Page 64 of Coveted

The ship’s hold doors were open, and as they got closer Alana recognized Varner standing at the end of the ramp with another person. They were still too far away for her to hear what wasbeing said, but by Varner’s jerky motions and the other’s shrug, it seemed like there was something wrong.

Vax must have come to the same conclusion because his stride quickened, and Alana almost had to run to keep up with him. She was panting by the time Vax stopped beside Varner, the Ithxan’s pinched features showing his displeasure.

“What’s going on?”

Vax’s rumble drew the attention of the two males while Alana’s turned to the hold. It was only half full, and what she could see in the closest crate made her gag, the taste that hit the back of her tongue from the scent emanating from the opening making her stomach heave.

Her eyes jerked back to Vax when his raised voice broke through her stunned thoughts. Rage was written across his features, and she braced for what was coming.

Chapter Thirty-Two

Vax

It took a moment for what Varner said to sink in.

The half-full hold that reeked of rotten vegetables was their food shipment from the Council. By the smell of it, it was the food they should have received a week before. Not only too late, but too little to feed the city and the Camps relying on it.

His blood rushed in his ears, drowning out what the captain was saying to Varner. It didn’t matter what excuses he gave, or if it was even his fault. The only thing that mattered was that his people were going to starve.

Staring at the mess of dark green ooze puddled beneath the closest crate, he gave voice to the roar that built in his chest, the pressure too great for him to hold back.

The Council knew Farcon 1’s main crops had failed since he’d requested an increase in their allotted produce shipments, and he’d been given platitudes about how a lot of planets were struggling. He’d asked for as much as could be spared, and this waste was what he’d received.

Fists clenched, Vax’s attention turned to the male still talking to Varner. The captain of the ship was Valaniean, his long, thin, green limbs making him have to hunch to point to the tablet inVarner’s hands. His fat, oblong body seemed disproportionate to such spindly limbs, but Vax knew they weren’t as fragile as they looked.

He still wanted to rip them from the captain’s body and beat him with his own extremities. Whether the delay or the state of the produce was his fault or not, he was the one at hand, within reach of Vax’s punishment.

“What are we supposed to do with this? It’s inedible.”

Varner’s words became audible as the rushing in Vax’s ears eased.

“It can’t be left on my ship. It’ll take me a week to get rid of the smell as it is. I can’t pick up anything else until the hold is sanitized.”

Vax took a step forward, opening his mouth to cut in and tell the captain how little he cared, when a small hand landed on his forearm.

“This is the Council’s doing. Don’t give them something else to use against you. Being upset is understandable, but you cannot lash out.”

Alana’s murmur was quiet enough he knew it was meant for only his ears, and she was doing as he’d asked by helping him maintain the proper image, but he still couldn’t stop the growl that rumbled from his chest.

He looked from the captain to the workers he could see lurking behind the crates in the hold before turning his head to check how many of his own people were gathering at the edge of the landing field. With the ship so late, the merchants were eager to get their portion of the goods, but they’d yet to realize there was an issue.

Sucking in a deep breath, Vax swallowed the growl and forced his hands to unclench.

“Is it all in this state?”

He addressed both of the men in front of him, but it was the captain that answered.

“The meat in the cooling chamber is still good. Some of the vegetables fared better than others.”

The captain shot a disgusted look at the nearest crate and the mess beneath it.

“This was not my fault. I was held up at Inspection for no reason, and when they finally released the ship, I was ordered to come straight here without stopping. I’d never have taken this garbage onboard, nor try to deliver it. It hurts my reputation.”

Vax raised a hand to rub his face, trying to release the anger with his breath. He’d already sent Leir for more food, but unless they could salvage as much as possible from the shipment, the people might go hungry before Leir returned. Vax didn’t know how far he had to go to get what they needed.

He ignored the hiss of a ship engine overhead until its shadow passed over him. Another cargo ship, newer and sleeker than the Valaniean captain’s, settled to the landing field not far away. It wasn’t Leir’s, and it took a moment for Vax to remember what other shipment was coming.

Vax turned to Varner and Alana, their brows raising at the look on his face. Varner’s lips pinched, while Alana’s eye widened as she figured out why Vax was grinning.

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