Page 100 of Stranded with the Alien

The way she was looking at him now.

He clenched his fists, holding himself back from going to her, taking her in his arms and telling her nothing had changed. His feelings for her were real, even if her perception of him was not.

But that would mean signing her death warrant, and his too most likely.

So he kept his face impassive and his tone slightly bored as he told Solarun to send the troops back onto the warship. She gave the order and they turned in well-oiled unison towards the vessel.

“And what of the Terran?”

Kara rubbed her aching throat, wishing she could spew vitriol at them both. She glared at Vahn with rage-filled eyes and he looked away.

“Put her in my quarters.”

“Should I have it caged? Chained up?”

“For such a tiny little thing?” He raised a brow. “Ihavecontrolled her so far, general.”

“It is human. It cannot be trusted.”

“And I have an entire platoon at my disposal. I think I will manage.” His tone brooked no argument. “How long till we reach Vraxian airspace?”

“Eight days, maybe nine. But there is something you should know.”

“Yes, general?”

“The Zhaal is ailing. Lord Davorrian is with him.”

Vahn stiffened.

“My father is ill?”

“We will know more when we get home.” The general touched his arm. “I am sorry, Vahn. The whole Empire prays for him.”

Vahn’s expression was bleak. Kara might almost have felt sorry for him if he wasn’t such a lying, poisonous snake. And why was the Vraxian bitch touching him like that? The brief moment of closeness hadn’t escaped her notice.

“Thank you for telling me. You can take the prisoner now. But Ela?”

“Yes?”

“I want her unharmed. If anyone – and I meananyone– touches her, I will personally execute them.”

If Solarun was bewildered by the order, she didn’t show it. She gestured to Kara with her blaster and forced her to her feet.

Kara glanced quickly at Vahn. The Vraxian was looking down at Rocky, his face like granite. He extended a serpetri to prod at the body.

“Alekt!”

Solarun shoved her towards the warship. Kara stumbled through the trees, not helped by the general jamming the blaster muzzle into her back every time she slowed by even the tiniest fraction. She lost track of Vahn as they walked up the ramp and into the vessel.

Despite her fear she couldn’t help gazing round with wide eyes. She’d never been on board a Vraxian ship before. The SDF had carriers this big, of course, but they were more like work horses. Messy and cramped with supplies and equipment jammed everywhere.

This was like entering a state-of-the-art office block. Everything gleamed as if it was polished daily. Which it probably was. Metal and chrome everywhere and not a single speck of dust as far as she could tell.

She wondered where the troops kept their stuff. No grunt wasthisclean.

Maybe they squashed everything into hidden cupboards and when the door was opened too fast it all burst out.

She realized she was trying to distract herself. She was on board a Vraxian warship. No-one knew where she was. And the person she had trusted with her life had betrayed her.

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