I’d had no choice. Corvak had challenged me. Even if I knew Alana was not who she claimed to be, and my battle chief was correct in his doubts, I could not let his challenge remain unanswered. He’d directly threatened my command and authority. No Raas could let that stand.
I thought of Kratos, wishing desperately he were here instead of me. What would I have advised him, if I’d been majak and he’d been challenged by Corvak over his female? I choked back a laugh as I thought of the former Raas and my friend. I would not have been able to hold him back from killing Corvak.
Kratos had been wild with terror when he’d thought his female had been taken by attackers, and had shown no mercy to the aliens who’d attempted to harm her. He’d put Corvak in his place when the battle chief had questioned his leadership after taking the female on board. I shook my head. No, Kratos would have done no differently than I had.
I peered up at myself in the reflective surface above the counter. Sweat streaked my face, and my hair was tousled. Then why did I feel like I’d failed as Raas? Why did Corvak’s words echo in my head? Why did a part of me believe he was right, and I was making a deadly mistake?
Had he been defending the honor of the horde, while I risked my raiders by keeping Alana onboard? Was I putting my own desires above those of the Vandar? If so, this was a crime from which I could never recover.
I met my own eyes in the mirror, searching for the weakness and treachery my battle chief had claimed to see.
“No,” I growled. My gut told me that Alana was no threat. If she was in danger from the empire, then it was my job to keep her safe. If the Zagrath wanted her dead as badly as she said, then keeping her alive and away from their grasp was my most crucial mission. If she was an imperial asset, then keeping her as a Vandar prize would be a blow to the enemy, regardless of my wants.
My mind drifted to the female I’d left on my bed, and I jerked off my belt and let my kilt fall to the floor. I needed to cool off and rid my thoughts of her. Tugging off my boots and armor, I strode to the shower and pressed a series of buttons to activate the overhead waterfall.
As expected, the water was a cold shock to my system as it cascaded down. I braced my arms on the wall and let it hammer at the knots of my shoulders as it warmed. Slowly, my anger subsided, and my heartbeat slowed. Right or wrong, I’d made my decision. It was done, and I would have to live with my choice.
Then I heard her voice behind me, and desire ignited in my core again. The desire to punish her for her betrayal and to cut down anyone who tried to take her from me.
Chapter Thirty-Two
Alana
I watched him stalk away from me, his hands in fists by his side.
Shit. That hadn’t gone like I’d wanted it to. All my intentions to apologize for trying to leave and thank him for defending me had flown out the window the moment I’d felt cornered. He’d done nothing but stand up for me, even when he knew I was in the wrong and his battle chief was right to be suspicious. Now, he’d exiled one of his own raiders, and I was acting like an ungrateful child.
I groaned and climbed off the bed. The least I owed him was an explanation. One that didn’t come with snark or complaints.
Loud breathing echoed from the attached room. The guy was clearly pissed. Not that I blamed him, but maybe I should wait until he cooled off.
“That could take the rest of the journey, Alana,” I told myself. “Besides, since when are you afraid of a guy’s temper?”
If I’d handled the hair-trigger temper of my grappling instructor at the Zagrath academy and his fondness for beating the shit out of me, I could handle the Raas. In my gut, I knew he’d never hurt me. At least, not physically. Like I’d suspected, the Vandar still held to old-fashioned ideas about women. While I didn’t buy into their overprotective-caveman crap, I didn’t mind the certainty that Bron wouldn’t strike me. It was more than I could say for the males I’d known who didn’t see any harm in dominating a woman with their fists. Killing them had always been more of a pleasure than a job.
I took tentative steps toward the attached bathroom. Instead of the splash of water from the pools, the sound of rushing water came out of the open doorway. When I reached the arch and peeked my head around, my breath caught in my throat.
Although I’d seen that the glossy black wall at the far end of the room had buttons, I’d never given much thought to it. Not that my thoughts were very focused now as I watched Raas Bron standing under a torrent of water spilling from a narrow ledge overhead. His arms were braced wide as the water pounded his shoulders and his bare back was to me. And what a glorious bare back it was.
My nipples hardened and heat pulsed between my legs as I watched him. Sure, I’d gotten a good look at him earlier in bed, but it had been dark. Now I could really drink in the sight of his muscular legs, firm ass, and broad back that tapered to a narrow waist.
“Fuck me,” I murmured, confident that he couldn’t hear me over the rushing water.
I forced my gaze away from his naked wet body. You’re here to explain yourself, Alana. Not gawp at him like a horny Burglig. I shook aside
