by Tana Stone
Bexli looked at the door, glanced quickly at Max, and gave the Crestek a sweet smile. “You seem like an okay guy, so I’ll give you fair warning. You’re going to walk in ahead of me, and if this isn’t exactly what you claim it is, I’ll shift into a Doxian scarab and bite off your head faster than you’ll be able to take a breath or shoot me.”
T’Kar started to laugh, but the sound died on his lips when he saw that her smile did not falter, and her gaze coolly held his. “Understood.”
Kush pulled Max closer to him as he pushed open the door, stepping inside and trying to adjust to the dim lighting. He faltered when he saw several figures in the shadows, his hand moving swiftly to the arched blades at his belt. If there was a battle, he didn’t want Bexli to have all the fun.
“We were worried you’d been caught,” a voice said, stepping out of the darkness.
As Kush’s eyes adjusted, he could make out faces of the cloaked Cresteks as they stared at him. He did not detect any sudden movements or any hostile emotions, but he did not let down his guard as he kept Max tucked behind him and one hand on the hilt of his blade.
“All is well, friends,” T’Kar answered, walking in behind them with Bexli bringing up the rear.
One of the other Crestek separatists, a male who was shorter and slighter than both T’Kar and Kush, pushed aside a heavy piece of furniture to reveal a gaping hole in the wall. “You need to hurry. The rains have stopped, so the guards will start going building to building soon.”
Bexli wrinkled her nose as the scent of damp dirt reached them. “I think I preferred going over the wall.”
Kush picked up the sounds of shouts from outside the building. Were the guards near? He didn’t want to wait to find out. Tugging Max forward, Kush bent to enter the tunnel. He had to let go of her hand once they started moving single file through the darkness, and panic fluttered in his chest as the yawning blackness enveloped them.
“Not much farther,” T’Kar called from behind. Obviously, Bexli hadn’t approved of his plan to send them through and turn back. Kush grinned as he imagined what type of beast she’d threatened to turn into to make the Crestek climb in after them.
A sliver of light ahead turned into a glow, and then light filled the tunnel, and he was stepping out and falling into a cluster of bushes. Before he could stand up, he felt heat on the back of his neck. Twisting to look up, Kush gaped at the underside of a very large spaceship.
He had a bad feeling that things had just gone from bad to worse.
Chapter Twenty-Three
Max stumbled as she came out of the tunnel, her gaze drawn above her to the ship that hovered low before moving away. It was dark, with lots of sharp points and a dull hull that looked like it had seen more than its fair share of battles.
Kush caught her before she fell, his hands firm around her waist as he lowered her to the ground before releasing her to assist Bexli. He let T’Kar jump down by himself, the Crestek still eyeing Bexli as if she might morph into a monster at any moment.
“Max!” she barely heard the woman’s cry before Holly almost knocked her over.
She hugged the woman back, realizing they were both wearing soggy clothes and had wet hair plastered to their heads. A lump formed in her throat. She hadn’t realized how fond she’d grown of the bounty hunter engineer and how much she’d missed her.
The curvy redhead was probably her polar opposite in every way. She was loud; loved tight, bright clothes; and oozed sex out of her pores. On paper, they never should have gotten along, but she liked that the woman was everything she wasn’t. Holly was the bold yen to her quiet yang.
Holly held her out at arm’s length and looked her up and down. “I’m so damn happy to see you again I won’t even ask what you’re wearing, girl.” Her wide smile faded. “They didn’t make you do anything pervy, did they? You weren’t roped into being a sex slave?”
She shook her head, although she felt her cheeks warm, and she purposely avoided looking at Kush. “Nope, no sex slavery.”
Holly’s own gaze drifted over to Kush. “Not that I wouldn’t say no to some of these guys.”
Kush was busy greeting the other Dothveks, but she felt his eyes tracking her.
Caro pushed Holly aside and gave Max her own hug. “I’m really glad Bexli found you. We’ve all been worried.”
Max spotted Danica approaching as she hugged Caro, and she was glad to see the captain again, although the woman looked pretty different from the last time she’d seen her. When Danica had left the ship with Tori, she’d just survived Mourad and their plane crashing into the desert, and had been a bit battered and disheveled.
Now, aside from being wet, she was decked out in a badass leather outfit and looked a lot like the Dothvek warriors surrounding her. She also looked pretty attached to the huge guy next to her, and she guessed this was the K’alvek that Kush had talked about—the warrior who’d rescued Danica from the desert and apparently fallen for her.
As everyone surrounded her and Bexli, Tori pushed her way through them. “I hate to break up the family reunion, but just because our boun—I mean, just because Max is out of the city, doesn’t mean she’s safe. Not with Mourad’s ship here.”
Max’s stomach did an uncomfortable flip. Her memories of Mourad and his crew were not good. One of the brutes had backhanded Danica for no reason, and Mourad himself had leered at her with enough menace to make her suspect she would not be safe in his presence.
No, the thought of being taken as a bounty again did not appeal. Not only did she suspect the trip would be unpleasant, she had no idea who’d placed such large prize on her head, and did not want to know what they required from her. Living the rest of her life as some space mogul’s indentured scientist did not appeal.
Especially not now. She looked at Kush and her pulse quickened. Not after she’d finally met someone who made her feel adored, someone who made her feel special. She fisted her hands. No way was she giving him up. His eyes locked with hers, and she could feel the pulse of both his desire and determination.
“Tor’s right,” Danica said, looking up at K’alvek. “We need to get out of here without running into Mourad’s crew or the Cresteks.”
“You should take the path around the side of the mountains,” T’Kar said, causing all attention to focus on him. The Dothveks seemed to notice his presence for the first time and hands immediately went to their blades.
“Do not worry,” Kush said, striding over and putting himself in front of T’Kar. “He’s with the Crestek resistance. He helped us escape.”
The Dothveks in general didn’t seem to be convinced, and there was a lot of deep rumbling and murmuring. K’alvek raised his hands. “If Kush vouches for him, that is enough for me.”
The other warriors nodded begrudgingly, but stared at the Crestek as if he had two heads. If T’Kar noticed, he didn’t let on.
“It may take longer, but it’s a route my people avoid because it means more time on the sands,” he said.
Kush nodded. “We should split up.” He took Max’s hand. “We’ll move faster.”
K’alvek studied his cousin for a moment, cocking his eyebrow in amusement and curiosity. “My kinsman is right. But he will not go alone. We need more warriors defending the female.”
A Dothvek with loose hair and markings in thick bands around his biceps stepped forward. “I will join them.”
“I’m with you,” Tori stepped forward, flashing a fierce smile at Max and then shooting daggers at the warrior who’d also volunteered. “As if I’d let Vrax here have all the fun.”
K’alvek made a curt motion with his head. “The rest of us will split into three groups and take different routes back to the village.”
Holly stepped close to Max and dropped her voice. “I’m assuming you and the hot barbarian are getting it on, right?” When Max’s mouth opened in surprise, her friend held up her hands. “No judgment, girl. I like them big, too.”
“This is where I leave you,” T�
�Kar said to Kush as the warriors began moving off. “I wish you the speed of the goddesses.”
Kush inclined his head in a small bow, finally shrugging the dark cloak off his shoulders and handing it to the Crestek. “If you ever want to find yourself on the sands, you will have a friend waiting for you.”
T’Kar’s chest swelled and even Max could feel the rush of pride emanating from him, but before he could respond, a stream of Crestek fighters ran from around the far side of the city wall with blasters drawn.
“Good work, my son,” the chancellor said, pushing his way through the armed guards flanking the Dothveks.
Chapter Twenty-Four
Kush stared at T’Kar, but the flicker of shock he saw cross the male’s face told him this was just as much of a surprise to him. He could feel the horror and confusion swirl within the Crestek as he watched his father approach.
Max sidled closer to him, sliding her hand into his. Even as his heart pounded, he found her touch comforting. The chancellor registered the movement, and his face twisted in obvious distaste.
Kush was glad he’d discarded the agasi robe, so there was no way for the old Crestek to know it had been him serving as the little human’s personal guard the whole time. It was better not to let on about the holes in the Crestek’s security.
“I see you are more attached to the barbarians than I suspected, my dear.” There was no warmth in the elder’s voice.
“You never asked,” Max said, her voice quivering only slightly as she increased the pressure on Kush’s hand. “But, yes, I’m very attached.”
“Fickle female,” the Crestek spat out, scowling at her.
“Father,” T’Kar said, his voice smooth. “It is clear this one is already mated. There is no point in—”
“I will determine that,” his father said, cutting him off with a slash of his hand through the air.
K’alvek stepped forward, a pair of curved blades clutched in his hands. “We do not want a war with you. My kinsman wants his female back. That is all.”
The chancellor laughed. “His female?”
“Yes,” Max said, her voice rising above the male’s. “I am his.”
Kush was sure everyone could hear his heart thrum with pleasure as the Dothveks and Cresteks stared at them both. Only the human females were smiling, Holly even making a gesture with her thumb extended up.
“I hate to break up this fun standoff,” Danica said, stepping forward to stand next to K’alvek, her hands up in a sign of peace as opposed to his holding weapons. “But the Cresteks and the Dothveks aren’t the only ones after Max here. That ship that just entered the atmosphere is filled with some of the nastiest hunters this side of the galaxy. If they get their hands on her, neither side gets her, and she’ll end up in a prison cell having gods knows what done to her.”
The knot in his gut hardened into a cold ball of fear. The thought of his little female being hurt by alien brutes made a growl simmer in the depths of his throat. He would not let that happen to her, and he would kill anyone who tried to take her or keep him from saving her.
Even the chancellor shifted uncomfortably. “I detest the idea of a female being touched by an offworlder. Even more than her being mated to a Dothvek.”
That was one thing the two people agreed on then—their general distrust of offworlders.
“We agree we cannot let the offworlders take any of the females,” K’alvek said. “What is on our planet stays on our planet.”
The elder Crestek nodded. “Agreed. You may take the female.” He held up a finger. “On one condition.” His gaze swept the humans. “You leave another in her place. A mate for my son.”
T’Kar opened his mouth, and Kush knew he wanted to argue, but he was silenced by a sharp look from his father.
“Our ruling lineage must continue,” the elder said, his pained expression showing evidence of how frail he really was. “And our offpring are getting weaker and weaker. Few survive. I will not let our line die with you.”
Kush could sense the old Crestek’s fear. He was terrified his kind was ending. Kush almost felt sympathy for the male, even though he knew the Cresteks’ actions had brought about their own destruction, as well as hastened that of his kind. Even though he knew they deserved little sympathy, he couldn’t help feeling for them.
A rumble of dissent passed through the Dothveks, as they subconsciously shifted closer to the females. K’alvek pulled his mate back and tucked her behind him.
“These females are not ours to give away like jebels,” K’alvek said.
“We will help you repel these offworlders and distract them while you escape,” the chancellor said. “I only ask for one female in return. It is that, or we kill your warriors and take them all.”
K’alvek flexed his muscles, his voice low and deadly. “You can try.”
Max was shaking as she pressed closer to him, and Kush saw Danica glance nervously at her crew. His Dothvek brethren would never stand down. They would defend the females to their dying breath, and from the looks of the Crestek’s blasters, that might not be long.
Kush swallowed hard, unsheathing his own blade and steeling himself for bloodshed. His only regret was that he hadn’t had more time with his little female. Their stolen moments had been the best of his life, and he couldn’t bear the thought that they had had so few. He’d never even told her how he felt about her, how his heart nearly burst with joy from her touch.
Max fluttered her fingers inside the confines of his hand. “I know.”
He looked down at her and saw her eyes swimming with tears as she gazed up at him.
“I feel the same way,” she said with a shy smile. “It’s crazy and it doesn’t make any sense, but I do.”
Pressing his lips together, he nodded. If he had to die, at least he would be fighting to protect her. There was no more noble death, and as a Dothvek warrior, he would be proud to meet it head on.
The Dothveks moved forward, falling into a V formation and hiding the females behind their broad bodies. The Cresteks responded by aiming their blasters. In the distance, Kush heard a heavy thud and felt the ground tremble beneath his bare feet. If that was the alien vessel, they would soon have even more attackers to fend off.
He met K’alvek’s eyes, blazing gold with fury and lust for battle. He was sorry his cousin had only just found his mate and might lose her. And all to defend his.
“You go, we go,” K’alvek said, his voice so quiet only Kush could hear the oath.
Kush shifted his grip on his blade and gave Max’s hand a final squeeze before releasing it.
“Hold up. Everyone put down your weapons,” Holly called as she pushed her way through the Dothvek warriors. “If all you big guys kill each other, there’ll be no one left to kick Mourad’s ass. And I really need someone to kick his ass for blowing up our ship.” Her gaze lingered on T’Kar for a moment. “If the Cresteks help us get rid of Mourad and save Max, I’ll volunteer to be his mate.”
Chapter Twenty-Five
Max felt all the air leave her. “No.” She rushed over to Holly and grasped her hands. “You can’t do this. I won’t let you sacrifice yourself to save me.”
“Who says it’s a sacrifice?” Holly cut her eyes to T’Kar and gave a wide smile, but Max could see the flicker of apprehension behind her eyes.
“But what if we don’t see each other again?” Max heard her voice crack. She knew it sounded silly—she’d only known Holly for a little while—but she didn’t make friends easily, and didn’t have a lot of them to spare. Besides, she and Holly had been through a lot in a short period of time, and she felt bonded to the woman. No way was she letting her take her place inside the Crestek city.
“I’m not dying.” Holly held her hands tightly. “And this way no one else will either.”
“But—”
Holly jerked her close, whispering in her ear. “If you guys escape and get rid of Mourad, that means there’ll be someone to break me out, okay?”
; Max nodded mutely when Holly straightened, the redhead’s smile betraying nothing of the furtive request she’d just relayed. Of course, the engineer had a plan. She was smart, logical, and never did anything without thinking it through, despite what her flighty disposition might suggest.
The chancellor appraised Holly for a moment before nodding his approval. “Yes, she will do.”
“Not the best compliment I’ve ever gotten,” Holly murmured. “But not the lamest, either.”
The other members of the female bounty hunter crew crowded around their engineer, hugging her and scolding her in turn.
“We’ll get you out,” Tori said, keeping her voice low and shooting a venomous look at the Cresteks. “Just hold tight.”
“That’s right,” Bexli added. “I know the layout of the city now.”
“Don’t worry about me until you’ve taken care of Mourad,” Holly said, blinking back tears. “I’m sure the Cresteks will treat me well.”
“If they put you in the same place they put me, you’re in for a treat,” Max said, trying to lighten the mood.
Danica wrapped her in a tight hug. “This is not goodbye, so don’t think you’ve gotten out of being my ship’s engineer.”
“Of course not, Captain.” Holly gave her a mock salute. “I look forward to getting back to work.”
“You and me both,” Caro said, pushing her captain out of the way and hugging Holly. “You want a ship to fix, and I want one to fly.”
There were shouts in the distance, and T’Kar approached Holly, reaching for her arm. “We need to get you inside the city and hidden away.”
“Your wish is my command, big guy,” Holly said, batting her lashes at him, and making his mouth drop open.
Max knew the woman was acting flirty to mask her fear, but she admired how brave Holly was, and how artfully she made men into putty. T’kar’s expression softened and a faint flush seeped onto his gold cheeks, as he bustled her away, one thick arm wrapped around her shoulder.
