Page 29 of Sawoots Story

His battle-brothers never flinch as hot blood cascades over them. They face him with inhuman stoicness, staring at death without fear. Aelon’s blade shimmers with bloodlust. It is not sated yet.

With a single swing, Aelon cuts their heads off, and they collapse next to their leaders in a pool of hot, red blood.

I watch, rapt with horrified fascination.

Garrick was right. Aelon passed judgment with brutal efficiency. I didn’t expect this. I thought they’d be thrown in the brig, where they’d lurk, waiting for the chance to break free and claim me. No Aurelian would ever stop hunting for the woman he thinks is his Fated Mate.

Now there is finality. Now they will never come for me again.

The crowd is silent. They stare at Aelon with respect, and there’s not a murmur of dissent. The message is clear.

Break his ship’s laws, face judgment. Aelon turns to them, deactivating his Orb-Blade and sheathing the hilt while his triad stands like stony statues behind him.

“Does anyone else have a problem with the way I lead? Then, challenge me! My triad will take on any one of you!”

Aelon booms out the words. Any triad that wishes to rebel can face him in combat. Any who wants to be captain ofThe Instigatorcan earn it by force.

Only silence greets his words.

Tasha is white faced behind Aelon, looking so small compared to her triad.

Her triad? Where did that come from?

And yet—it’s true. She looks at home next to them, no matter how much she hates the alien captain for not keeping me safe. She’s not squeamish, but she got a front row view of the execution, and watching that up close would affect anyone. She’s pale as a ghost under the artificial light of the mess hall.

Aelon scans the room for any sign of a challenger. When none appears, he turns to Tasha. “I placed a member of your crew in danger. You are my prisoner. You are my responsibility—and therefore, so is the life and protection of those who serve you. You have my apologies, Captain Tasha—and hopefully you will see that such behavior is not tolerated on boardThe Instigator. Now, ask me for a reasonable recompense, and I shall grant it—as penance for my mistake.”

My eyebrows draw down. I didn’t expect the arrogant captain to take any of the blame. Perhaps he’s not such a bad leader, after all. He takes responsibility for the actions of his crew, just like Tasha took the punishment for the escape attempt.

Tasha stares up at the alien who just killed three of his crew without hesitation. I’d be shaking in my boots to face him down, but she looks up without fear. “I accept your compensation, and I ask for free run of your ship—for me, and for my crew.”

The crowd watches, silent and cold.

The ones who sided with Kit won’t stand for a crew of violent prisoners being let free to roam the ship. They already had one wounded. She’s pushing too far, but I see what she’s doing.

She’s trying to buy us the space to escape. With free rein of the ship, we can find the vulnerable parts and plan our escape route.

“Captain Tasha, I hear your request, and I can offer you this: Icannotallow the men who tried to kill my crew to be free, but the remaining three of you will have free rein of the ship—underclosesupervision. That’s you, your first officer, and the technician, who I’m told didnotwillingly participate in the assault on my crewman.” He pauses, considering. “You will have free rein, but be accompanied at all times by the triad of Garrick. They’re the warriors who saved Sawoot from those would-be rapists.”

Garrick looks over his shoulder at me, and I try to read his face for any trace of what he’s thinking. He just gives me that inscrutable Aurelian stare.

Looks like I’m going to be spending a lot more time with him.

When I first set foot on this ship, that would have been a nightmare.

Now…

I find myself craving his presence. The way he makes me feel so safe and secure. But at any second, he could snap. He may be honorable, but he’s an Aurelian, and if the Mating Rage takes over, all bets are off.

There’s something that’s weighing on me. Kit couldn’t hold back his Mating Rage. Garrick can. Could it be true? Could Kit’s triad have been the three Aurelians in the universe who could have been Bonded to me?

If so…

It’s just another reason I could never be with Garrick. I learned from Nami’s mistakes. If you can be Bonded, there’s no future with a triad.

I silently scream at Tasha to take the deal. If she tries to push for more, Aelon will make an example of her. I don’t know if she realizes how close the mess hall came to bloodshed.

“Thank you,” she says, and I breathe a sigh of relief. Aelon can’t afford to have his crew witness anything but her acceptance of his terms. If she questioned him, it would make him look weak. The misogynistic species has trouble accepting strong women, and they’d view their captain as lesser if he can’t intimidate her.

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