ShakenandStirred by Viola Grace Page B

worry about her. She will be alive and well in no time. You simply need to have a little trust."
    Her frown increased in severity. "How am I supposed to trust someone I just met?"
    "I suppose you will just have to take it on faith." He hit the thrusters and they shot past the incoming law enforcement.
    Her ire died in that moment, fear of the labs in the forefront. She held her breath as they passed those who wanted to shackle her in a cell.
    As she watched the stream of ships coursing from the planet to the moon, she made a decision. "Faith is good. I will take this on faith."
    Vortex chuckled and slammed the thrusters into high gear. "I will take it."

    Chapter Two
    The jump was unsettling to say the least. On the ground, Tosha's talent would have gone wild, here, she throttled it back to keep the shuttle in one piece.
    Her breathing was audible. The meditation that her mother had walked her through was coming in handy.
    "Are you all right?"
    "Just trying not to shake the shuttle apart. I have flown in a shuttle plenty of times but never jumped before." Her hands gradually unclenched on the harness and she relaxed into the seat.
    "Well, breathe deep. The next jump is in twelve seconds." Vortex's sure hands moved swiftly on the controls and Tosha noticed the halo that crowned his head start to flash.
    Twelve seconds later the light was constant and she concentrated on staring at her host as space folded around them.
    She took in the width of his jaw, that hypnotizing curve to his lips and the vibrancy of his eyes as he moved them from jump point to jump point. The broad swath of his shoulders was rather nice as well. She had always been a sucker for broad shoulders.
    Blushing, she looked out the view screen before he could catch her staring. "Is saving damsels from their governments your regular line of work?"
    Vortex laughed. "You are my first damsel. Normally, I simply arrest and detain. I was working for the Nyal Imperium for years before one of my superiors suggested I join the Guard."
    "What species are you?" He didn't resemble any of the races she had seen before.
    "A Nyal mix. My mother was a noble and my father was a visiting Oshanic delegate. She went into heat and he cooled her off."
    She laughed out loud before covering her mouth.
    "It's all right, you can laugh, it is a family joke. My mother had herself altered for life under the sea and she moved to Oshanic to have a family. I was born of two worlds and mastered waterspouts when I was a child." His grin invited her to share in his memories.
    "And from there you entered service?"
    "After my time as an Oshanic peacekeeper, yes. There is nothing water breathers hate more than being bound up in an air spout."
    "I can see how that would be a problem." It was hard not to smile, but she thought of Alara and her grin faded. She went uncharacteristically silent. Not knowing exactly what going to the lab entailed was the most horrible part of it. Alara may be fine, but they may be torturing her for information while Tosha was busy flirting with her rescuer.
    He seemed to be tuned into her thoughts. "She will be fine. She promised us she would be fine and knew that you wouldn't be if you stayed."
    "How did you know I was thinking about Alara?"
    "Oshanics are telepathic and I got the empathy portion of that. You were putting out unhappy and guilty vibes." He looked at her with those incredibly blue eyes and her heart skipped a beat. He smiled. "I felt that, too. I should pick up damsels more often."
    A blush fired her cheeks as she was caught lusting after the man next to her. "I am sure it's a worthy hobby."
    He flashed slightly pointed teeth and flipped the com on. "Teklan base, this is Vortex. I am bringing in the new recruit."
    "Vortex, glad you made it back. Dalpha is up in arms. We were afraid they had intercepted you." The voice was cheerful.
    "Nope. We are fine."
    "Excellent. Plant yourself on a pad, you have your choice."
    "Coming in." He disconnected the link and