.
"Must she endure the Fearless' attacks again?" he asked.
"Not at all, General," Gelo said. "Miss Jones asked for another thing in her proposal for this device. We've understood that the Fearless has been able to access her mind at more unguarded moments. To ensure that doesn't happen again, I've added a safety measure.
“The glove can't be turned off without you, General. If you would give the nanobots your fingerprint there... yes, that's good. Now, only you will be able to remove or turn off the glove."
Braen pressed his thumb to where Gelo showed. As the Palian talked on about the specific mechanisms of opening the new device, Braen was looking at Naima with such intensity that she felt herself blushing.
"This is brilliant," he finally said.
"Thank you," Naima smiled. "I thought since I can't be trusted with the bracelet, there should be a way I didn't have to be. Now, the Fearless can't make me take the bracelet off and since it won't be able to access your mind, I should be as safe as I can be."
"Shall we turn it on?" Gelo repeated and Naima nodded eagerly.#p#分页标题#e#
With a small touch, the glove came to life, emanating a very dim glow. Naima gasped, causing both men to tense up in alarm. It was like she’d stepped out of a box of nails into cotton.
"Naima?" Braen asked, concern plain in his deep voice.
"I'm fine," she whispered, moving her hand with the wondrous glove in front of her. "It's gone. The Fearless, the lifestone. I can't feel any of it, not even a little. There's only silence. By gods, I'd forgotten what it's like to be alone in my mind."