by Tana Stone
“Me?” Bexli spluttered as she regained her balance. “I’ve been waiting on you since before the suns came up.”
Danica ran a hand through her wavy, blonde hair. “Sorry. We were up so late talking about Caro, and how to find her, that I slept later than I wanted to.”
Bexli’s irritation faded as she noticed the dark hollows under the captain’s eyes. They had stayed up for hours discussing how Caro could have been taken, and where the exiled Dothvek might have taken her. Bexli reminded herself that humans needed more sleep than Lycithians.
“I thought we should leave before it gets too hot,” Bexli said. “Especially since we have no idea where this exile lives.”
“He will be on the sands.” K’alvek stepped out of the tent behind Danica, curling a large hand protectively around her hip and tugging her gently into him. “He would not venture into the rocks for fear of being found by the Cresteks.”
“The sands,” Bexli mumbled. “That doesn’t narrow it down much, since almost the entire planet is covered in sand.”
K’alvek’s mouth twitched. “Do not worry, human. Dothveks are skilled trackers. We will find your friend.”
“Not human,” Bexli said under her breath.
A flash of recognition crossed his face. It usually didn’t bother Bexli to be called human. Lycithians’ permanent form resembled humans in most ways. She knew she was quibbling because she was worried about Caro.
Danica must have realized this because she looped an arm through Bexli’s. “We will find your roomie and bring her back, even if we have to search every meter of desert on the planet.”
K’alvek made a low, rumbling noise in his throat. “We will not need to do that.”
Danica shot him a look and squeezed Bexli’s arm. “You know she’s tougher than she looks. It’s the Dothvek, I feel sorry for.”
Bexli couldn’t help grinning. If the exiled barbarian was under any illusion that Caro’s petite build meant she was mild-mannered, he was in for a surprise. Although she wasn’t outwardly aggressive like their chief of security, Tori, Caro had fought with the Valox resistance before joining Danica’s crew. Even though she rarely spoke of specific battles, Bexli had always suspected that Caro had to have done some pretty ruthless things to stay alive through that.
“If nothing else, she might talk him to death,” Holly said as she walked up and joined them.
Bexli didn’t want to laugh at her friend’s expense, but the giggle escaped her.
Danica gave the redheaded engineer a withering look that dissolved into a smile. “I doubt she’s giving her abductor a long-winded explanation of flying maneuvers.”
Caro did have a habit of giving them a little too much information while they were escaping from a pursuing vessel, or attempting to fly in somewhere undetected, and more than once, Tori had told the pilot to shut up and fly. But it was all good-natured teasing, the kind a crew did when they’d been together for so long and knew each other as well as they knew themselves.
“Let’s hope not.” Holly linked her arm through Bexli’s other arm. “Or he might be dead by the time we get there.”
Bexli hated herself for laughing, but it felt good to tease about Caro. Somehow, it made the situation feel less dire, and made it easier to think that her friend wasn’t actually in danger.
“What’s going on?” Max asked, walking up with her Dothvek mate, Kush, by her side. Both eyed the laughing women with confusion. “Is everything okay?”
“We’re fine.” Danica stopped laughing and squared her shoulders. “Just getting ready to go after Caro.”
“Good.” Max grinned at Holly as the woman pulled her into the group, hooking her elbow with hers. “Kush has been telling me that there are more than a few other places like this in the desert.”
“Villages?” Bexli asked.
Max shook her head and only the bangs of her short dark hair moved. “Oases. Pockets of water and plant life.”
K’alvek folded his arms over his chest and leaned back on his heels, glancing over at his cousin. “Kush is right, although even we do not know all of them.”
“I do not remember well the place Rukken took me, but it was an oasis, and it was less than a day’s walk.” T’Kar walked up, and Bexli did a double-take.
Holly’s new mate, the former Crestek who’d only the night before passed the tahadu ritual test to be accepted into the Dothvek tribe, was dressed like one of the sand barbarians. His chest was bare, exposing lots of burnished, gold skin, and impressive tattoos that covered both pectoral muscles and looked like an intricate chest plate. Brown, leather pants hung slightly below his waist, and a strap crossed his shoulder with blades attached to it. Whatever remnants of his Crestek life he’d had appeared to be gone. Even his shorter brown hair looked shaggier and was no longer brushed back behind his pointy ears.
Kush nodded at T’Kar. “That narrows our search.”
“You still have no idea why the exile would take the human?” K’alvek asked, his face solemn.
T’Kar’s slash of brows pressed together, and a wrinkle formed between his eyes. “I have searched my memories for any reason, but I do not know of one. Apart from the obvious.”
A look passed between Kush and K’alvek. A look Bexli didn’t like. She knew what that meant, too. The barbarian probably took her because he was horny as hell from being alone for so long. Bexli clenched her hands into fists. All the more reason they needed to find Caro. Now.
“I don’t get it,” Holly said. “Why Caro? It’s not like he could have known her, right?”
“She was alone.” Bexli heard the crack in her own voice. “I left her to go find Pog, who’d run off again, and didn’t go back to the tent before heading to watch the tahadu. She said she was right behind me. I should have gone back to check on her, but I didn’t. He took her because I left her alone and vulnerable.”
Holly wrapped an arm around her shoulders. “This is not your fault, honey. It’s that fuckwit who took her we should be mad at.”
“Fuckwit?” Max cocked an eyebrow before shrugging and nodding. “Holly’s right. No way is this your fault.”
“If it is anyone’s fault, it is mine.” T’Kar’s voice was thick. “If he hadn’t rescued me, he would never have known any of you exist.”
K’alvek let out a sigh. “It does not do any good to regret the past. We must focus on the mission.”
Danica gave her mate an appreciative glance. “K’alvek is right. No one here is to blame for Caro being taken, and beating ourselves up about it doesn’t bring her back faster.”
“Then let’s saddle up,” Holly said.
Before they could walk more than a few steps, Zatvar appeared, flanked by several Dothveks. K’alvek’s groan was audible and everyone’s stance stiffened as the clan leader approached.
“Our borders were violated, and a female was taken out from under our noses.” K’alvek’s voice was dark and deadly. “Do not try to stop us from rescuing her.”
Zatvar’s beady eyes held him for a moment, before a smile spread across his face. “I do not come to stop you. I come to help you.”
“You are joining the hunt?” The shock in Kush’s voice was obvious.
“No.” Zatvar flicked a hand at the Dothveks behind him. “I am sending you with additional warriors.”
K’alvek shifted his weight from one foot to the other, his eyes narrowing. “We will be glad for the assistance, but do you not think we can track down one exile?”
Zatvar let out a mirthless laugh. “You do not accept gifts with grace, son of K’alron.”
K’alvek froze, and Kush rested a hand on his shoulder, stepping in front of his cousin. “We are grateful for our Dothvek brothers’ help, and we welcome them to our hunting party.”
Zatvar returned Kush’s tight smile, and motioned for the warriors behind him to join the group. Bexli recognized the identical twin warriors from the battle with the Cresteks, and the warrior Holly referred to as Silver Foxy, but she did
not know the others.
“What do you want in return?” K’alvek asked.
Zatvar laughed, his belly quivering. “Who says I require anything in return?”
K’alvek stared at the clan leader, his eyes nearly slits.
Finally, Zatvar let out a breath. “All I ask is that you are successful. Find the female. Bring her back to the village, unharmed. Kill the exile.”
“Kill him?” Kush asked.
Zatvar’s gaze slid to Kush. “You have a problem killing the disgraced warrior who violated the terms of his punishment and took a female by force?”
“He is still a Dothvek,” K’alvek said. “One my father did not believe deserved death.”
Zatvar flinched and his smile faltered. “Your father is no longer clan leader.”
K’alvek started to step forward, but Kush blocked him then stepped forward, himself.
“We have no problem,” Kush said.
Zatvar nodded, but his gaze did not leave K’alvek. “If you do, my warriors will make sure the job gets done.”
Bexli glanced at the twin warriors who now flanked her. They looked as unhappy with the order as K’alvek was, but she suspected they would have to carry it out whether they wished to or not.
“I look forward to your return.” Zatvar spun on his heel. “And the traitor’s head.”
K’alvek and Kush exchanged a dark look, but were silent as they led the rescue party through the village toward the jebels. When they reached the cluster of tents Bexli knew held the priestesses, both warriors paused.
A Dothvek female stood at the draped entrance, her pale robes billowing in the breeze. Her jet hair was piled on her head, and she held a shallow metal bowl filled with water. The Dothveks all gave small bows, dropping their eyes to the sand.
“You have come to bless our journey?” K’alvek asked.
The priestess swirled the water in the bowl and the copper shone underneath. “And to warn you.”
K’alvek angled his head at her and lowered his voice to a whisper. “Did my mother send you?”
She jerked her head up quickly. “No. She knows you can protect yourself. My warning concerns the clan.”
Kush glanced at his cousin then at the priestess. “Will our leaving endanger the village?”
The woman’s gaze swept over all of them. “Your mission will determine the future of our people for generations to come.” She tossed the water at their feet. “Ride well and fight with honor.”
She disappeared back in her tent with a flourish of robes and the slapping of the tent flaps, leaving the group speechless for several moments.
When K’alvek and Kush finally turned and resumed their walk to the jebels, Bexli ran up and tugged on Danica’s arm. “What the hell was that all about?”
Danica shrugged. “I don’t know, but I’m getting the feeling this isn’t a regular rescue mission anymore.”
Bexli frowned. Did that mean that Caro was in even more danger than they thought?
Seven
Rukken watched her sitting at the edge of the water. It was a good thing he’d walked away when he did. He wasn’t sure if he could have withstood much more contact with her. Even now, his skin was scorched from where he’d touched her, and his cock ached with need.
At least she’d eaten. He would not be able to live with himself if she became weak or ill.
He finished off the last of the grilled meat and dropped the skewers next to the fire. He still had enough raw serpent meat to last a few days, but then he would need to hunt for more. How would he do that with her? He could not leave her without fear she would attempt to run off and end up wandering on the sands, but if he went out at night he risked his own life. The larger, deadlier sand creatures only came out after the suns set, and he did not relish an encounter with one of them. Rukken glanced back at the female. But if it meant keeping her, he would do it.
He did not like the idea of leaving her at night, but if he could hunt quickly and return while she slept, she would never know he’d left. If she woke up, then he risked her trying to run off at night. The thought of her on the sands alone in the dark made his gut clench. He would just have to make their food last as long as possible, starting with eating less himself.
He lifted his face to the suns. They were higher in the sky, and soon, they would blaze down upon his camp. He would need to get her out of the sun before then, but for now he would let her sit by the water.
He darted another glance at her, then stirred the contents of the small pot suspended over the fire. He tilted the drink into a pair of clay cups and walked over to her.
“Here.” He handed one of the cups to her. “Drink this.”
She took it, but eyed him suspiciously. “What is it?”
“Bindi leaf tea. It will make you less thirsty.”
“Liquids usually do that,” she muttered, not making a move to drink it.
“You should drink it.”
She peered into the cup. “How do I know you’re not trying to drug me again?”
He sat down several lengths away from her. “Why would I do that?”
She cocked an eyebrow, but did not immediately reply. “Oh, I can think of a few reasons,” she finally said.
Irritation flamed within him. “I have told you I will not force you. That would be dishonorable.”
“You forced me to eat.”
“For your own good,” he snapped. “Would you rather starve?”
“I’d rather go back to my friends.”
“That is not going to happen.” His exasperation grew even as he tried to control his temper. “You might as well drink it.”
“Or what? You’ll sit behind me and force me to drink it?”
He opened his mouth to reply, but closed it again. It would do him no good to fight with her. “Fine. Do not drink it. When the suns are making you lightheaded later, do not say I did not warn you.”
She glared at him, and he could feel her desire to take a sip warring with her need to stand up to him. A part of him admired her bravery. Another, larger, part of him wanted to shake her.
He reached one long arm over, taking her cup and switching it with his. “There. Now you know it isn’t drugged.”
She peeked into the cup of tea again and finally drank.
Rukken took a sip, as well, then leaned back. “You are so eager to return to the Dothvek village. Why?”
She almost choked on her mouthful. “Why? Because that’s where my crew is. If we still had our ship, I’d want to get back to that.”
“So, it is not the Dothveks you miss?”
She raised her eyebrow again. “Don’t get me wrong. They’ve been great, but they aren’t my friends.”
He swirled the contents of his cup, studying the few loose leaves on the bottom. “No Dothvek has made a claim on you, then?”
She watched him over the rim of the brown clay cup. “Would it make a difference if I said there was? If I told you I was head over heels for one of the other warriors? That I’d been screwing their brains out the entire time we’d been in the village?”
He flinched, but pushed away the jealousy brimming inside him. “No, female. I would not believe you.”
“This ‘female’ crap is getting old. My name is Caro. And why wouldn’t you believe me?”
Caro. He rolled the name over in his head several times. It suited her.
“I can sense that you are lying, Caro.” Relief coursed through him as he realized that was true. She was lying. There was no Dothvek.
“Then why did you bother to ask me?” Her eyes flashed. “If you’re empathic and can clearly tell what I’m feeling, why bother having a conversation at all?”
“I like hearing your voice. It has been a long time since I talked to anyone.”
She looked startled, her brow furrowing. “Oh. I never thought about that. How long have you been exiled?”
Rukken looked away from her and over the surface of the water. “Three solar rotations.”
She let out a long breath. “So, three of your years? Damn. That’s a long time to be alone. How long are you supposed to stay exiled?”
“Forever.”
Another loud exhalation. “What did you do?”
“As I said before, I did not do anything I was accused of. Another Dothvek set me up to take the fall for his crime.”
“I thought all you Dothveks were honorable. Isn’t framing a clansman dishonorable?”
“It is.” He looked at her. He could not tell if she believed him or not, but she was curious. “Not all Dothveks have honor, although it is rare for one of us to be so deceitful.”
“Didn’t you tell them you were innocent?” she asked.
“I did, but I was known for being impulsive with a bad temper. It was easy to believe I was the one who committed murder.”
“Wait.” She held up a hand. “Murder? You didn’t say you murdered someone.”
“I did not.” Rukken measure his words, trying not to get angry as he thought about it all again. “Zatvar planted a great deal of evidence against me. It was false, but very convincing.”
“Zatvar?” Her mouth fell open. “He’s the one who set you up?”
“You met him?” Rukken had to remind himself that she was not involved with any Dothveks to keep his possessive urge at bay. He watched emotions cross her face that he couldn’t place. “Caro?”
“Uh, yeah, I met him.” She tilted her head up. “He’s the leader of your clan.”
The cup slipped from Rukken’s hand and tumbled onto the sand. His body went cold and his heart seemed to stop. “What do you mean, he’s the leader?”
“Are you okay? Your skin just lost about three shades of gold.”
He tried to keep from screaming, but his voice shook as he spoke. “Zatvar cannot be the leader. K’alron is the head of the Dothvek clan.”
She moved her head slowly from side to side, her eyes never leaving him. “I’ve never heard of a K’alron, but I promise you that Zatvar is in charge. He lives in a big tent and makes all the decisions for the clan. I mean, I get the feeling that K’alvek hates him, but that’s probably because the guy is also his stepfather.”
