Page 5

“If he is the captain, and you are the second, then the woman must be the pilot. Yes?”

Nadira’s heart thudded in her chest. As nerve-wracking as the battle had been, this was worse. When he leveled his gaze on her once again, she broke out in a fine sheen of sweat, and she had to clench her hands into fists to keep them from shaking. Still, she met his eyes, trying not to flinch. She didn’t intend to show any weakness to this enemy.

“Nadira Greyson.” Damon stepped slightly in front of her even as he made the introduction, and she loved him for it. He was twenty years her senior, and though it had always irked her before, she was grateful he treated her like he might a daughter. She hated to think she needed his protection, but this was one time she wouldn’t argue with him over it.

Mikiel raised one dark brow and, if possible, looked even scarier than before. “The Black Star Princess? She is your mate?”

Nadira started, and her gaze flew to Mikiel’s face. How the hell had her stupid nickname made it beyond the bounds of theBlack Star?

“No.”

“Your lover?”

“No, but she is under my command, and therefore under my protection, and I have no tolerance for that title.”

“I see.” Mikiel’s eyes shifted from Damon to Nadira, a flash of annoyance crossing his features.

There was a brief period of silence while the two men stared at each other. Mikiel’s guards held an identity pad to each of them for their palm prints. Damon not so subtly shouldered himself more securely in front of Nadira and gripped her hand in his own behind his back.

“I think we should discuss our current situation, Commander. We need to get back to our ship.”

Mikiel sat back in his chair and steepled his hands. Nadira had a sinking feeling he was plotting something. She didn’t trust him.

Damon urged Nadira to sit as he did so himself. She sat, but on the edge of her chair. She was too edgy to sit back and twiddle her thumbs. Commander Mikiel’s attention kept coming back to her and there was something new in his eyes. Lust. It wasn’t overt or overwhelming, but just knowing it was there made the hair stand up on her neck.

“What did you have in mind, second in command Damon Singh?”

“I’ll give you Captain Barnus in exchange for the freedom of my ship and crew.”

“A fine arrangement for you, but what’s in it for me?”

“The captain of theBlack Starwould be quite a trophy.”

“TheBlack Starwould be a better one.” He hadn’t missed a beat, hadn’t hesitated.

“I can’t deny that, but we’re out here in the middle of nowhere. Even with the four ships you have with you, I doubt there would be enough room for all the prisoners you’d have. Even if you left them aboard theBlack Star, you’d be vastly outnumbered. Are you really willing to kill everyone on board for a trophy?”

“Well, actually --” Mikiel crossed his arms over his chest and looked Damon dead in the face. “-- that’s exactly what I’ve been instructed to do.”

Chapter Three

In all his years in service to the Coalition, and all the slaves he’d owned, he had never come across anyone who piqued his curiosity like the woman on the other side of the table, and he wasn’t sure why. Yes, she was striking, but he’d known women more beautiful. Also, he certainly didn’t know a woman -- or man, for that matter -- who could handle a ship like she could, but it wasn’t that.

He’d had time to study her several times since they’d arrived on theSword Breakerand the more he learned of her, the more he liked her. It wasn’t just her appearance, but her spirit. She was scared -- probably beyond anything she’d ever known -- but she was holding her own. The only obvious sign she was uneasy was the finger that kept finding and twirling a strand of hair that had come loose from the thick knot of white-blonde hair at the nape of her neck.

At first, he’d just wondered what it would be like to see how far he could push her before she either fought back or her spirit broke. But his wayward thoughts kept wondering what all that hair would look like draped around her naked body. He could have any number of women -- had at his disposal at least five on this ship alone -- but none of them piqued his curiosity like she did, and he wasn’t sure why. He did suspect she might have been theBlack Star’s human connection, but that wasn’t it, either.

The more he thought about it the more it grew into an obsession. He’d just bet there was more to this little wench than met the eye. When Damon Singh suggested taking the captain and letting the rest of them go, he got an idea. “Is this all a set up then? A trick?” Damon didn’t seem convinced. The man was apparently a good strategist.

“No trick. I’ve been ordered to either capture theBlack Star, or, failing that, destroy her.”

“Then why haven’t you done so?”

Mikiel didn’t say anything for a moment or two, letting their situation sink in. “Because you have something I want.”

“Aside from our ship, I assume.”

“I’d be willing to spare the lives of your crew and let you retain possession of theBlack Starfor a price.”