There wasn’t much to the dark room attached to one side of the command deck. Even though the Vandar warbird was dimly lit in general, this room—the oblek, as Corvak called it—had almost no light. There was only the faintest ambient glow from the recessed ceiling above, and the distant points of light out the wall of glass.
My eyes had adjusted to the dark, and I could see the glint of weapons attached to the walls—curved axe blades, pointy daggers, and a spiked mace. So far, the scarred raider hadn’t used any of them on me, but I sensed the only reason he hesitated was because I was a female and I’d been favored by the Raas.
“You were attempting to escape,” he repeated. “Tell me why.”
“I wasn’t trying to escape. I was lost.”
His laugh was harsh and guttural. “You were being held in the Raas’ quarters as his claimed captive. How did you end up in our hangar bay? You have already been attacked by an imperial intruder once. Why would you endanger yourself by leaving the protection of the Raas’ quarters?”
I’d been right about the Vandar. They might be huge and ripped, but they weren’t brainless brutes. I only hoped this one was as easily manipulated by feminine charms as most males.
Blinking up at him, I let out a breathy sigh. “I told you. The Raas left, and I got bored. The door was open, so I decided to explore. Is that so hard to believe?”
Corvak narrowed his eyes at me. “I was with the Raas when he found you in the battle ring. I saw you move. You are no untrained female who’s toiled away in the mines. The Raas saw it, and I see it too.” He leaned close, his gaze boring into me. “The real question is why the Raas decided to keep you as a captive, and not rid himself and the horde of you. A female—a human female—is nothing more than a liability for a Vandar horde. Raas Bron knows this. He saw it for himself with Kratos.” He spun on his heel and took long steps toward the glass, clearly talking to himself and not me anymore. “He should have known the dangers of keeping you, but still he did it.” He swiveled back to face me. “Then an imperial attacker sneaks onboard our warbird and tries to kill you. Why?” His dark pupils flared with curiosity. “Who are you?”
“I’ve told you who I am.”
Corvak’s lip curled up as he advanced on me. “You’ve peddled lies to the Raas, and now you’re trying to sell them to me. I have no interest in whatever magic between your legs you’ve used to bewitch him. Tell me the truth, and I’ll release you.”
The doors swished open, muffling his final words.
“You’ll release her now.” Bron stood silhouetted in the arched doorway, his legs wide and one hand gripping the hilt of his axe.
Corvak straightened. “You are back, Raas.”
Bron walked into the room with his majak behind him. His glance at me was brief, but he positioned himself between me and his battle chief. “And I find that you’ve taken my female from my quarters.”
Even I cringed at the deadly menace in the Raas’ voice. His rage simmered just below the surface, making his voice vibrate.
“I did not take her from your quarters, Raas.” Corvak braced his feet wide as he faced Bron. “I discovered her in the hangar bay, attempting to escape.”
The Raas flinched almost imperceptibly, but he did not turn to look at me.
“I tried to explain that I was lost,” I said, but Bron held up a fist to silence me.
Shit. He was almost as furious at me as he was at his battle chief. If I wasn’t certain Corvak would torture me, I might have opted not to be saved by the enraged Raas.
“If she was lost, you should have returned her to my quarters.” Bron’s gaze was fixed on Corvak.
“And if she was not lost, Raas?” he answered, sharply. “If she is not who she claims to be and is a danger to you and to this horde?”
“That is for me to determine as Raas. Not you!” Bron’s voice rose to a shout, the sound bouncing off the hard walls and reverberating through my bones.
“And if you are unable to see the truth?” Corvak yelled back. “If you have been blinded by the temptations of the flesh and have chosen the human over your horde?”
Svar sucked in a breath, his own hand going to his weapon. “Stand down, Corvak.”
The Raas and his battle chief stood across from each other, faces red and chests heaving.
“I cannot,” Corvak said, drawing his axe.
“You would defy your Raas?” Svar asked, his voice a hiss.
“My duty is to the Vandar and the horde above all else.” Corvak flicked a derisive glance to me. “As battle chief, I must fight against all threats—even ones who spread their legs to get special treatment.”
Bron drew his axe so quickly, I flinched. “If you dishonor her, you dishonor me—and the horde.”
“She is nothing but a human female,” Corvak tossed his axe from one hand to the other. “A female who is lying to you.”
Bron assumed a low battle crouch. “She has not lied to me. And she is not just a female. She is my mate.”
The last words seemed to land on Corvak like physical blows. He jerked back, almost dropping his weapon. “Tvek. What spell has she cast over you?”
“No spell. I have claimed her, as is my right as Raas.” Bron circled his battle chief, eyes blazing.
“Did you not see what happened to Kratos?” Corvak moved in the opposite direction. “Do you wish our horde to be ripped apart once more?”
“It is you who is threatening the horde.” Bron lunged at Corvak, slicing his blade through the air. “With your treason!”
I gasped as Corvak
