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“Remember, it may look pretty, but underneath, it’s not. Control is revered here. If you speak out, or are too assertive, it’ll cause trouble.”

“They’re dangerous?” Through the forward window, she saw a group of people heading in their direction.

“They can be, yes. But I’ll take care of you. You stay by my side, no matter what.”

“No one takes care of me, Phoenix.” She undid her harness and stood. “I can do that myself.”

The group was closer now, a tall man striding in the lead.

“I will take care of you, even if you don’t want me to.”

Dare’s words made her belly jump. Stupid, traitorous belly.

He stood, as well. “Now, let’s get that part and find out what they know about Caleb Stock.” Dare’s fingers tightened on her arm, then he released her. “Don’t forget to walk behind me.”

She watched him stride to the door of the shuttle, and stuck her tongue out at his back. “Don’t get too used to me bowing and scraping, Phoenix.”

He shot a glance back at her. “But what if you like it?”

Dare stepped out into the bright Sullan sunshine. “Vero. It’s been a long time.”

The Sullan man walked forward, his hand outstretched in the common Sullan greeting. He was a hawkish man, and like all Sullans, had dark-blue hair that was long enough to brush his shoulders. “So very true. Welcome back to Sulla, Dare.”

They rested their wrists together and clasped each other’s forearms.

Vero’s gaze moved over Dare’s shoulder to Dakota. His lips turned up in a smile. “You’ve brought me a pretty flower.”

Dare barely controlled the ugly claw of emotion in his gut. “She’s not for you, my friend. And be warned, she’s hiding her thorns for this trip.” Fuck, he hated the way the man looked at her.

Vero raised a brow. “I thought you liked them obedient to your desires.”

Dare heard Dakota make a small sound, but didn’t look at her. “I like them to want my desires.”

Vero cast one more appreciative gaze at Dakota. “My current batch of girls will be sorry that you are not alone.” He inclined his head. “It’s been a long time since you last visited.”

It had been. On purpose. Dare felt Dakota’s gaze drilling into his back. He knew giving in to your desires without control, pushing your boundaries, could sometimes lead to dark places. Addiction was a slippery slope. It was so easy to slide down, and so very hard to claw your way back up. He’d seen that in his stepfather’s obsession with his mother, and his jealousy that her sons took up any of her time.

Sulla had offered Dare all kinds of dark vices.

Here on Sulla, a man could indulge all his darkest desires of control and submission. He had seen—and experienced—some himself. Some of them had been wonderful and some had crossed a line. He found that Vero had continually pushed their interactions to places Dare hadn’t been interested in going. It hadn’t taken him long to realize that Vero was all about his own pleasure. That the man hadn’t shared Dare’s need to protect a female partner and to give her pleasure.

“Dakota, this is Vero.” Dare glanced back at her. “Don’t speak unless he speaks to you.”

Her face didn’t change but he was pretty sure she was grinding her teeth.

Two women moved from behind Vero, their heads bowed and their hands clasped in front of them. They wore outfits very similar to Dakota’s, but with silver metal, and fabric of emerald green. Instead of metal tops like Dakota, they both wore gauzy twists of fabric. One had pale skin and an abundance of curves, and her blue hair was swept up and clipped behind her head. The other was taller, willowy, with glossy, dark skin and short, feathery blue hair.

As always, Vero also had two of his burly security guards with him.

“Come.” Vero waved them onward. “Let’s get back to my residence and have a drink. Talk.” He smiled. “Have some fun.”

They walked off the landing pads and into the city streets. There were a few people around, men walking with women a few steps behind them. Dare saw Dakota taking it all in—the gleaming buildings and lush greenery. As they walked along a narrow waterway, an elegant boat sailed through the water.

Soon, Vero led them over a bridge and to his beautiful house. The entire front wall was covered in a metallic latticework intertwined with plants. Their group moved through a wide, arched doorway, and into the cool interior of the airy house.

Vero led them into a reception room filled with circular couches in a deep green, and tables made from a glossy, brown wood. He sank into a chair, and instantly, the taller woman dropped to her knees beside his feet. The curvy woman slipped into his lap.

Dare selected a couch and sat down. Without him having to tell her, Dakota fell to her knees, sitting close beside him, pressing her body against his legs. Hell, watching her like this made him hard.