Page 6 of Marked for Vengeance
Maddison gasped.
Loris cursed to herself. “Override requested. I am a qualified pilot.”
“Negative. No registered pilot is on board. Emergency protocols have been activated.”
“At least tell me where we’re going?” she snapped.
“This shuttle will descend to the planet below. Name unknown.”
“And what system is this planet in?” Surely this fucking machine had some information.
“Current location confirmed. System name unknown. Planet name is unknown.” It spewed a series of coordinates Loris couldn’t understand. Astro-navigation was beyond her understanding.
“Simplify it for me. Whose territory are we in?”
“This shuttle is two hundred light years from its expected course. All territory in this sector is claimed by the verexi.”
Maddi uttered a small, fearful sound and gripped her hands in her lap.
Loris bit back another litany of curses. How the fuck had they wound up in the territory of the most unpleasant, xenophobic, and fiercely territorial species in the galaxy? TheHarvestshouldn’t have come anywhere near their region of space.
This shitshow couldn’t get any worse. Could it?
She was afraid the answer was yes.
4
The thick forestand heavy underbrush gave way to new terrain as they reached the first rise of hills. Vengeance caught glimpses of the sky more often, and the ground was open and easier to traverse. Vengeance upped his pace yet again, despite the fact they were now headed uphill.
Tomorrow’s trek would suck harder than a black hole. They’d have to hike up the mountains to reach the far side and the crash site. There was an easier route, but his brothers had taken that one. This way was faster.
The sky was darkening with the first signs of twilight sooner than he wanted. As much as he wished they could press on, they couldn’t risk moving at night. It would be too easy to injure themselves in the unfamiliar terrain or cross paths with a predator they hadn’t seen before.
They’d have to make camp soon. The thought rankled him despite all the reasons it had to be this way. He wanted to keep going. His mood soured as resentment churned in his soul. He flexed his hands as he ran, extending his claws in time to his stride.
Only the view helped him to stay in control. The sky was full of color, the golden light so thick he thought he might be able to reach up and carve out a piece of it to keep for himself. The forest below stretched out like a river of fire, the yellow and orange foliage adding to the illusion.
In the back of his mind, he started to compose lyrics to describe it all. It was something he’d always done, though he’d never admit it to his brothers. His music was a private thing, a way to find solace in the suffering he’d endured before they’d finally escaped to this beautiful but dangerous planet.
Thoughts of danger made him wonder how the survivors would fare. He hoped they were smart enough to protect themselves until his brothers arrived. As lovely as Hope had been, he had sensed she was far too gentle to survive for long on her own. Would the other females be like her? Probably. He’d never met anyone like that before. The verexi were cruel, distant, and often afraid of their creations. His brothers were loud, proud, and fierce. Bysshe was… Vengeance paused. Bysshe was Bysshe. Firm. Wise. Steadfast.
What kind of person would his female be? If there was one for him. If they weren’t too late already. If any female would ever look at him the way Hope had looked at Menace… with adoration and not a hint of fear.
Havoc slowed and then stopped. A second later he pointed to a spot above them. “Tell me that’s what I think it is.”
Vengeance stopped to look and saw it immediately. Metal gleaming in the light, a symmetrical object too perfect to be natural. “A ship!”
“It’s some kind of vessel,” Havoc agreed, “but how long has it been there? Bysshe said they only saw three escape pods on the scans, and this isn’t anywhere near where the big ship went down.”
Vengeance heard the hesitation in his brother’s tone. Oh no. Not again. No more plans! “You’re too fucking cautious,” he growled.
“And you’re both too focused on finding females. It’s a ship. That means possible supplies and salvage,” Risk said.
Havoc barked out a short laugh. “You’re hoping it can still fly. Aren’t you?”
Risk tugged on one of his horns and shrugged. “Maybe. We should still check it out.” Then he turned and pointed at Vengeance.
“But slowly. If females are around, charging in there will scare them. Especially if yours is the first face they see.”
