Page 90 of Tempting Cargo

“No.”

“This is most unacceptable.”

“I amsosorry I don’t have a spare berth on a cargo vessel for a traveller I didn’t plan on having,” Shohari said. “You’re here as a shipment, so you can sleep in the cargo bay.”

“I shall sleep on that sofa.”

“The hell you will.”

“I shall sleep in your security guard’s bed, then.” The ydouir’s wolfish grin held pure delight, and her bright eyes flashed with menace.

Shohari stretched her arms above her head and brought one down over my shoulders, hooking her forearm round my throat. “He doesn’t have one either. He’s with me.”

Coerril wings flexed with imperious disregard. “Regardless. When do we meet Anandri?”

The problem came to Shohari the same time I realised it, and we shared a wince.

“In about eight days, all going well,” she said.

Coerril went very still. “The meeting point is five days from Hydouis, Captain. What trickery is this?”

“No trickery. But I have urgent business elsewhere first.”

She hissed, and the lights in the galley flickered. “You are not going directly to Anandri?”

“I was not told to go direct, nor was I told to pick up a passenger.” Shohari tugged on her headspines. “I have business to deal with that has already been delayed by visiting Hydouis. If you have a problem with it, you and Tokoran can moan about it together because he didn’t want to waste time coming here, but he had to suck it up, same as you will.”

The ydouir flexed her wings again, arching them out behind her, calm and casual, but the swish of her tail betrayed her frustration. “And where will we be going next, Captain?”

“Orith.”

She arched a silver brow. “And you would takemeto Orith? And him?” Her head jerked towards me.

“You’ll stay on the ship,” Shohari rumbled.

“And who are you fighting?”

Shohari stilled. “What do you mean?”

“Did you think I would not notice the shooting range sharing the cargo bay? And you willingly go to a planet notorious for its animosity to other species with four different such people on board?”

Shohari didn’t flinch. “Yes.”

Coerril uncrossed her long legs, stretching them out in front of her. “What happens if you are unsuccessful?”

The room fell silent apart from the hum of the engines and the shifting of particles in the vents.

“What do you mean?” Shohari’s voice was tight.

“I know little of your people, but I know enough to recognise whatever you plan is risky, no? And now you risk the shipment. You riskme. So I ask again, Captain,what happens if yourmission fails?” She leaned back, a careless smile lighting her face, nothing but the twitching tip of her tail to show she was anything but calm.

I gave up fighting my instincts and squeezed Shohari’s hand. Her headspines jerked upwards then fell flat, and her ridgetips flicked and pulsed erratically.

There was another pause, and it was as if the words were dragged from Shohari’s tight, dry throat. “If we fail, we are dead. Or as good as.” Her fingers gripped mine so hard I had to grit my teeth.

“Then it is as well I can fly a ship.” Coerril’s face was taut, and I worried what control she had on her barely restrained fury.

“If we fail, the ship is grounded. The docking clamps won’t be released.”