Chapter Fifteen

I stared at the erotic stranger in the mirror and couldn't believe it was me.The metal corset pushed my breasts up until I was afraid they would spill out. The itty-bitty skirt barely covered my butt. The makeup Yakira had applied made me look older and a dead ringer for one of those females in the porn vids the warriors liked to watch.

"What are you wearing?"Jedrick suddenly bellowed.

"My costume for the Sharqi Pleasure Palace."

"You are not going anywhere near a pleasure palace."

My temper flared to life. "Why not? You have." I rummaged through his memories. "You've had sex with over a thousand females."

"A warrior has needs."

I rolled my eyes. "Uh-huh. If you even think of visiting another pleasure palace, I'll be cutting off body parts."

"I desire no one but you."

"Good answer. If I'm going to be a bounty hunter, I need to go where the fugitives are."

"Who are you hunting?"

"Gulog the Wrathful."

Jedrick used his command voice. "I forbid it."

"I have my guardian's permission, and don't you have a war to fight?" I broke our link.

Ten seconds later, Jedrick was back in my head. "Gulog the Wrathful is a killer."

"So are the Rodan, but I fought them," I countered.

"It's not the same."

My reply was just short of a shout, "Isn't it, and when were you going to tell me Zarek is my great-grandfather? You've known the entire time, haven't you?"

There was a long silence. "Yes. We were waiting until all the DNA tests were completed."

"These tests took four years to do?"

"You have human, Farin, and Coletti DNA. You also carry the berserker gene."

"So?" I spat.

"Your berserker gene threw off the results."

I rolled my shoulders. "Okay. Whatever." I was so done with all the drama. I pulled on high-heeled boots.

"Every male in the pleasure palace will want you."

I slid a knife into my right boot. "I've been drinking your blood for the last four years and you've trained me in the art of combat. I think I can take them. I am a lot stronger than I look and I am a warlord." Because I was still pissed, I added, "And we warlords have needs."

A menacing growl sounded in my head.

"To make money,"I quickly clarified.

"If you let a male touch you…"

I cut him off, "You will remove some of their body parts."

"With great enthusiasm."

I hastily changed the subject. "Did you destroy the Rodan fleet?"

"Twelve Marauders eluded us, and we continue to hunt them."

Dread crawled up my spine. "Be careful. It could be another trap."

"We are certain it is. Trayon's ships are hiding in an asteroid belt. The Rodan are walking into our trap."

"Kill the bastards."

"We will." Jedrick caressed my mind. "Zarek was going to tell you today, but we discovered the Rodan battle fleet."

"It doesn't matter. It changes nothing."

"We leave now," Ziyad announced loudly.

I replied just as loudly, "I'll be right there."

"It changes everything. You are now a part of his family," Jedrick countered.

"Am I? In all the time I served on your battle cruiser, he never brought Detja to meet me. Not once."

"We are at war."

"From everything I've heard about Detja, she was a thief like me, and she can handle herself in combat situations."

"Zadie, let's go." Yakira called.

"Coming!"

"I will investigate the matter." Jedrick severed our link.

"C'mon Esme, we don't want to be left behind."

Esme pranced over to me. Yakira had fastened tiny yellow flowers to her fur. "Me pretty."

"Yes, you are." I placed her on my head. "Now remember, you're a hat."

"Me know. Me sneaky."