Page 3

She waited for him to speak.

Two

The Vraxian was careful to keep his face immobile as he gazed at Kara. By Vannla’s Sword, she was beautiful. Tired, disheveled, extremely angry –may Ayanlesh protect him, she was incandescent– but beautiful nonetheless. He drank her in.

Away from the strange light frequencies of Minerva-6, her hair was no longer purple but raven-black, her skin more tan than gold. The clothes she’d been given to replace her ragged SDF uniform were comically large - a baggy top tied into a knot at the waist, a pair of trousers rolled up so many times she looked like a child playing dress-up.

The only thing she’d been allowed to keep were her old combat boots, since footwear was not something Vraxians owned. They were scuffed and scratched and looked a thousand years old.

Yet nothing could detract from her magnificence.

His heart contracted painfully. Locking her up had been hard. But he’d had no choice. He had to treat her like any other human in order to avoid suspicion. If he hadn’t taken her prisoner, it would have been dangerous for both of them.

Though judging by her expression, she didn’t see it that way.

“Guards, wait outside,” he said. The two hulking behemoths on either side of him turned and left the detention wing.

“Kara,” he began as soon as they were alone. She didn’t let him finish.

“If you’ve come to apologize you’re wasting your time. There’s nothing you can say that will make me forgive you.”

“I didn’t…”

“And congratulations, by the way. I didn’t think there was any way I could hate Vraxian snakes more than I already did but you proved me wrong.”

She glared at him through the bars and he sighed.

“I did not come to seek forgiveness, Kara. I came to make sure you were all right. Are you eating? Are you sleeping?” He searched her face. “You look tired.”

“And you look like shit.” She folded her arms sullenly. “Up all night celebrating with your pals? Drinking a bit too muchmelamak?”

“I haven’t been celebrating.”

“Sure you have.” Her mouth twisted. “I heard what you told your bitch commander. Leverage. That’s what you said I was.”

A look of alarm crossed Vahn’s face.

“You haven’t revealed you can understand Vraxian?”

“Of course not. I’m not stupid. It’s the one advantage I have.”

“Not the only advantage.” He stepped closer to the bars. “You have me.”

She snorted.

“You’re the one who put me in here, you fucking bastard. I’m never going to trust you again.”

Vahn didn’t reply. He was now standing so close he could smell her. Not the faint odor of disinfectant and anxiety that radiated off her, but the underlying scent ofher.Of Kara. Hiskalehsha.His mate.

He closed his eyes as his body shuddered. By the Fountain of Zandarr, it was intolerable. To be this close and not be able to hold her, to kiss her…

“Vahn?”

“Apologies, I just… I’m not…”

He swayed and despite herself she frowned in concern.

“What’s wrong? Are you ill? Is that why you’re so pale?”