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Chapter Twenty-Three

Aboard the Aroagni.

V ic touched the device implanted in her neck.

Drafe called it a language implant, but it was far more than that.

Tapping it twice activated a shield around her body, granting her two hours of oxygen and the ability to walk suitless across the outside of the Mula Pesada .

Farg, she couldn’t believe she was doing this, not with the alien males beside her, and certainly not for the fine piece of ass that was Drafe.

True, revenge was her motivation, but he had needed her to do this.

Had he been Ande, she would have agreed without a second thought.

It was, for this reason, she found herself stomping across the ice hauler with her boots activated and without a tether like she hadn’t learned her lesson last time.

She scanned her team, trusting them. If she fell off the stupid ship, they would rescue her.

Thankfully, asshole-Ulvus had remained on the Aroagni .

She glanced at the sleek ship. Its organic lines were like combined water droplets shimmering as it traveled through space.

Drafe had said it was in stealth but, due to some frequency in the neck device, was visible to them.

If she squinted, she could make out a static-like shimmer around it.

Inside, it didn’t scream a higher technology.

Sure, it had a replicate, and soon she would ask it to make coffee.

The tulsig cakes were good, and maybe bacon and eggs would be as wonderful.

She paused mid-stride. Was she considering staying with Drafe?

Returning to Ivoy and Qaldreth? Not like she had other options.

Her job on the Mula Pesada was a hell-no.

Not to mention that the farthest from Carne and Sebastian’s influential reach was with Drafe and wherever he went.

He peeked at her over his shoulder and halted, crossing to her without a thought to the men he impeded. “What is it, gevatia ?”

Endearments, already? Her chest blossomed with unrestricted joy. She smiled. “Nothing, just admiring your ship.”

He followed her gaze. “It is beautiful. It is not often one sees it from the outside.”

“Yup.” She gestured with her chin that they should proceed. “Once we reach the airlock, opening it might trigger an alarm.”

“I am prepared.” He squared his shoulders, and she had no doubt he’d be formidable. Used to judging men for their ability to survive a battle, Drafe would have received her support from the get-go.

He marched behind his males, checking to ensure she followed.

The shield glowed a pale blue and contorted his handsome features.

Later, after all was done, she wanted to run her tongue along the length of his cock.

How would he react? Would he like it? She giggled then tamped down her laughter.

A little breathless, she joined the males alongside the airlock.

“Caah?” Drafe glanced at his tech specialist.

“All sensors were deactivated the moment we were within range, Drafe. I expect no alarms or a welcome party.”

She grimaced, having wanted to cause a bit of panic in her attempted murderers.

To trigger the door to open, she slid a hidden panel aside and hit the red button.

No lights flashed. Still… She raised her gaze to the ceiling, expecting to find sec-cams. Her instincts warned that they weren’t unobserved.

Oh, farg, I hope so. She wanted to rub her palms together, that eager she was for a full-out confrontation with Nikko.

They filed into the room and waited for the door to close. Once the pressurizing completed, she peeked into the hatch housing her tether to study the shorn edges. Gritting her teeth, she tapped the neck device twice to deactivate the shield then glanced at Drafe. “Ready?”

At his nod, she pulled her blaster from its holster and barreled along the passages leading to the bridge. “Computer, where’s Nikko?”

“Greetings, Vic. Nikko is in the mess.” The feminine voice was monotone, though what had Vic expected… A gushing welcome?

“Who speaks?” Caah gaped at the ceiling.

“The onboard computer.” Vic grinned. “Computer, who’s manning the bridge?”

“Leah is on duty.”

Excellent. Vic bounced on her toes and tossed Drafe a grin. “And Tiny?”

“In hydroponics.”

“Hide our presence, Computer. We wish to surprise the crew.” Vic hurried along the passages and snuck into the narrow hydroponics lab, turning to usher the warriors in before closing the door. There was no need for anyone to stumble upon them crowding the passage. “Hi, Tiny.”

“Vic.” She faced the door. “I thought you… Nikko said we’d lost you to some freak accident.” Medical scents engulfed Vic with Tiny’s crushing hug.

“You did.” So the bastard had lied? Which proved Tiny innocent of Nikko’s dealings. “My tether was cut.”

Tiny frowned. “Cut?”

“Yes.” Vic proceeded to fill her in. “Which leads us to believe there are prisoners on board.”

“Us? Wait, did you say warriors?” Tiny tilted her ear to listen. “Three?”

Vic gestured to Drafe and his males to come closer. “One at a time, step forward and introduce yourself.”

Drafe cast a glance at Tiny but settled his gaze on Vic. His eyes darkened to a rich amber. “I am Meorri aac Drafe Arrak. Vic is my female.”

Her breath caught. Swells of delicious heat uncoiled in the pit of her stomach. Dropping her chin to her chest, she hoped to hide the shimmer of tears. Yes, she was his and happy to be.

“Oh,” Tiny gasped when Drafe took her hand. “Does that mean what I think it means?”

“More than you can know.” Vic threw her human arm around Tiny for a sideways hug. “Nenn, you’re next.”

“Describe them for me, Vic. Oh, I do love the way they smell. Like I’m in a biodome on Ganymede, filled with rich soils, succulent plants, trickling water...” She paused to inhale through her nose. “Volcanic rock.”

Trickling water? Vic glanced at the vats of bubbling water.

And her dear sweet Tiny wanted her to describe them?

Sure, Vic could wax lyrical over every aspect of Drafe, but she didn’t want to share.

And doing so over the other warriors would be rude.

“Drafe and Nenn are close to you, the others... Besides, we’re out of time. Will you help us?”

Tiny folded her arms across her chest and waited.

“Fine,” Vic huffed. “They have obsidian skin. Their hair runs from their brows to the base of their spines. All are muscled, strong, and skilled. Drafe’s a warrior guardian. Caah’s a tech guru. Nenn is like you, a medic.”

“He is?” Tiny gasped, raising her white gaze.

“Can you not see me?” Nenn gathered Tiny’s hands in his. “Loss of sight is no more where I come from. Allow me to heal you.”

She scowled. “With implants?” She shivered. “That’s a no, thank you.”

Nenn chuckled. “We regrow your eyes and encourage the optical nerves to reconnect. I will return for you when our mission is complete.”

Tiny leaned closer to Vic to whisper, “Is he for real?”

“Yes.” Vic chuckled. “Now, will you help us?”

“Sure. What you need is access to the engine rooms. Security was restricted, but last night, Captain just up and gave everyone full-access status. He did sound…odd. Anyway, that means I can appoint you as our new captain.” Tiny giggled as if this wasn’t a life-or-death situation.

Vic arched a brow. “That could work, but won’t Leah notice?”

“Why would she?” Tiny scoffed and waved a dismissive hand. “She’s probably got her boots up on the console and her nose buried in smut.” Tiny faced the nearest console. “Computer, set all crew to staff access, and grant Vic full control.”

“Control granted, Captain Vic.”

“See. Easy as that. Computer, locate all storerooms.” Tiny gestured to the console now flicking through Mula Pesada’s floor plans.

“I would start there.” She returned to clipping rosemary and placing the stalks in a bowl.

Her movements were so delicate as she snipped by touch.

She stiffened and titled her head as if to peer at everyone over her shoulder. “But Vic, what if you’re wrong?”

Vic squeezed between Drafe and Caah who studied the ship's diagrams until they found one large enough. Nearest to the engine rooms, it was clear why anyone would ignore the many heat signatures. She trailed a finger from hydroponics to the storeroom, assessing the least obvious route to take.

Realizing Tiny had spoken, Vic said, “Then we leave the ship without bloodshed.”

Tiny squeaked. “Don’t harm…anyone.”

“Especially Dieter?” Vic teased, tossing her a glance.

Tiny’s cheeks darkened. “No,” she pursed her lips, “go ahead. Kick his ass.”

“What the farg?” Vic opened her mouth to ask then snapped it shut. “You’re coming with us. Pack what you need.”

Tiny gaped. “But—”

“Do you want to stay on the Mula Pesada if it’s true, Tiny? Wouldn’t that make you complicit in whatever the hell Nikko’s up to?”

Tiny slumped and placed the clippers in the bowl. “No, you’re right. I’ll be ready.”

Vic squeezed past the males and hurried along the passages, keeping to the least used. Alerting Nikko or Leah of their presence meant killing them, something she wasn’t opposed to, but until they knew how to communicate with the facility, Drafe needed them alive.

The lighting dwindled to a minimum the deeper and lower they traveled.

They forewent elevators and used ladders instead.

She had her ears pricked for any approaching footsteps, finding the lack of activity alarming.

Where was Dieter? After all, the engine room was his domain.

Sweat drenched her tank and slicked her palm gripping the blaster when she, at last, stopped before a solid airtight door.

Using her cybernetic arm, she tried to turn the hatch’s lever.

It creaked when she bent the metal bar, and still, the door didn’t open.

She frowned at Drafe, who threw up his hands with a husky chuckle. “I am not trying.”

Nenn squeezed her arm. “Foq, Vic, I need to take a look at you when we return to Aroagni .”