Page 42 of Warrior's Captive
Once back on planet, Tai’ri handed the female—Shira—off to a counselor from the same safehouse Vivian had been assigned. He’d explained briefly to Shira that he was a government employee and she was safe.
“I’ll stand as your legal sponsor until you decide if you want to return to your home or remain on Yedahn,” he said.
She’d nodded, tense and silent, expression strained. Tai’ri hesitated. “My mate is like you, human and with child. Spent time in a pen. I’ll bring her to meet you soon.”
“You rescued her, too?”
“Something like that.”
After watching her leave, he’d put her out of his mind, returning to palace base to report to Vykhan in person. Anger was useless, especially the rage that broiled whenever he thought of his mate, or even his sister or mother being taken and brutalized.
These people had to be stopped.
“Tai’ri.”
Vykhan didn’t look up from the console. Vandria, Evvek’s counterpart on Vykhan’s team, stared at the screen. “There,” she said.
Tai’ri listened to his and the broker’s voices mingle before the auction, then paused.
“It’s not Aeddannar tech,” she said. “His palms are coated with . . . I’ll spare you the tech details. Basically, he stole your breath and ran the DNA.”
Tai’ri cursed, low and hard. Vykhan gave him a long, level look. “We knew they might have your DNA record as they had you in their custody for so long, and in that case any false records we laid would be useless. You know what this means.”
The curses increased in both volume, filth, and frequency. Vykhan waited patiently.
“Until those records are located and purged,” his commander continued in an even tone that managed to almost be gentle, “we have to adjust your assignments.”
His cover was completely blown. Maybe all of them. He’d expected this. Had already processed each eventuality. “I can still do ops.”
“We will assign you where your skills and the situation best merit. For now, it is fortunate you are on leave—” slight emphasis on the last words “—you have much to occupy your time.”
He wasn’t enough of an asshole to protest being sent home to care for his female and child. Pleased at the thought of spending more time with her. But the need to make her safe, to avenge her . . .
Vykhan smiled a little, as if he understood. But he didn’t, not really. Had he ever loved a female? Ever wanted her safety above his own life?
But then hisAdekhan’sexpression shifted. Tai’ri instinctively braced himself.
“There is something I need to tell you,” Vykhan said.
Tai’ri’s chest clenched. Vykhan never prefaced anything. “There was an attack. Banujani will live. Vivian is uninjured.”
Tai’ri turned on his heel and ran.
15
Listeningto the sounds of the battle was like being in a closet while an action vid played in the living room. Vivian tried to emotionally distance herself, knowing if she let panic grip her then she’d do something unintelligent. Like run out of the cafe screaming and waving her arms. Anything to get it to stop.
But as much as she didn’t want anyone else hurt on her behalf, she didn’t want her baby harmed either. Hadn’t Vykhan said that to her, what seemed like ages ago? Her child was her priority.
So she hunkered in the corner, steeling her will. She wouldn’t always be helpless. She wouldn’t always have to hide. When the baby was born, and this was all over, she woulddosomething. Take action. Become strong and learn to defend herself.
“We’ve got backup,” Banujani said. “Fucking finally. Down to two enemy combatants, but shield is at 10%. Remember, stay put until you get instructions through your comm. It can’t be hacked.”
“10%? What does that mean?” But she could deduce.
Her wrist unit blinked green. “Vivian, activate your body shield.”
It was Vykhan. Which meant the dampener was disabled and help would be on the way. Had it been ten minutes? Fifteen? It felt like an eternity.
