Page 33

The Viqrians shuffled with Haiz stepping between her women and Nerx, using her body as a shield. That alone told Britt what kind of leader the Viqrian was. Nerx had been right. She’d been honorable in her attempts to prevent a war.

This incident was about to be done and dusted. Britt could forgive and forget, especially if it garnered peace.

One man, massive across the shoulders, held himself with such authority as he strode across the circle. He gripped Nerx’s arm, a grin splitting his cheeks.

When he mumbled something, she angled her head to hear better.

Nerx laughed. “Prince Citus, this is a surprise.”

“ You are surprised when Xeus tells me you found a new species?” Citus peered into his eyes and beamed. “Congrats on finding your Dar Eth.”

Nerx glanced at shuttle, forcing her to duck back. “My thanks.”

Citus caught Nerx’s braid and ran his thumb across it. “It looks good on you.”

Nerx stiffened. “Dishonor?”

“Freedom, my battle-bond. Not a single Etterian warrior would believe you lack honor.” Citus withdrew a dagger and sliced his own braid in half. As his hair unraveled, he held up his braid, then tossed it at Nerx’s feet.

The men sucked in sharp breaths, then, one by one, did the same.

In horror, Nerx threw out his hands to stop them. “No!”

They ignored him.

Something tickled Britt’s cheek. She flicked at it, then blinked at the moisture on her fingertips. She sniffed, trying to stem the tears.

Ziot raced past her to toss his braid on the pile. “Take my honor, Supreme Commander.”

“And mine,” Sena said, throwing in his hair.

“Enough,” Nerx roared.

“This change has been coming for a while. Time to forge a new tradition,” Citus said, smiling at the men. “Now, introduce me to these Viqrians.”

Nerx hesitated, then stepped aside. “Regent Haiz, commander of the battleship Kunakar.”

“On behalf of Etteria, as ambassador and prince, I welcome you.” Citus focused on her then froze. Pain twisted his features. He swayed, then crumpled to a knee. A shudder swept through him.

Nerx gaped, then lunged between a man and the prince. “Do not touch him.” He glanced at Haiz, his eyes widening.

Britt rose on her toes, trying to see what was going on.

A frowning Haiz clasped Citus by the arms, as if she could lift him to his feet. When he groaned, she released him. But he caught her hands and tugged her down. At her gasp, her women charged to her side, no doubt ready to defend her.

She held up her hand. “He is not harming me.”

“I would never,” Citus croaked, opening his eyes, now an all-too-familiar neon blue.

“Oh, shit,” Britt whispered. Haiz’s frown didn’t say much. Without knowing anything about their culture, Britt had to assume the regent didn’t know about the Ethera.

Britt whipped her gaze back to Nerx. Wait . Was this how Nerx’s eyes changed color? When? Why hadn’t she seen it happen?

A shadow fell across them. She inched deeper into the shuttle, shielding her eyes from the sun’s glare even as a dark blue ship landed on the outside of the circle and opposite to the Etterian shuttles.

Viqrian, she supposed, since it matched the color of their battleships.

The door opened to green light and women filing out.

One look at the woman striding ahead of her unit stiffened Britt’s shoulders.

Ziot stood before her, having not returned to the pilot seat.

She bolted toward him, snapping the chain taut.

With a growl, she stretched out her hand and grabbed his shoulder, tugging him backward.

Glancing at her face, he complied, withdrawing his blaster within the shadows of the shuttle’s compartment.

“It’s the woman who stole my mom,” she whispered.

He peered through the door and repeated what she said. She frowned. Why had he done that? Did he have a private channel with Nerx? And if so… Oh, yup, that’s right. She didn’t have an O.D.I. yet. Typical.

Nerx met her gaze and nodded. With a gesture at his males, they widened their circle to encompass the new arrivals. “Oh, good, you are on time,” he said. “We officially hand over your females—”

“You want me to believe you do not recognize me?” Shioll smirked. “Have you been demoted? Or is this a rebellion in the making?” She nudged the pile of discarded braids with her boot.

Movement caught Britt’s attention. She narrowed her eyes on Haiz helping Prince Citus to his feet. Then with one swift lunge, she unsheathed Citus’s blaster and fired, hitting Shioll between the eyes.

“On behalf of our empress, you are judged.” Haiz swung the gun wide as everyone drew theirs.

Britt gasped, torn between hiding and praying a tub of popcorn would materialize. This could turn into a mess or the most epic showdown.

Citus drew a greatsword from down his back, somehow hidden behind a built-in sheath. Because, dammit , surely she would’ve felt something on Nerx during one of those many passionate embraces. Still, it was a freaking visual delight.

Gunfire followed, green and white bolts zigzagging across the clearing. For the most part, the greens bounced off the Etterian armor. The whites hit limbs or shoulders, nothing too lethal. She didn’t think the Etterians wanted to kill the Viqrians.

One glance from Nerx had him bolting toward Britt amid shots fired. Her breath hitched, and fear coiled its debilitating numbness through her body. “What the fuck?” she asked when he swept her deeper into the shuttle.

“You vowed,” he roared. “Ziot, guard her.”

“Don’t you dare yell at me, asshole. I’m in the damn shuttle, aren’t I?” She grabbed the chain and waved it at him. “With this.”

He peered through the doorway, his blaster raised. “You were on the ramp.”

I was? She must have inched out in her eagerness to see better. “Oh.”

He didn’t hear her, already sprinting into the fray.

Harumphing at her mistreatment, she hurried to scan the

If she’d had popcorn, she would’ve gotten in a few mouthfuls, that’s how quick the fight ended. Viqrians and Etterians had Shioll’s unit kneeling in the center. A glance showed some men bleeding. A man moved between the wounded, Viqrian and Etterian alike, with the med gun.

Citus took his blaster from Haiz, then tapped the red button. “You just stunned her.” He handed it back to her and stepped aside.

“No talking me out of this?” Haiz arched a brow at Citus.

“As a commander, you have procedure to follow.” He ran a finger along her jaw. “Duty is a tiresome burden but necessary.”

She stared at him, then marched across to Shioll and fired at point blank range. “Anyone else want to question our traditions?”

“The High Council refuses to listen,” a kneeling woman spat, blue blood dribbling from her temple. “We want more to this life.”

“I lost five sisters to servitude for perceived slights.” Another raised her chin in defiance, while nursing her side.

“I am surprised you did not bother to clear the yarva , Haiz,” a woman tutted, stepping down from the Viqrian shuttle. She strode past Shioll’s body without glancing at it. Confidence was in her swagger, her gaze bold, determined, and arrogant.

“Kaara, I expected better of you,” Haiz snapped, sweeping out her arm. “This is not how you instigate change.”

Kaara shrugged. “You know how I feel about the powers-that-be.”

“As you know my stance.” Haiz raised the blaster. “On behalf of our empress, you are judged.”

“I do not die so easily,” Kaara cried out, leaping forward with her dagger drawn.

Citus lunged between her and Haiz, swinging his greatsword in a wide arc.

Shit. Britt gawked at the head bouncing across the ground toward her like a scene out of a movie. How sharp is that damn thing?

Citus swiveled, sword held high. He lowered it to place his hand on the gun Haiz aimed at the women. “May I suggest a trade?”

“I am listening.” Haiz angled her chin but didn’t glance at him.

“Release them to our care, and take me in their stead.”

“No,” Nerx growled. “Xeus will shave my head—”

Citus held up a hand, silencing the outcry. “As her Eth, I go where she goes. You know this.”

“My what?” Haiz faced him.

“I will explain later,” Citus said, sheathing his bloodied sword.

She opened her mouth then shut it before spinning on a heel and striding toward Nerx. “Have your pilot comm Tarni and tell her I have my own yarva .”

“Do it, Ziot,” Nerx said, as if the man could hear him from within the shuttle.

Ziot, still at the console, called Tarni, relaying the message. “It is done.”

Britt peered into his ears, trying to figure out how they spoke to themselves yet heard each other.

“We will deal with the Bronvol , or do you want those females too?” Haiz smirked. “Are you worth that many?”

“We can send them to Fuyra, a mining moon orbiting Etteria,” Nerx said, then glanced at Haiz. “Where we put dishonorables to work.”

“The operatives you have on board must question each female. Test their participation. Some may have been forced. Those who test poorly will serve in your mines.” Citus gazed at Haiz, his fascination revealed by the smile teasing his lips.

What mines? Britt opened her mouth to ask then swallowed the question. Now wasn’t the time.

“If Fuyra is secure, then I will accept on behalf of my empress.” Haiz touched her temple. “I am certain she will agree it is a fine solution.”

In bloodstained uniforms yet healed, the Viqrians marched in single file onto the Viqrian shuttle.

Citus joined Haiz, his focus on her when the door shut.

When they launched, the five women still kneeling watched but didn’t move.

They ogled the men around them, some leaning in to whisper to each other.

“Trav, Eriz, Karg, take these females to the Sasay . Question them then release them to the Kushin with instruction—Fuyra or Etteria.” Nerx scowled, his arms folded across his chest, as he waited, watched, not even flinching when all except their shuttle left.

When only his men remained, he relaxed. “You did well, and my report to our king will reflect my high praise.” He clasped his braid. “Thank you for your gesture.” He tapped the clip. “Retrieve yours; you will need it.”

Then he headed to Britt, who squeaked and ducked back inside, lest he yelled at her again. That still grated, and she’d give him a piece of her mind first chance she got.

He unlocked the chain from her belt. “Come, thamani . Walk with me.”

Blinking at his offered hand, she hesitated, then accepted, letting him usher her onto the grass.

Her boots squelched, and the spongy ground added an extra bounce to her steps, as if she walked on a mattress.

She shivered but didn’t say anything, not when she’d fought hard to come with.

The next planet might be nicer, but she wouldn’t get to find out if she whined now.

“Did it go like you hoped?” she asked, stepping over what looked like a dead trunk. Odd that when there were no trees nearby.

“No, but I know better than to expect anything to go as I envisioned.” He halted on the edge of the clearing, peering into the forest.

She would’ve guessed pine trees for they looked similar.

They smelled like vanilla though. Not saying anything, she took deep breaths, savoring the sweetness of the air.

She closed her eyes and tilted her face to the sun.

Sunlight, fresh air, greenery were things she hadn’t thought she’d miss.

Silence reigned, the ‘insects’ no longer tweeting.

She suspected the recent battle had a hand in that.

“I am sorry you had to witness—”

“I don’t faint at the sight of blood, Nerx. Now, if you’re going to crap me out, you better rethink it.” She peeked at him. “I didn’t realize I’d stepped onto the ramp.” She raised her hand as Citus had done. “I was outside the shuttle but not off it.”

“You endangered yourself,” he said, his voice low but without anger.

She grimaced, liking his calmness less than the yelling.

“Not willfully.” She faced him. “I spent most of the time peeking through that door. And hiding isn’t in my nature, Nerx. So either give me some slack or teach me to defend myself.”

“This is true,” he said, cupping her face. “My prince handing himself over did not evoke as much emotion as seeing you standing in the line of fire. I never want to experience that again, thamani .”

“That I understand.” She looped her arm through his and pressed her cheek to his bicep.

“Every day when I got home from work, I’d hope my mom would’ve come out of her shell.

I feared losing another parent. Being afraid’s horrible, crippling, and a tricky bastard to get rid of.

” She smiled at him. “So, you’re training me? ”

He chuckled. “You are incorrigible.”

She nudged her head at the shuttle. “Let’s go. I’ve had enough of Luchur. And when we get back, I’d like an O.D.I. please.”

“I agree,” he said, lacing his fingers through her hand as he led her to the shuttle.

Against the one wall sat the Viqrian prisoners, the men guarding them while standing in the center again.

“I also want a private channel with you,” she said, settling her gaze on Nerx.

He paused mid-buckling her into the chair, this time without the chain. “A what?”

She flicked a gesture between Ziot and Nerx. “You know, being able to talk and you hear it over there.” She hitched her thumb behind her, indicating outside.

He laughed. Sena and Ziot joined him.

Folding her arms across her chest, she huffed, tempted to kick Nerx since he still crouched before her.

He stroked her knee, sending a ribbon of heat up her leg to her core, but she was too pissed to savor it. “Britta, we have enhanced hearing.”

“Bullshit,” she said.

“Whisper something to me,” he said, touching his ear.

“Oh, we’re reverting to parlor tricks? Okay.” She leaned in close, making sure her lips brushed the shell of his ear. “Will we be talking later?”

His cheeks darkened. His eyes smoldered. He cleared his throat. “Ziot?”

“‘Will we be talking later?’” the pilot said without glancing over his shoulder. He was focused on getting them off the ground and into space.

“Fine,” she huffed, “but I still get that O.D.I.”

He stood, and in the process kissed her, pushing her back until her head tilted up. With a sweep of his tongue, all her anger fizzled, now replaced with a different fire.

“Seducer,” she muttered when he released her.

He gave her a sexy smile and said no more.