Shamone: “Or toothbrushes.”
Daisy: “What are our mates — husbands, whatever — going to be like?”
Kora stood up and moved into the space between the rows of bunks. “Like Ohirins,” she said in a tone that she was running out of patience. “We signed up for this, remember?”
“The agency promised us no lizards,” said Tia. It was the first time she’d spoken.
“You too, huh?” Kora shot back. “Who was promised no lizards and no tentacles?”
Everyone raised their hands.
“We could escape,” Daisy whispered.
“But where to?” asked Nayli, always practical.
“We must make a plan tonight, in case we’re separated,” added Aelanna.
Kora pressed a finger to her lips and made a slow circle, her eyes wide, indicating that the Ohirins might be listening in.
They were doomed, but there was no time because suddenly it was dark outside and they had to get to the canteen. They didn’t get anywhere with the plan to escape but their carry-ons had been delivered by the time they got back from dinner, which was vegetable soup and some kind of bread.
In the morning when Ensign Rathri came to get them, they learned that the Dheltans had already taken off. A temporary patch on the Pioneer’s external hull had been welded overnight, enough to get them to Ohiri without incident.
They were stuck here, and they had no choice but to accept whatever life on Drypso held for them. Aelanna shivered. Tomorrow they’d meet their lizard men mates.
Chapter 22
Suitors
Conflicting emotions churned in Darren’s insides. He was relieved to be on the Pioneer and off the dreadful Drypso, on the other hand, he could hardly bear to leave Aelanna behind to the mercy of the Ohirins. The thought soured his gut, and sour won out over relief.
The brothers’ bodyguard duties were finished, and all three were in the diner taking their time over a leisurely hot drink, a mixture of herbs that was supposed to settle the stomach and soothe nerves. It didn’t work for Darren. Elbows on knees, silent and still, he sat at a table with Lero and Blayze and stared at it.
“For grack’s sake, cheer up, brother. You’re as miserable as a soggyDaikathat’s been left out in the rain,” grumbled Lero.
Darren didn’t look up. “I miss her. I worry about her.” His uneasy feeling, which had gone during his time with Aelanna, had returned with a vengeance. It gave him indigestion.
Lero rolled his eyes; Darren felt it. “You think me and Blayze don’t feel the same about ours?”
Darren leaned forward and picked up his drink.He was self-indulgent. Of course, his brothers were suffering, too. He took a gulp of tea and hoped the mixture would work.
“Has Joel reported back to Ohiri?” he asked, more to contribute to the conversation than he was interested in the answer. He had to make an effort.
Lero nodded. “Along the lines ofmission accomplished, cargo safely delivered, and we’re on our way back.”
“Don’t refer to our fated mates ascargo,” Blayze complained.
Lero shot him a dirty look. “I’m using the word that he used in his transmission. The Ohirins stampedtop secretall over it. No need to broadcast to the galaxy that we’ve found females.”
“The transmission was encrypted, surely?” Darren's tone was mildly disbelieving.
Lero returned a look that was mostly a sneer. “Of course, it was gracking encrypted, you shadow-blinded fool. Drek already attacked, and Yithir knows how they found out about the mission. We beat them off, more by luck than by judgement.” He sounded at the end of his tether, and Darren felt sorry for him. Almost.
“How did they know?” asked Blayze, not at all intimidated by Lero’s bad temper.
“We don’t know,” Darren replied. “No doubt there’ll be an investigation when we land on Ohiri. I wouldn’t like to be in Joel’s boots.”
“I wish they’d sent Ohirins to deliver the females. Why us?” asked Blayze, his dark brows furrowed.
