Chapter 9

Chapter 9

“ F or the millionth time, I won’t agree to do something when I don’t know what it is, Garble.” I resisted the urge to roll my eyes, but it was getting harder the longer we went around and around the same conversation. It wasn’t going anywhere. We were at a stalemate.

“Perhaps you need more time to think over your situation.”

The mostly human-looking alien I’d had a crush on when I first arrived in Denchui space now looked slimy. His skin was too shiny, his teeth too sharp, his ears too pointed. His physical appearance no longer gave me butterflies. He couldn’t hold a candle to a big, muscle-bound, gray warrior.

I sighed. “We’ve been at this for three weeks. My answers aren’t going to change.”

He tsked , but it came out more like he was passing gas through his teeth. I winced at the mental image.

“You are leaving me very little choices, Danyx. You were always my favorite, but if you won’t cooperate, then more drastic measures will have to be taken. Do I need to call Gignits?”

The bulky Thigrer who acted as Garble’s lead goon used to scare the pants off me. Not literally, because, ew. Now I just felt sorry for him. He didn’t have the wits to understand how he was being used. Looking back, he’d always been nice to me. There’d never been a reason to fear him.

“Go ahead. I’d love to catch up. Ask how the kids and the missus are doing.”

Garble didn’t like my sarcasm. His pasty face turned an alarming shade of puce. I figured it was his species show of anger, but it did nothing for his complexion. I clamped my teeth together to keep from saying that out loud.

I knew Arella was keeping tabs on my location. I figured by now Xekil had noted our absence and Khanet was doing something about finding me. At least, I still hoped he was.

I didn’t think I’d misread every interaction, every connection, every emotion that passed between us—and he had asked me to stay with him—but there was still a voice in the back of my head saying I wasn’t pretty enough, good enough, strong enough, to keep the attention of a warrior like him.

It was possible he’d written me off. Thought I’d changed my mind. Or just forgotten about me.

I knew Arella wouldn’t. Despite her protests, she cared about me. She always blamed her concern on Skitter, but I knew better.

Garble’s hand flying across my cheek brought my focus back in a painful way. The metallic taste of blood flooded my mouth.

He’d hit me? That was new. He always had someone else do the hitting before.

“Now that I have your attention, are you going to cooperate?”

I laughed. I couldn’t help it. If he thought violence would get me to do what he wanted, he didn’t know me at all. The back of his hand cracked against my other cheek, sending my head flying to the side. I spit out a wad of blood and turned to face him with narrowed eyes.

“If you think hitting me will work, you’re dead wrong.”

He looked at me like a father would a petulant child. “You will come around. I hope it is soon, and that we won’t need more drastic measures.”

“Why go to all this trouble? You’ve got a hundred other thieves waiting to do your bidding at the drop of a hat. Why does it have to be me?”

“Because you are the best.”

I snorted and pain made my eyes sting. “Because I left, you mean. The only reason you’re so determined to see me back under your thumb is that I got out.”

“I admit, that is partly correct. But also, this job is specific and difficult, and requires your skills.”

“Guess you need to find another thief, then. I’m not doing it without knowing what it is.”

“We’ll see.”

He disappeared through the door and I shifted in my seat. My shoulders and hips were starting to ache from being held in one position for so long. One of his goons always released me at night, but every morning they tied me to the chair again. I spent the entire day unable to move more than an inch or two in any direction. I felt like ants crawled over my skin and I couldn’t shake them off.

I took a deep breath and exhaled slowly, trying to stave off the panic rising in my chest. When I thought I was going to lose it and start freaking out, a vuhth rolled into the room.

I was hallucinating. It was the only explanation why an armored ball bumped to a stop on my foot, then uncurled into Skitter. He climbed his way into my lap, his butt vibrating and the chittering noises he made blurring together.

I scanned the open door as I shushed him. He didn’t shush. If anything, he got louder.

“Be quiet! Garble can’t have you, too.”

A low growl reverberated through the room. “Garble won’t have either of you.”

At that moment, that very moment, I died of joy. Khanet had come for me. I wanted to believe he would, but wouldn’t acknowledge it because what if I was wrong? The pain would have been far worse.

Khanet made quick work of my restraints and pulled me into his arms.

“Ow, ow, ow.” My cheek hit his shoulder and I pushed against his chest.

He held me at arm’s length and I watched emotions flicker across his face. Horror, and guilt, before it settled into anger. Then morphed into rage.

“I will kill him.”

“That’s not necessary, just get me out of here.”

“I disagree. He will never leave you be if he remains alive.” He paused for a moment, dropping his chin. “I understand, Arella, and agree. Ready the med pod.”

***

Arella’s logic was the only thing keeping me from tearing the building apart. She pointed out that it would be best to secure Danyx off planet before exacting my revenge. Her exact words were, “Don’t even think about it. She needs a med pod and to be off that planet before you go berserk.”

It didn’t dull my need to bathe my pi?r in blood, but I could delay the urge and see Danyx to safety.

As soon as I set her on her feet, Skitter clambered up her body and draped himself over her head. She hummed soothingly and then sighed as I settled her back into my arms.

“I can walk.”

“I know. I don’t want to let you.”

“Fair enough.”

She snuggled deeper into my arms. I retraced our steps down to the main entrance and listened at the door.

As soon as I’d set Skitter down, he’d taken off like a rocket. Where I would have descended first, he went up a flight of stairs and directly to an open door. He was faster than I thought, even having to bounce his way up the stairs, and I had to jog to keep up. As Arella said, he led me straight to Danyx.

For that, he would have an endless supply of … whatever it was he liked best.

At the entrance, Xekil and Scrun’s voices were low, and I didn’t hear the Eotunite. I eased the door open and then threw it the rest of the way when the scene came into view.

Xekil and Scrun were standing over the prone body of Parphad. Xekil’s hands were on his hips and Scrun was waving his arms. Their conversation was quiet, but obviously heated.

“What happened?”

“He knocked him out!” Scrun stuck a finger in Xekil’s chest.

“How was I supposed to know a small tap on the back would sink him like a rock? I was trying to be friendly!”

Danyx giggled. “Eotunites have a bundle of nerves on their back that triggers a reaction. It’s why they don’t turn their backs to anyone they don’t know and trust.”

Both of them looked down at the prone figure in horror.

“I … killed him?”

“What? No!” Danyx laughed. “He’s just unconscious. He’ll wake up in a minute.”

I shook my head and strode for the door. I didn’t look to see if they followed. I held everything important to me. We made our way back to the shuttle with little fanfare, despite our obvious hurry and me carrying Danyx with a vuhth on her head. Everyone on the streets seemed to pointedly not notice us as we went by.

Leaving the atmosphere was a different story. We were just above the clouds when we were hailed from the surface. We thought to ignore it, but then alarms warned us long-range weapons had targeted us.

Danyx winced when the voice flooded the shuttle.

“If you don’t return her, you will be shot from the sky.”

“If you insist on following this course of action, I will wipe out your entire operation before ending you.”

I heard Parphad’s voice in the background. “They are Skeall—they have the means to do as they say.”

“The elusive Skeall, on my turf? That’s interesting company you’re keeping Danyx.”

I shook my head at her to warn her not to respond. She shrugged but stayed quiet. I heard several voices from Garble’s side of the communication, but they spoke too low for me to pick out any words.

After several minutes, the alarms stopped, and Garble’s voice once again dripped from the speakers.

“My advisers seem to think it best to let you go. This time, I shall listen. Next time, I will be ready for you.”

“There won’t be a next time. You will never bother her again.”

“We’ll see.”

Scrun cut the connection with a heavy fist. He was earning my trust as a member of my crew. I still thought him too rigid, but I was learning his actions were born of inexperience. He would learn when to bend the rules and when to uphold them, given enough time.

Time was one luxury we didn’t have.

Danyx insisted on being returned to Arella, despite my protests. I wanted her on board the Thiljo so I could keep a close eye on her. I couldn’t stay with her. I needed to resume my patrol of Skeall space to maintain the image of normalcy.

###

I didn’t relax until I was on Arella. She insisted on giving me a full workup in med bay, even making me spend the ten minutes in the pod it took to heal my face. Skitter never left my side.

I agreed to follow Khanet into Skeall space and stay close while he patrolled. It was the only way he agreed to leave my ship, and I knew he needed to get back on board the Thiljo .

I contacted Il’ors and let him know I’d be late with the next shipment. I wanted to stay professional, but his concern had me spilling my guts about what happened.

I had no idea when I’d become such an emotional sap, but I couldn’t say I hated it.

He reassured me he would cover for me with the other chefs and the elites. Which was a boon since even with the upgraded refrigeration, I’d lost more than half my cargo.

Devastating, but I’d recover.

I spent the following day with ledgers figuring out how, but I knew there was a way. I’d have to deplete my store of credits, but the next shipment I managed successfully would make up for it.

I was deep into route calculations when Khanet’s face filled the view screen.

“May I come aboard?”

I grinned. “What are you going to bring me?”

He looked so stricken that I laughed.

“I was joking. Of course you can come for a visit. No gift needed.”

He nodded and the image winked out.

“I wonder what that’s about?” Arella proved she still listened to everything.

“I imagine he wants to talk about something that can’t be discussed over an open line. Either that, or he’s horny and wants to fuck.”

Arella’s version of a disgusted noise flooded the room. “Do you have to be so crass?”

I tilted my head. “Yes, I believe I do.”

I ran to my room and broke the record for the fastest shower. When I stepped out, Khanet took me into his arms. I squealed. “I’m still sopping wet!”

“Not where I want you to be.”

“Well, now I am.” Words rushed out on a pant as he began licking the water from my chest.

Movement blurred and before I could blink, he spread me before him on the bunk, curled his hands around my thighs, pulled them apart and buried his face in my crotch.

My breath caught as he sucked on my clit, throwing me over the cliff. I thought we’d continue at this frantic pace, but he slowed down. He took his time licking and nipping at my skin as he crawled over me. He settled his full weight on my body, and pressed me deliciously into the mattress.

His growl in my ear raced shivers down my spine. His stillness worried me.

“What’s wrong?”

He took his weight on his forearms, cupped my face in his hands, and gazed into my eyes. “I missed you.”

I smiled. “I missed you, too.”

There was something else, but when I went to ask, he shook his head and kissed me until I forgot my name.

The slow slide of his cock into me was delicious torture. His every movement calculated to push me higher and higher until I shattered. His arms held me together. He sat up and arranged me on his bent knees, keeping us connected somehow.

The new position thrust him deeper. The leverage he gained with his thighs allowed him to move as fast or slow as he liked. In two strokes, it was my new favorite. After three he sped up. His movements became jerky, disjointed and almost frantic.

He pressed a hard finger to my clit as he came, and I lost sight for a good thirty seconds.

We didn’t speak by silent agreement. He arranged us both on the bunk, me half on top of him and him wrapped around me. His heart beneath my ear sang a sweet lullaby.

Arella woke us with the damn klaxon.

Khanet leaped from the bunk, had his sword unsheathed and was in a ready stance in the time it took me to sit up and rub my eyes.

“Damn it, Arella. That’s not necessary, you know.”

“As much as it amuses me to see your reaction to the alarm system, I can’t take credit for this. It is a sector-wide broadcast.”

“Do you have any further details?”

Of course the warrior was clear-headed while I was still trying to find my socks.

“Unfortunately, no. The Thiljo is hailing. I will have them on screen in the bridge.”

“Thank you, Arella.” He glanced at me, saw me struggling to get a leg into my overalls and I watched the corner of his mouth twitch up. “Join me when you’re ready.”

I grunted and waved a hand at him. I wasn’t too far behind, but I did stop in the mess to grab us both a mug of nuhhbi?ykau?. The thick, sweet drink of the Agvuxxians was full of caffeine and I’d become addicted. I handed one to Khanet wordlessly and gaped at the chaos on screen.

The bridge of the Thiljo strobed red and white, putting the crew in stark relief every other second. The effect was unsettling. Scrun was speaking rapid-fire Skeall, and even though Khanet upgraded my translator to include the language I couldn’t keep up, and only managed to catch one in three words.

With the lights, the overall effect was panic inducing.

“Attack … Sulphus … Warbird captains recalled.”

The last part I caught only because Khanet repeated it to acknowledge the command.

He looked over his shoulder at me and I nodded. “Arella is yours to command, Khanet.”