Chapter 11

CHAPTER ELEVEN

W raith woke as the ship's lights began to brighten, signifying a new day on board. He was so unused to waking in his own bed that it took him a moment to realize where he was. Even more unusual was the warm presence beside him.

Willow.

He tensed, memories of the previous night flooding back. He'd told her the truth about Farlain, about the bounty. He'd expected her to order him to leave. Instead, she'd invited him into her arms, accepting him not only then but again when he'd woken her during the night, driven by his urgent need for her.

With a start he realized that he'd slept through the rest of the night, deeply and dreamlessly. The constant tension that usually coiled in his muscles had eased somewhat. He felt… rested.

Willow stirred beside him, her eyes fluttering open. A soft smile curved her lips as she met his gaze.

"Morning," she murmured, voice still husky with sleep.

He swallowed hard, fighting the urge to pull her closer.

"Why?" he asked, his voice rough. "Why did you want me to stay? I told you I'd be paid for taking you to Farlain."

She propped herself up on one elbow, regarding him with those warm hazel eyes.

"Did you tell me the truth about Farlain? That I would be safe there?"

"Of course."

She shrugged, the movement causing the sheet to slip down far enough to reveal one pretty white breast - a breast reddened by his mouth. His frills stirred, but he forced himself to concentrate on her words rather than the tempting sight.

"Then why shouldn't you be paid?" she asked.

He blinked, caught off guard by her pragmatism. He'd expected anger, betrayal, not this calm acceptance.

"I don't understand," he admitted, the words feeling foreign on his tongue.

"Wraith, you're not carting me off to jail or turning me over to some sadistic slave owner. You're taking me to a place where I'll be safe and protected. You said there's even another human woman there. You've transported me and cared for me. It's only fair that you should be compensated."

"I can't just… just turn you in."

Even the idea left a hollow feeling in his chest.

She shook her head, a look of frustration on her face.

"This isn't turning me in, it's more like… dropping me off." A fleeting shadow crossed her face and he wondered if the thought of their upcoming separation bothered her as much as it bothered him. But then she gave him a gentle smile. "It's not the same thing at all."

He couldn't resist any longer. He leaned down and kissed her. He'd intended it as gratitude for her understanding, but it rapidly turned passionate. Her stiff little nipples pressed against his chest as her hands began to explore his body, tracing the contours of his chest and shoulders and sending sparks of pleasure through him.

He cupped her breast, toying with a tempting little nipple until she began to squirm beneath him. He was about to replace his hand with his mouth when the cabin door slid open with a soft hiss and he quickly covered her with his body.

"I'm hungry," Sooni announced, giving them a puzzled look.

Frustrated and embarrassed, he barely managed to restrain a growl. Willow stiffened but managed to keep her voice remarkably calm.

"I'll be there in a minute, sweetie. Why don't you go wait in the common area?"

Sooni gave an exaggerated sigh, but she obeyed. The door closed behind her, and he let out a long breath.

"I'll have to remember to lock the door next time," he grumbled, then froze as he realized the implication of his words.

Willow simply nodded, and smiled up at him.

"Probably a good idea," she agreed, then slipped out of bed to get dressed.

He watched her, stunned by her easy acceptance of the idea that not only would they continue to share a bed, but that their physical relationship would continue as well. He was still processing that when she smiled at him and left.

He finally climbed out of bed and pulled on his clothes and utility belt, moving with his usual efficiency despite his inner turmoil. He paused as he stepped out of the cabin. The idea of joining the others for breakfast felt foreign, almost uncomfortable. Yet, the memory of her warmth lingered, and he found himself stepping across the corridor and into the common area.

The galley hummed with activity as he entered. Sooni's cheerful chatter mixed with the clinking of utensils and the sizzle of something cooking on the small stove. Willow turned, a smile lighting up her face as she saw him.

He settled into a seat and she placed a plate in front of him. Neither of the others seemed surprised by his presence. Malacar greeted him matter of factly, and Sooni beamed at him between mouthfuls.

As they ate, Malacar brought up the topic of supplies.

"I was thinking some additional equipment and materials might come in useful," the elderly Ssst said, his eyes twinkling.

He'd never expected to trust someone else to work on his ship, but he'd been impressed by Malacar's work while they traveled. They discussed the merits of various tools and parts, and he found the exchange oddly satisfying.

"We'll see what's available when we land," he promised, finishing his meal.

Willow smiled up at him as he rose, ready to return to the familiar solitude of the cockpit.

But as he left the galley, he felt different. The… contentment that settled in his chest was unfamiliar, yet not unwelcome. For once, going to the cockpit didn't feel like an escape to his refuge, but simply the next task in a day that had started… well.

Later that day he strode briskly through the bustling market outside Radlin's spaceport, his senses on high alert. The usual cacophony of noise and scent surrounded him, but he automatically marked the exits and potential hazards, a skill born of necessity.

He spotted the booth he was looking for and headed straight towards it, ignoring the gaudy displays designed to draw customers in. He gave the shopkeeper a curt nod and began examining the tools and hardware laid out on the counters. Most of the items he and Malacar had decided on were available and the shopkeeper agreed to have them delivered within the hour.

As he moved on to negotiate with a gruff Zylaxian merchant for fresh produce, his thoughts drifted back to Willow. He could almost hear her excited gasp at the sight of the colorful stalls, imagine her eyes widening at the variety of people and merchandise from strange fruits to intricate crafts. A pang of regret hit him as he remembered her disappointed face when he'd refused her request to join him. It had been the right decision - he didn't want to linger on Radlin and she would be sure to attract attention - but he found himself wishing she was with him nonetheless.

He shook off the thought, irritated by his own sentimentality. He arranged for the produce to be sent to his ship and moved on to the next vendor. As he haggled over the price of meat, he caught himself thinking that perhaps next time he could bring her along. Sooni too would enjoy the market…

The realization of what he was considering stopped him cold. There would be no next time. Soon, they would reach Farlain, and Willow would be gone. Sooni and Malacar would be gone. He would return to his solitary existence, as alone as he had always been.

The thought left an uncomfortable tightness in his chest, and he clenched his jaw, angry at how much the idea bothered him. He'd been alone for years, preferring it that way. Why should the prospect of returning to that life suddenly feel so… empty?

He was still frowning over the idea when he finished his shopping and made his way through the winding alleys leading away from the marketplace. The noise from the bustling shopping area faded as he entered a quieter district, his boots padding quietly over the stone cobbles of the narrow alley. He approached a nondescript door and rapped twice, paused, then three more times.

The door creaked open, revealing a dimly lit interior. He stepped inside, undeterred by the gloom. A lanky Zethinae lounged behind a cluttered desk, the subtle stripes covering his skin gleaming in the dim light.

"Wraith," the other male drawled. "Didn't expect to see you planet side."

He nodded curtly.

"Drax. I need information."

Drax leaned forward, interest gleaming in his multifaceted eyes.

"Always straight to business. What's the topic?"

He hesitated for a moment. He and Drax had been, not friends exactly - he didn't have friends - but acquaintances for a long time. The other male had helped him find jobs in the early days before he built his reputation and Wraith trusted him as much as he trusted anyone. He still had his doubts about drawing any attention to his mission, but he'd come here for information and if anyone had heard anything about the slave ring, it would be Drax. He had an astonishing array of contacts in every conceivable level of society.

"Human slave ring," he said finally. "What have you heard?"

Drax's wings twitched.

"Nasty business, that. Been some chatter lately. Word is it's not your typical operation."

He raised an eyebrow. "How so?"

"Very elite clientele, for one. And the merchandise? Specific requests only. No bulk orders." Drax lowered his voice. "Rumor has it there's a high-level imperial official involved, even though the emperor has forbidden human traffic."

His pulse quickened, but he kept his face impassive. "Any names?"

Drax shook his head. "Nothing concrete. But whoever it is, they've got serious pull. This operation's got layers of protection that shouldn't exist."

Wraith mulled over the information. It aligned with what he'd seen – the unexpected security measures, the rapid evacuations. An imperial connection would explain a lot.

"Anything else?" he pressed.

Drax hesitated. "Just… be careful, Wraith. This isn't your typical bounty. You're poking at something big here."

The fact that Drax was concerned enough about it to warn him spoke volumes about how dangerous he considered it.

"Thank you," he said, surprising both himself and Drax.

Drax shook his head, then grinned at him.

"That one was on the house. There'll be a charge next time."

"I'm sure there will be," he said dryly, but he was smiling too as he left.

Their interaction had been… warmer than usual. Was that due to Willow's influence?

He increased his pace, already anxious to return to her, as he thought about the information Drax had shared. The possibility of a high-level government official being involved in the slave ring added a new layer of complexity to his mission - and risk. Normally that would have only added to the challenge, but somehow the pursuit of his quarry wasn't as engrossing as usual.

As soon as he reached the landing pad, he knew something was wrong. The cargo ramp gaped open, and supplies littered the ground around it. Willow! He drew his weapon, moving swiftly and silently towards the ship.

He found Malacar sprawled on the ground at the bottom of the ramp, a nasty gash on his forehead. He knelt, checking for a pulse. It was there, steady but weak. Relief mingled with a surge of anger as he scanned the area for threats.

A muffled sob caught his attention. He whirled, weapon raised, as Sooni emerge from behind a stack of crates. Her eyes were wide with fear, tears streaming down her face.

"Wraith!" she cried, rushing towards him. He lowered his weapon and caught her as she flung herself into his arms.

"What happened?" he asked, his voice low and urgent.

Sooni hiccupped, struggling to speak through her tears.

"A strange male. His scent tasted bad. He hurt Grandfather and… he took Willow!"

A cold knot formed in the pit of his stomach.

"Describe him," he ordered, trying to keep his voice gentle despite the tension coursing through him.

As Sooni stammered out a description, his jaw clenched. He knew exactly who she was talking about. Zalek. A rival bounty hunter with a reputation for playing dirty.

Rage threatened to overwhelm him, but he forced it down. He needed to think clearly. Had Zalek taken Willow to return her to her original captors? If so, he had to find them before they left the planet. It wouldn't stop him from following, but it would make it considerably more difficult.

He picked up Malacar as gently as possible, hurrying up the ramp and into the ship. Sooni followed, still sobbing quietly. As he placed Malacar on his bunk, the elderly male gave a muffled groan, his eyes fluttering open.

"Wh-what… "

"Willow's been taken, and I'm going after her. Both of you stay here. I'll set the alarms when I leave."

He should have set them before but it was too late for that now. As he turned to leave, Sooni grabbed his hand, her face still wet with tears.

"Find Willow," she pleaded.

"I will, sweetie," he promised as he gave her a quick hug. Both the hug and the endearment felt awkward, but they seemed to comfort her. "Don't worry."

He hurried down the ramp, only pausing long enough to set the alarms before hurrying back into the spaceport. He couldn't remember the last time he'd felt this level of cold fury. Someone had dared to harm those under his protection, and he was going to make them pay dearly. The thought of Willow in Zalek's hands terrified him in a way nothing else ever had. He pushed the realization aside, focusing on the task at hand. There would be time to examine his feelings later. Right now, all that mattered was getting Willow back.