3. Lacey
CHAPTER 3
LACEY
I ’m lost as to why I’m having these feelings for Vex as he and Faylid stride back onto the ship, a triumphant grin on his face, arms laden with silken sacks that clink with stolen promise.
My heart leaps—not at the sight of him (okay, maybe a little), but at the thought of finally getting to be with my friends again.
“Finally,” I say, my fingers aching from holding onto my seat belt with such force.
“Disappointed?” he quips. “Or did you actually miss me?”
My face heats. Gah, why does he do that to me so easily?
He just chuckles. "Got you some goodies, my dear." He drops the bags at my feet, the contents clattering.
I peek inside, pulling out a handful of fabric. Clothes—real clothes, jewelry, shoes—not just the blanket I've been clutching. "Thank you," I breathe, looking up at him, even though I’m not a fan of how these items were acquired.
"Can't have you looking like a wild thing for your friends, can we?"
I blink, taken aback. "My friends? You mean?—?"
"Vid call," he confirms, crossing his arms over his broad chest. "We'll be talking with Ryz and Tak and their wives to negotiate your trade. And you need to look healthy and well-cared for."
I smile with excitement, holding back tears. I get to Face-time with them!
“That smile is something else,” he says, grinning my way. He clears his throat as his violet eyes rake over me, lingering where the blanket gaps. “Now it’s time to scrub Lord Gruzzik’s cage stench off you. Berrix will assist.”
“Assist?” I clutch the fabric tighter as the green-scaled navigator materializes like a specter, tail flicking.
She doesn’t smile. “The hygiene chamber is this way.”
The term conjures images of lasers and acid baths. But instead, I’m led to a closet-sized room with a concave basin and a spout shaped like a tulip. Berrix taps a panel; steam billows, scented like crushed lavender and something faintly metallic.
“Disrobe,” she says, handing me a sponge that squirms in my palm.
I jump, startled and the sponge falls to the floor. She picks it up with a sigh.
“Soap,” she explains, pointing to a series of buttons on the wall. “And water controls.” Then she puts the sponge back in my hand. “This will scrub you clean.”
The sponge wriggles again, emitting a chirp. I gasp. “Is it alive?”
“Yes. Just don’t touch it too much or it will bite.”
I freeze.
“Joke,” she deadpans.
I chuckle awkwardly. “Uh…are you staying?” My cheeks flare.
She blinks her slitted pupils. “You’re a mammal. I’m a Palthorin. We have no intersecting attraction parameters.”
Interesting. That doesn’t seem to matter on Earth in all those sci-fi and monster romances I’ve read. And it’s surely not the case with humans and Kraetians…like Vex.
I drop the blanket and Berrix seems unimpressed. “I’ll go.”
Okay then. I press the controls for the water and step into the shower, as Berrix leaves. The spray is invigorating, the hot water soothing my fears. I sigh in bliss.
I put some soap on the sponge and it suds itself, then begins crawling all over my body. Cleaning everything. And I mean… everything . I could see this thing being very popular for…self-care.
Once my skin is tingling and fresh, my hair washed twice, I step out. I feel more human than I have in days. By the time I’m toweled off, I’m almost comfortable.
Almost.
Berrix comes back into the room and hands me a stack of folded garments. “Pick something that doesn’t make you look like a refugee.”
I stare at the offerings, bewildered. Shimmering fabrics, unfamiliar textures, and garments that seem to defy gravity. I've never seen anything like them. Berrix notices my confusion, but doesn’t say anything.
I grab a tight-fitting camisole-like top to help with support for my breasts, which seems to be a similar fabric to what Berrix is wearing to contain hers.
“What’s this made of?” I ask.
“Nano-weave. It’s durable, comfortable, and regulates body temperature.”
Perfect. Then I choose a flowing ivory tunic edged in gold, a pair of billowy trousers and a sheer scarf in a delicate lilac.
Berrix tilts her head. “You wish to resemble a Merovish sand-sifter?”
Whatever that is. “Does it really matter?”
“Probably not.” She shrugs, and I get dressed, finger-combing my damp hair.
Berrix moves me to stand in front of a strange-looking vent, and suddenly heated air blasts my hair. I’m styling it as best I can as Vex’s voice booms from some sort of intercom. “Get your Earth-going backside up here, Lacey! Your court awaits!”
On the bridge, Af'soq adjusts the controls while Vex busies himself at the console. The holoscreen flickers to life, revealing a formal-looking room with plush gold and crimson decor. Gwen and Iris appear, their eyes instantly welling up as they throw themselves into each other's arms when they see me.
I choke back a sob. “Guys! Oh my god, I’ve missed you so much!”
Gwen looks beautiful—swathed in emerald silks, jewelry around her neck, on her wrist, and in her tousled brown curls. Iris sits beside her, her bronzed skin glowing, golden hair braided with luminescent threads. They’re both absolutely radiant.
“Lace!” Iris shrieks, lunging forward until her palms smush the screen. “Holy shit, you’re alive!”
Gwen’s trembling. “We thought?—”
“I was auctioned to a horrible creature,” I manage. “But then rescued by pirates. These pirates?—”
Vex slides into view, smirk in place. “ Charming pirates, if we’re being precise.”
Looming behind them are two massive men—well, Kraetians, to be exact—that look very similar to Vex. The one behind Gwen, is copper-skinned with electric blue eyes and all broad-shouldered, his scowl an upside down twin to Vex’s grin. The one behind Iris is nearly as big, but with silver skin and neon green eyes.
“You’re late, brother,” the copper-skinned man says.
“Fashionably,” Vex counters. “I see you’re looking constipated as ever.”
Ryz rolls his eyes. “Let’s get to business shall we.”
Gwen waves him off, tears spilling. “Later,” she says, obviously irritated. “Give us a minute, at least!”
Ryz and Vex grumble, but both obey.
“Lacey, this is Ryz, or sorry, Royal Commander Ryzordiek Urralix of Ydris. My husband.” Gwen pulls Ryz’s hand into hers.
Iris follows. “And this is my husband, Takizet Afrajem. Tak.” She smiles at him and I’ve never seen her look at someone with so much love. It’s wonderful.
Both Ryz and Tak put their fists to their chests in greeting.
“A pleasure to make your acquaintance, Lacey,” Ryz says.
“We’ve heard so much about you. We’re honored,” Tak adds.
“Thank you, and I’m thrilled to meet the both of you!” I say to them, then look at my friends. “Gwen, Iris…I can’t believe you’re married!”
Gwen and Iris look at one another. “Neither can we.” They say in unison, laughing. “But we’re so happy, Lace. So happy.” This makes Ryz and Tak smile.
Gwen jumps in. “Are you hurt? Is Vex treating you well?”
I glance at Vex. His ears twitch. “Define ‘well’,” he murmurs.
I elbow him. “Vex is being…kind.”
“Amazing,” Ryz retorts.
Iris snorts. “He looks like a hunky King Midas dressed up as Captain Jack Sparrow.”
Gwen and I both giggle.
“I’m assuming this is complimentary,” Vex says.
“Are you kidding? Johnny Depp is chef’s kiss. And with Vex’s muscles? Yum.”
Vex preens.
“Let’s focus,” Ryz growls.
Vex slides an arm around my shoulders and I stiffen—the heat of him, the scent of spiced rum (ironically so)—it’s distracting. “Fine, here are my terms: one dreadnaught-class ship, fifty krellium tanks, and free access to your star path routes.”
Ryz’s jaw clenches. “Outrageous.”
“Counter: I keep her.” Vex plays with a lock of my hair, nonchalantly.
“Try it, Vex, and I’ll hunt you down myself.” Gwen hisses, her queen voice activated.
“Not without me, you won’t,” Iris chimes in.
Ryz pinches the bridge of his nose and Tak runs a hand over his face.
Vex chuckles. “I believe you—but I need you to work with me here.”
Gwen turns to Ryz, waiting.
Ryz blows out a breath. “Twenty-five krellium. The ship. No routes.”
“Thirty-five. The ship. Limited routes. And—” Vex leans closer to the screen, “—you publicly acknowledge me at your next summit.”
“You know I can’t do that, Vex,” Ryx spits.
“You have some nerve, pirate!” Iris shouts. “I take back what I said about your hotness.”
Vex blinks. “Fine, no deal. Sorry Lacey, you’re stuck with me.”
Oh no…
Ryz looks ready to combust, but Gwen lays a hand on his chest. “Do it.”
“But Gwen, he’s nothing but an arrogant, greedy, thief! He only cares about himself and what he can steal from them. Why must we negotiate with such an inconsiderate heathen!?”
Ouch. I look over at Vex, who’s acting very bored with this all. Still, there’s something in his silence that tells me hearing these words from his brother is affecting him more than he lets on.
“Ryz, please. For Lacey.” Gwen whispers.
Ryz’s nostrils flare and he throws daggers with that glare at Vex. “…Agreed.”
Vex squeezes my arm—triumphant. “Pleasure doing business with you, brother .” He says the word with such contempt it makes me sad. “Any hint of ambush or deceit and we’re gone.”
“There’s no need to question my honor,” he says, jaw clenched. “I need to go.”
Ryz vanishes off the side of the screen, muttering curses. Gwen exhales. “Vex, we’ll send you coordinates of a neutral drop off point outside of the kingdom. Lace, just…hang in there, okay? We’ll see you soon. Love you.”
“I love you, too,” I reply.
Iris grins. “And don’t let Captain Goldilocks sweet-talk you. We’ll find you a nice Ydrin mate once you’re here. Love you!”
“Love you, t?—.”
Static crackles and the screen dies.
“Oops, we lost them,” Vex says, fingers hovering over the control panel.
“We’ve received the coordinates,” Berrix announces.
“We should be there in two day cycles.” Nor’Veth adds.
Vex turns to look out over the stars. It really is incredible knowing I’m traveling in a ship, through space.
“Will you be safe, Vex?” I ask. “Ryz won’t come after?—?”
“Worried for me, my dear?” His tone is light, but there’s a rawness underneath.
I don’t answer.
Instead, I stand up on my toes and press a kiss to his cheek.