Wex shrugged. “Let it roll.”
Tok hit the switch, sending a pulse wave through the ship. Lights and main power faded. When the energy blast hit his heart, the beat trailed off, causing his knees to buckle. When his heart kicked back into a normal rhythm, he was on his knees. He took some slow breaths to overcome the wave of nausea. Main power returned, everything humming to life.
Wex pulled himself up to a standing position.
“Let’s see whether it worked,” Tok said.
Wex took the controls and set an easy course. The beacon remained where it was. Wex moved them farther out. The beacon disappeared from their screen, left behind with nothing to follow.
“Let’s set down in a cavern. No use being a target by passing through charted space near worlds that might inform on us.”
“Is Linc off ship?” Wex asked.
“Yes, left last night.”
Wex grimaced. “Relentless. I don’t envy that girl when he finds her.”
“I didn’t see her up close. Was she as beautiful as the sister is?”
Wex shrugged. “Couldn’t say. I was too busy watching him. He looked at her like she was Grip’s Lost Treasure. Then she answered the magistrate’s question by saying Linc kidnapped her and I thought Linc might kill her by the look in his eyes. He never moved. I think he was waiting to see if she’d take it back.” Wex shook his head. “She was too afraid of the magistrate.”
“The magistrate’s a devil. No doubt about that. But a Ketturan warrior who’s been betrayed will have justice or die trying.”
“What does a young girl from Orius know about Kettura? Nothing.”
“She’s about to find out.”
“He’s not a hunter. It may take him awhile.”
“He’s got a friend who’s a hunter. There are only three places our handmaiden would’ve known to send her. It’ll take him a month or less if he takes my advice.”
“A month or less it is then.”
* * *
Zawri had dressed herhair as instructed and painted on decorative swirls in a way that would mark a girl as a submissive or slave. Looking at the gold and pink swirls on her cheek caused her to frown.
“Up now and drop that cloth,” Roll said.
She bristled, but obeyed. He hooked her wrists into cuffs and pulled them up to a ceiling hook.
“Wait! There’s no need for that! Roll—”
“That’s enough,” a deep voice said.
She turned her head sharply to find the dreaded hunter in the chamber. He wore skin pants, but no shirt. His aggressively male chest was mouthwateringly beautiful. Her pussy clenched in spite of her fury with him.
He caught her chin and lifted her face, examining the marks on her cheek. He nodded.
Wex entered the chamber too. He smiled. “I want to do the breast.”
“Add extra of the black color. I don’t want it washing off where we’re going.”
Wex grinned. “Should I paint your name on her back too?”
“No, but if you want to tattoo it on her wrist I won’t say no.”
Wex’s brows shot up.
