“More ships, descending to the planet,” Raas Kaalek said.
Tara’s face was grim. “And it looks like they’re all landing in the village.”
“Where’s Lebben?” I asked, realizing for the first time since we’d stopped that he was no longer with us. Then I knew where he was, and my heart sank. He’d run ahead to his village—alone.
Chapter Thirty-Six
Vassim
We made no secret of our presence as we ran through the forest toward the village, our footsteps crashing through the brush. Shafts of warm light streamed through the leaves above, burning off the morning mist that clung to the ground. The chirping of night insects had been replaced by bird song, the high notes wafting through the cool air. It would have almost seemed peaceful, if I hadn’t known of the battleships and warbirds battling above us.
The Dothveks took the lead as we ran, slashing hanging vines with their curved blades and carving a path for the rest of us. Raas Kaalek and Corvak were close behind them with their mates, who ran fast, considering their shorter legs. I jogged at the back beside Juliette, keeping pace with her slower gait.
“You should run ahead,” she said as she heaved in a breath, pausing to lean against a willowy tree. “I’m only slowing you down.”
“Do you really think I would be parted from you so quickly?” I stopped with her, touching a finger to the marks swirling across her collarbone. “You are my one true mate, Juliette. I will never leave you.”
She smiled up at me. “In the future, I’ll leave the battles to you.”
“Agreed.” I scooped her up in my arms. “For now, I’ll carry you.”
She didn’t protest, winding her arms around my neck. Even though I’d been painfully shocked and then suspended by an energy field, that seemed like a distant memory. My stamina had been restored by the sight of my marks etched across Juliette’s skin, and the realization that she was my one true mate. I’d wanted her so desperately that the thought of keeping my promise and returning her to her home had been agonizing. Now, I didn’t have to. Not only were we mates, but she’d also chosen to stay with me, even over going with her sister. I held her closer as my legs pumped hard, catching up with the rest of the war party as they burst into the village.
But what I’d expected to see—imperial ships and soldiers in crisp uniforms and shiny helmets—wasn’t there. Instead, black Vandar transports sat at either end of the village, their wings stretched out from gaping, round bellies as if ready to take flight. Carlogians milled about with Vandar raiders, Furb scampering around on the ground while Baru chased after him, cursing in Vandar.
“You found him!” Fenrey bustled up to us, his creased face beaming.
I lowered Juliette to the ground. “There are no imperial ships?”
He shook his head. “Lebben asked the same thing and looked just as shocked as you do.” The little Carlogian patted my arm. “Your Vandar hordes and resistance fighters took them all out.”
Juliette glanced at me and then at Fenrey. “All of them?”
“Isn’t it wonderful news?” the Carlogian healer asked, joining us. “No more imperial soldiers on Carlogia Prime. We should have a party to celebrate.”
“I love parties,” Juliette said. “If only I had time to bake a cake.”
I didn’t recognize the Vandar raiders milling about with the Carlogian villagers, or the two Raas’ striding toward me. Then again, it had been a long time since I’d laid eyes on other hordes, or their warlords.
“Raas Vassim?” The younger Raas addressed me with a click of his heels. “I am Raas Toraan. We are glad to see you out of the hands of the enemy.”
“Thank you. I owe a debt of gratitude to Corvak and to the bounty hunters for rescuing me.” I nodded to Fenrey and Coxley. “And to the Carlogians for saving my mate.”
“Corvak?” the other Raas asked, his brow furrowing in confusion.
“You are Raas Bron,” I surmised. I did not say what else was on my tongue, that he was the one who’d exiled the Vandar to Kimithion III. Then again, if Corvak had not been exiled, I never would have responded to his hail for assistance against the Zagrath, and Juliette wouldn’t have snuck aboard my ship. In a way, I owed my happiness to the Raas who exiled Corvak.
“I am,” he said, squaring his shoulders and clicking his heels.
“Corvak speaks highly of you,” I said. “And he has fought bravely.”
There was a heavy silence, which Raas Toraan finally filled by clearing his throat. “Between the hordes of Raas Bron, Raas Kaalek, Raas Toraan, and Raas Vassim, along with help from the bounty hunters on the surface and the Valox resistance in the air, all the imperial ships have been destroyed.”
“None escaped?” I asked.
Raas Toraan shook his head. “None. Considering how many battleships they sent in hopes of ambushing us, this has done significant damage to the Zagrath fleet, perhaps insurmountable.”
“There are some soldiers and a general on the beach,” I said. “I left them alive so I could find Juliette.”
She slipped her small hand into mine. “They’re dead, Vassim.”
I gazed down at her. “Don’t tell me you killed them?”
She laughed. “No, it was Raas Kaalek and Lebben. He shot a dart at the Zagrath general who’d grabbed me. Once the man was out, Kaalek did the rest.”
Anger stirred within me at the thought that the general who’d tormented me had also threatened my mate, but it was quickly replaced by overwhelming relief that the Zagrath was dead. “I will have to thank Lebben and Kaalek.”
“All part of the fun,” Raas Kaalek said, walking up to us and slapping a hand on Raas Toraan’s back. “Right, little brother?”
Raas Toraan groaned and rolled his eyes. “You know
