Page 3 of His Clever Captive

Reptile Woman flicks her tail. “She’s gotta be worth at least twelve krellium tanks on most markets.”

“Krellium tanks?” the gold pirate tsks, leaning closer to me. His scent is dizzying—smoke and spice and soft leather. “Berrix, look at her.” He reaches out and brushes my jaw with his thumb. Shivers steal down my spine. “Rarity like this ispriceless.”

I muster up my courage and swat his hand away. “Excuse me.I’mnota painting or artifact.”

I’m done being treated like an object. Even from space pirates.

He blinks, as if startled, then chuckles, his smile wolfish. “Oh, this’ll be fun.” He eyes me again. “You can understand me? They chipped you then.”

I don’t remember being “chipped.” “If so, I wasn’t conscious.”

“Better that way,” he replies, quickly. “Trust me.”

Reptile Woman—the one he called Berrix—huffs and crosses her slender arms over her chest, while the bird-like guy tosses me a more suitable blanket to cover myself with. “Thank you,” I say, grabbing it, and wrapping myself into it.

“You’re safe with us, flutter,” he says, tone gentle. “We don’t bite.”

Four Arms flexes his muscles. “Speak fer yerself.”

“Yet.” The golden alien winks, then places a hand over his heart. “Vexeliar Urralix. Or more preferably, Vex. A pleasure to finally meet you, my dear Lacey.”

I blink. Did he just say my name—? “Y-you know who I am?”

“I do,” he replies. “And I promise I’ll get to that. But first let me introduce my crew.”

He gestures to the four-armed alien. “This is Faylid, our weapons expert, and muscle extraordinaire.” Faylid nods, flexing, and then grins at me with rows of sharp teeth.

Vex sweeps his hand over to Reptile Woman. “This lovely female is Berrix, our navigator and strategist.” She adjusts some controls on the ship's console, her quick fingers dancing over the panels with practiced ease. She manages a slight wave in my direction, but doesn’t look at me.

“Your transport was Af’soq, our communications expert and medic.”

Af’soq smiles my way, the iridescent plumage atop his head rising, his eyelids sliding down and back up over his onyx eyes.

“And our fearless pilot and engineer over in the cockpit is Nor’Veth.” Nor’Veth flares his webbed fingers at me and then winks a round silver eyeball.

I nod my head in acknowledgement.

He slides into the seat next to me, and I lean back, tightening my grip on the blanket. He’s incredibly intimidating up close…almost overwhelming. It’s not altogether unpleasant though. But I’m trying to keep my wits about me until I know what his plans are—since he obviously knows me.

“I’m going to get to the point, my dear,” he says, eyes traveling over me again. “Your friends are looking for you,” he says, rolling his teeth over his lower lip. I almost don’t pick up on what he says, I’m so enthralled watching the movements of his mouth.

“Gwen and Iris?! You know where they are?” I grab onto the front of his tunic, the material soft and foreign.

His brow shoots up. “Yes,” he whispers. “And I plan to hand you over to them….for aprice.”

CHAPTER 2

VEX

Her fingers clutch the front of my tunic like she’s hanging off a cliff edge, a wild mix of hope and defiance blazing in her jewel green eyes.

She’s bold. Most captives tremble or glare. Lacey? She grabs a hold of the enemy and demands answers. I’ve kidnapped starfighters less daring.

“Tell me,” she insists, her voice sharp enough to slice Krellian steel.

My gaze drifts lazily down to where her knuckles whiten against my chest. I press my lips together to keep from whistling. She’s stunning. Innocently so, with those big, round eyes taking in everything around us. I study her flushed face, her oddly pale skin, and the way her chest heaves with each shallow breath. Her skin smells like those oils Gruzzik’s servants doused her with—sweetgrass and frostbloom, an exotic, unusual scent that clashes with the alloyed odor of my ship. But there’s something else underneath. It’s a human scent, one I’ve only experienced once…when I met Gwen.

“Patience, my dear,” I purr, covering her tiny, soft hand with mine. A spark races up my arm at the contact, quickand hot. “We’ll reach Ydris in a few cycles. But first…there’s negotiations.”

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