So why wasn’t she afraid of him?
Belatedly, Maddison realized she’d lost track of the conversation. She refocused in time to hear Joy asking for more information about the ship and possible survivors.
Risk’s response seemed reasonable enough. “Put down the blaster, and we’ll share what we know.”
“You first,” Loris said firmly.
Maddison checked the other monitors. Risk was unarmed, but the biggest of the three still held his sword. He was also grinning so broadly she could see the tips of what looked like fangs.
She immediately looked at Havoc again to see if he had them, too, but his mouth was closed so she couldn’t tell.
“For fuck’s sake, Venge,” Risk growled in obvious frustration. “We talked about this.”
“You talked. I wasn’t listening,” Vengeance said.
Maddison stifled a snicker.
Joy giggled out loud and then said, “You must be related. Only family bicker like that.”
“Stop laughing. We’re trying to look intimidating,” Loris admonished Joy.
Maddison decided it was time to help de-escalate things. She wasn’t sure about the big one, but Havoc and Risk seemed relatively trustworthy. Besides, what other choice did they have? They couldn’t stay in a standoff forever.
She took a quick, calming breath and said, “I think that ship has left orbit.”
Loris made a disgruntled noise in the back of her throat, but Maddison barely heard her. She was focused on Havoc again.
“We are clan-brothers,” he stated in reply to Joy’s earlier statement. Then he turned and snarled at Vengeance, baring his fangs as he spoke. “Disarm, brother. The hunt is over.”
His words made the hair on the back of her neck rise. No, not just his words but everything about him. Havoc was pure predator, his raw strength and primal nature making him the kind of man she should be wary of.
She turned off the screen with his image and rose to her full height. For now, they had to trust these males.
For now.
She left the cockpit but kept her distance from Loris and Joy. Outside, Vengeance was talking. “I am disarmed, little warrior. Now it’s your turn.”
“Who does he think he’s calling little?” Loris huffed, sounding a bit flustered.
Maddison hid a smile. Trust her friend to be insulted by what seemed to be a compliment. That thought made her pause. Was the alien flirting with Loris?
Stars, she hoped not. That wouldn’t end well for anyone. Especially for Vengeance.
She heard the meaty sound of flesh being struck and then Vengeance spoke again. “You are small compared to me. Tiny but fierce.”
To Maddison’s relief, Loris lowered her weapon instead of doing something rash.
“I think you just insulted me and complimented me in the same sentence. Call me Loris.” Loris gestured to Joy and then toward the interior of the ship where Maddison stood. “That’s Joy, and Maddison is inside.”
After that, things settled surprisingly fast. Maddison joined the others at the door so she could see with her own eyes what was happening.
The three males explored their camp, making comments to each other in voices too low for her to make out. She watched them from far enough back that none of them could see her, which gave her a little more time to adjust to their arrival.
Seeing them on the monitors was one thing, but everything about them seemed bigger and more intense now that she was looking at them in person.
“I don’t like the way that one is eyeing the shuttle,” Loris said in a voice so low Maddison barely caught it.
Maddison had noticed it too, but she perceived the male’s interest as more curiosity than malign intent.Even if they did try to steal it, the ship wasn’t going anywhere. The flight systems had shut down once they’d landed. They’d tried and failed to unlock the controls. After attempting everything they could think of, including arguing with the ship’s limited AI, they’d eventually admitted defeat.
