The ship tilted sharply, banking into a roll that made my stomach flip. I stumbled, catching myself on a nearby standing console, gripping the edge hard enough that my knuckles went white.
Wrexxon flicked his gaze to me, seeming to remember I was there before muttering a series of Vandar curses under his breath. He crossed the deck in three long strides, took my hand without a word and led me to the wall. There was no seat but when he pressed a panel, straps emerged that were long enough to strap me down. He had to jerk on the wide restraints to make them snug enough to secure me, as they were clearly designed for Vandar bodies.
Then he leaned down, his mouth near my ear because it was too loud to hear otherwise. “Do not move.”
That was hilarious since I was literally lashed to the wall, but before I could ask if he was joking, or even find my voice, he’d backed away and resumed calling out orders.
Wrexxon’s two officers now stood at consoles as he moved between them, staying impressively upright as the warbirddipped and swayed. The leather straps of his kilt slapped his thighs and swayed as if tossed by a stiff breeze.
"Incoming!"
The ship rocked violently. As the warbird shuddered and shockwaves rippled through the hull, I was thrown hard to one side, the straps biting into my chest and shoulders as they caught me. My head snapped to the side.
Wrexxon had crouched as if assuming a battle stance, but his head swiveled to me, his golden eyes locking onto mine across the chaos. Then he straightened and turned to the front of the ship.
"Shields weakened but holding,” a Vandar called out. "Minor hull breach but no casualties.”
“Direct all warbirds to launch photon torpedoes at the lead Imperial ship,” Wrexxon commanded. “Let’s show them what it feels like to anger a horde.”
The warbird pivoted, releasing weapons as it spun and as torpedoes burst from other warbirds around us. They all converged onto a single gray battleship, which exploded with such force that chunks of the hull cartwheeled toward us.
"Evasive!" Wrexxon shouted.
The ship rolled hard, as the remnants of the enemy ship slammed into us. On the heels of that, the remaining Zagrath vessels turned their ire and their weapons on us. The entire command deck shook as plasma beams tore into the hull. Sparks flew, ceiling panels crashed onto the floor, and finally the console nearest Wrexxon exploded.
The blast was blinding as white-hot light and shrapnel scattered outward. Wrexxon was thrown backward, his massive frame hitting the deck hard and then going still.
"No!" The scream tore from my throat before I could stop it. I fought against the restraints, my hands scrabbling at the buckles, trying to free myself.
I couldn’t explain why I was consumed with terror that the Vandar I’d vowed to hate and had truly despised many times since he’d taken me from my home might be dead. Hadn’t a part of me wanted to kill him myself?
As the command deck descended into controlled chaos and I flailed against the restraints keeping me from collapsing, I had no explanation for why I was so desperate for the Raas to be alive.
Chapter 22
Wrexxon
What was ringing? I lifted a leaden hand to one ear, hoping to muffle the high-pitched whine, but it was as persistent as a Dengi fly. Then came the smell of smoke, acrid and burning, filling my lungs with each breath.
I blinked, and the command deck slowly swam into focus above me. Red sparks showered from the ceiling, a hiss of steam extinguishing them.
Then a face appeared over me, brow furrowed. Venik’s mouth was moving, but I couldn't hear him over the ringing.
He extended his hand, which I took, allowing him to hoist me upright. My body protested, although instinct told me nothing was broken. I’d be bruised, but I doubted I would add another jagged scar to my collection.
Kolt materialized on my other side, and I caught fragments of his tactical update through the fading ringing: "...shields holding...injuries reported through the horde with two Imperial cruisers destroyed... third fled into hyperspace..."
That meant the immediate threat was gone.
"Raas." Venik leaned closer, his voice low enough for me to hear but not to be heard over the cacophony by anyone else. "You might want to check on the human."
I looked at him sharply. "What?—?”
“She has been screaming to be released from her restraints.” His gaze flitted to her for only a beat. “None of us wished to release her without your approval.”
My gaze snapped to Jasmine wrestling against the straps like a spitting cat. I guessed there were a few reasons none of my warriors had dared approach her.
Venik's expression shifted from wry to serious. “There's something else you should know." His voice remained low, pitched for my ears only. "We intercepted communications between the Imperial ships during the battle. They were looking for her.”
