The corners of Svar’s mouth twitched and relief passed over his usually solemn face. “Agreed, Raas. I’ve already plotted a course. We should arrive at Laurinia by first watch.”
“Laurinia?”
“We have never visited this particular planet. It is new, but they are already known for their variety and unique environment.”
“Environment?”
“The Laurinians have spent considerable coin to make their city into a hedonistic playground.” Svar’s smile widened. “Our raiders will be pleasantly surprised.”
Most of the pleasure planets we frequented were weathered and tended toward seedy. A hedonistic playground—whatever that was—would be a welcome change.
I swiveled back to the glass, giving a final look at the planet’s surface. “As long as the empire has not also become aware of this playground.”
The pleasure planets we’d chosen in the past were also ignored by the Zagrath, and far out of imperial territory.
“From what we know, they have not, but we are enacting strict security protocols. We will not land on the surface, and our horde ships will send raiders in shifts. Shall I notify you in your quarters when we arrive, Raas?”
I thought about the female waiting for me back in my quarters. I might have convinced her that she would be safer on my horde and with me, but as much time as we’d spent in each other’s arms over the past few rotations, there was no indication of mating marks on her skin or mine. Her soft, smooth, unmarked flesh tormented me, and served as a stark reminder that as much as I might insist she was mine, the female assassin might never truly be my mate.
She might never belong to anyone.
“Let me know when we arrive. I would like to see this Laurinia for myself.” I turned sharply from the view of the planet and tried not to imagine my battle chief watching as his horde—and the only family he’d ever known—flew away.
Chapter Thirty-Four
Alana
I sat in front of the fire with my feet tucked up underneath me, staring into the flames. I’d stayed away from the glass since we’d reached the planet, and now that the familiar hum of the engines had resumed, I released a long breath.
As an assassin to the empire, I’d grown used to bringing death with me. It shouldn’t bother me that I was the reason Bron had been forced to exile one of his closest officers. It wasn’t like the warrior had been executed for his actions. Considering how livid Bron had been when he’d found me strapped to the wall in Corvak’s oblek, the battle chief might have gotten off easy.
But all the deaths I’d been responsible for had been for people who deserved it. At least that was what I told myself. Even the ones who weren’t evil, had no problem being seduced by a total stranger. They got what they deserved, I’d always thought. Unfaithful, greedy males who’d stood in the way of the empire’s expansion throughout the galaxy.
But Corvak was not unfaithful or greedy. He’d only been following his instinct about me.
“An instinct that was right.” I shifted and reached for the goblet of Vandar wine beside me.
Even though Bron had forgiven me and assured me that I was not the reason he exiled his battle chief, it was not true. The Raas did lie, after all.
I took a swig of wine, finally glancing over my shoulder at the view as we flew through space. I didn’t know where we were going next, but at least we would not be hovering above Kimithion III anymore. Every moment we’d stayed was a moment of torture and a reminder that I was the reason Bron had been forced into an impossible decision—me or his crew mate.
Even now, I had a hard time believing he’d chosen me. No one had ever chosen me above duty or the job. My throat was thick as I thought about the Raas whose bed I was sharing. The Raas I would have to leave, one way or the other.
As much as I wanted to stay, and as easy as it felt when we were together, the hard truth was that an imperial assassin and a Raas of the Vandar could not be together. One day, someone would discover the truth about me, and it would be the end of Bron. He would lose his role as Raas and end up like Corvak, exiled to a strange planet. Or worse, we’d both be executed for treason. That was, if the empire didn’t find us both first.
I gulped down a mouthful of wine, letting the tang pucker my cheeks. I knew firsthand that the Zagrath had eyes and ears everywhere. As insular as the Vandar hordes were, they did stop on pleasure planets and make supply runs. One day, word would escape that Raas Bron kept a human female, and then the empire would know.
The wine churned in my stomach. My own death didn’t upset me. I’d always known my life would end as I’d lived it—in violence. But Raas Bron did not deserve my fate. Even less did he deserve what would happen if the Vandar discovered he’d knowingly kept an imperial spy and assassin in their midst. His majak had been there when Rennick had called me Mantis, although in the chaos he might not have registered the out-of-place word. Still, it was only a matter of time before there were more slips. It was inevitable. As was the fall of Raas Bron, if he kept me.
As the wine sent tingles down my arms and dulled the ache in my chest, I knew what I would have to do. Getting off the ship without being seen or stopped was too difficult, especially now that the Raas kept a guard posted outside his quarters.
No, I’d have to convince him to let me off the ship. Then I could slip away. I chugged the rest of the wine, hating that I had to deceive Bron in order to save him. But he was too honorable to
