Wanting to know more about his immediate situation, he braced for the worst and searched the boards for broadcasts about his bounty.
Chapter 22
Maya
Maya’s knees shook impatiently as she waited for Faith to answer her comm.
It wasn’t Faith who picked up but Grant, his stress-lined but friendly face filling the screen. Wow! They’d gotten him to New Rhea in record time! Only a few days had passed since the incident with the pod. She didn’t even know it was possible to travel that quickly between the two planets. It must be in one of those new ultra-speed shuttles she’d been reading about.
The corner of his lips lifted the moment he saw her. “Maya! I’m so glad to see you! When you stopped answering, we started thinking your mysterious rescuer was working with the pirates.”
“No, he wasn’t, but the pirates did find us.”
“Oh, we figured that out too. And we also know who he is now.”
Well, at least one of them knew. Because she was still confused, and Ranek even more so now that he’d lost his memory.
“Things are… complicated, but we will compare notes later,” Maya said. “We managed to get away, and we’re getting ready to leave the planet now.”
“No, no! Don’t lift off,” Faith yelled from off-screen.
“Why not?” Maya asked, raising her voice as if her friend wouldn’t be able to hear her otherwise.
“Becausetheyare waiting for you to lift off,” Grant replied.
They? Who did he mean by they?
Faith bustled into frame. “Maya. You were right, the captain of the delivery ship was in on it. We paid someone to follow him and intercept his comms. He set a course to Fortuna II the second he left, and he was talking to some pirates on the surface. They said they got you and Commander Chaos, and I thought maybe that guy who rescued you was lying and was going to turn you in, but then we found information on him too.”
“But why would the captain do that?”
“Remember the other breeder who lost the bid from Reka 5’s security department? He’s in Vosthea now with a few breeding pairs. We don’t know who’s funding him yet, but someone is. He’s the one paying for Commander Chaos and you.”
“Oh shit. That guy?” Maya tried to remember his name but could not.
“Yeah, that guy.” Faith looked behind her. “Where is your new friend?”
“You mean Ranek? He’s rearranging his shuttle to make room for Commander Chaos and me. It’s not really safe inside for us to lift off, given how crowded things are. A quick flight, it’s fine. But not if we have to break through the stratosphere.”
“Well, you guys aren’t lifting off or traveling anywhere in that tiny-ass shuttle. Change of plans. We’re on our way to get you.”
Maya frowned. “How do you know it’s a tiny shuttle?”
“Because that’s the one that was stolen. So unless he managed to steal a bigger one…”
Maya sighed. The pirates had been right.
“But don’t worry about it; the guy he stole it from was a certified asshole. Known slaver. Shuttle’s probably better off with him since at least he’s willing to help you out. But you have to be careful, Maya. I’m not sure if you know yet, but your new buddy has a bounty on him. It’s not big, but it’s not small either.”
Maya must be wearing her emotions on her sleeve, because Faith said, “Oh, you already know. At least he’s honest about that. What has he told you?”
Maya hesitated. “Actually, he hasn’t told me anything; I found out through the pirates. But before you rip him a new one, it’s not his fault. There have been complications. When the pirates came for us, they knocked him out cold, and he hit his head. He doesn’t remember anything. He doesn’t even remember that he had a mate once already. He thinksI’mhis mate.”
Faith’s eyes went wide. “He does?”
“Yeah. Calls me his ‘love’ and everything. And I feel like shit because I know he had a mate once, because he told me already, but I’ve been enjoying his company so much that I haven’t said anything. At first I just didn’t want to add more information and influence him. I thought he’d get his memory back. But now I’m in too deep, and I wish I reallywashis mate.”
“Oh, Maya. I’m sorry. You need a hug.”
