Page 18 of Radakk's Mate
He shakes his head and gestures at the security officers. “Take her to the docking bay, gentlemen.” He nods at a suitcase that’s leaning against the wall. “Don’t forget her belongings. I packed them myself.”
Chapter10
THALIA
Still reelingfrom my unpleasant chat with Captain Warren, I peer at the assembled women. We’re lined up in the coldness of the docking bay while we await the arrival of the Darrvasons. Every few minutes, the worldship shudders and the lights flicker, an indicator of the increasing problems on theJansonna.
It would seem the captain waited until the very last moment to hand the first wave of females over to the aliens. I don’t buy the story that he wanted to give the chosen women three weeks to say good-bye to their families, and I can’t help but wonder about his true motives.
I’m also more than a little curious about the dark-haired woman who’s standing to my right. Ellie Warren. The captain’s oldest niece. What the hell is she doing here?
According to Adrianna and Mandy, the women chosen for thishonorwere randomly selected. Obviously I wasn’t, but I’d assumed the others would be. However, as I peer up and down the line of women, the dark truth sinks in.
I don’t recognize everyone, but those I do recognize aren’t just regular law-abiding occupants of theJansonna. No, everyone here has a colorful past. Some are former criminals who’ve spent time in the brig. Others are the daughters or sisters of known traitors—men like my father who’ve been executed.
And Ellie… the captain’s niece. I wonder what she did to piss him off. I’m here because Emperor Radakk desires me, but these twenty-nine women were clearly handpicked by Captain Warren. As punishment. Or maybe to send a message. Or maybe he simply thought pickingundesirableswould make it less likely protests would break out on theJansonna.
Captain Warren enters the docking bay and moves to join the security officers. He scowls at us, and I notice his gaze lingering on Ellie for a few seconds. I glance over to find she’s blinking back tears. Poor thing. She must be petrified.
I’m pretty scared myself. But at least I won’t miss anyone on theJansonna. Not terribly. I’m fond of my coworkers in the mess hall, but that’s it. Spying has taken up nearly every second of my free time since I was a young girl. I regret that I never had a chance to make a real friend. Am I even capable of forming a close bond with another person?
Maybe I’m destined to be forever lonely.
Shit. NowI’mblinking back tears. Because I suddenly think of Adrianna and Mandy and their kindness toward me. How I found myself wishing I had a friend like Mandy, or a mother as compassionate as Adrianna who was still around to look after me.
An abrupt shudder rocks theJansonna, and I glance at the window near the airlock. It’s completely darkened, no hint of the stars beyond, meaning theHaxxalis now blocking it. The main Darrvason ship has just attached its docking tunnel to the worldship’s airlock. Fear skitters through me.
“I can’t believe this is fucking happening,” I mutter to no one in particular, though from my peripheral vision, I notice Ellie turn my way. She gives me a sympathetic glance, followed by a wide-eyed look of recognition.
“I’m sorry,” she whispers.
I draw in a long breath, but before I can speak, heavy footsteps sound in the docking bay, and we both turn our attention to the airlock and the crowd of security officers who are gathered around it. A second later, five tall dark-skinned Darrvason males emerge. I only recognize Admiral Tornn. The other four weren’t at the meeting.
Why isn’t Emperor Radakk among them?
My stomach flips.
Has he changed his mind?
If so, what will that mean for me?
Captain Warren knows the truth about what happened to my mother, a truth I’m desperate to learn, but I might not get that chance if the emperor doesn’t claim me as his mate. I’ll never know if she disappeared by choice or if she was taken from theJansonnaagainst her will. I blink back tears.
Please let the emperor claim me. Please.
“Oh my God,” Ellie whispers in a horrified voice.
I’m too choked up to echo her sentiments. Even though this isn’t my first time seeing a Darrvason in the flesh, I’m still taken aback by their size. I’d forgotten just how tall and broad-shouldered they are. How their freakishly huge muscles ripple with their every movement beneath their form-fitting clothing.
Admiral Tornn steps forward and inspects the gathered women, but his gaze soon lands on Ellie and stays there. His nostrils flare and he tenses, then he steps closer to her.
The interest lighting his gaze is all too familiar to me. It’s the same way Emperor Radakk looked at me when we first met.
Oh no. Poor Ellie.
I think Admiral Tornn is even scarier than the emperor and I couldn’t fathom the terror of becoming his mate.
Captain Warren sidles up to the admiral and says, “If you find any of these females lacking in any way, Admiral Tornn, we would be happy to provide you with an alternate.” His gaze briefly flickers to me.
