Chapter 20
CHAPTER TWENTY
We stopped on one of the largest planets between Porantine and Drakorantia to refuel and resupply.
The stop gave us time to get off of the ship, away from the prying eyes and listening ears of those aboard, and time to ourselves.
The past few days had been incredibly irritating as every time we left our rooms, a new set of listening devices would be planted.
Wayne finally changed the access cards to our room, making it impossible for anyone to enter but us. Gage’s father had almost immediately come to ask why we had stopped housekeeping from doing their jobs and cleaning our rooms.
Preston informed him that we didn’t need a cleaning service and that we would only need to trade out our dirty sheets for new ones once a week from now on. He had, apparently, been annoyed with the requirement, but hadn’t been able to argue since they were of equal station.
“We need to head to the slums,” I said immediately as we walked down the ship’s ramp to the port city we’d landed in.
“The slums?” Preston asked, eyebrows nearly touching his hairline.
I nodded vigorously. “That’s where you’ll find the best items and deals.”
Zeke indicated a nearby booth. “What about here?”
“Everything at the port is going to be significantly higher because of those who don’t want to venture very far away from their ships,” I explained.
Turning around, I smiled at the four Dragonkin and asked, “Don’t you trust me?
I’ve been traveling around to all kinds of planets, moons, and bases for the past ten years. I’m the best guide you could have.”
“Lead the way,” Wayne said and smiled warmly at me. “I’ll follow you wherever you wish to go.”
His statement seemed to mean more than just this circumstance, but now wasn’t the time to discuss that. I’d talk to him about it later.
Grabbing his hand, I pulled him with me and started skipping as we headed down the busy streets towards the slums. My sweet, silly tech guru, immediately joined in on my skipping.
“I haven’t skipped like this since I was a kid.” He laughed and his smile was so bright and warm, it made my heart beat faster and my own smile widen.
“Don’t get too far ahead,” Zeke warned.
I looked over my shoulder at him and asked, “Are you worried about me, Giant?”
He scowled and opened his mouth, but the next second, his eyes moved over my head and he suddenly ran forward, wrapping his body around mine and spinning me around so that his back was where my body had just been. His body jolted and he grunted in pain.
“Zeke?” I asked, concerned.
Wayne had released my hand a second before Zeke had moved, and he’d drawn a weapon from his side that I hadn’t known he was carrying. “What do you think you’re doing?” he demanded.
Preston stood in front of me, looking around Zeke. “What business do you have with Diamond?”
“Who the frak are you?” a female voice demanded.
“Are you okay?” I asked Zeke and reached a hand up to touch his face.
“I’m fine. It was some type of electric rod,” he explained and straightened, keeping me in front of him, away from the person who had, apparently, tried to attack me.
“Princes, do you require assistance?” a male Dragonkin in armor asked as he and a small group of soldiers joined us.
“Where did you get hired muscle like this, you crazy bitch?” the female demanded. “The reward isn’t that high.”
I stepped around Zeke, but he kept an arm in front of me, between my attacker and me.
The female before me wasn’t someone I recognized. She was a Tortian, a race of lizard-like people with hard shells on their backs that were incredibly strong, almost impossible to penetrate.
“What do you want with me?” I asked.
“You’ve got a bounty out on your head,” she explained.
“Who and how much?” I asked.
“Two million,” she answered.
“Who posted it?” I asked again.
She seemed like she wasn’t going to answer, but the soldiers moved closer, scaring her into raising her hands and answering. “Lord of Porantine.”
“He’s dead,” Zeke said. “I snapped his neck myself.”
Laughing, she shook her head. “The new Lord.”
“What? Who replaced Charles?”
She shrugged. “Don’t know anything about him except he’s got the funds and wants you back to Porantine.”
“Not happening,” Gage growled. “You should leave now, while we’re still feeling charitable.”
With her hands still raised, she took several steps back. “From one female to another, I’m impressed with your skills at obtaining valuable guards. I don’t think anyone will get past these Dragonkin.”
“Spread the word,” Preston ordered her. “Let them know that anyone who tries to harm Diamond will be hunted by the Princes of Drakorantia.”
Her eyes widened and she whistled. “You lucky bitch.” With a smile and a wink, she spun on her heel and disappeared into the crowd that had gathered.
“Well, that was fun,” I said and clapped my hands together. “Come on, we’re almost there.” I took Wayne’s hand and resumed skipping, but he wasn’t in the mood any longer.
“Why aren’t you worried?” Gage asked as he walked on my other side.
“Guys, this has been my every day life for ten years. What just happened has happened hundreds of times to me. I told you this.”
“It’s one thing to hear it and another to see it … and feel it,” Zeke replied.
“Did she hurt you?” I asked, my brows furrowing in concern.
“She used a taser,” Wayne explained. “He’s fine.”
“A taser?” I scoffed. “Wow, my reputation took a hit, I guess. Normally, they wouldn’t come at me with less than a blaster.”
“Please don’t joke about this,” Wayne said, a bit of growl in his voice. It was then that I realized that all of my princes were tense, shoulders tight and eyes darting around.
“Guys, it’s okay. I doubt anyone else here will try anything. I’m sure they saw you defend me and saw the guards come up. They won’t try anything now.” I smiled, trying to convey my lack of concern. “Come on, we’re close to a really great shop that has some of the best snacks in this solar system.”
“Snacks?” Zeke asked, interest piqued.
“Have you ever had barbecue chips?” I asked.
“I’ve heard of those!” Wayne said, eyes shining with excitement.
Finally, they all followed me, but they didn’t relax and didn’t stop scanning our surroundings.
I would take the small win.
The building looked like it was seconds away from collapsing, but inside it was a treasure trove of items from all across the universe.
Wayne immediately started grabbing bags of snacks from the shelves and I let my own excitement for it bleed into his. Eventually, Zeke and Gage joined us in our shopping spree and by the time we made it up to the checkout, all four of our arms were loaded with items.
The clerk, a female Bearbella, a bear shifter humanoid, looked from me to the four males behind me, clearly shocked by our group. “Which one is yours?” she asked softly, leaning slightly so our heads were closer.
“Oh, uh …” My cheeks burned hot in embarrassment.
“All of us,” Preston whispered to her and gave me a wink.
She started to bag the items after scanning them all, but it was going to take her a long time, so I helped her as well. As soon as Wayne saw me helping, he joined in helping also.
“You don’t have to do that, sir,” she said quickly.
My eyes narrowed since she hadn’t said the same to me.
“If our Princess is going to help, then we can as well,” Wayne said.
Her eyes widened as she glanced back at me, clearly shocked he’d called me a princess.
“We aren’t royalty here,” I said with a shrug. “Plus, it won’t hurt me to put my purchases in bags.”
Preston paid for our items and slipped his arm around my waist, pulling me against his side. “Come along, Princess. I know you have more shopping to do.”
I winked at the clerk and allowed Preston to lead me out of the store, Wayne, Gage, and Zeke right behind with their hands full of bags with our snacks inside.
“I can’t wait to try all of these,” Wayne said, practically drooling.
“You have to wait.” I laughed as he immediately pouted.
“Patience has never been his virtue,” Preston whispered in my ear.
“Just because you’re practically a robot,” Wayne grumbled.
“Where to next?” Preston asked, ignoring Wayne’s jab.
“There,” I said and pointed at a building with metal bars over the window. As we stood before the doorway, I looked up at Preston and asked, “Could I …” I hesitated, my face burning with embarrassment.
“You can do whatever you wish, pet.”
“I’d like to buy something, but … it’s expensive.”
He smiled and brushed some hair behind my ear. “Show me.”
Feeling even more nervous, I stepped into the store and headed straight for the display case that held the item I wanted. Preston stood beside me while the others hung back, looking at other items.
“Which item has caught your attention, pet?” he asked softly, standing a foot away from me so he could look down at me.
I pointed to the bracelet in the center. It was silver, made to look like leaves with an amethyst stone in the center surrounded by four red stones, resembling a flower.
He looked at me a moment longer before looking down at the bracelet. His eyes widened. “Is that—”
Nodding, I said, “Yes, that’s the gift that you gave me when we met.”
“Why is it here?” he asked, snarling.
Looking down quickly, my fists clenched at my sides, and I felt my eyes growing hot as tears threatened to spill. “I …” I sniffled loudly. “I sold it.”
“What’s going on? What’s wrong?” Gage asked and turned me around to face him.
I couldn’t look at him, though, my embarrassment too strong, so I buried my face against his chest and tried, unsuccessfully, to stop the tears.
“How can I help you?” the store owner asked.
“We’d like this bracelet,” Preston said, his voice full of anger and a bit of growl.
“C-Can we step outside?” I asked Gage.
He kept an arm around me as he led me out of the shop and to a nearby bench. I kept my face against his chest and finally got my emotions, mostly, under control. Enough to at least stop the tears.
“Let’s return to the ship,” Preston said as soon as he stepped outside.
“What about food?” Zeke asked.
Preston growled. “Right, where is the restaurant you wanted to take us to?”
“It’s fine,” I said as I stood, my eyes on the ground before me. “Let’s just go back to the ship.”
“No, you’ve been talking about this place for days. We’re going,” Zeke said.
“Really, it’s okay. Preston is upset and—”
“Preston can deal with his emotions later,” Zeke growled and reached down to grab my hand. “Come on, where’s the restaurant?”
Preston suddenly squatted down in front of me, his eyes meeting mine. “We need to eat and we are all tired of the ship’s food. Please, take us to the restaurant you were drooling while speaking about.”
“I never drooled,” I muttered. He continued to stare at me, so I asked, “You’re not too mad at me to go?”
He sighed and dropped his head down for a moment before looking back at me. “I’m not mad at you.”
“Promise?”
“Promise.” He nodded.
I didn’t believe him, but I wasn’t going to argue anymore. “Two blocks south and then a right.”
Zeke tugged me along by the hand and I realized it was the first time that he’d held my hand. Looking up at the huge male, I asked, “Are you mad?”
His hold on my hand loosened a bit. “Did I hurt you?”
I shook my head.
“We can discuss everything later. I’m not mad at you, promise.” He raised my hand and to my complete astonishment, kissed my knuckles.
When had the giant, grumpy Dragonkin become so sweet?
The restaurant was exactly as I remembered it and to my surprise, the guys not only ordered food, but once they tasted how delicious it was, they ordered a whole additional set of meals to go.
We had just started our return trip to the ship when a dozen armored Exostalon soldiers surrounded us.
“What is the meaning of this?” Preston demanded.
“Xoe Zarmascas, you are hereby under arrest for the destabilization of Exostalon, a direct violation of the Peace Treaty of the Trinumeria System,” one of the soldiers said.
“We aren’t in the Trinumeria System,” Preston replied sternly. “Your jurisdiction does not work here. Leave, while I’m feeling generous.”
“Hand over the villain or we shall use force,” the soldier snapped.
“The King and Prince of Exostalon pardoned me of all crimes,” I said as I stepped up next to Preston. “Plus, Exostalon broke the Peace Treaty first when they destroyed Caltyrela.”
“Seize her!” the soldier shouted and the Exostalons started to move.