His words whisper through my mind yet again, reminding me that he was the bad guy in our little scenario. I’m glad they put you back into circulation. That statement alone should tell me he doesn’t have a freaking clue. What kind of person is glad about another being made a slave again? Tarion just doesn’t get it and he may never really understand my plight. If that’s true, why do I miss him so much? It’s obviously because I allowed myself to care. I should have kept to the job at hand and closed off my emotions.
Wiping at my eyes, I lean over the console to check my heading. I’m going to be just fine on my own. I don’t need anyone. My insanity has kicked up a notch. Talking to myself is a sure sign of mental instability and it’s happening a lot more lately. Maybe it’s just an outlet for anxiety. It’s mentally draining to be on the lookout at all times.
Surely this escape will go better. I just need to stay strong and keep pushing forward. There isn’t a pirate behind every moon lying in wait to abduct me or anything. Carissa of the Maeberry should know because she looked behind every single one. Unlike Tarion, speaking about myself in the third person seems weird and totally self-absorbed.
My fighter jerks slightly and I know before I even look what’s happened. Palm smacking myself hard, my brain scrambles to make sense of the situation. How in the name of all that is holy did that ridiculous man catch up with me so quickly? I took so many precautions to make sure this went off without a hitch. I grabbed the food bars, hydro packs and blanket from my old cell to make sure I had enough supplies. Hell, I even zig-zagged my course a dozen times to disperse my exhaust trail, causing it to decay at an accelerated rate.
Slamming my fist down on the console, I curse, “Hell, fire and damnation, what does a girl have to do to catch a freaking break?”
Bellying up to the console, I decide to fight. Why should I let him drag me back into the sewer just to make a quick buck? He’s turning me into a total nut job. I don’t know whether I love him or hate him. The one thing I’m pretty sure of is that the only thing he feels for me is lust.
Switching off the automatic pilot, I draw on my remaining power and try to break free. Even accelerating at maximum speed, the fighter can’t break free of Tarion’s tractor beam. Unafraid to play my one remaining card, my fingers fly over the controls, launching every weapon this small fighter has. All of them are heading in his direction. It’s not enough to cause any damage to his ship, but that’s not what I’m after. Watching breathlessly, I’m praying for their shields to drop or weaken. Just a second is all it will take for me to make a clean getaway, but the shields don’t even crackle.
My anger explodes. “I hate my fucking life!”
Flinging myself back into the pilot’s seat, I seethe as my mood blackens. I’m going back and it’s not fucking fair. I don’t even fight the big brutes that come to drag me out of the fighter.
The top of my flight suit is pulled open and hanging down around my waist. Underneath, I’m wearing some kind of Drakon pullover made of thin fabric that I’ve ripped to fit me better. I know my midsection is exposed and if the warriors aren’t careful, the bottom of my boobs will be flying in the wind. Luckily the flight suit is designed to tighten up, so at least that isn’t falling off.
They drag me before his majesty of grumpiness and I smile brightly. “Honey, I’m home.”
Fury is radiating off my crimson friend like steam. My little joke escalated the situation, judging by his stiff posture and flared wings. He takes a step closer and glares at me with menace playing across his handsome features, his eyes narrowed in deadly rage. “You dare to run from me?”
“I ran from slavery, not you.”
“You lie.”
“Only when absolutely necessary and I never tell lies without a really good reason.”
“You shot at my ship.” His tone is harsh and I feel a little guilty for upsetting him, but quickly remind myself that he’s the bad guy. Me? I’m just the woman trying to be free. Therefore, I let him have it. “You started this grudge match by abducting me, not once but twice.”
“Stop talking. I have no time for your petty manipulations.” Taking another step closer, he gets into my personal space. “You no longer have to worry about being sent back to your rightful master.” Sliding one razor sharp claw through my hair, he stares me down. “I don’t suspect you’ll last the night, much less until we get to a proper trading center.”
He’s bluffing and we both know it. That belief makes me braver than I might otherwise be. “Have you ever fought a fair fight in your entire life? Every time I get pulled onto this stinking vessel, it’s me against a half-dozen warriors. Do you
