“Vauk!” Dravka exclaimed.
But then Tavak was racing ahead, sprinting faster than they were able to. He reached the doors, holding them until a Killup attendant appeared with an annoyed expression, motioning for him to step back, her voice raised. Tavak shook his head, his chest heaving, digging in his satchel to procure their boarding passes.
The attendant’s lips were pursed in a scowl the moment Ravu, Dravka, and Valerie reached the doors.
“Fine, go, go,” the attendant grunted, snatching the passes from Tavak’s hand when she saw the group of them come running up. “Next time, don’t be late! Or you forfeit your seats!”
“Thank you,” Valerie gasped out. “Thank you!”
The Killup frowned but said nothing, waving them on board impatiently, murmuring something into her Coms device attached to her vest. Tavak and Ravu went up the ramp. Dravka and Valerie followed closely behind them…just as the doors to the vessel closed, sealing them inside.
“We made it,” Dravka breathed, his shoulders sagging, leaning against the wall. “Thank thedemavs.”
A laugh bubbled from Valerie’s throat, hysterical but relieved. Even Tavak and Ravu couldn’t contain their small grins. All of them seemed in disbelief of their good luck.
Dravka pulled Valerie towards him, silencing her laugh with a desperate kiss, one that made her gasp.
“You’re in trouble,” he growled into her mouth. “But we’ll talk about it later.”
When he pulled back, her expression had sobered, but there was still bright relief in her gaze.
“I’m sorry,” she said. “I couldn’t let her find you and—”
“When are you going to understand that we’re in this together?” he asked. “That you don’t have to do everything on your own anymore?”
Something flashed in her eyes, her lips parting in realization.
“You’re right,” she said after a moment. Her gaze softened and she stood on her toes to press a soft kiss to his mouth. Dravka groaned. He could never be mad at her, though she’d endangered herself. “We’re in this together. I promise I won’t do anything like that again.”
He pressed a hard kiss to her forehead, his hearts still pumping at the thought that he could’ve lost her that day.
But she was in his arms now. They were leaving Nimida, leaving Madame Allegria in an unconscious heap on the floor of an inn, none the wiser as to their destination.
Or was it possible that…
“How did she find us?” he asked, frowning. “Did the tracker—”
“No, she bribed the pilot. Ben Vanner wasn’t very discreet after all,” Valerie said, shaking her head, knowing where his thoughts were headed. “And she found out we were staying at the inn because a shopkeeper had spotted us. She shouldn’t know that we are heading to Nzonito.”
Dravka nodded, his gaze going to Tavak and Ravu over her head.
“We’ll need to be cautious. I don’t want to take any chances,” he said. “Not with you.”
Once they reached Nzonito, they would take a quick flight out to another transport colony. From there, they would journey to Dumera. It would take longer but they would all feel better in knowing that they wouldn’t be followed.
Tavak and Ravu nodded, seeming to be in agreement.
“Hey!” came a voice, gravelly yet soft, from the top of the ramp. When they all turned, another Killup stood there, dressed in a grey uniform the same color as his skin. “We have to leave port soon. Find your seats and strap in.”
“Sorry, we’re coming,” Valerie called back.
* * *
The vessel was largerthan it appeared on the outside. On both sides of the vessel were a series of circular tables. Four seats surrounded each of them, two on both sides. There was a wide aisle between all of them and privacy screens were available for all the table clusters, a luxury he hadn’t expected. A bar with food and drinks was at the back of the vessel, a series of washrooms next to it.
It looked respectable and clean.
The vessel was filled with all kinds of beings traveling to the Second Quadrant. Like them, however, most were minding their own business, not even batting an eye when they saw three Keriv’is on board with a human female. Those that did stare felt Dravka’s glare right back until they looked away.
