I swallowed hard, grateful for the distraction of the shaking planet. “I didn’t—“
He snapped up a hand. “Not now. Now we need to get out. Later you will explain yourself—and it had better be good.”
Pressing my lips together, I stuck my head out of the doorway. Luckily, the blasts had disabled the locks and shaken the door off its hinges. I saw no imperial soldiers, so I led Bron out of the villa and onto the top of the stairs. Instead of spiraling us down to the beach, they remained like stone.
“The blast must have knocked out some of their systems.” I cursed under my breath at the thought of trying to walk down hundreds of steps with an unsteady Vandar raider.
Bron put out a hand as I started to take a step down. “It’s too late.”
I followed his gaze to the swath of pick sand where small imperial transport ships were touching down. My stomach lurched as the all too familiar helmeted fighters ran off them and fanned out across the beach and toward the cliffs.
“We go up,” he said, motioning above us. “Vaes.”
Up? I swallowed hard, although I knew we had no choice. Not with the Zagrath forces running up the steps with alarming speed.
I nodded, wishing I had a weapon on me. The Raas had his battle axe, but if the enemy caught us, I had nothing but my fighting skills. Not that my hand to hand skills weren’t impressive, especially against the imperial soldiers, who were better with blasters, but my fingers itched for a blade.
Raas Bron’s pace quickened as we rushed up the steps, his energy obviously fueled by fury. Instead of bare rock at the top of the cliffs, I was surprised to see a series of flat-topped buildings with neat paths winding through them. As we rushed past the structures, I peeked through the windows and saw homey rooms with colorful linens and vanity tables strewn with brushes and pots of pigment. Then it hit me. This was where the pleasurers lived.
I tugged hard on Bron’s hand to stop him, and he glanced back at me, his gaze questioning.
“If they catch me, they’ll execute me,” I said, nodding to one of the small houses. “I need a disguise.”
He cut his eyes to his own battle kilt hanging low on his hips, his skin still damp from the pool. “I doubt there is any disguise that will hide me.”
I looked him up and down then pulled him behind me into one of the small houses. “Never say never.”
Chapter Thirty-Nine
Bron
My head throbbed as I gaze up at the female draped in layers of diaphanous fabric. The jeweled edge of the face veil sparkled as she leaned closer, her brown eyes the only part of her face visible behind layers of pink and lavender.
“Raas,” she whispered.
I attempted to roll away from her. Where was I, and why was a pleasurer on top of me?
Sitting up, a hood fell away from my head. I glanced down at myself. And why was I dressed in the white robes of the Laurinians?
“Bron,” the female said, putting a hand on my arm as I tried to stand. “It’s me. Don’t you remember where we are?”
I swung my gaze to her, as she unhooked one side of her veil to reveal the bottom half of her face. Alana.
I did remember where we were. I’d brought her to the surface of the pleasure planet, and we’d been in our suite. Then I’d fallen asleep and…
“The Zagrath.” My heart clenched. “They’re here.”
“Not yet,” Alana said, standing and crossing to the window, her multicolor, sheer skirt swishing. “We came in here to disguise ourselves, and you passed out again.”
I touched a hand to my temple. Passed out? That’s right. I hadn’t fallen asleep.
“You did this.” I fought down a wave of nausea. “It’s your fault I feel so weak. Did you do all this to set a trap for me?”
“No!” She swiveled around to face me. “Yes. I’m the reason you’re so zonked out, but I had nothing to do with the imperial invasion.”
My head was heavy and the words sluggish on my lips. “Why should I believe you?”
She put her hands on her hips, the diaphanous sleeves of her dress fluttering. “Because they’re here to kill me, too. If I’d called the Zagrath, why would I be running from them? If I was behind this, all I’d have to do would be wave my arms and let them take you down.”
I stood quickly, grabbing her by the wrist and pinning her to the wall next to the window. “You expect me to believe you after what you’ve just done?”
“I’m so sorry. You have to believe that I didn’t want to hurt you.” Her chest heaved as she peered up at me.
I shook my head to rid myself of the lingering sluggishness. “Drugging me wasn’t hurting me?”
“I thought I was saving you. The only thing I’ve ever been doing since I realized I couldn’t kill you is trying to keep you from getting killed. I knew the empire would come after me with everything they had. I told you before, Bron. I’m a liability to you.”
I searched her face and saw no deception. “Maybe, but you’re also mine to protect.”
“But I’m not.” Tears glittered in her eyes. “I know you want to protect me, but I’m not yours. I don’t have your marks, and I probably never will. I’ve done too many horrible things to ever be anyone’s true mate.”
I shook my head, but she put a hand over my mouth.
“It’s okay. I love you for wanting to protect me. No one’s ever done that for me.” She tightened her jaw. “But now it’s time for me to protect you and leave your horde. You’ll be safer without me and without the empire hunting for me.”
I pushed her
