Page 9

An insistent ping woke Jos. Out of long-engrained habit, he kept his eyes closed while assessing his situation. The last thing he remembered was Tyelu bending over him, her eyes as frozen as the tundra where she’d been born. Pain, too, though that had passed, leaving him foggy and a big woozy. He was lying on something soft, his arms were stretched above his head, and unless he was sorely mistaken, metal cuffs encircled his wrists.

The steady thrum of an engine reverberated through the floor beneath him, and he bit back a curse. Unless his dal was playing a joke on him, he was not on Apedemak on his way to his assigned mission. That much was clear from the thrum of the engines.

Raw emotion roiled through him. He couldn’t decide how much of it was fury and how much betrayal, not that it mattered. Tyelu had played him, but to what end?

The tiny part of his brain still operating logically fed him a hint, and it only infuriated him more. She’d frekking kidnapped him? Right before a mission whose outcome could have sector-wide consequences? What in the stars had she been thinking?

Gentle fingers pressed against his forehead, skimmed down his cheek, and checked the pulse under this jaw. The fleeting touch retreated before he could muster his senses. When he opened his eyes, Tyelu had her back to a metal wall on the far side of the room with her eyes closed and her arms crossed over her chest.

“Why?” he gritted out.

Her eyes flew open, those beautiful blue eyes that reminded him so much of home. “You’re an intelligent man. Figure it out.”

“Tyelu.”

The near growl didn’t faze her in the least. Her chin tilted at a challenging angle, the very one he enjoyed seeing so much, and her gaze held a firm chill. “Q’Mhel.”

“Do you know what you’ve done?”

“Yes,” she replied, entirely too calmly for the fury burning through his words. “I have legally, under Pruxn? law, kidnapped a highly desirable mate in order to present him at this season’s Choosing.”

Jos’s hands clenched into fists. It was all he could do to hold back a snarl. “You have no legal claim to me, according to your own raiding laws.”

If anything, the set of her mouth became even more stubborn. “Do you think me so stupid as to have stolen an ineligible mate?”

No, he didn’t think she was stupid. He’d never been attracted to slow-witted women, and Tyelu was far from that. But he wondered if she truly understood the pickle they were both in now because of her impetuousness.

That soft ping chimed again, and he realized, finally, what it was. A slow, grim smile curved his mouth. Just to poke at her, he rattled the chains cuffing him to the wall above the bed where lay. “You can’t hold me.”

“Watch me,” she shot back.

He activated his comms and said, “Magda. Where are you?”

Tyelu arched an eyebrow.

Within shooting distance , came his First’s response. Please let me shoot that frigid bitch out of the sky .

And take me with her? Aloud, he added, “Do not fire. I’m assuming this is a private vessel manned by civilians.”

You’re assuming right. But maybe just one shot across the bow?

The righteous snark came through loud and clear, breaking Jos’s fury. “Can you ‘port me out?”

No can do. We can’t get a firm lock on your position. Can’t risk taking part of the ship with you.

Then don’t risk it. Give me five and I’ll get back with a better solution.

If you spend even a tik of that time making nice with the princess—

Jos cut her off before she could finish that thought. Tyelu hadn’t moved an iota during his brief conversation with Magda. Why that engendered a feeling of pride in her, he had no clue. He was furious with her, as any Q-merc in his right mind would be, and she just stood there unmoving, watching him search for a solution.

As if he hadn’t wiggled his way out of tighter spots than this before.

“Finished chatting with your girlie?” she said, her voice as smooth and cool as her expression.

“What did you do to my armor?” he countered.

Her smile unfurled in a sensual curl of those delectable lips, shooting heat straight to his dick. “Proprietary information.”

He snorted. “I can still transport out.”

“No, you can’t. Not without help.” She heaved a sigh and the smile fell away. “But if one of your d’gas wants to check on you, they can transport into the cargo bay.”

“Mighty generous of you, princess.”

“Make sure it’s the medic.”

She turned on a booted heel and exited the room. He rattled the chains again, just to tweak her nose. Manacles, for stars’ sake. What kind of griyet lubber did that?

The answer sighed out of him as he twisted around to get a good look at them. The Pruxn?, that’s who, and he could only blame himself for being here. He’d known exactly what she was when he approached her, knew even now, with the hot taint of fury lingering in his blood, that she wouldn’t have taken him if she thought they weren’t a good match.

No, this was on him, just as figuring out whether he wanted to stay or go was on him.

For a brief moment, temptation flared, luring him with the promise of a future he’d scarce dared to hope for. A beautiful woman to love, a home, children with sky blue eyes and enough gumption to keep him on his toes the remainder of his days. His heart softened, and he laughed softly.

She’d done a number on him, hadn’t she? Enough so that he’d already talked himself out of his anger.

Frek.

He shook his head and, reluctantly, contacted Magda. She wasn’t the dal’s medic, but her being here might save his skin and Tyelu’s both.

Because duty be damned, he knew what he wanted to do, and it had nothing to do with leaving Tyelu behind.

Tyelu walked out of her quarters on Yarinska without a backward glance. What did it matter? The contempt in Jos’s expression had burned itself into her mind.

Her knees threatened to give way, and she yanked herself back under control. A Lady Warrior, even one no longer actively serving the queen, did not succumb to such trivialities as a devastating emotional blow. Jos’s anger would cool. She had to believe it, else everything she’d done to keep him would be for nothing.

She met Ziri in the corridor outside the cargo bay, kneeling in front of an open panel. Ziri’s coveralls were wet in random places, and she cursed good naturedly at the pipes showing through the opening.

Ziri glanced up, her sunny smile dimming as she caught sight of Tyelu. “What’s wrong?”

“Nothing,” Tyelu lied, and was proud at how even her voice sounded. “Why?”

“You’ve gone three shades of pale.”

Ah. Good to know.

Tyelu inhaled a fortifying breath and pinched some color into her cheeks. “Better?”

“A little,” Ziri said, still frowning. “Does this have anything to do with our unexpected passenger?”

Tyelu only just hid a wince. Unsure how to answer, she shrugged. “One more guest incoming. Nothing to worry about.”

Ziri put down the wrench in her hand and straightened away from the open panel. “Are you sure everything’s ok?”

“Positive.”

“Hmm. I’ll go fetch Ryn, just in case.”

“That’s not—” Tyelu began, but Ziri waved a hand at her and headed toward the bridge.

“Just what I need,” Tyelu muttered at her next-sister’s back. “More people interfering.”

She straightened her spine and slapped the cargo bay hatch open, then stepped in to find a fully armored Q-merc nestled inside the one spot not filled by cargo, helmet down, the end of a nasty looking blaster pointed at Tyelu’s chest.

She arched an eyebrow at the mercenary-soldier. “Lower your weapon, or I’ll open the bay’s doors and let the black have you.”

“Try it and I’ll shoot you now,” the Q-merc said.

Tyelu recognized Magda Bur-D’ga’s voice and smiled coldly. “And start a war between the Q and the Pruxn?? I think not.”

“Like you haven’t already. Do you have any idea what kind of trouble you’ve started?”

She scoffed. “A union between our peoples will go a long way toward cementing diplomatic ties.”

“Not when you’ve stolen the frekking taq’s grandson.”

Tyelu froze and, against her will, her eyes widened. Jos, the grandson of Q’s hereditary ruler?

Magda chuckled nastily as she lowered her weapon and retracted her helmet. “I guess you don’t know him as well as you thought.”

Tyelu hardened her expression. “Not that it’s any of your business. Now, run along home, like a good little dog.”

Footsteps rang behind her, then Ryn said, “Tyelu, you’re needed on the bridge. Bur-D’ga, Ziri will take you where you need to go. Your time is limited. Make the most of it. And don’t even try to steal Tyelu’s candidate away, or I’ll hunt you down myself.”

Magda nodded stiffly as Ziri slipped into the cargo bay.

Ryn grabbed Tyelu’s arm and all but dragged her into the corridor. As soon as they were out of hearing range, he hissed, “You really landed us in a mess this time, sister.”

She wrenched her arm out of his hold and hissed back. “I didn’t know he was the taq’s grandson.”

Ryn grunted and followed her onto the bridge. “Sigun’s been trying to contact you. Father, too. Apparently, you’ve kicked up a diplomatic storm.”

She snorted at that. “As if you wouldn’t have for Ziri.”

“I would do a lot more than that for her,” he said softly. “Which is why I’m supporting you in this. Don’t let them bully you into giving him back, interplanetary incident or not.”

Her heart melted at his unexpected support, and tears welled up. On a wild impulse, she wrapped her arms around him and squeezed tight. Thank Fryw her parents had taken Ryn in when they’d found him!

Ryn patted her back awkwardly, then eased away. “I should check on the Bur-D’ga. She seems like the type to take advantage when your back is turned.”

“She will at that,” Tyelu said, grimacing. “I’ll handle this. And Ryn? Don’t worry about your reputation. I’ll make sure this isn’t pinned on you and Ziri.”

He nodded sharply and left, and she heaved a sigh. Time to face the consequences, she thought, then flicked on the comm and contacted home.