It scared her a little how good it felt to let go.Burn, baby, burn.
“Oh, wow. So all those mishaps with people burning things the past year. That was you?”
“Guilty.” She swore. “My power is miniscule, but Red Francisco doesn’t like to lose anything he considers his. Now I have to go on the run again. I can’t stay here. They’re going to take me back.”
“But you can’t own people on Ussed.” Natla scoffed. “Well, not in the west. I’m not sure what the barbarians get up to in the east.”
Mandy gave her a wan smile. “You’d think I’m safe enough. But all Mike and his thugs have to do is drag me away when no one’s looking. They’ll buy their way back through Earth’s abysmal security, and once again I’ll be an undocumented slave.” She huffed. “No, not a slave. Technically, I’m property. My parents sold me to forgive a debt. Now Red Francisco owns me. I’d heard rumors he planned to marry me to distant relatives, but I never believed it. I mean, who’d want to marry me?” Her laugh turned into a sob, and she forced herself to be calm. “I can’t stay here.”
“You won’t. We’ll hide you.” Natla nodded. “My people aren’t powerful like the Franciscos, but I have some connections at home.” Natla frowned. “Although, since you can command fire, you might have to register as a lethal agent. And that could take some time. We could always smuggle you in, though.”
Mandy appreciated the thought. “I’m going to finish working, then figure things out. I have a feeling Lore and Zehn will keep an eye on Mike and his friends, at least long enough for me to figure out my next move.”
Natla gave her a hug Mandy had needed. “You stick close to me. I’ll have Forgen swing by and keep an eye on you. Well, maybe two eyes. He can spare them.” Her husband, Forgen, had four eyes, so she had a point. “He’s my best fighter. A protector at heart.”
“Thanks, Natla.”
“No, thankyoufor providing such an entertaining afternoon.” Natla chuckled. “Watching Franklin fall all over himself was fun. But watching your barbarian toss that asshole around was even better.”
The rest of the day passed swiftly since everyone suddenly had a reason to be in the admin building. More speculation about the barbarians ran wild, and the Welcome crew helped by putting word out to watch for the rude Earthers. It gave Mandy a good feeling that not everyone was out to get her. Although she had to wonder. If the Franciscos flashed enough money around, how many of her fellow employees would be so loyal in the end?
After they wrapped up for the day, she gave Natla a wave goodbye and walked back to her hut with Forgen under Zehn’s watchful gaze.
Once in her hut, she organized the funds she’d gathered from admin—money she’d earned, not stolen. She glanced around, tucked the bit of blue glass that Lore had given her earlier that week into her sack, along with provisions to last her long enough to find a way to leave the planet. A good ten days worth of rations should do the trick. Her plan to leave Ussed in a glider was the only thing she’d come up with. She didn’t know how to fly any of the aircraft in dock, but the next mail run back to the Raiegn Galaxy would light out in the morning. She planned to stowaway before then and pray no one found her before they left.
It was a good plan—and all she had.
But first she had to get the emergency bag she’d stashed in her grotto.
Where Lore and Zehn would be waiting.
She felt a rush of sadness, not wanting to leave the sexy barbarians who’d given her such pleasure. Both beautiful to look at and kind, if she was to believe Zehn’s behavior earlier.
Mandy didn’t want to leave them, but she had no choice. Still, she could have a memory to take with her. A sight she’d never forget.
She waited until the moons took position directly overhead then quietly left her hut via the back window, sure the Franciscos would have someone keeping an eye on her place. Once outside, she scurried through the jungle to her grotto. It took little time to crawl through her entrance and peer through the shrubs.
As expected, her barbarians—Zehn and Lore,she hurried to correct herself—stood waiting, their gazes focused on her.
Mandy stood, knowing she had no need to hide.
“Ah, there you are.” Lore frowned at her wrist wrapped in a healing bandage, courtesy of the medic Natla had called earlier in the day. Already her wrist felt nearly healed. “The Earther did this?”
“Yes. But I’m fine. The healing here is advanced.”
Lore nodded. “Good.”
They stared at her. She stared back at them.
When they made no move to undress, she sighed. “I’m waiting.”
Zehn turned to Lore and said nothing, but Lore’s eyes crinkled, as if he smiled. “Would you join us?”
“I don’t know…”
“At least come closer,” Lore said. “We don’t bite.”
A pause, then Zhen added with a chuckle, “Much.”
