Page 34 of Wayfinder (The Outlander Book Club… in Space! #5)

Pearl jumped at the sound of the Baron’s voice, her eyes going wide with a mix of aggravation and trepidation.

“It will be alright,” I promised, pulling her into my arms, my lips brushing her forehead. I wanted to keep her there, safe from harm, but I couldn’t, not yet.

“Can’t we just leave?” The worry in her voice twisted something in my chest.

“Sadly, no,” I whispered. “As much as I hate it, we have to deal with the Baron. He would raise an alarm upon finding you missing that would hinder our escape.”

Pearl heaved a long, heavy sigh. Then she straightened her shoulders and raised her chin, fiery determination dancing in her blue eyes.

“Then let’s deal with the asshole.”

Goddess, this wonderful, brave, beautiful female!

I took her hand in mine, pulling open the door. We’d kept our mating secret for the most part, knowing the Baron would not react kindly to the news. Now, I wanted him and everyone else to know Pearl was mine and that I would do anything... anything to protect her.

The Baron was livid, webbed hands flailing about as broad, slimy lips smacked, issuing grunts of displeasure. Four large Kwado guards flanked him, trying to appear imposing.

“Hello Baron. What can I do for you?”

Pearl covered her unease, acting completely unfettered. I took the distraction to tap my comm bracelet—a signal to Jala I’d put into play—just in case. I’d hoped to have Pearl off the space station before the Baron realized we’d thwarted his plans. Now, my only goal was to keep her safe.

“What did you do to Duke Ako’s dinner?” The Baron hissed. Globules of spit flowed from his lips giving faint smacking sounds as they hit the floor.

“I’m sorry.” Pearl appeared legitimately confused, although I knew that wasn’t the case. “The Duke said he loved the chili.”

The Baron stepped forward, pointing a bulbous finger in Pearl’s face.

I steeled myself against reaction. While I knew I could best the four Kwado guards easily, attacking a royal—even one as slimy as the Baron—carried dire consequences.

But if he or any of his guards touched Pearl, I’d rip out his throat and deal with the outcome happily.

“I know you didn’t serve the stroaig to the Duke,” he hissed, beady-eyed.

I saw the expression in Pearl’s eyes flicker as she glanced at me. It was as good a confession as any. The Baron had no way of knowing that Pearl didn’t use the stroaig, except for the Duke not dying at dinner.

Pearl met the Baron’s gaze head-on. “No. I didn’t. I began preparing the meat, and it smelled spoiled, so I improvised. You didn’t want me to serve the Duke spoiled meat, did you?”

“You should have done what you were told,” the Baron spat... literally.

“I’m sorry?” Pearl crossed her arms over her chest, adopting a defensive stance. “The Duke raved about the chili, so obviously, he didn’t realize it wasn’t stroaig. What’s the problem?”

The way my mate stood up to the Baron was glorious and pride erupted in my chest. Why did I ever consider wanting a mate that was quiet, demur, and meek? Pearl was fierce, brazen, and determined. Utterly, utterly perfect.

“Seriously?” she pressed. “What’s the big deal about not serving the stroaig if the Duke loved the chili?”

“The problem is that you belong to me and need to do as I command. No matter what!” The Baron seethed, gesturing to one of the guards. “Bring her. Whip her until she understands how to obey.”

Deema and Aqsa whimpered, obviously having experience with whippings at the Baron’s hand.

The guard shifted his stance, hand outstretched to grab Pearl. Before he could make contact, I insinuated myself between them.

“I don’t think so.”

“How dare you defy me!” The Baron’s high-pitched screech echoed off the walls. “The Vaktaire needs a lesson in manners as well. Bring them both.”

Putting a hand on her hip, I pushed Pearl a few steps behind me, at the same time drawing my scimitar.

The Baron had just signed his death warrant.

His Kwado guards all laid hands on their weapons, but I noticed a tremble to their webbed fingers.

Kwado, like Aljani were not known for their battle prowess.

Most knew facing off against a Vaktaire, even with the four to one odds in their favor, would mean death.

“What is all this?”

The voice’s inherent authority stilled my hand. Duke Ako swept into the kitchen, followed by his personal guard, my sister, and Praxxan.

The swoony sounds issued by Aqsa and Deema nearly made me smile.

The Baron stiffened, trying to hide the ferocity that recently consumed him. I re-sheathed my scimitar but did not move from the protective stance in front of my mate. Pearl clutched at my bicep, fingers trembling. I wanted to kill the Baron for making her feel the slightest amount of fear.

“I’m sorry, your grace.” The Baron wore his deference like a layer of slime. “I am having difficulties with my human chef. As you well know, humans can be difficult at times and must be punished.”

What is her offense?” Ako came to a stop beside my mate, followed by his entourage. It felt like a battle line was drawn down the center of the kitchen, with the Baron and his guard on one side... and everyone else on the other.

“She did not prepare your dinner as instructed.” Baron Oappo adopted his most haughty demeanor. I wanted to gut him.

“My dinner?” The Duke started, then chuckled. “My dinner was the most wonderful concoction that has ever passed my tongue. She needs lauding, not punishing.”

“I’m sorry, your grace, but I must insist. I require all my slaves to be obedient, even in the smallest issue.”

A dollop of anxiety laced Baron Oappo’s aggression. He needed to get me and Pearl away before we could mention to the Duke that the stroaig seemed spoiled.

“May I offer a suggestion?” Duke Ako’s deep blue gaze danced between me and Pearl.

“Of course, my Lord.” The Baron gave a perfect imitation of acquiescence.

“If you are having such trouble with the human chef, I accept her as my birthday gift.”

“What?”

I didn’t know who asked louder, Pearl or Baron Oappo.

The Duke held out a hand to my mate. I felt her gaze on me as she responded with trembling fingers, giving her hand over to his grasp.

“I would be most proud to have a chef of her caliber at the citadel.”

The Duke’s words rang in my ears. While considered a fairly decent male and leader, there were rumors of his proclivities toward human women.

Yet, in watching him with Pearl, I didn’t detect the slightest hint of lasciviousness in his demeanor.

No, he regarded her in much the way Praxxan did Priemba, with affection and fatherly concern.

At my sister’s quelling glance, I pushed back the desire to rage against the idea that another male felt he owned my mate—for now.

“I would be honored to cook for you,” Pearl gushed, dropping into a curtsey so pathetic but equally adorable that I nearly laughed out loud.

“No... No... I just....” The Baron sputtered, the dark eyes atop his head growing comically large.

“I thank you most graciously for your gift, Baron. You will be the envy of all patrons at my birthday celebration,” Duke Ako praised, but as he glanced at Praxxan, his eyes grew hard.

As a Stranac, my sister’s mate resembled something from Earth referred to as a lion.

Basically humanoid in appearance, save for feline features of a broad nose, wide almond-shaped dark eyes, and razor-sharp teeth.

Praxxan stood as tall and broad as me, with the addition of a long tail tipped with a tawny puff of fur.

His hands were more paw-shaped, each digit ending with a short black claw.

The long, tawny mane, a feature echoed in my adorable niece, he wore pulled into a tight braid.

“Baron Oappo. You are under arrest.” Praxxan stepped forward, his voice holding the tenor of authority.

“What?” Baron Oappo shuffled backward, his throat expanding as he gulped for air. “For what?”

I felt Pearl jerk at Praxxan’s words. She moved to my side, trembling fingers resting on my chest just above where my heart echoed hers. I slipped an arm around her waist, pulling her close—a motion that did not escape the Duke’s notice.

“For conspiring to kill Duke Ako.” Praxxan’s lips twitched, and I knew he struggled not to express his utter glee. He detested the Baron. “The stroaig meat you personally provided for his meal was laced with fenykl, a deadly poison.”

“No... I... I....” The Baron stumbled toward the door, knees buckling with each step.

“Guards restrain the Baron.” This time, Praxxan didn’t attempt to hide his smile.

Duke Ako watched the Aljani guards' shackle Oappo, his only lapse in control a glance shared between him and my sister.

The guards went to remove the Baron when he crumbled to his knees.” Wait... I will tell you everything."

“Hold.”

Duke Ako moved from where he stood by Jala, kneeling beside the Baron,

Baron Oappo whimpered, sheepishly meeting the Duke’s gaze. Ako had been a fierce warrior in his youth, a champion of the Alliance gladiator games. Even now, facing the Baron in all his royal finery, he appeared dangerous and deadly.

“Speak,” Duke Ako growled at the Baron. “And you know your words hold your life within them.”

The Baron’s thick swallow was audible. “I... I....” He gulped again and seemed to find courage from somewhere. “It was Nansar!”

A tremor of shock traveled through us all, save Duke Ako. His face did not betray the slightest emotion. Neither did his voice.

“My son... Nansar?”

“Yes.” The Baron gulped again. “Nansar sent Kerzak to intimidate me into using the stroaig. Ask Chancellor Qaimus—he was there. Nansar told me that if I didn’t serve you the stroaig at your birthday dinner, he would send the Kerzak back to punish me.”

Sweat beaded and fell from the Baron’s face... or was it tears? I couldn’t tell.

Slowly, Duke Ako rose to his feet, his face a mask except for the slightest flicker of aggravation clouding his eyes. It must be rough realizing that your child wants to kill you.

“Your prisoner, Praxxan.” The Duke gave a dismissive wave in the Baron’s direction.

Praxxan took the direction with a curt bow. “Take the Baron to a holding cell and have Chancellor Qaimus brought to my office for questioning,” he ordered the guards.

Duke Ako waited until his guards removed the Baron and his guards from the kitchen. He turned back to my mate, his expression affectionate but still in the paternal vein that didn’t make me want to kill him... yet. When he glanced at me, the blue eyes held respect.

“It seems I have more to thank you for than just your delicious cooking. I owe you, my life.”

Pearl dipped her head, and I responded with the Vaktaire salute, thumping my fist over my heart.

“Jala.” The Duke turned to my sister, taking her hands in his.

“I thank you for your most gracious hospitality. But if you could prepare my ship to depart, I need to return to the citadel and speak to my son .” Anger turned his last words into a hiss.

Duke Ako glanced over his shoulder at first me, then Pearl.

“I look forward to welcoming you both aboard my vessel.”

Both of us?

I hadn’t planned on letting Pearl set foot on the Duke’s ship. I intended to take her and affect our escape the second we could sneak away. I would tear this space station to scrap with my bare hands before I allowed Pearl to be taken from me.

But my gut told me possessing Pearl wasn’t what Duke Ako had in mind.

The male didn’t seem at all what the rumors suggested of him.

Neither did my Wayfinder’s sense. It not only served to steer me within the cosmos, it also served to steer me in making decisions.

While my protectiveness over Pearl remained vigilant, deep down, I didn’t sense danger from the Aljani ruler.

Plus, Jala seemed to trust him, as evidenced by her slow nod at the Duke’s words.

This might be the opportunity we needed to discover what Nansar was up to once and for all.

I couldn’t pass it up.