“Who?” Emmy jolted, her gaze dancing between the Prime and Khaion. “Us girls?”
“All of you,” the Prime said with a sweep of her arm. “The Alliance would like to create a rescue corps if you will. A team of handpicked individuals searching out and rescuing humans currently languishing in captivity. I have already spoken to spymaster Seimba, and he pledged his spy network to helping locate captured humans. We would like theBardagato lead the squadron of rescue ships.”
At my side, Charick tensed, as did Khaion and Jutuk I noticed. Sahikas pounded on the alien iPad, so furiously I feared he might break a finger.
All eyes turned to Khaion, even mine. He was the Chieftain. Charick would follow him… and I would follow Charick.
A wide smile split his handsome face as he spared Emmy a glance. His arm went around her shoulders and hugged her close before answering. “As long as our mates can remain onboard at our side, theBardagawill gladly accept this honor.”
The Lady Prime threw back her head, the sound issuing from her lips definitely a laugh. “It is mainly because of your mates that I bestow the honor. I’m sure the humans you will rescue would feel much safer in the care of other humans.”
“I agree,” Khaion said, accepting the assignment with a curt nod.
“May I suggest another ship for your fleet?” The Duke spoke the words softly and intently.
“Ako?” Lady Prime asked curiously.
Duke Ako pushed himself to his feet, shoulders that had remained rather slumped since the mention of Helene straightened. “I will join the rescue effort as well, on mybattleship,Historia.” He shook his head, lowering his gaze. “My heartbreak over Helene made me blind to my son’s pain and his actions… and thus partly responsible. Joining the rescue effort will be my way to make amends.”
“The Alliance is honored to have your service.” Lady Prime rose to her feet, giving the Duke a bow. The respect and affection between them felt like a warm current sweeping through the room.
I was so lost in thought about what this could mean for Charick and me that I nearly jumped out of my seat when Khaion’s comm buzzed. He glanced at the golden band, much like the one Charick wore, his eyes going hard before he cast a glance at my mate.
“I must answer. It’s Hakkar.”
Recognizing the healer’s name, a fissure of worry shot through me, like a stroke of ice on my spine. I grabbed Charick’s hand, holding it between my own and squeezing so hard I feared I might crack his bones.
Khaion frowned at the symbols beaming up from the surface of the comm for only a minute before relaxing with a smile. “The Garoot Healer was able to repair Adtovar’s injuries. He will make a full recovery.”
Expressions of relief filled the air, with mine the loudest and happiest. Charick drew me into his arms, and I buried my face against his chest, tears of relief stinging my lashes.
“I am most happy at this news.” Duke Ako punctuated his words by smacking his palm on the tabletop. “Adtovar is a good, honorable male. If willing, he will make an excellent first mate for theHistoriaand an asset to the rescue mission.”
“Hear, hear!” Charick said, raising his glass in salute. I followed, grinning so widely that my cheeks ached.
The entire table took a drink in Adtovar’s honor.
“Now I just have to find the rest of the crew,” Ako sighed, signaling for his glass to be refilled, to which a small blue male responded immediately.
“You will not use members of your guard?” Khaion studied him curiously.
“No.” Duke Ako’s lips grew tight. “I cannot be sure of how many were affected by my son’s treachery. I’d rather theHistoriabe manned by a small crew of males I can trust.”
“What about the other gladiators?” I sat up, my gaze darting from the Duke to my mate and back again. “They are all good men—good males—imprisoned because they stood up to Nansar or Ambassador Yaard in some way.”
Duke Ako studied me intently for a moment before his gaze flickered to Charick. “You concur?”
“I do, my Lord,” Charick agreed immediately.
Duke Ako nodded, his gaze going to Sahikas as though he regretted providing even more information for the poor guy to note. “Any gladiator who will vow to work with the rescue mission and would like a place on board theHistoriashall have it.”
The chef appeared, carrying a frothy pink concoction that looked like Pearl’s Raspberry Bavarian Cream but tasted like Pineapple Fluff. And although everyone indulged their sweet tooth, the conversation remained on serious matters. Namely how Seimba, the head of the spy network the Alliance relied on, had already found evidence of humans trafficked on both the merchant planet Westarzo and a hedonistic planet in the Qxatso system. The Lady Prime assigned theBardagathe mission of traveling to the merchant planet while Duke Ako and theHistoriawould leave for the farther reaches of the galaxy by week’s end.
I heard Sahikas’s low groan of relief as the Prime dismissed him for the night. As he left, he tucked his alien iPad under his arm, flexing his long bony fingers.
After dessert, Pearl and Jutuk adjourned to the kitchen. She needed to speak to the chef regarding some tweaks to the pizza recipe. Emmy and Khaion stayed in conversation with Duke Ako, with the Chieftain suggesting some of his crew to help ready theHistoriafor departure.
I migrated toward the large windows flanking the stone fireplace, lured by the stillness of the landscape that lay beyond. After weeks of nothing but desert and sand, it was comforting to gaze out over the lush scenery. Serene, despite the foliage tending toward shades of blue and purple rather than the greens of Earth. Adtovar was going to recover, Earth would get even more protection from the Alliance, and Charick and I were together. Since the moment those cat aliens snatched me from the Appalachian trail... since before that even... I felt content.
