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“What?” she squeaked. “Why would we send bombs in pods beyond the outer reaches of space?” She shook her head. “Humans are greedy. There isn’t profit in that.”

“We located many such pods on trajectories into the unknown, all launched from Jupiter or one of its moons.” With a flick, the three-dimensional image appeared on the screen, thin blue lines tracking through the great cosmos, the origin Jupiter.

She gaped then swallowed. “You said pods, as in more than one. What’s inside them?”

Drafe dipped his head to hide his smirk. She is smart.

“Human bodies.” Aehort rested his backside on the edge of a table.

“Dead?” Her eyes widened.

“Yes.” Aehort summoned another image, the face of the female from earlier. “We opened one on Ceres, which is why we were not on the Aroagni when you were rescued.”

“Vic, the body has your scars.” Drafe crossed the distance and captured her left hand in his. He ran his thumb over the faint lines, relishing the softness of her skin.

Shadows darkened her eyes. “Was the pod red?”

He jerked back but didn’t release her hand. “Yes.”

Her eyes fluttered closed while she drew in a shuddering breath before meeting his gaze. “Carne’s involved.”

“Who?” Drafe ran his hands up her arm when she shivered.

“They kidnap or buy children to train and fight in the Ring, their arena. Injuries happen often, and cybernetic implants are encouraged.” She rose, pulled her hand free from his, then slipped around him to pace.

“It’s possible they test their medical advances on unfortunate souls.

I can’t know for sure, but I wouldn’t put it past them.

” One moment, her face was pale, the next, flushed the color of pink wind-hewn rock.

“A cruiser flew alongside the Mula Pesada. I rushed inside to tell Nikko, and bam, he jettisoned me. Could the two ships know each other? Could the Mula Pesada be hauling more than ice?” She pinched her brow.

Her eyes shimmered as if she mourned. “I wasn’t allowed in the engine rooms. They claimed some bullshit reason like not trusting me yet.

Fargen hell. If they have prisoners, then yes, I would’ve fought to free them. ”

“We need to locate the source and bring justice to Ivoy.” Drafe caught her hand and tugged her against him. She went willingly then rubbed her temple across his chest.

“Find the medical facility Carne is funding?” She yanked out of his arms and held up her hands. “No way. I ran from them, wanting freedom more than vengeance. Why would I bring their attention down on me?”

“You need not come with.” Drafe cupped her cheek and brushed his thumb across her skin. In fact, he would prefer she remained safe.

“So hide in your ship?” She pursed her lips. “I’m not a coward.”

Aehort rose to his full height. “We are not implying you are, Vic. You have endured much, lost parts of who the na?ve girl farming sol once was.”

She blinked at Aehort, then sliced a wide-eyed glance at Drafe.

“Clairvoyant, remember?” He smiled. “We need to find the source first before we can decide on anything else.”

She frowned. “If what you say is true and if the ice hauler is tied to this, then Europa is where I’d look.

A hauler traveling between Lunar Base and Europa wouldn’t be suspicious.

Then, once we pinpoint the facility, we need to take control of the Mula Pesada , confirm the prisoners are on board, then use the ship.

Carne’s security is tight. They will have checks in place.

” She rubbed her palms together. “If we’re taking the ship, I want in on that part. I have a score to settle.”

“Good.” Aehort tapped the console. “Now, as to your organisms—”

She gasped. “You know what they are?”

Drafe laced his fingers through hers, unable to resist touching her a moment longer. “Qaldreth have symbiotes that carry the history of our tribe and ancestors.”

“Symbiotes?” She mouthed the word.

“It is also what builds the bond between Aehort and me.” He gestured with his free hand at Aehort. “When the explosion killed my ot and the council assigned the mission to me, I had to share my symbiotes with Aehort. The bond between Ivoy and Qaldreth is crucial to our relationship.”

She blinked at him, appearing sweet and infinitely feminine. “How do I have your symbiotes?”

Osnir save him, he wanted to kiss her, taste her tongue, and wrap his arms around her. “When we mated, a part of me—”

“Your sperm?” She threw back her head and laughed.

He smiled. “Yes, and I have your nanites in me.”

She stilled, her laughter dying. “Are you serious?”

He parted his lips to cease breathing her addictive scent into his body. It was driving him crazy to not throw her over his shoulder and return to his quarters. “Quite.”

“Fine.” With a deep sigh, she settled her hands on her hips. “What’s done is done. So what happens now? Can this be fixed?”

“Not on this ship. I would need our medical teams on Ivoy to assess you.” Aehort smiled. “ If you join us on the return trip.”

“To Ivoy?” Her voice spiked. “Is it a habitable planet?” She flicked a dismissive hand. “Of course it is.” She stilled again. “Wait, as a specimen to be tested, prodded, with parts of me sliced off to be boiled down to its molecular level?”

Drafe couldn’t help himself and laughed. “We bonded, Vic. As I protect Aehort, so too will I guard you.”

“Oh.” She frowned. “If your symbiotes are in Aehort and me, does that mean we’re bonded too?” She pointed to Aehort and herself.

Aehort’s wide mouth curled at one end. “I do like you, human. On our return voyage to Ivoy, I will teach you how to sense emotions not your own.”

“I should be losing my mind here, but given that I knew about the organisms, and that they weren’t harming me, I have to say, I like that these symbiotes are yours, Drafe.” She crossed to Aehort, gathered his orange fingers in hers, then squeezed. “Thank you for the offer, Aehort Uz.”

Discussion over, Drafe crossed to the door as it opened at his proximity. “Come, Vic, let me take you to the bridge. From there, we can orbit Europa and search for the pod’s source.”

With a backward glance at Aehort, she trailed Drafe.