Ally froze bent over, then rolled her eyes.Of course, he would find me in this position.She straightened, then turned to face Lyk. “It’s locked.”
Lyk put his hand on the pad and the door opened. Ally crossed her arms, scowling. “If you were such a black sheep, how come your prints still work to open the locks around here?”
Lyk shrugged. “I guess they didn’t consider me a threat.”
“That makes two of us,” she muttered, then entered the mess and started digging in the cabinets to locate some liquor. She managed to find a dusty bottle of rust-colored liquid and pulled it out, then grabbed a glass and started to fill it.
“Do you even know what that is?” Lyk asked, the corners of his mouths twitching.
“Does it matter?” She lifted it to her nose and sniffed. “It’s definitely booze. Bottoms up.” She drained the glass, then doubled over, coughing harshly as the liquid burned a path down her throat to her stomach.
Lyk approached, gently patting her on the back. “You okay?”
Ally straightened, moving away from him. “I’m fine,” she squeaked.
Unable to hold back his laughter anymore, Lyk smiled. “Look, I get that you’re upset. Let’s talk about it.”
“There’s nothing to say.” That wasn’t accurate. There was plenty to say, but she wasn’t equipped to talk about the things she needed to.This entire situation is fucked. My sister is missing, his family is embroiled in some fantastical war involving gods and demons. The last thing we need to worry about is our feelings.
“Allandria, about what happened on that shuttle.”
“Don’t,” she warned, holding up a finger, then pouring herself another drink with shaking hands. She sipped it this time, then sat down at the table, letting out a heavy sigh.
Lyk sat down across from her. “You were a virgin,” he said softly.
“It doesn’t matter,” she replied, feeling suddenly bone weary. She had no energy for whatever deep and meaningful conversation he had planned.
“It matters to me.” His expression was serious, and she noticed that he was clenching and unclenching his hands as they rested against the tabletop.
“I just wanted to forget,” Ally said, setting down her drink and running her hands through her hair in a gesture of frustration. “For a few minutes, I didn’t want to have to think about Evie and what might be happening with her.”
“I might buy that if you hadn’t been a virgin.” His gaze was intent. “You were saving yourself. For what?”
Her eyes narrowed. He had no problem asking an exceedingly personal question like this. “I said it doesn’t matter,” she said after a short hesitation and was surprised to learn that she was tearing up.
The door to the lounge slid open, Zelup striding inside to give them a wide smile. “We’re almost out of the wormhole, and your ship is still behind us. Looks like your plan worked, little lady.”
Ally picked up her glass in salute, then drained the rest of the liquor. She didn’t cough this time but welcomed the burn. Anything to take her mind off her depressed state.
“We’re nearing Vartik,” Zelup said. “I wondered if you had something in mind for when we land?” He joined the two of them at the table.
“Of course, I do. I’m going to strangle that cyborg the first chance I get.”
Ally was surprised at the vehemence in Lyk’s voice. She knew he was angry over the mutiny, but he’d yet to really lose his temper, aside from his little show on the bridge. It seemed things were about to change.
“Naturally. And the rest of your crew? Imprisoned, I suppose?”
Lyk nodded. “Until I have a chance to talk to them.”
“You’d let them go?” Ally asked, genuinely surprised. “Your brother suggested hanging all of them.”
Zelup, his chin resting in his hand, turned to his brother. “That sounds like Marek. But I’m also intrigued. They betrayed you, and it seemed like they didn’t need much convincing. Why give them the benefit of the doubt?”
“Because when I board a ship and look my prisoners in the eye, I give them a choice to join my crew. In exchange for profits, I expect loyalty. I want to look them in the eye and find out exactly why that loyalty was so easy to discard.”
Lyk’s eyes met hers and a frizzle of electricity went through her, as did the recognition that he might be asking the same question of her.But I never promised to be loyal.
Zelup stood. “I’ll prepare the crew for our arrival on Vartik. I’ll also let our brothers know to expect to help subdue your crew until you can have your little chat, and until you finish strangling your cyborg, of course.” He left the lounge, the door whooshing shut behind him.
