“Is everything with the human…?” His words trailed off as if he sensed that something happened.
I suspected he knew me well enough to know that something definitely had, but even my most trusted officer would not have guessed that we’d gone from bickering to fucking. Not even I would have predicted that, as much as I’d wanted it.
“Fine,” I said. “We will still take her to the hidden colony before continuing to rescue the next Zagrath target.”
“You are not worried that will cost us valuable time, Raas?” Kolt asked, his gaze not as searching as Venik’s had been.
The strategic calculation warred briefly in my mind, but every bone in my body knew that it was dangerous for Jasmine to remain on my warbird. Not only were we a warship, but we were also the warship the Zagrath knew contained Jasmine. They’d already made one reckless attempt to get her, or kill her, and I had no doubt they would make another.
“There is no point of saving enemies of the Zagrath if we only put them at risk,” I said. “We must ensure she is safe before we go after the next one.”
“There have been developments since you left the command deck,” Venik said, “regarding the Empire’s list of targets.”
One look at his face told me that this was a conversation that required discretion. I jerked my head toward my strategy room, and Kolt and Venik followed me past the warriors at standing consoles and through the door. When we were inside, mymajakheld out a tablet, pulling up a holographic display to hover in the air.
"We received an encrypted transmission,” his pointed look telling me that it was from our spy within the Empire. “The next name on the list is Governor Aldric of the Meridian Colony. He refused to accept Imperial rule when the Empire started rebuilding and expanding their influence in the sector. He led his colony in armed resistance and drove off two occupation attempts, which the Empire has framed as an authoritarian uprising.”
I knew this playbook well. The Vandar had been standing up to the Empire for generations. For most of that time, we'd been slandered as violent destroyers, savage raiders, and criminals who attacked civilized society. The truth had always been more complicated.
Like Aldric, we were freedom fighters, but you had to fight fire with fire. With the truly corrupt and powerful, you had to meet strength with strength. You had to be willing to be as ruthless as they were or more so. You had to make the cost of oppression so high that would-be tyrants thought twice.
Above all, you had to support other rebels and make sure they knew that rebellion wasn't a death sentence, and that there were forces willing to stand with them. The Vandar would always defend fellow rebels. Even if those rebels, like Jasmine, believed our methods were monstrous. Even if they feared us as much as they feared the Empire.
I rocked back on my heels, curious why mymajakwas repeating intelligence he’d already told me. “This is not new information.”
Kolt cleared his throat, extending one finger and moving it down the names illuminated in hovering light. “That is not the development. This is.”
I leaned closer to the third name on the new list. Skye. “Who is that?”
“She was not on the list previously, but we believe she is also from the colony on Lexxona.”
Dread iced my skin. “Lexxona? Where Jasmine is from?”
Mymajaknodded, his lips in a thin line. “We can only assume she is also part of the human resistance. Maybe they did not know about her before, maybe they didn’t care about her until they lost the chance to take Jasmine, maybe her name on the list is a way to punish Jasmine.”
All of this could be true or none of it could be. We couldn’t know. What we did know is that the Zagrath were not done with Jasmine’s colony, which meant we weren’t either.
I didn’t look away from the glowing name. “We will continue with our plan to retrieve the governor. He remains the number one target, and we are already en route. Then we can return to Lexxona.”
“Not to the hidden colony?”
I released a tortured breath, all too aware that Jasmine would balk at the idea of the horde returning to her planet without her. That is, if I told her.
There would normally be no question in my mind that she should not be told. The information would do nothing but upset her, and there was nothing she could do about it. It would be better for her and for me if she was safely sequestered at a secret Vandar colony. Then I could save her friend without worrying about her safety.
But now…
I knew she would love to see her sister and friend again. Could I really deny her that pleasure? Even thinking of her pleasure sent heat pulling through me. Besides, if she remained on board, I would get to savor even more time with her, preferably with her legs wrapped around me.
“No time,” I said, making a split-second decision. “First we save the governor, then we return to Lexxona.”
The two Vandar exchanged a glance but snapped their heels together.
“It is done, Raas,” Kolt said, turning and leaving the room, clearly eager to set a course for the next potential battle.
“Venik,” I called to mymajakbefore he could also leave. “Jasmine will need to be fitted for clothes worthy of a war bride.”
He nodded, hesitating for a moment and rocking back on his heels. “As your most trusted advisor, I should remind you that being a war bride does not give her all the protection you can offer.”
