Havoc stared in shock. Those were supposed to be locked away back at camp. Then he cuffed his brother on the back of his head. “You took one of the weapons from the cache? That’s forbidden!”
Vengeance simply shrugged. “You think I was the only one? Nearly half the stash was missing when I got there.”
“Bysshe will skin you all alive and recycle your hides to make more of those jumpsuits he likes,” Havoc said. The android would not be pleased to learn their small cache of weapons had been raided.
“He will have to catch us first.” Vengeance laughed and pushed the weapon into Risk’s hands. “Keep the blaster. You can use it to protect your female. Havoc and I will vanish into the woods soon. The mercenaries won’t find us. They will come for you and this ship.”
Risk held up the weapon. “And I will be waiting for them. The ship is ours. They can’t have it.”
“The ship or the female?” Havoc asked. He already suspected what the answer would be, but he needed to hear it.
“Both.” Risk’s tone held a note of warning.
Vengeance laughed. “I feel the same about my little warrior.Mine.” He stressed the last word and added a low growl at the end.
Havoc ran a hand over his beard as he considered what to say. In the end, he decided to be honest. “I don’tknow if Maddison is mine…but she needs my protection. She is too gentle for this world.” He hadn’t intended to say anything more, but his mouth kept moving. “And for me.”
And that was the truth. Maddison knew nothing about this world or how to survive in it. She was exactly what he feared these females would be—a companion who would need constant support and protection.
When neither of his brothers commented, he felt an unexpected pang. Did they really think she was too gentle for him? The idea stung more than it should, considering he was not interested in finding a mate.
Risk nodded in understanding, but Vengeance grinned. Clearly he had a different opinion. Of course, his brother’s brain was currently addled by whatever was happening between him and Loris.
When Havoc didn’t say anything else, the three of them came together in a ritual they’d begun once they’d arrived on this planet. It was time to part ways for a time. Putting distance between them would make them all safer.
The three of them bowed their heads and knocked horns.
“Good hunting, my brothers.” They spoke the phrase in unison and then parted without another word. There was nothing else to say.
Havoc turned away from his clanmates and went to find Maddison.
She stood near the nose of the shuttle, her hands onthe straps of her backpack. Her body language was strange. Her expression was neutral, her fingers light on the straps, but her feet were turned to one side, as if she was ready to bolt at any second.
His nose told him the same thing. There was no missing the acrid tang of fear around her, even though it was faint. She was worried. That wasn’t a surprise. He’d be more concerned if she wasn’t. Still, he wondered if she was more concerned about the situation, orhim.
Irritated with his thoughts, he opted to focus on the challenges ahead. “You have enough food and water to last three days?” he asked.
For a moment, her expression softened and her brown eyes lit up with a mixture of relief and interest. She wanted to stay focused, too. Good.
“I have enough for five days. We have no way of knowing what’s safe to eat here, so I thought it was best to be overprepared.”
“Sensible.” He realized he was still frowning and made an effort to change his demeanor into something more reassuring. She was trying to control her emotions, which was admirable. He would do what he could to help with that.
He saw Vengeance take his female by the hand and lead her toward the trees. Once he knew which direction his brother chose, he gestured for Maddison to follow him and headed in another direction. He’d guessed correctly. His brother was moving toward an unexplored area while he intended to take Maddison throughfamiliar territory, though not the exact path the three of them had taken this morning.
Maddison followed in silence, matching his pace despite her shorter legs. He didn’t know much about humans, but he believed she was about average height or maybe a little taller. Even still, her head didn’t reach his shoulder. He’d have to remember to accommodate her smaller stature, or she’d be exhausted before it was safe to stop for the night.
Once they entered the trees, the last traces of twilight gave way to full night. He could see easily, but the second time he heard Maddison stumble, he realized she could not.
When he glanced over his shoulder, he saw the problem. Maddison kept looking back in the direction her friend had gone.
He stopped walking and turned to face her. “You are worried about Loris and Joy? Don’t be. My brothers will protect them.”
“I believe you. It’s just… Loris has been my bodyguard… I mean, my protector, for many years. I’m used to having her with me.”
That surprised him. If Loris was charged with protecting Maddison, how had she been hurt? Despite his curiosity, he tucked that question away for another time. For now, they had to keep moving.
“I will keep you safe, Maddison. That’s why we’re splitting up. It will be harder to track us if we are nottogether. My brothers are honorable. They will not allow any harm to come to your friends.”
