Page 80 of Havik: Warlord Brides
“Are you ready?” Thalia asked, dressed in her armor. She held the helmet under one arm.
“You will remain on the ship,” he said.
“I want to talk to the people. I’m not fighting.”
“Unacceptable. We do not know if the rescue staff have been compromised. It is unsafe for you.” He refused to put his mate in harm’s way. She had a distressing habit of rushing in and worrying about the repercussions of her actions later. It made his heart hurt. If Thalia set foot off the ship, she’d find her way into the search party, and he could not imagine the danger into which she’d foolishly wander. No, it was better for her to remain on the ship.
“Fair enough,” she said at length, “but if someone was in on it, you’ll never know. You’re far too good to spot a liar.”
“I am perfectly capable of detecting lies. I am incapable of telling them,” he said.
She searched his face; for what, he had no clue. “That’s true. Fine. I’ll sit here and twiddle my thumbs. I hate being useless.”
He pressed a kiss to the top of her head. “Not useless. Stay on the comms. Listen for any communications from the poachers.”
She scowled but agreed. “Fine. I’ll take notes when the bad guys start discussing their plans in detail over the phone.”
He smiled fondly at her attitude. “I do not expect the poachers to boast of their plots. Listen for their position, the size of their force, and their weapons capability. Carry this.” He took a small pistol from his side and pressed it into her hands.
She blinked at the weapon. “I thought you said no guns on the ship.”
“Aim carefully. I would rather have to make repairs than have you unarmed.”
“Ah, you say the sweetest things, Danger B.”
He ran through the pertinent information: safety, power, and trigger. She took aim with the pistol, makingpew-pewnoises.
“The Stinger is not a toy,” he cautioned. She smirked, as if she thought the diminutive pistol was adorable. “Size is deceptive. Use caution.”
“I will. Come back to me,” she said, stretching up to plant a kiss at the corner of his mouth.
“Always.”
The lights turned red and blinked. Thalia gasped, grabbing his hand.
“Do not be alarmed. That is a standard alert that means someone is outside the ship,” he said, pleased to the core that she reached for his hand for comfort.
“Be careful,” she said, before heading to the communication station.
He hurried through the airlock and down the ramp.
A cluster of Mahdfel males waited for him, each dressed in armor and equipped with a variety of weapons. He recognized them as his father’s most trusted warriors and was struck by their age. In the intervening years, they had grown old. Or he had matured.
Havik did not see the warriors he tried to emulate when he was a youth. He saw tired males. At the heart of their cluster stood Kaos.
Kaos clasped Havik on each arm. “My son! I knew you would come.”
Of course he came. Mais was important to him. He could not sit idly by while she was missing.
“Father,” Havik said.
A wide grin broke across Kaos’ face, displaying far too many teeth. The corners of his eyes wrinkled. Had Kaos always had so much white in his hair or was it a trick of the light?
“We can use another male in our search. Come. There is no time to waste,” the warlord said.
Thalia
The blinking red lights gave a disconcerting strobe effect to the helm, like the tiniest, saddest club in the universe.
