Page 32 of Wayfinder (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #5)

I didn’t need my inner compass to guide me from here.

The maintenance entrance to the engineering level was well known.

The issue was getting there. The entrance lay on the opposite side of the bustling docking bay.

We would need to tread carefully to avoid drawing any unwanted attention as we made our way across.

Those after us would leave someone behind to guard the ship to facilitate a fast getaway. I would have.

Yet, I stood frozen in indecision. My thoughts lingered on the image of Pearl in the alleyway.

How she stood over the Aljani, fierce determination shining on her beautiful face as she wielded the club to defend herself.

.. and me. The memory caused a surge of guilt, and I couldn’t bear the thought of leaving her vulnerable and unarmed should the situation arise again.

“Here.” I pulled a blade from my bandolier. It was shorter than the knife I preferred and had a stunted handle that should work better for her small hands.

“You’re giving me a knife?” One perfect brow arched, and the corner of her lips lifted in a half smile. I knew she recalled our first meeting, just as I did.

“I don’t think finding a stick to defend yourself with will be that easy on this level,” I chided, drawing a smile.

I clutched her hand as we crept towards the maintenance door, keeping to the shadows, and using crates and errant pieces of machinery as cover.

Every step felt like a gamble. The cool metal of the walls pressed against my back as we hugged them, my eyes scanning for any sign of danger.

It was a nerve-wracking game of hide-and-seek, but we made it through undetected.

Even the groan of metal as I opened the door went unnoticed amid the clang of machinery and the whirr of landing ships.

“It’s a fireman’s pole.” Pearl’s lips twitched as she noticed the gleaming chrome pole suspended in the air from our level to the area below.

“Fireman?” I vaguely had a recollection of the word from my Earth studies.

Affection and pride warred for dominance on her features. Gently, she reached out and traced the edge of the bandage circumventing my bicep. “They’re warriors like you. Warriors who help others.”

I grunted in agreement, glad to know there existed Earth men worthy of a female like Pearl. She was a warrior in her own right, determined and strong, and I was proud to call her mine.

Grabbing the pole, I tested its sturdiness, finding it as solid as always. Descending the pole came easily for me. However, my mate might not find it so.

“I can carry you down if you climb on my back,” I began the offer.

“Oh, hell no,” Pearl snorted, followed by a giggle. “There’s not a kid alive who hasn’t wanted to slide down a fireman’s pole."

I glanced into the darkness below, my feelings swapping from pride to worry. “I will go first and make sure the area below is safe. Do not follow until I tell you.”

Pearl gave an excited nod.

The smooth, cold metal pole greeted my palm as I gripped it tightly. I hooked one leg around it and slid, feeling the rush of warm air as I descended to the level below.

The deafening clang and bang of the engineering level reverberated through my ears, drowning out all other sounds.

The overwhelming scent of oil and burning rubber permeated the air, burning my lungs with each breath.

In this dimly lit space, intense heat radiated from the incessant movement of the massive machines that kept the space station running.

I bristled at having to bring Pearl into this uncomfortable space.

Hopefully, Jala had already arrived, and our time here would be short.

“Come down, Pearl,” I shouted, making sure she heard me over the machinery.

Seconds later, I watched the approach of her perfectly rounded ass as she slid down the pole, her squeal of joy barely discernable above the bang and clang of the machines.

“That was fun.” Pearl linked her arms around my neck, grinning up at me as I caught her. My lips brushed over hers. I couldn’t help myself... I could never help myself where she was concerned and kissed her soundly.

“Is Jala here?” Pearl brushed the hair away from my forehead, and I noticed moisture on her fingertips.

It was hot here. I felt the dampness of sweat on my pelt and saw the sheen of it on my mate’s forehead and cheeks.

Jala needed to hurry. I needed to get Pearl out of here. I did not like her discomfort.

“I don’t know,” I told her honestly, surveying our surroundings.

Dim glowing bulbs gave off little light, and the sound and overwhelming scent of machinery made my other senses basically useless.

Anyone could be down here, and I wouldn’t be able to pick up on their presence until too late.

“I need to find a place to hide you until I’m sure Jala has arrived. ”

“I’m not leaving you.” Pearl crossed her arms over her chest and glared at me. “Don’t even think about it.”

“Pearl,” I grated, ready for an argument. Pearl frowned at me, and then her eyes went wide, noticing something just over my shoulder.

I spun, cursing the ineffectiveness of my senses in this place.

The Aljani stood a few feet away, blaster raised to shoulder level.

He was larger than the other two, and the metals adorning his light gray uniform suggested prowess in battle.

I stepped squarely in front of Pearl. Most times, a Vaktaire could withstand a blaster hit and keep fighting, but at this range, a shot to my head or heart would debilitate if not outright kill me and leave Pearl vulnerable.

No. I would not allow it.

“It is forbidden to use a blaster on the space station,” I said, keeping my voice even, almost uninterested.

Jala had outlawed blasters for all save her highly trained guards.

An errant blast causing a hull breach would prove deadly for everyone.

The populated upper-level walls were thickened to prevent such an incident.

The walls on this level were thinner to allow the chill of space to assist with keeping the machinery cool.

The Aljani remained unfazed. His eyes narrowed toward where I knew Pearl peeked around my shoulder. “At this distance, I will not miss my mark.”

Pearl’s fearful gasp tore at my heart, and I reached back, tucking her firmly behind me.

“She is a prized possession of Baron Oappo. He will not take lightly to your inference with his property.” The words made my stomach lurch, but I would say worse to protect her.

The Aljani laughed, sincerely amused. “She is not our target.” The muzzle of his blaster centered on my chest. “You are.”

“No!” Pearl yelled, jumping between me and the Aljani before I could grab her.

“She is brave,” the pale warrior snorted. “No wonder she is important and not to be harmed."

While her bravery was one of the things that made me adore her, I knew Pearl’s importance lay in her skill as a chef.

It didn’t take a scholar to figure out that the Baron wanted me gone because he feared I would realize he’d poisoned the stroaig.

Like most who condoned the use of slaves, he didn’t think Pearl possessed the intelligence to figure out his scheme.

The Baron knew I would protect and defend Pearl to my last breath, and he needed me gone to use her as a scapegoat for the Duke’s death.

“Pearl, you need to run.” I kept my voice low, my movements slow and measured as I stepped in front of her.

There was so much that could go wrong when the Aljani pulled the trigger, anything from a ricochet to an explosion that could hurt her.

Not to mention one or more of the horrible things he and the Kerzak might do to her once I fell.

“I’m not leaving you.” Pearl stood her ground, glaring at the Aljani.

“Go, find Jala.”

“I’m not leaving you,” she yelled, spinning to face me.

Her sudden movement seemed to take the Aljani off guard for a moment, but it was all the time I needed. Roaring, I pushed Pearl to the side as I lunged, barely knocking the blaster to the side as he fired. The shot slammed into a nearby piece of machinery that whistled and steamed in injury.

I reached for my blade, noticing a flicker of movement from the corner of my eye. I spun, drawing my knife.

I don’t know who looked more surprised... me or the Aljani. Him, I guess, as his fingers clawed at the blade embedded in his throat, dark blood spurting over his fingers. His wide, pale eyes glanced at me, but my knife lay in my hand. The one without her weapon stood by my side, breathing raggedly.

“Pearl!” I sheathed my blade and grabbed her, letting my hands roam over her body to ascertain for myself that she remained unharmed. She trembled, and a wash of tears hovered over her lashes, but she seemed well.

“I couldn’t let him hurt you.” A single tear fell. I kissed it away, pulling her into my arms.

“My brave, wonderful mate,” I murmured, stroking her back as she clung to me.

I felt her sobs in the shudder of her breath and the wetness that grew on my shirt.

We could have stood there for hours or seconds, I didn’t know, and it didn’t matter.

All that mattered was that she was in my arms and unharmed.

When she finally pulled away, her gaze flickered to the Aljani at our feet. She gave one final, deep shutter before squaring her shoulders. The gaze that held mine, while sad, was determined.

“We need to find Jala,” I said, stroking her cheek and wiping away the residual moisture.

She nodded, leaning into me as I cast one last glance at the dead male, a thought occurring that, despite our current circumstances, made me smile.

“You really missed me on purpose.” I remembered the blade slamming into the doorjamb, missing my ear by mere millimeters.

“Of course,” Pearl sniffled, but her voice was cocky.

I opened my mouth to tell her how proud I felt and how amazing and wonderful I thought she was when the sounds of nearby movement hit my ears. Grabbing Pearl, I tucked her behind a piece of machinery and turned to face my opponent.

“You were never good at hide-and-seek,” my sister said, stepping through the steam.

“About time,” I shot back, stepping forward to greet her. Jala frowned as her gaze centered on the blood-soaked bandage on my shoulder.

“Sorry, I’m late. There was the matter of a couple of Kerzak and an Aljani to deal with.” Jala hugged me and Pearl in turn. Watching her hold my mate with such affection made something warm bloom inside my chest.

“You have them in custody?”

“Most of them.” Jala gave a wry smile. “You know the Kerzak. One is dead, but the other two are being taken to interrogation.” Her expression shifted to one of bemused aggravation. “Now I just have to clean up the bodies you’ve left lying around.”

“Not sorry,” I grumbled, noticing Pearl’s faint smile. “I had to protect my mate.”

“Of course.” Jala’s expression softened as she glanced at Pearl. “Humans must be considered a glorious prize. You don’t see Kerzak and Aljani working together... especially as slavers.”

Pearl and I shared a glance, one that my sharp-eyed sister didn’t miss.

“What?”

My mate and I shared another look, and I nodded for her to continue.

Pearl sighed, wiping the sweat from her brow with the back of her hand. “Let’s get out of here and go somewhere cool. Jutuk and I have something to tell you.”