Page 6 of Black Star

The other man sat back in his chair and crossed his arms over his chest. “It must be a high price if you’re willing to give me that much. What do you want?”

Mikiel looked Nadira straight in her silver-blue eyes. He wanted to see her reaction when he answered. “I want your pilot.” It was a good bargain. Mikiel knew with him holding Nadira, Singh wasn’t likely to go far.

“Absolutely not!” Damon Singh’s outraged explosion was expected, given how he had protected the woman until this point. “We’ve offered to give you the captain in exchange for our vessel. It would do both our governments good. Neither of us loses.”

“That’s exactly my point. I have the upper hand, and my superior will not be pleased to find I’ve let theBlack Stargo -- no matter what else I gain -- and I might as well get something out of it. I want her.” Mikiel loved watching her eyes widen. His only regret was the fear he saw in them. Fear, however, could be used to his advantage. If he could keep it focused, he could keep control of her until she gave control to him willingly.

“I willnotgive you a member of my crew for you to use as a sex slave!” Damon’s contempt was obvious, if misplaced.

“Who said anything about a sex slave?” Mikiel deliberately eyed Nadira up and down. “I already have men and women more --” He paused a beat, adding more than a touch of insult. “-- suited to that task. My interest in your crewmember is her skill as a pilot. She can best serve me as a free woman, but --” He leaned closer to Nadira, driving home his point. “-- if she doesn’t perform as she should, slavery is still a viable option.”

He didn’t miss the flush of embarrassment and fear crossing Nadira’s face, but he did notice something he had missed before. There was a large, bluish red bruise across her left cheek. By next day cycle, she’d have one painful black eye.

“What happened to your face?” Mikiel knew the question came out harsh, but he didn’t care. Out of nowhere, the mark of violence across this woman’s face almost made his blood boil. “Who did this?”

“The good captain has a bit of a temper.” Damon grunted as he folded his arms over his chest. “Why do you think he’s bound and gagged?”

Mikiel stood and crossed the space between himself and Captain Barnus and backhanded the man with as much force as he could. The other man’s head snapped to the side and he slumped over the table unconscious.

“Women should not be treated that way in any culture. Slave or not.”

Damon stood, pulling Nadira to her feet as well, and placed himself between her and Mikiel. “I will not let you take her, Asalian.”

“You cannot stop me, Vok’nair.”

“I have to try.”

Mikiel knew Damon wouldn’t agree to simply turn Nadira over to him, and it would come down to who was stronger. Fortunately, in that Mikiel had the upper hand. “You have no hope of stopping me. You are obviously a good commander and take your responsibilities to your crew very seriously, but this is one battle you cannot win.” If anything, Damon’s features hardened even more, but he didn’t say anything. There was nothing hecouldsay.

“Damon,” the girl whispered, “I’ll be OK. TheBlack Starand her crew are more important than me. Get her away from here.”

Few things surprised Mikiel, but this did. He’d have bet his ship she’d never been this scared in her entire life, yet she was willing to sacrifice herself for the good of her ship. He doubted there were many among his own crew willing to do the same.

Damon’s fists clenched at his sides, but he nodded slowly. “It doesn’t appear as if I have much choice, Nadira.” Mikiel didn’t miss her reaction. The blood drained from her face and she swayed slightly, but she locked her knees and bit her lip in an effort to stay upright. The little wench was made of sterner stuff than she looked.

“What about the captain?” Damon bit out.

“I’ll keep him, too. This man is responsible for more deaths in your prison camps than I am in open battle. He will make an interesting addition to the auction block.” Mikiel turned to the guards at the door. “Take Captain Barnus to the sick unit. Make sure there are no lasting injuries, then put him in a holding cell.”

“Yes, Commander.” The guard, Ishmiel, nodded to his partner and the two men dragged Barnus out. Before the door closed again, Ishmiel returned, having passed his prisoner to one of the guards outside the door. “The woman?”

“I’ll take care of her. Escort our guest back to his shuttle. Make sure he is safely aboard his own ship before we leave the sector.”

“As you command, Sir.”

Once the new captain of theBlack Starand Ishmiel were gone, Mikiel regarded his new crewmember. Her black uniform and light body armor covered her from the throat down. It was, however, form fitting instead of baggy as the men’s had been. Her feet were booted and her hands gloved. She was shaped generously enough. Her waist was tiny, her hips and breasts flared almost dramatically. It would be interesting to see what was underneath all that armored black leather.

His cock twitched, and he did his best to squash the thought dead in its tracks. She was here because of her skill as a pilot and her ability to bond with ships -- no other reason.

“Life as you know it has changed as of this moment, Nadira. If you do as you’re told and learn this ship as well as you knew theBlack Star, I’ll see to it you get to continue to fly.”

Her eyes widened and she almost took a step forward before she stopped herself. “What do you mean?”

“I mean, if you prove you can fly this ship as well as you did theBlack Star, I’d have no problem replacing my pilot with you.”

“And earn myself another enemy in a place already full of enemies? I think I’ll pass.”

Mikiel allowed annoyance to lace his next words. “We don’t operate that way. You’ll learn that in time. Everyone has a place. The better you learn your chosen skill, the farther you progress.” He could still see skepticism in her eyes, so he added, “Not everyone is cut out to be a sex slave, my dear. That takes unique talents indeed, and unless I miss my guess, you’ve concentrated too hard on being a pilot to perfect those particular skills.”

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