Assessing Survival by Viola Grace Page B

when Nikolai said, “Yes.”
    She shrugged with a smile.
    Liakon nodded in agreement. “If you ever have need of one, please consider me or one of my men for the position. We all have extensive training in the arts of love, and it would be an honour to be at your service.”
    “Um, thank you. I will keep it in mind if there is an availability. I do have a question for you and your men.”
    “Please, do not hesitate.”
    “The question is twofold. The first part is what are your kind called, and the second is do you have anyone who can make a scale drawing of your wings, including tensile strength and lift capacity? We may be able to speed the regeneration if we can install frameworks that will help your body repair.”
    “Solouk is a biologist. He should be able to reproduce what we have lost.”
    “How long does it normally take for your wings to regrow?”
    “Six months.”
    She made a face. “How long were you a prisoner?”
    “Our ship was captured a week ago. Your men were already on board. It was a shock to see the men coming to rescue their own, and we were even more astonished when they took us with them. We were grateful; we are grateful, but for one species to take in another in the face of war is amazing.”
    Nikolai sighed. “To be honest, we didn’t know you weren’t ours. You look the same.”
    Stitch was surprised. “You didn’t notice their eyes?”
    Liakon cleared his throat. “We did not let them see. The Alguth are sensitive when it comes to the minds of other species. When we saw how close we were to your kind, we blended in.”
    “So, a chance to escape was in front of you, and you took it?” Stitch fought her smile.
    “Yes.”
    “Well, I am delighted that you have all made it out alive. Now, did Nikolai show you where you are staying?”
    The world was getting warm and blurry again. She listed to one side before she jerked upright.
    “Stitch, we should get you to bed.”
    She chuckled. “It is nearly dawn. I will have to be up in two hours to check the communications.”
    “I will help.”
    She swayed again, and he sighed. “Executive decision.”
    She figured out what it meant when he lifted her and carried her out of the dining hall with fifteen aliens walking behind them. To her surprise, he didn’t take her to her quarters; he brought her to the med lab and put her in the machine.
    “We use this before we go on a mission. It helps keep us awake without doing any damage.”
    She wrinkled her nose. “Recalibrate it for me.”
    He laughed. “I know how to set it.”
    She lay back and watched the machine as it whirred, but instead of needles and scalpels, she saw light. Her mind relaxed and her body went boneless for a moment.
    Her skin was tingling when the machine opened again. She felt bright, refreshed and ready to tackle the day.
    Nikolai smiled when she swung her legs out of the machine. He put his hands on her waist. “Better?”
    She pulled his head down and kissed him with a portion of the energy ripping through her.
    His hands contracted on her waist, and he pulled her in close. She wrapped her thighs around him, and he cupped her buttocks as they ravished each other, tongues sliding and hearts pounding.
    He moved his hand up her spine, and she shivered. When he gripped the back of her head, her hair came loose again and he groaned.
    She pulled away and smiled at him. “So, you want to help me work off this energy?”
    “In front of your guests?”
    She looked past him to the group of aliens who were watching with amused fascination.
    Stitch didn’t even think before she said, “That wouldn’t bother me, but this lab isn’t really comfortable. Perhaps something a little more horizontal?”
    Liakon smiled. “We will explore the exercise facility and determine what we can do with our new limbs.”
    Stitch frowned. “Take it easy. It will take a few more hours until the integration is complete.”
    “Yes, Major. We will follow your dictates.”
    She looked at