Page 13 of Commander’s Mate

A few nodded. One female was shaking too badly to answer. Nora, according to Harper when she turned to check on her. Another, Zoe, supported her. The pale-haired one—Scarlet—looked ready to bite someone. Good. Anger kept some people upright.

“We move now,” I said. “Stay between my warriors. Do not run unless we tell you. Do not stop unless someone falls. If someone falls, call out.”

Kyanna came closer. “My friend Sowia—”

“She comes.”

“The others?” Harper asked.

“All who can be freed.”

That changed something in her face. Not trust yet. But the first fragile possibility of it.

“Come,” I ordered.

I turned before my instincts could make a fool of me. I wanted to wrap my cloak around her. I wanted to lift her off the cold floor so her bare feet never touched filth again. I wanted to put my body between her and every male who had looked at her as merchandise.

I did none of those things.

I led.

Behind me, a hundred captives began moving out of the auction house.

The extraction became uglier in the outer hall.

Security had finally organized enough to die in formation. They fired from a balcony above the loading dock, ion bolts splashing against our armor and scorching the walls near the captives. My warriors returned controlled fire. No wasted shots. No panic.

The rescued women did not scream as much as I expected. Some did. Most clung to one another and kept moving.

Harper stayed close behind me. I knew without looking. Her scent cut through smoke and weapons discharge, pulling at something primitive in me that had no place in battle.

A bolt struck the floor near the group. Zoe stumbled. Scarlet grabbed her. Nora shouted something in their language. Harper turned back.

I caught her wrist before she could move into open fire.

Her gaze snapped to mine.

“Stay behind me,” I said.

“My friend—”

“Is standing.”

She looked, saw Zoe upright, and nodded once. She did not like being stopped. Good. I did not need a mate who folded because I gave an order. I needed her alive long enough to argue with me later.

We reached the shuttle under covering fire.

The thin shifts did nothing against Ursaga’s night air. The captives shivered as we loaded them into a shuttle designed for armored troops, not half-dressed women stolen from warm holding rooms. Warriors gave up thermal wraps. Rehor removed his outer utility layer and draped it over a small trembling female with silver skin. Pyrr stood at the ramp and counted bodies with the expression of a man memorizing reasons to kill.

Harper stepped onto the ramp, then turned back toward the auction house.

“What about the others?”

“Teams are clearing side chambers.”

“How many?”

“As many as we can reach.”