Page 22 of Victoria's Embrace

It was wry and more than a little long suffering, but Thegan felt that was understandable. He was worried for her. Her idea was the right thing to do, but it would put her in hostile territory longer than they’d planned.

Still, they had her pet beast, Snitch, and the lupka, now, as well as enough weapons for everyone.

After a long pause, Vi’kail sighed and rubbed his hornless brow. “Crik. Fine. We’ll take over the market.”

Grinning, Thegan bent and pressed a kiss to the top of Vee’s head then urged her toward Thorn and took his place at the door.

He and Vi’kail were going to take point with the lupka while the rest of them, with Thorn guarding Vee, would follow behind.

Once Rykar entered the code and the door slid open, Thegan broke left while Vi’kail went right. The door opened to a wide hallway that ran parallel to the exterior wall. Stopping after a few steps to give everyone room to file inside, Thegan kept his gun aimed down the hall and listened for Rykar to give direction.

“This way.”

Vee’s new pet beast, Tesha, came to stand at his side then joined him in walking backward, watching for any surprise visitors as they covered everyone’s backs. This habit she had of collecting animals was odd to him, but he couldn’t fault her selections. Both her beasts were remarkable and were clearly loyal to her.

Most of his attention was focused on guarding them, but in the back of his mind, he was wondering if perhaps they should make the house they were building for her bigger, to accommodate her pets. He was not opposed to the thought.

An image of them curled up on the bed, Vee in the middle, surrounded by him, Thorn, and Vi’kail while Tesha rested at the foot and Snitch played with his stolen loot in the nest they’d built for him came to Thegan’s mind.

Gods, he wanted that.

He wanted peace and safety and time to love his mate, time for their family to build a life together. He wanted children with her fiery hair and beautiful eyes, her bubbling laugh and sharp mind.

Would there ever be a time for that on this world? Or did they need to make plans to leave this place for somewhere safer?

He believed in Aria’s mission. Wanted to do his part to see it come to truth, but he wanted Vee safe more than anything else. He’d made friends here, had purpose, but none of that mattered without her by his side.

Blowing out a quiet breath, he pushed those worries away.

First, they had to make it through the obstacles in front of them. Then, when they were back in the complex and after they’d taken down that detestable godsdamned female, Salesh, who’d tried to take him from his mate, they could sit down and discuss the future.

Chapter 15

Vi’kail followed the motion Rykar made toward the door ahead. “This is it. It leads to the rear pens where sellers store their stock before auction. There will be guards.”

Acknowledging Rykar’s whispered words with a short nod, Vi’kail signaled to Snitch, telling him in their shorthand to scout ahead when they breached.

From this point on, everything would move fast. Turning, he scanned their group, meeting everyone’s gazes and silently asking if they were ready. Steely eyes and nods met him. He caught Thorn’s gaze last. They shared a nod, understanding one another. Vi’kail knew Vee would likely be angry with them when Thorn held her back from helping, but an angry Vee he could live with. A dead one he could not.

He would do as she wished and take over the market. But only because if he did not lead their ragtag band of slaves, they would do it themselves and likely die in the attempt. Vee was forgiving, but he did not think she’d forgive him that.

Facing the door again, he raised his blaster then gestured for Rykar to open it.

The near-silent sound of claws on kinitecrete was all he needed to know Snitch was in. Steps fast and quiet, he followed, sweeping the space with his blaster as he moved, taking in the rows upon rows of cages, all holding beings in varying states of health and dress.

The number of imprisoned slaves told him they’d picked the wrong crikking night to infiltrate, but it was too late to go back. They didn’t have the time to retreat and try again another night. Someone was going to find the bodies they’d hid in the building outside the market, and they needed to get back to the complex before that female did something irreparable.

Eyes still scanning for targets, he held his free hand over his mouth in the universal signal to be quiet. Catching a flash of blue from Snitch up ahead, he motioned for the lupka to move in. Luna’eva passed him in a run, her padded paws muffling her steps as the rest of the pack each took a row.

Not two seconds later, the sound of choking and the splatter of blood on kinitecrete reached his ears. That first was followed by another and another as the lupka took down anyone they came across.

Vi’kail was nearly at the end of the row when a sharp whisper sounded from the cage to his right. The warning was immediately followed by a grunt behind him. Blaster raised, he whipped around in time to see a Heliosian fall dead to the floor. Jerking his head up, he caught Vee lowering her gun from where she was standing partly behind Thorn near the door and the fierce look on her face.

His brows shot up and, proving the mindless thing didn’t give a damn about its inappropriate timing, his cock twitched in his pants.

“Crik, but I love that woman,” he whispered under his breath.

He could feel himself smiling like a besotted fool as he left the row and joined the lupka in the main area. Seeing they’d taken out all the guards, he signaled to Thorn that it was clear.

---