Vengeance growled. “I should stay, too. They will come.”
His statement made her blood turn to ice. If Havoc and his brothers hadn’t found them, they’d have stayed here and waited for help to arrive. Instead, they’d have been killed by whoever was coming—not the verexi themselves but someone else, someone even these warriors considered dangerous.
“No. The females need your protection,” Risk snarled at his brother. “I don’t.”
Joy interrupted before the brewing argument could become something more. “The females would like a say in what happens next. This isn’t only your decision.”
“Damn right it’s not!” Loris called out from the cockpit.
Vengeance’s head snapped up, and he muttered something under his breath. The next second, he was stalking toward the ship.
Joy took one look at the male and moved even further to one side. “Loris, you’ve got incoming.”
“Venge…” Havoc called out his brother’s name in a tone thick with warning.
Maddison shoved aside her fear and made herself speak. “Don’t let him hurt her!”
Risk turned to look at her in obvious surprise. “He won’t. She’s safer with him than anyone else in the galaxy.”
That made no sense. Why would Loris be safe with Vengeance? “What? Why?”
While she was asking, Joy tried to leave the shuttle. Still limping and sore, she stumbled on the ramp.
“Ack!” Joy yelped and flailed her arms in a desperate attempt to stay upright.
Maddison could only watch as her friend teetered. Risk broke into a sprint, moving so quickly he was little more than a golden blur as he raced to catch Joy before she hit the ground.
Maddison exhaled sharply as Joy threw her arms around the big male’s neck. Then, something strange happened. Instead of helping her to her feet, Risk simply held her in his arms as he.... sniffed her?
Joy didn’t seem to mind. In fact, she smiled and stroked the back of Risk’s neck in a very intimate way.
What in the name of gravity was happening? “Joy? Are you okay?”
“I’m fine. Just uh, a little unsteady. Risk was making sure I didn’t trip again.”
Soon, Risk had carried her back to the ring of seats around the fire.
“You can put me down now,” Joy said.
“No. I think Venge had the right idea. I’ll sit and you can rest on my lap. You’ll be more comfortable that way.”
Maddison wanted to demand the big male put her friend down, but Joy didn’t seem bothered. She wanted to scream and demand to know what was happening right now, but instead, she shot her friend a concerned look and said her name in what she hoped was a calm, questioning tone.
Joy gave her a reassuring smile. “I’m fine. Risk isn’t going to hurt me. They’re just bossy.”
Of course, that was the moment Loris started shouting from inside the ship.
“What the hell? No! Put me down!”
A few seconds later, Vengeance reappeared with Loris slung over his shoulder. She was smacking hisback with open hands and cursing loudly as he carried her out of the ship.
“This one is mine,” he announced.
“The hell I am! Put. Me. Down!”
Her toes curled inside her shoes as she fought down another wave of panic. They should never have trusted these aliens.
Havoc glanced down at her, and she swore she saw a hint of a smile on his lips. “I guess this means you’re with me.”
