“But you’re still my kid brother.” Kaalek threw an arm around Toraan’s shoulder. “And I don’t get to see you enough.”
“I’m busy raiding.” Toraan elbowed his brother. “Just like you.”
“I thought you might be busy with that pretty little human of yours.”
“Mine keeps me just as busy as yours does, Kaalek.”
Kaalek blew out a breath. “Then you must be as exhausted as I am.” He cut a glance to me. “Don’t let their small stature fool you, Vassim, human females are a handful.”
I smiled down at Juliette. “I’m looking forward to finding out just how much of a handful myself.”
“Tell him, Bron,” Kaalek said. “I hear your human mate is as keen for battle as mine is.”
Bron shifted on his feet, peering over one shoulder to where a group of human women stood talking—the mates of the other Raas’, I assumed. Even though they looked very different from each other, they all looked like they could hold their own against a Raas, dressed in either snug pants and vests or battle kilts like the Vandar.
“I believe I owe your mate an apology.”
I turned back to see that Corvak had joined us, his eyes locked on Raas Bron.
The Raas stiffened. “Corvak. I was surprised to discover your presence on the planet.”
“Once I helped liberate the planet of Kimithion III from imperial threat, I was offered a position with the bounty hunters. I took it so I could continue to do what I do best—fight against the empire.”
“Your battle skill has never been in question,” Bron said.
“But my loyalty has.” Corvak bent down on one knee. “I never should have challenged your authority. You were only protecting your female. I understand now how that feels.”
“You have a mate?” Bron asked.
Corvak nodded but didn’t lift his head. “A human.”
“My sister,” Juliette added.
Bron threw back his head and laughed, the bellowing sound drawing people’s attention.
Corvak looked up. “You find this funny, Raas?”
“That you, who scoffed at the idea of human mates, has taken a human female for a mate?” Bron grinned widely at him. “Yes, I find that both fitting and amusing.” He motioned for the raider to stand. “Rise, Corvak. Your time in exile has obviously changed you for the better. Who am I to hold a grudge?”
Corvak stood, clicking his heels. “Thank you, Raas.”
Bron crossed his arms over his chest. “You are happy flying with the bounty hunters?”
“They are fierce warriors, even the females.”
“I hope you aren’t too content,” I said, stealing a quick glance at Juliette. “I am in need of a battle chief, and I suspect my mate would enjoy having her sister aboard our warbird with her.”
“You mean it?” Juliette gasped.
I didn’t take my eyes off the Vandar. “If Corvak wishes to fly with my horde, I would be honored to welcome him as my battle chief.”
Corvak squared his shoulders. “As much as I regard the Dothveks and their crew, my place is on a Vandar horde. I would be honored to raid with you.”
Fenrey dabbed at his eyes. “I love happy endings.”
Juliette stood on her tiptoes and whispered in my ear, “Have I told you lately how much I adore you?”
My heart stuttered in my chest. “You have not told me at all.”
She tugged my hand, pulling me away from the other warlords and toward the nearest Vandar transport. “Then let me show you.”
Chapter Thirty-Seven
Juliette
“Why are we going in here?” Vassim asked, as I pulled him onto the empty transport.
“Because everyone is busy celebrating the victory against the empire, and no one would think of looking in here.” She pulled me away from the central compartment and opened a narrow door. “Besides, I thought you should see how I stowed away on your ships. Twice.”
He eyed the dark storage closet warily. “Neither of those attempts turned out well for you.”
“I don’t know about that,” I told him, tugging him into the small space with me. I closed the door, encasing us in darkness. “My first attempt did lead me to you, so I’d consider that a good thing, wouldn’t you?”
“A very good thing.”
I ran my hands up his bare chest until I found his shoulders and then tangled my fingers in his hair. I pulled his head down until his lips were on mine. I let myself sink into the kiss, savoring the forbidden thrill of kissing the Raas when everyone else was gathered outside. It was so far from what I’d normally do that the excitement made my heart race. Being with the Raas had definitely awakened a side of me I didn’t know I had—a side I couldn’t wait to explore more fully as the mate of a Vandar.
When I tore my lips from his, we were both panting.
“Wait,” I said. “If we both have mating marks, then that means the curse is broken, right?”
“I don’t know.” He hesitated. “And I don’t care.”
“What do you mean, you don’t care?” Even though I was secretly pleased to hear that he wasn’t obsessed with the curse anymore, I was still shocked. “That was the entire reason you dragged me to that creepy, mystical planet and made a deal to keep me on your ship.”
His breath was warm on my neck as he held me. “That was before I knew you were mine. It doesn’t matter if the curse is broken or not. If I have you, nothing else is important. Tvek the curse.”
A laugh bubbled up in my throat. “Okay then, tvek the curse.”
He chuckled low and deep, the resonance of his voice sending a shiver down my spine. “I’ll get you talking like a Vandar, after all.”
“You’re not afraid I’m too fragile to be a Raas’ mate?” I asked, almost afraid to hear the answer.
“You’ve shown that you have the heart of a warrior when you came to rescue me. That is all that’s needed to be a mate to a Vandar.” He moved his hands down to my ass and squeezed. “Besides, I don’t want you to be
