Page 42 of Fire Forged

What madness is this?“Why would I lead you to my homeworld?”

“For my regent to negotiate with your king.”Shioll shrugged.

“No, when a comm will do.”What firepower did this battleship have?No, he refused to endanger his Etteria.

“We expected you to resist.”Shioll flicked out his cloak in a mini-tantrum Nerx had seen the children do.“I am to insist by leaving a message only Etterians will understand.”He raised a finger with fewer black rings adorning it.

His Viqrian males closed in on Nerx, who shook his head when Aldur tapped the red of his blaster.Two Viqrians grabbed Nerx.He hesitated before letting them twist his arms behind his back.They forced him to kneel.He didn’t fight them, unworried about dying, as long these males never ventured into the engine room.

Shioll unsheathed a dagger from his boot and approached.“Something as silly as your hair has importance to you?”He scoffed.“For us, the shorter it is, the higher the rank.Surely as supreme commander, yours should reflect as much.”

Nerx stilled, heat sliding down his spine at the threat.He clenched his jaw, not willing to offer any information.Besides, Shioll had revealed how much he knew of Etteria and their culture.When he’d been sent to introduce his kind?Wanted to negotiate with King Xeus?The sentences implied diplomacy yet something seemed…off.

Shioll tugged on Nerx’s braid, tucking the shimmering blue dagger under it.Aldur roared a battle cry any battle-bond would be proud of.The remaining two Viqrians turned as one.Despite Aldur’s blaster shot nicking one Viqrian’s shoulder, they fired, forcing Aldur to dive behind the med-E.D.A gasp and his slumped body sucked the air from Nerx’s lungs.No, his soul cried out.Aldur couldn’t die, not when he’d just discovered his Dar Eth.

He tried to focus on Aldur’s breathing, his heartbeat, but with so many males around him, his attempts were futile.A Viqrian ventured into medical to nudge Aldur with his boot.

“Why?”Nerx demanded, shifting on his knees to make it easier to lunge at Shioll.“You have no right—"

“Search this ship,” Shioll commanded his males except for the two still holding Nerx.

Fear seized his chest.He roared, wrenching his arms free.With a slash of the dagger, the glint on its steel the only warning, his braid pooled on the floor.He stared, unable to believe it.No.He couldn’t deal with that now.Not when he had to stop them from finding the females.He wrapped his fingers around the hilt of his greatsword sheathed down his back.With one lunge, he cleaved two Viqrians in half.He held the tip of the blade to Shioll’s throat but kept his focus on the remaining warriors.They had their blasters aimed at him.

With one command from Shioll, Nerx would die.He’d take Shioll with him, but that left those in his command and his females at the mercy of these Viqrians.Think.Could he take Shioll hostage?Force them to leave the scimitar?He was outnumbered.

Movement to his left snapped his gaze.Horror, pure fear, and sorrow gripped him, far surpassing the loss of his hair.He shook his head, even as anger flooded his veins.These potent emotions bombarded him, stiffening his body while time slowed.

Britta marched into the common with the blaster yellow and ready.

Chapter Twelve

JustbyNerx’sexpression,Britt knew something was wrong.Handing her a gun confirmed it.The damn thing was heavy, but she didn’t question why he’d given it to her.Rather be armed than sorry.She sucked in a sharp breath, her gaze fixed on Lily still fast asleep in the chair.Britt was tempted to carry her into the pod, strap her in, then let her sleep in safety.Here, she was still in the open, vulnerable.

Mom gasped, tapped her tablet, then cupped her mouth.

“What is it?”Britt crossed to her then leaned over her shoulder.Matir did so from the other side.

On the tablet, images played, of Nerx speaking to a man, whose soldiers circled him.That didn’t look good, especially the way they clasped their guns, like law enforcement did back home.Movement in the medical snagged her gaze.Aldur tapped the yellow button and preparing to fire.

She glanced at the strangers, who hadn’t yet noticed his presence.

Nerx was grabbed, his arms twisted behind his back, and forced to kneel while the man unsheathed a wicked-looking dagger.The way Nerx’s braid was touched meant only one thing.

She froze, horror dawning.“No, not his hair.”Losing it would devastate him.The pride on his face when he’d unclipped his braid revealed as much.

“Why not?”Mom asked.

“The length is a measurement of their honor, like a medal.”Britt palmed the yellow button, not actually wanting to kill anyone, even a baddie.She hurried to the door.“I’m just going to peek, to make sure Aldur and Nerx don’t need backup.”

“Britt, no,” Mom said, flicking a glance at Lily still fast asleep.

“I forbid it,” Matir said, stomping toward her.

Britt scowled.No man forbade her from doing anything she damned well wanted to do.And Nerx losing his most precious hair was a hell-no in her book.“I can do this.Working at Stay Alive taught me much.”

“On how to be stupid.”Mom scoffed, her gaze on the tablet.“Nerx said to stay, and dammit, that’s what we’ll do.”

“And watch him and Aldur die?”Britt planted her feet when Matir tried to nudge her out of the way without touching her.

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