Page 76 of Guardian's Destiny

"They want me alive," Zapharos had announced and, strangely, that had assured me.

Once we were at hyperspeed, it took a few hours to get all ourguestsaccommodated. Luckily, the ship was stocked with healing wands, and we were able to take care of at least the physical injuries of the women.

There were only four quarters available. The Ohrurs took one, Zapharos claimed one for himself and Ella, while Vraax announced the third as ours, which left only one and the common room for the rest of the eight women. I didn't like the idea but wasn't about to fight Vraax on it either. Plus, I very much looked forward to some serious alone time with him. We had a lot to talk about. And other things…

Vraax announced that we would reach Astrionis in four days, but again, Zapharos changed our plans and demanded—yes, demanded—to be taken to Pandrax. For a moment, I thought Vraax would fight him on it, but then he looked at me and simplynodded. So instead of four it would take six days. I knew Vraax was burning to get to Darlam to talk to the others and see his planet and felt bad for him having to delay his mission.

Now that mine was done, I was just as eager as Vraax to find out what happened on Darlam.

"Isn't there another planet or space station in between?" I suggested.

"You know I can't show my face in public," Zapharos reminded me.

"You don't need to. You just need to purchase your own ship," I countered.

His eyes took in Ella, who had fallen asleep with her head on the table in the common room. She had refused to be separated from Zapharos, who seemed edgy to take her to bed.

"That's a great idea," Vraax agreed, checking his comm. "Rodbar 2 is only a few day's flight from here. You can purchase a ship there."

"What about the other females? They need to get to Astrionis." Zapharos reminded us.

"They're your problem," I pointed out. "You rescued them; that makes them your responsibility. Just take them with you to Pandrax."

Zapharos, unused to being contradicted, grumbled something. The golden shimmer around him slowly became more intense. I raised my finger in his face in warning, "Don't you dare."

He sighed deeply, and the shimmer lessened. I had to be on guard around him. This mindfucking was a neat trick, one I hadn't even known he possessed until we came up to the spaceship and heObi-Wan Kennobiedthe Space Guardians into letting us pass. Which reminded me that I was still furious as hell at him.

"Why didn't you just use all those powers before?" I asked, proud of myself for not yelling.

It was his arrogant smirk that did me in. It raised my temper by another hundred degrees. "You are such a bastard. We could have been killed. You have all these powers, and you made me… made… argh!"

I considered myself an educated person, above normal intelligence and with a pretty even temper under any situation. I'd only lost my temper once on a soldier who shot me. Not since then had I ever lost my composure, had actually made a point of not to, but Zapharos had managed to dig under my skin and lose it. So much that I was even bereft of words.

"There she is," Zapharos grinned widely.

"You put her in danger?" Vraax snarled and before I could even blink, he decked the asshole so hard, Zapharos stumbled a few feet back.

"Nice," Zapharos rubbed his chin. Vraax tackled him to the ground. The two of them rolled across the floor, chairs and tables turned over or scooted to the side, and my chest swelled. I shouldn't have enjoyed this. I really shouldn't have, but I did. Every blow Vraax landed made me cheer for him until I realized that Zapharos wasn't fighting back. Probably at the same time as Vraax did.

"Are you done?" Zapharos asked when Vraax paused.

Vraax sent a mean kick to Zapharos’s side, making him flinch. "Now I'm done," Vraax said, getting up.

"My hero." I rushed forward and embraced him, only being a tiny bit sarcastic.

"Are you okay?" He pulled me against his chest. God, I had missed this spot so much. Hearing the heavy beat of his heart. I was still mad at him, but right then, I just wanted to be close to him.Later, I promised myself,later, he will have to do some groveling.

"I'm fine. Are you?"

Zapharos climbed groaning back to his feet, holding on to the armrest of a chair. "I'm good, too." He remarked snidely.

"Are you going to explain this whole thing now?" I demanded, stepping forward just as Vraax grabbed my hips to stop me from continuing what he had started.

"Yes, I could have done this all by myself. No, I didn't need your help. Yes, I used you. Yes, I tried to rile your temper for some time. Happy?"

"Happy?" I stared from him to Vraax. "He asks if I'm happy."

"Are you?" Vraax's humor was back, making me smile at him.

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