Lyk brought his cruiser close again, reattaching the docking clamps to allow the last of his crew to return to his ship. As soon as word reached him that they were aboard, he piloted the ship away to a safe distance, then stood back to watch Rigellus’s demise.
The communications console buzzed. Celdrake glanced down at it. “Rigellus is hailing you.”
“Put him on screen.”
The fat man had somehow managed to shift his bulk so that the back of his hand could hit the small console embedded in the arm of his chair. “Don’t do this! Please!”
“His ship’s engines are engaging,” Celdrake said, hitting the panel to split the viewscreen. The image of Rigellus’s ship starting to move was juxtaposed against Rigellus’s sniveling face.
Lyk turned around, his eyes on the females. The one he considered his was focused on the viewscreen. The other’s eyes were on the floor. “Are you sure you wouldn’t be more comfortable in my quarters?” he asked, his tone neutral.
His woman shook her head. “He deserves this.”
Lyk’s heart beat hard in his chest. Everything about this woman, including her need for vengeance, warmed his insides.
Still, the other one looked distressed. Lyk turned to Celdrake, speaking softly. “Take the blonde to the officer’s lounge and get her some water. Stay with her there.”
When Celdrake came forward, his woman grabbed the blonde’s hand. “You’re not taking her anywhere.”
The blonde patted his woman’s hand. “It’s okay, sis. I could use some water.”
“I don’t trust these men,” his woman hissed.
The blonde shrugged. “We’re here, for better or worse. You might want to watch this, but I don’t.” She gently extracted her hand from her sister’s grip and allowed Celdrake to lead her off the bridge.
Lyk moved closer to his woman, restraining himself from touching her. That fact that she didn’t trust him rankled him. Instinctively, he knew she was the one for him. His mate. But it was clear she didn’t have those same instincts.
She will.
Turning back to the viewscreen, he watched as the fat man wept and begged. Lyk was not moved. He knew nothing less thandeath would stop a greedy fuck like Rigellus from trafficking in slaves and misery. With his connections, his wealth, his impunity, the temptation would be too great.
This was punishment, but it was also prevention. As a Vartik, Lyk knew exactly what it felt like to be treated as chattel. His race had been hunted down, not only for their blood and its magical healing properties, but for their strength and beauty. He knew there were others of his race in chains throughout the galaxy, despite the hard work his family put in to prevent such exploitation.
A man like Rigellus didn’t see others as persons. He saw them as objects that could be sold for a pile of credits. Anyone who valued money above lives deserved a taste of their own medicine.
The ship sailed straight toward the looming asteroid. Lyk watched, unperturbed, as the fat man went from begging and crying to wailing and screaming. His eyes flicked over to the woman by his side.
Her breath was sawing in and out of her, her hands clenched into fists. It was clear that she’d never experienced anything like this. She’d never seen someone die before her eyes. He couldn’t doubt her backbone, nor could he deny her fire, but it was evident that she’d been more sheltered than he’d expected.
He wanted to grab her, press her to his chest, stroke her hair in this moment. But he wouldn’t do that to her. She wanted her revenge, and his chest swelled at being able to give it to her. He’d considered strangling Rigellus with his own hands, channeling the anger he felt at Rigellus daring to lay a hand on her into choking the bastard to death. He’d restrained himself, barely, because he knew she was already skittish with him.
She might shy from his hands if they were covered in Rigellus’s blood.
“Please!” the fat man shrieked.
Then he said nothing.
The ship hit the asteroid, a magnificent explosion engulfing the ship in flames before it broke apart against the hard rock surface.
In moments, the ship was rubble.
Lyk smiled. He looked over at his woman, delighted to see a grin on her face as well.
CHAPTER 8
ALLY
She refused to look away from the explosion. Ally watched as the ship disintegrated, feeling as if the fire on the screen was somehow inside her.
