The softness of her body pressed against mine through the thin sheet and the scent of my bathing oils, my scent on her skin sent desire thrumming through me.
I shook it off before I deposited her on the bed, more roughly than I'd intended. "I need to get to the command deck."
"You're going to leave me here?" Her voice wobbled. “Alone? While we're under attack?"
I glanced at the naked female swaddled in a sheet. "The command deck of a warbird is no place for you.”
She balked, her expression shifting from fear to fury in an instant. "I’m not staying locked in your quarters by myself during an attack."
I also hated the idea of leaving her alone during an attack. What if we were breached? What if Imperial soldiers made it onto the ship? She'd be defenseless, trapped in my quarters with no way to protect herself. But bringing her to the command deck during a battle was its own kind of risk.
"You aren't even dressed," I said, gesturing at the sheet.
She hurried into the bathing chamber, the sheet fluttering behind her, and returned moments later wearing the flour-dusted dress from the day before. It looked even worse for wear now. But gods of old if I didn’t admire her courage for putting it on and insisting on coming with me.
“Now I’m dressed.”
I made a snap decision. I’d rather have her with me, even if it wasn’t completely safe, than leave her alone in quarters that could become a tomb if things went badly.
Moving quickly to my wardrobe, I retrieved pieces I rarely used, hooking leather shoulder armor over each of her arms and cinching a wide, metal-studded belt around her waist. It looked ridiculous and somehow right all at once.
"Now you look more Vandar," I grunted.
The ship lurched again, harder this time. I turned toward the door and grabbed her hand, pulling her behind me. Her fingers were small in mine, but her grip was tight.
"Stay close," I commanded as the door opened at my touch. "Do exactly as I say."
As I led her with me toward the command deck with sirens echoing throughout the warbird, Jasmine didn't argue, which told me more about her fear than any words could have.
Chapter 21
Jasmine
Ifollowed Wrexxon through the warbird, my hand locked in his iron grip, and for once I wasn't even thinking about pulling away. The deafening wail of the sirens ricocheted through the cavernous ship and rebounded off the steel beams and stairs and platforms. Boots boomed overhead and around us as warriors jumped and ran with arms pumping and battle axes bared.
The ship lurched again, and I stumbled, but his grip kept me upright. Then we reached a gap between platforms that was too wide to step across, with a drop below that disappeared into shadows. My heart seized, but before I could protest or ask what he was doing, Wrexxon scooped me into his arms like I weighed nothing. He bent into a crouch before leaping, and then we were flying through the air and landing on the opposite platform with a jarring thud that rattled my teeth.
Instead of putting me down, the Raas kept running, taking a massive steel staircase three steps at a time as I clung to him, my arms wrapped around his neck. Even scared out of my mind,some part of me registered that I actually felt safe in his arms, which was absolutely insane.
At the top of the stairs, he finally set me down, releasing my hand as wide double doors swished open. He strode through, and I hurried to follow, not wanting to be left behind.
I slowed as I entered what was clearly the command hub of the warbird, startled by the sight of so many massive Vandar warriors standing at consoles. Although I’d seen more of the Raas than I’d expected to, I had never seen so many enormous aliens clad in nothing but boots and kilts, their chests bare and etched with swirling black. Fingers tripped across consoles, hands swiped at hovering holographic displays, grizzled voices bellowed numbers in incomprehensible Vandar. Shouts were muffled by a bubbling undercurrent of static and beams of laser fire scored the viewing glass that stretched across one wall.
Two Vandar rushed to Wrexxon, and I recognized them as the officers who’d flanked him during the lottery.
"—dropped out of hyperspace without warning?—"
"—caught us without stealth shielding active?—"
"—three Imperial cruisers, weapons hot?—"
They glanced at me but didn't mention my presence, nor did they question why their leader had brought a human female onto the command deck during an attack, even if their narrowed eyes told me exactly what they thought.
I was glad I wasn’t expected to explain myself because I was speechless. As much as I’d heard of the Vandar’s terrible hordes of warbirds, their ruthless skill in battle and their talent for war strategy, nothing had prepared me for this. Even with enemyships darting around them and weapons fire battering their hull, the Vandar remained relentlessly focused. No more so than the Raas himself.
Wrexxon seized command from the moment he stepped into the room, his voice cutting through the chaos, his orders sharp and clear. The response from his warriors was instantaneous as they made his words into fierce action.
"Evasive maneuvers, pattern Keth-seven," he barked. "Alert the rest of the horde to break the amoeba and disperse to the regrouping coordinates on my mark."
