Chapter 9

CHAPTER NINE

RYKO

W ith my sword drawn, I stalk whoever has been following Lily and me. Every step I take away from her haunts me, as I leave her without protection, something I swore I'd never do. But whoever has seen us together poses a greater risk. To both of us.

Her people will not kill her, not when my grak seeks to trade for their females. But we are not the only species on Kovos who needs females.

Movement to my left catches my eyes. A familiar form darts through the trees when he realizes he's been spotted. I cannot let him escape.

I sheathe my sword and break into a run, crashing through the forest at top speed. He's fast, the vekker, but I quickly gain on him and tackle him to the ground. My knees dig into his back as I thrust a knife against his throat.

"If you'd been anyone else, you'd be dead right now," I say, rising from Sojek with a growl.

Sojek turns over and doesn't bother rising, even though I've sheathed my knife. I could offer him a hand up, but he hasn't earned it.

"Why were you spying on me?" I demand.

"I finished delivering the turmaks to the bantarans early and couldn't find you. I know you—" He catches himself and says no more.

"What precisely do you know?" I ask with my hand on my knife. I weigh my options, which include cutting out his tongue to keep him from speaking about what he's seen, but he's not the enemy. I will find another way to guard my secret.

"Speak and do not lie."

He hustles to his feet and puffs out his chest, trying to impress me. I'm not impressed. I cross my arms over my chest and dig my feet in.

"I know you meet the human female by the river. I only meant to find you and tell you we could leave Pen'Kesh early today."

"We're far from the river. Were you following me?"

He shakes his head. "I know your tracks."

As I've told our grak, this male has potential, even if he lacks a warrior's size. My anger doesn't dissipate, only shifts. I'm the one who erred, not Sojek. I didn't cover my tracks and have not been discreet enough when meeting Lily.

"Who else knows about the female?"

"No one. At least not from me, Warrior."

"And it will remain that way, Sojek." I could threaten him at this point, but he's smart enough to know I would retaliate should he spill my secret.

My mood fouls quickly as I play out every scenario in my head. Sojek has complicated my situation. Even if he intends to keep my secret, which I believe he does, he could slip up. An extra word, stopping mid-sentence, averting his eyes at the wrong time… Vekk, it wouldn't take much for our grak to suspect he's hiding something .

"Follow," I order, as I work my way back to where I left Lily alone and undefended.

Without speaking, Sojek follows. His footsteps remain light, and his head bowed. I smell no fear from him. Well, not much.

"Female," I call out when I reach the outcropping of boulders. "Where are you?" I ask loudly, even though I know precisely where she is.

She squeezes out from the opening, her face full of relief. "Ry—" She stops herself from saying my name the second she spots Sojek, who lifts his eyes for a brief moment.

Lily's eyes shift to mine. "What's going on?"

"This is Sojek. The male who drives our cart to and from Pen'Kesh. He's come to tell me he's finished trading and we are clear to leave Pen'Kesh for the day."

Lily looks at me blankly, then faces Sojek. "Can you understand what I'm saying?"

He looks to me for permission to speak.

"Answer the female."

"I have a translation chip," he says, quickly.

Lily's eyes widen, realizing we cannot talk freely in front of Sojek. It's the very reason I cannot explain what I'm about to do.

I consider my options one last time before doing what must be done.

"Come, female. I will escort you back to the market. It is the least I can do… as payment for your services."