Forty Seven
Vahn saw realization flood across her face and hated himself. He’d wanted to tell her the truth so many times. And he should have done – especially after she’d admitted to him whose daughter she was.
But he had always stopped himself, because he couldn’t bear to have her look at him with hatred and contempt.
The way she was looking at him now.
He clenched his fists, holding himself back from going to her, taking her in his arms and telling her nothing had changed. His feelings for her were real, even if her perception of him was not.
But that would mean signing her death warrant, and his too most likely.
So he kept his face impassive and his tone slightly bored as he told Solarun to send the troops back onto the warship. She gave the order and they turned in well-oiled unison towards the vessel.
“And what of the Terran?”
Kara rubbed her aching throat, wishing she could spew vitriol at them both. She glared at Vahn with rage-filled eyes and he looked away.
“Put her in my quarters.”
“Should I have it caged? Chained up?”
“For such a tiny little thing?” He raised a brow. “I have controlled her so far, general.”
“It is human. It cannot be trusted.”
“And I have an entire platoon at my disposal. I think I will manage.” His tone brooked no argument. “How long till we reach Vraxian airspace?”
“Eight days, maybe nine. But there is something you should know.”
“Yes, general?”
“The Zhaal is ailing. Lord Davorrian is with him.”
Vahn stiffened.
“My father is ill?”
“We will know more when we get home.” The general touched his arm. “I am sorry, Vahn. The whole Empire prays for him.”
Vahn’s expression was bleak. Kara might almost have felt sorry for him if he wasn’t such a lying, poisonous snake. And why was the Vraxian bitch touching him like that? The brief moment of closeness hadn’t escaped her notice.
“Thank you for telling me. You can take the prisoner now. But Ela?”
“Yes?”
“I want her unharmed. If anyone – and I mean anyone – touches her, I will personally execute them.”
If Solarun was bewildered by the order, she didn’t show it. She gestured to Kara with her blaster and forced her to her feet.
Kara glanced quickly at Vahn. The Vraxian was looking down at Rocky, his face like granite. He extended a serpetri to prod at the body.
“ Alekt! ”
Solarun shoved her towards the warship. Kara stumbled through the trees, not helped by the general jamming the blaster muzzle into her back every time she slowed by even the tiniest fraction. She lost track of Vahn as they walked up the ramp and into the vessel.
Despite her fear she couldn’t help gazing round with wide eyes. She’d never been on board a Vraxian ship before. The SDF had carriers this big, of course, but they were more like work horses. Messy and cramped with supplies and equipment jammed everywhere.
This was like entering a state-of-the-art office block. Everything gleamed as if it was polished daily. Which it probably was. Metal and chrome everywhere and not a single speck of dust as far as she could tell.
She wondered where the troops kept their stuff. No grunt was this clean.
Maybe they squashed everything into hidden cupboards and when the door was opened too fast it all burst out.
She realized she was trying to distract herself. She was on board a Vraxian warship. No-one knew where she was. And the person she had trusted with her life had betrayed her.
She swallowed down her hurt. He had played her beautifully, she had to give him that. All that kalehsha shit. She had believed every word.
Solarun marched her through the vessel, ignoring the open curiosity and catcalls from the troops they passed. Kara didn’t need the microbes to translate the insults, though some were more imaginative than she expected.
She wished she could snap back at them but her throat was still sore. And besides, Vahn was right about one thing. She shouldn’t let on she could understand them. It was an advantage, however small, and it might help her.
So she kept her head down and her mouth shut, even when a crowd grew around them. Vraxians edged closer, trying to get a look at the enemy prisoner in their midst. Alien faces glowered in every direction and she started to get jostled.
At first Solarun ignored it. But as the jeers and shoves grew more intense, she barked an order.
Immediately, the crowd evaporated. Every soldier went back to his or her task without a murmur. Kara let her shoulders relax, impressed at the general’s unquestioned authority. Her mother would approve.
“If it were up to me, I’d let them tear you limb from limb.” Solarun’s tone was conversational. “I don’t know what the Imiri has planned but it had better be worth stinking up my beautiful ship with your disgusting carcass.”
Kara kept her face impassive.
They walked towards a gleaming silver tube. Solarun pulled Kara inside and uttered a syllable. The tube shot upwards and Kara realized they were in a lift.
They emerged on a floor which seemed to have only one door, guarded by two of the biggest Vraxians Kara had ever seen. Even their muscles had muscles.
They saluted and stood aside as Solarun strode past them and into the room beyond.
Kara gaped.
Okay. These had to be the most luxurious, spacious and opulent quarters she’d ever seen. Not even the Presidential Suite in the New White House compared to this. There were at least three rooms, all decorated in silks and velvet, or whatever the Vraxian equivalent was. And in the center was a large bed.
Her gawping was brought to a rude halt when Solarun grabbed her by the arm and threw her to the ground.
“I know you can’t understand me, vermin. But the Imiri has seen fit to let you live and I will abide by his orders.” The Vraxian bent down so she could stare into Kara’s eyes, her own slitted pupils black and unblinking. Her next sentence was in perfect English, each word enunciated carefully and slowly. “If you try to harm him in any way, I will kill you. Slowly. And painfully. Do you understand?”
She loves him. The thought came to Kara as she stared into Solarun’s intent gaze. She’s worried about him.
She wanted to laugh. How many women had Vahn seduced? Instead, she nodded.
Satisfied, Solarun left. Kara was tempted to see if she’d locked the door behind her, but there were two enormous guards on the other side so what was the point?
She drew her knees to her chest and wrapped her arms round her shins, rocking slightly.
Shit. Shit, shit, shit.
She heard the engines begin to thrum as they took off. Next stop, Vraxos.
She was fucked. Well and truly fucked.