He blew out a breath and forced himself to think calmly. The female Raas Bron had taken was not the first human to be claimed by a Vandar. He choked out a dark laugh. Actually, it was becoming more frequent than he ever would have expected.
There was no reason that this female should bring the attention of the empire, Svar reasoned. Even if she had been running from them.
“If this information brings danger to your horde, I am sincerely sorry,” the captain continued. “You offered us aid when we needed it, and you have my eternal gratitude.” He coughed out a mirthless laugh. “Though I doubt I have much longer to make good on that promise.”
A wave of pity for the dying captain made Svar press his lips together. “Have no fear, captain.” He vowed. “We will rain fire on the empire for what they’ve done to you.”
“I am the only Valox ship that escaped, although I suspect they let me go because they know life support on board is failing.” He sucked in a tight breath. “In their last warning to me, I could hear Zagrath in the background saying that they would find the human and punish her for her betrayal.”
Svar straightened. “Betrayal?”
“They mentioned Laurinia and they were discussing a trap.” The captain’s voice faded. “I hope you know what that means, and I hope this reaches you before they do.”
Svar froze in place as the transmission devolved into more coughing and spluttering and finally an agonizing death gasp. When the line was static, he jerked his head up to the view screen and the idyllic planet of Laurinia. It was a trap?
He shook his head, not wanting to believe the warning. Was it possible their horde had flown right into the clutches of the empire without knowing it? No, surely not.
Svar studied his scans again. There was nothing.
Wait. His eye caught on a faint dot pulsing just on the edge of the screen. Within moments, it raced across the star chart, other dots joining it to surround the planet. The empire was fast approaching with what appeared to be an entire fleet.
Activating a ship-wide red alert, Svar called all raiders to their battle stations as the first laser fire volleyed from the Zagrath ships, his fingers buzzing with the fervor of impending bloodshed. Then he turned and ran for the hangar deck.
The battle they’d all been wishing for had finally come, and their horde was not ready.
Chapter Thirty-Eight
Alana
The rumble was faint at first, then I was pitched to the side. I caught myself on the table as the trays of food clattered to the floor.
What the hell?
I looked out onto the horizon which had been so peaceful only moments before. The pink sky was now filled with red beams shooting down from above. Was the planet seriously under attack? It only took me a moment to realize that it was the empire, and they were coming for me. Who else would unleash such firepower on a pleasure planet?
“We have to go!” I shouted to Bron, then turned to see him unconscious on the bed.
Fuck me. I wasn’t sure how long the drugs would take to wear off—the Vandar were bigger than anyone I’d used the sedatives on before—but at the moment, he was gone. And I couldn’t leave him. Not with the imperial forces firing and us being on the top of a cliff. One direct hit and the entire mountain would crumble.
Panic and anger were like rocket fuel storming through my veins. I hurriedly pulled on my clothes, stumbling as the blasts continued to rattle the villa. Then I jumped on the bed and shook Bron by the shoulders.
“Wake up, babe,” I begged, slapping his cheeks so sharply they turned pink.
He blinked groggily, frowning up at me. “That hurts.”
I was so happy he was conscious, I kissed him hard on the lips. “I know. I’m sorry. Listen, you can spank me for it later.” I spotted his kilt on the floor and scooped it up. “Right now, we need to get the fuck out of here before we’re blown to bits.”
“We just got here.” His words were slurred as he shook his head, then he stopped and grinned. “Did you say I can spank you?”
“That’s what you took from what I said?” I huffed out an impatient breath as I tugged his kilt on over his feet and up the length of his muscular legs. “If we get out of here alive, you can do anything you want to me.”
His smile widened, but I snapped a finger to focus his attention. “But right now, you need to get dressed and follow me. Okay?”
The villa shook, this time harder, and dust sifted down from above. Bron’s brow creased. “Is that laser fire?”
“Yep.” I pulled him up by the arms, astounded by just how heavy he was. “Imperial laser fire, if I’m right.”
He stiffened, his eyes snapping into focus. “The Zagrath? Here?”
“Unless your horde has decided to fire on the planet.” I jerked his kilt up around his waist and sat back, heaving.
Bron stood, his gaze sweeping the sky as red beams slashed across it. It was as if the mention of his enemy had wiped all the fog from his brain, although I suspected adrenaline and the sheer size of him helped. He hooked his battle axe on his waist and held out his hand to me. “Come on.”
I took it without argument, and we moved toward the door, although I noticed his step wasn’t as fast or sure as usual. I latched my arm around his waist as he leaned against the door frame to draw a breath. He glanced down at me. “When we’re back
