Page 55 of Saving Lauren

He shrugs. “This is faster.”

“You are hurt,” I point out, but O’Rec just shrugs again.

“I will manage,” he says. I grumble something and we run towards our ship.

We reach the cruiser without any obstacles and O’Rec gets to work on getting us into the air immediately. I rummage through the cargo bay before I find a box that fits Yalix’s head. With smug self-satisfaction I close the box and take it with me to the front.

“You are not keeping that fuckers head here,” O’Rec says without stopping what he is doing. A sheen of sweat is forming on his brow. If we were not in such a hurry to get out of here, I would have to worry about him.

“We are leaving on the count of five and that head should be in the cargo bay, where we will not be disturbed by that rotting scent.”

I shrug before I throw the box back into the cargo bay then take my seat next to O’Rec. He pulls up his nose. “You smell.”

I shrug again and strap myself in. We leave the moment my seat belts fastened, O’Rec speeds us away from the moon.

“Care to tell me why you are in such a hurry? And how you got wounded?”

O’Rec sighs. “I will tell you later, when we are farther from here.”

I nod and close my eyes. “Are we waiting for the explosion before we depart?”

“Yes, we are. I want to be sure there is no trace of us left. It will be in about…” He pauses and I open one eye to look at him. He is looking at his wrist comp. “Twenty seconds.”

He has my full attention now, and we both wait it out in silence, anxiously looking at the moon. I silently count to twenty; indeed, there is a flash - a boom and a whole lot of activity.

It is enough for O’rec because he hums, and we fly off as fast as we can.

Just like on our way out, we are flying through space at hyper-speed. I turn my chair towards him. He pushes some buttons and sighs.

“Ananta was there.”

“The High Commander’s daughter?” I say, shocked that such a highly ranked Sternotheri would be in bed with a lowlife like Yalix.

O’Rec nods. “Yes, she was there with a human slave. I believe she keeps her as a pet or a servant. I am not sure; I only caught a brief glimpse of her.”

“Still that was enough to lower your guard and let Ananta wound you.”

O’Rec bows his head. Is it shame? It looks like it… but also... dread?

“O’Rec...” I begin. “Is she…” O’Rec’s head shoots up to me and I see the despair in his eyes when he nods.

“Yes, the human female is my mate. My mate is enslaved by the Sternotheri.”

I curse. “We will get her back for you, my friend. Do we need to turn around?” Even as I utter the words a sharp pain stabs through me. The bond is not liking that idea.

O’Rec sighs, shaking his head. “No, we have to get you to your mate and I need to make a plan. I have no idea where Ananta took her, and the blast will have destroyed all traces of them.”

I reach over and grab his arm. “We will get her, O’Rec. We will.”

“Thank you, my friend.” He gives my dirty arm a pointed look.

“You smell,” he says. “You should wash up, this vessel is way too beautiful for you to destroy like this,” he continues.

“You are injured,” I volley at him and then we both spot a stupid grin.

“Hand me the med-kit before you wash up.” O’Rec tells me, so I get up and get moving.

The remainder of our journey is uneventful. O’Rec is silent, stewing in the injustice of finding his mate, only to lose her to our nemesis. I hate that for my friend, but honestly my current state is not much better.

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