Captain Ikvar was a peacekeeper captain that was something like their sponsor. He was the one who gave them permission to continue their life outside of Rik-Vane. He was the one who made their new identities possible. He was also the one who had helped register Garnet and Goldie when they had been accidentally picked up as part of a botched delivery.
He was also something like their authority figure. Tanin had to report to him every so often. Just to make sure the females were treated well, that they weren’t doing anything illegal, and that they were continuing their business without making trouble.
Well, trouble that the peacekeepers knew about anyway.
Tanin had already reported Haven’s sudden appearance. Which must have immediately caught Captain Ikvar’s attention. It was bad enough that they’d stumbled upon Garnet and Goldie by accident – and that really had not been intentional on theirpart. A third unregistered human just popping up around them was enough of a coincidence for him to focus.
It didn’t matter that this timeshefoundthemor that they had nothing to do with her being there and that she had stowed away from Earth on her own power. Captain Ikvar demanded that she be presented to them. To check her over. To make sure she was safe. And since he and they were going to be at Cort-Valla station, he wanted them to do it in person after the job was done.
He needed make sure that they weren’t kidnapping her, or something else equally nefarious. It wasn’t good enough for Haven to say as much over video comm. He really must not have a high opinion of their crew.
That was the only reason Vytln was letting her out of her trap, out of his workroom, and out into the main storage of their ship. Just for the inspection. The risk, he knew, was minimal. Even if his brother came around, he couldn’t do anything. Not here. Not while so many eyes were on them. Not with the peacekeepers literallyright there.
Still, it was an itch under is skin to have his female, still unmated and unclaimed, justoutwhere any other male could see her. He didn’t like it. And he made his displeasure known as he stood behind her, one hand on her belly, keeping her against his chest, as he scowled at the unmated males who came to perform the inspection. Both the crew of the station and the peacekeepers earned his ire equally.
Tanin finally had to order him back. Though Haven was smiling, clearly happy and unbothered, the way he hovered over her, apparently, ‘looked bad’. They didn’t want her. A good number of them were probably mated themselves.
Still, it was only with great reluctance that he stepped back and, instead, let the other females gather around her.
His reluctance that did not go over Trove’s head. The male smirked at him wickedly before talking to Haven. Being a bit too friendly, strictly for the purpose of making Vytln mad. And even knowing he was only doing it tomakehim mad did not actually stop him frombeingmad.
He growled at his crewmate, the females chattered and laughed around Haven, the inspection crew let their eyes linger a little too long on said chittering females, and the entire crew gave them harsh warning glares in return.
It probably made the inspection and Haven’s interview harder. Vytln knew he didn’t look friendly – he didn’t want to. But he wasn’t trying to intimidate Haven, just everyone around her.
Unfortunately, that wasn’t readily obvious, and only made the peacekeepers more suspicious. It made them move closer to the females.
And that only made them all growl and snarl in warning.
Theirfemales. Those were practically Vytln’s sisters, not to mention his mate-to-be. He would not tolerate unworthy males sniffing around them.
And these white armored peacekeepers were doubtlessly unworthy. The way they shrank and cowered from only a glower showed they weren’t good enough for them. Goldie was the only unmated female here anyway – he wasn’t counting Haven – and she was far too precious for such sniveling males.
The females remained between them. Vytln at their backs – Haven still in front of him – his own back to the wall, while theothers formed a circle around them. Keeping a barrier between the females and the strangers completing the inspection.
Tanin stood at the front, ready to accept final payment so they could go. He was the first to be in danger if something went wrong, while Vytln and Rok were the biggest and so would be pulling back the females if necessary. The others remained at their sides. While the twin avanava males, dark blue scales helping them blend into the shadows, watched everyone, ready to fight at a moment’s notice.
Grace remained beside Tanin, just a few steps behind him in the protective circle. She did the majority of the talking. She was, without question, the only one of them with a perfectly clean history and reputation. Tanin, technically, had no crimes to his name, but that was only because he was never caught.
Grace was also from a wealthy family. She was well trained in speaking to people, especially people in positions of authority. That chatty, naggy way about her was a benefit when it came to talking the peacekeepers into calming down and introducing Haven as their newest stray human.
It was all smooth and familiar and practiced for everyone involved. The inspection, payment arrangements, the interview Haven was put through. There probably wasn’t going to be a problem here, or most of the places they went, but they were always ready for one to start.
The inspectors confirmed that no supplies remained on the ship and that everyone was accounted for. One peacekeeper was allowed close to interview Haven. He insisted on talking to her alone, stating that she couldn’t be trusted to tell the truth if Vytln kept hovering, even if his arms weren’t around her anymore. She might consider his very presence a threat.
It wasn’t an unreasonable thought. Nor was it wrong for him to take that precaution. Vytln, however, was insulted that anyone would think he’d harm his female.
However, Tanin gave him that look, silent but commanding. Ordering him to remain still so she could be led away by the other peacekeepers so they could question her. It was all very ordinary. Garnet and Goldie had to do the same thing. Only Grace hadn’t, and that was because she was the only human on their crew that was there legally.
She was also the only one who was allowed to go with Haven. She gave Vytln a smile, silently trying to reassure him, as she chased after the peacekeepers. They let her do so. The leader even seemed to defer to her. He wasn’t sure how she managed to accomplish that. Knowing her, she probably just nagged him until they capitulated to her.
He was happy to know that he wasn’t the only one she pestered. It made him smirk to see her put on her stern face as she talked to them. At the same time, he wanted to go over there. Not just to get his female back, but to make sure no one tried to threaten his crewmate for being the nagging little nuisance she was.
It was exhausting having all these females to protect.
But he really didn’t mind.
The interview part was annoyingly long. The rest of the crew were kept under watch to make sure no one went to threaten Haven into anything. But eventually, finally, the peacekeepers came back with Haven and Grace both. His female was smiling, walking with a happy bounce, while Grace strutted in that confident, elegant way of hers, nose in the air.
