Outlaw

by Angela Verdenius

  They filed out of the dungeon, Garret carrying Dana who’d damaged her ankle again and couldn’t move fast.

  Once in the death yard where a cart filled with stinking bodies stood, Sinya led them down a deserted alley that led underground to his ship. “Tell me where to drop you off. Anywhere you say, I’ll do it.”

  “Is that right?” Reya’s lips twisted.

  “I know you’ll never forgive me for that.” His expression was full of regret, but also resolve. “But they had my brother. What could I do?”

  “Touching.”

  “You saved my life once. Let me finally repay the debt.”

  Darvk looked around, the sound of soldiers loud in the air, the fighter ships scoring the skies. “You wenches need to get away from here.”

  “How do we know it’s not a trap?” Tenia asked. “Like before?”

  The pirate placed his hand on the boy’s shoulder. “Wes will stay with you until we arrive where you want to go.”

  Wes stepped forward, his pale face drawn, but there was also a resolve in his dark, haunted eyes that echoed his brother’s. “I’ll stay with you.”

  Tenia knew then that Sinya spoke the truth. There was no denying he loved his brother, the way his fingers curled in silent protest of him leaving his side telling. There was no way he’d risk his brother’s life by betraying the Reekas and Daamens.

  Reya nodded. “Very well.”

  “Where do you wish to go?”

  “Take us to the forests on the other side of the planet, far enough away that the soldiers won’t come looking for us.” Darvk answered. “Cam and Morgan will round up the rest of my crew and meet us there in my ship.”

  Sinya inclined his head. “As you wish.”

  Tia and Shari went with them into the pirate’s ship.

  The sleek black ship left the area unnoticed due to the radar blocker and the hive of activity going on below and, apparently, a knowledge the pirates had of undercover flight pathways.

  A tense hour was spent on board the pirates’ spaceship. A tense hour in which Wes sat with them, quiet, composed, an eerie silence about him that had Tenia wondering just what he was, who he was.

  Reya glanced at him once before withdrawing into herself, staring out the porthole at the space beyond.

  Aster and Dana sat in the small cabin to the off-side of the closed ramp, talking quietly.

  Darvk sat silently beside Tenia, his thigh brushing hers, but apart from quietly assuring himself that she wasn’t too badly hurt, they all sat silently.

  Needing his touch, needing to know…something…Tenia slowly, unobtrusively, slid her hand under his, immediately rewarded by his fingers closing warmly over hers.

  She looked up at him to find him looking back down at her. His gaze warmed slightly, but there was a definite hardness within, too, giving away his tightly controlled temper. He was relieved, yes, but angry. At her? At the change of plans? At the outcome?

  As though aware of her inner turmoil, he squeezed her fingers reassuringly.

  They sat there, the minutes ticking past as the pirate ship flew to the rendezvous.

  When they finally landed in a clearing, the Daamen trade ship docked within mere feet of the pirate ship.

  Tenia looked inquiringly at Tia when the woman shook her head.

  “I’ll return her to Medar,” Sinya assured Tenia, putting his arm around his brother’s shoulders once more and drawing him protectively against his side.

  “Don’t harm her.”

  “I’ve never harmed a woman in my life.” He shifted uncomfortably when her brows lifted sardonically.

  “You were Reya’s ally once.”

  “Yes, I was.” He looked over to where she waited near the open ramp. “One day I hope to be so again.”

  “That’s something you’ll have to earn,” Darvk said quietly.

  Sinya nodded while glancing out the ramp, only to do a double-take as another craft flew low over them. “An Argon fleet craft?”

  “The other warriors.” Darvk started to usher Tenia towards the ramp, glancing at the pirate over one brawny shoulder. “Thank you for leading us to the warriors.”

  “Don’t thank him,” Reya said curtly. “He only did it because he needed us.”

  Dark eyes gazed at the tall warrior before Sinya nodded abruptly to Darvk.

  The Reekas and the Daamens left the space pirate ship, the ramp rising to seal the hold shut. The pirate ship left within seconds of the trading ship and fleet craft landing.

  Jonette and Senna ran down the trade ship ramp, alternately scowling at Darvk and smiling at their leaders in relief.

  Connie jumped down from the open door of the Argon fleet craft before the craft had finished landing properly, and she caught the sisters in a hard embrace. “Thank God you’re all safe!”

  “Not so enthusiastic, please.” Tenia attempted a laugh but couldn’t hide the pain in her voice.

  Connie assessed her closely then switched her gaze to Reya, Dana and Aster. “Must have been some battle.”

  “A little fight,” Dana said.

  Darvk followed Connie’s gaze. “All of you warriors will come aboard my ship for treatment and safety.”

  Reya frowned. “We can tend to ourselves-” She staggered suddenly, her hand going to her head.

  Tenia leaped forward, but Maverk was there first, swinging Reya up into his arms. She shut her eyes and groaned.

  “Reya?” Tenia bit her lip, grabbing her sister’s hand.

  “Just…a little dizzy.” Reya held her hand over her eyes. “I’ll be all right in a minute.”

  Darvk placed his hand on Tenia’s shoulder. “Borga, Heddam, and Shamon will take the fleet craft.”

  As his hand touched her injured shoulder she sucked in her breath sharply, her face going white.

  Lifting his hand away, he saw the blood on his palm.

  For the first time, Tenia realised that she and the other warriors still wore their cloaks, hiding the worst of their injuries.

  “Bloody hell,” Darvk growled. “Let’s get moving. I want to be safe in the air away from this cursed planet, and I want you wenches,” he encompassed them all in one hard flick of his eyes, “cleaned up and your wounds tended. Simon, lock Shari in the storeroom.”

  ~ * ~

  Tenia and her sister warriors sat at the table while the traders patched them up, or tried to.

  “I’m covered in slime and blood from those mutants.” Dana scowled at Garret who was approaching with a bandage in his hand. “I want to clean up first.”

  Reya stood, stretched slowly. “Me, too.”

  Maverk’s eyes widened. “Are you insane?”

  “No, I stink. I’m having a shower.”

  “You just about fainted!”

  “I was a little dizzy then, I’m fine now.” She assessed him coldly. “Do I look weak?”

  His lips pursed.

  Tenia took a sniff of her arm and wrinkled her nose. “The stench of the dungeons lingers on my skin and clothes. I crave a shower before anything else.”

  Darvk dropped the medipack on the table. “Don’t be silly, Tenia. I want to staunch the blood from your wounds first.”

  “The flowing water will clean away any filth much more efficiently.”

  His eyes narrowed.

  “Then I promise you can dress them. At least they’ll be clean. I’ll be clean. There will be less chance of infection.”

  She could see the internal battle he was having, his urge to tend her injuries versus the commonsense of what she said.

  For a minute she thought he was going to argue further, but then he nodded curtly. “All right. But I’ll be waiting in the cabin for you.”

  “Fine.” Tenia saw Aster’s rounded eyes. “The bathroom has a door, don’t worry.”

  “Which won’t be shut,” he muttered darkly as she walked stiffly past him.

  She could feel the anger in him every step of the way as he walked beside her to her cabin, but she was too tired t
o bother about it. She ached all over and the shoulder wound burned like hell.

  Wearily she entered the bathroom, partly closing the door, knowing he’d insist that it be so in case she collapsed or anything else went wrong. Dropping the cloak to the floor, she stripped off the blood-soaked clothes and dropped the lot down the laundry chute. Upbraiding her hair, she stepped into the shower cubicle and turned the water on, letting it beat upon her head and body, washing the dirt and blood away while hissing silently and cringing at the sting. Using soap, she washed carefully, watching the blood and dirt slip down the hole in the floor.

  Feeling so tired now, she dried herself carefully, wrapped the towel around her body and tucked the end of it between her breasts to hold it in place. Catching sight of herself in the mirror, she grimaced.

  Her left cheek was swollen and grazed, blood oozed out slowly from the deep scratches on her shoulder, and numerous grazes and blossoming bruises covered her legs and back from being thrown against the stone walls and wooden table.

  “Tenia?” The deep voice held a mixture of anger and concern.

  Darvk’s temper hadn’t cooled any. Wonderful. Just what she needed right now.

  “Here.” Slowly she walked back into the cabin.

  He visibly paled and was beside her in three gigantic steps. “Bloody hell! If I’d known you were this badly beaten up, I’d have tied you to the bunk before I let you in the shower!”

  “Why do you think I didn’t remove my cloak?” she asked dryly.

  “This is no joking matter.” He led her over to the bunk and carefully sat her down. “Now stay still while I fix you up.”

  Silence so thick it could have been cut with a knife filled the cabin. Grimly, he knelt in front of her and attended to her many wounds with antiseptic and self-adhesive patches where needed.

  Well aware of his annoyance, the fact that he was obviously biting back anger, she sat with quiet dignity while he finished cleaning the deep scratches and many scrapes.

  Finally, he studied her face with hooded eyes. “Tilt your head up to the light so that I can put antiseptic on your cheek.”

  What she really wanted right now was not his anger, but to be held close and have him soothe away the many aches, be glad to have her safe, be glad he was safe, join her in relief that it was over. She sighed.

  Darvk’s hands stilled, holding the cotton ball to her cheek where he’d been wiping the antiseptic on the graze.

  Tenia didn’t attempt to hide her emotions, looking him right in the eyes before she blinked and looked away. It was either that or start crying.

  “Ah, lass.” Dropping the cotton ball, he leaned forward and gently gathered her into his arms, pressing his lips to hers in a light kiss before tucking her head beneath his chin.

  Her arms crept around his neck, and she pressed herself against his hard body. “Don’t be angry,” she whispered. “I’m sorry. I only did what I had to do, don’t you see that?”

  “I’m not angry. I am. I mean, I’m not directly angry at you. I’m angry at…” He sighed in turn, resting his cheek atop her head. “God, Tenia, what you put me through. Do you have any idea how I felt seeing you in that mutant’s grasp?”

  “I can imagine. I was there, remember?”

  “‘Tis no joking matter. You stubborn wench, why did you not come to us first?”

  “We didn’t know how much time we had or what was going on. Sending Jonette and Senna to you was dangerous enough.”

  “So why do it?”

  “To warn you, of course.” She relaxed against him in relief, welcoming his strength and support. “We picked up Sinya’s ship on the radar and feared a trap.”

  “You could have waited for us instead of going on ahead.”

  “We didn’t know what was going to happen. We couldn’t let Shari slide through our fingers, not when he was so close.”

  A full minute ticked past and she closed her eyes, breathing him in, happy they were finally talking.

  Suddenly, Darvk slid his hands to her waist and set her back from him, his gaze serious. “Do you really need me?”

  “What? Need you?” Bewildered, she stared at him. “What do you mean?”

  “You fight your own battles and you face death with a fearlessness that makes ordinary men appear childish. You fight with more expertise than many men I’ve seen.”

  “You know who I am, what I am.” She searched his eyes, seeking to understand. “Why are you saying this? Where is this coming from?”

  “I’m supposed to protect and care for you, and so far I’ve done a poor job of it, haven’t I?”

  The torment in his eyes tore at her heart. “Don’t say that, Darvk, it’s not true.”

  “Isn’t it?”

  “Have you forgotten that every time I’ve fought without you, it was because I’d gone without your knowledge? And every time I faced death, you were the one who saved me? Without you I would have died a while ago, or worse.”

  “What could be worse than death?”

  “Being bought by the brothel owner.”

  His jaw tightened at the reminder.

  “You saved me then, and you’ve done so twice since. Don’t tell me you’ve done a poor job of protecting me.” She frowned at him. “But there’s no avoiding it, I’m a warrior and I’ve killed to survive. I’m strong and proud of it. I’m not a weakling who scurries to a man to fight my battles.”

  “I know.” He sighed. “I know, Tenia. I’m sorry-”

  “Let me finish.” Reaching up, she stroked his cheek lovingly. “I don’t need a protector, Darvk. I need a man to love, and talk to, and share my life. An equal. My equal. I don’t need a hero with big ideas.”

  He studied her in silence before smiling slightly. “Are you saying I’m not a hero?”

  “You’re a man far worthier, more than I deserve.”

  The warmth in his eyes softened, darkened, deepened to undeniable love. “You’re wrong, lass. You’re too good for me.”

  She dimpled. “I know. I’m so sweet and obedient; I don’t know why I bother with such an overprotective, stubborn, shameless rogue like you. But love’s blind and God help me, I love you.” Leaning forward, she closed the small distance between them to kiss him softly on his now smiling mouth. “I need you, I love you, and I’m never going to let you go. Understand?”

  “My sentiments exactly.” He took her mouth in a kiss so gentle it made her want to weep.

  When he broke the contact, he looked down with fake severity at her. “This doesn’t mean I’m no longer angry with you. You can’t sweet talk me out of it so easily.”

  “What if I dragged you off to bed and…worked…on your anger?”

  He groaned. “Wench, I’m in two minds whether to spank you or take you up on your offer.”

  Snuggling up to him, she purred, “The first sounds kind of kinky, the other…educational. Why not both?”

  “You’re a shameless wench.” He laughed ruefully.

  “A good match for you, hmm?”

  Mindful of her injuries, he hugged her carefully. “I love you.” He kissed her forehead. “And we’re not doing anything physical until your injuries heal.”

  “What? Aw, Darvk,” she whined.

  “Don’t even start that.”

  ~ * ~

  Opening the door of the storeroom, Darvk glanced around to see Shari standing in the middle of it with his arms folded belligerently. Reya stood not far from him, her hands clasped behind her back, while Tenia stood shoulder to shoulder with Connie. Dana was leaning against the side wall with one shoulder, her ankles and arms crossed, a bored expression on her face. Maverk and Morgan stood on either side of Shari.

  “I reckon we should just kill him,” Dana drawled.

  “You’re not making things any easier.” Connie frowned at her.

  “He’s already stated he won’t say anything.”

  “How’s the interrogation going?” Darvk asked.

  Shari glared at him. “So you are a part of
this, too. When I get free, you will pay for this atrocity!”

  “We’ve been in here for an hour already, but Shari refuses to tell us anything,” Tenia replied.

  Darvk looked at him. “Your Dragon soldiers were at the settlement where the Reekas supposedly started their killing spree.”

  “We went there to help the men they were murdering.”

  “I mean mere weeks ago. We saw them and heard their talk of doing your dirty work.”

  “You lie. My soldiers were never there.”

  “They had the dragon badge. It was very interesting listening to them talk. What were you so worried about?”

  “You have no right to keep me prisoner. You’ve just branded yourself and your whole crew as outlaws.”

  Reya drew the dagger from the sheath at her waist. “There are ways to make you talk.”

  “Murderous bitch!” he snarled and lunged for her.

  It happened so fast that the traders had no chance to move. Tenia and Dana grabbed his arms and slammed him back against the wall, pinning him there with ease.

  “Not nice,” the blonde warrior mocked. “We might get the impression that you don’t like us, little man.”

  Reya flipped the dagger in the air with a nonchalant flick of her wrist and caught it point first. “So tell us, Shari, what happened to my father’s body?”

  “I don’t know what you mean.”

  “Come now.” She smiled coldly. “Your son, Vulya. Our father. Karana’s husband.”

  He went white with rage. “Don’t mention that harlot’s name in the same sentence as my son’s.”

  The dagger thudded into the wall an inch from his ear.

  Morgan and Maverk looked from the dagger to Reya.

  “Reya.” Maverk stepped forward.

  “Stay out of this. Tell us the truth, Shari.”

  “Burn in hell like your cursed mother!”

  He yelped in pain as he was brought forcefully to his knees on the hard floor.

  “Not a good answer,” Tenia said softly, threateningly. “Try again.”

  Darvk saw the ruthlessness in the warriors’ eyes, the coldness in their faces, and he knew there’d be no mercy for the Inka Empire leader.

  At the continued silence, Dana plucked the dagger from the wall and pressed it to his throat. “Tell us or we’ll carve you up the same way your soldiers did our sister warriors.”