Page 8 of Rescuing Mara

Apparently, the rumors I have heard about the Arracate are false. They are not the good guys; they are the villains.

CHAPTER6

O’Rec

Iam grasping at my calm as we wait for the docking process to be completed. I have been staring at the sliding doors for what feels like hours while D’Var is saying goodbye to L’Ren. I feel his mind join me before I sense his physical nearness, which releases some of the tension in my shoulders.

“Are you ready, my friend?”he asks me in silence.

“I am,”I confirm.“Are you?”I hear my friend growl.

“There is no need for acting on my account. I actually want to strangle the fucker who betrayed us and got my L’Ren kidnapped.”I nod. I can relate to that.

“We will just be ourselves then,”I suggest. I do not need to see his face to know he is spotting a feral grin.

“Sounds like a plan,”he confirms when T’Rak comes in.

“The ship is docked, so you are ready to leave. Be safe.”

The space station is buzzing with activity. Activity that halts when we step aboard the station. Last time, we tried to keep a low profile, but this time, it was different. I feel fury coming off D’Var in waves, and I decide to release a bit of my own wrath with him. He stalks through the crowd and growls at the people who do not move out of his way quickly enough. I follow behind, scowling at anybody who looks at us too long so they see us as the threat we can be.

It takes us a bit to find the Fluxarion, the bird-like alien, who sold D’Var plants on our last visit. So, we take our time to let everybody know who we are. When we finally find his booth, D’Var releases a growl and launches himself at the vendor. I curse and run after him. His anger is overflowing through our bond. I know he is not acting at all right now.

“Tell me, who did you contact after we were here? Who did you rat us out to?” D’Var holds the flailing Fluxarion by his collar, he has him pinned to a post of his booth. The vendor squeaks but cannot seem to get words out.

“I think you are choking him, D’Var.” A smirk accompanies my words, I am going for a cold and detached demeanor.

“If he is still breathing, he can answer,” D’Var growls. His hands have turned to claws. A trail of blood is trailing down the Fluxarion’s neck, which urges me to intervene quickly.

“Let him go, D’Var. He is no use to us if he is dead.” The Fluxarion squeaks again, and his hands move quickly. Feathers fly everywhere.

I grin. “You are making him shed.”

D’Var sighs, reluctantly loosening his grip. The Fluxarion immediately starts to speak. “I don’t know what you are talking about, oh great warrior. I would never betray you. You are a good customer, yes? You buy many expensive things, yes?”

D’Var chuckles. “I bought a lot of expensive things, yet you pay me back by having my mate kidnapped.”

The Fluxarion visibly pales. He makes a choked sound, again shedding a burst of feathers.

“No, no, I did not do this, no, not me. It must have been the Parsonii, yes? They are always befriending Sternotheri.” He trails off as if he realizes his mistake the moment he makes it.

“I never said anything about Sternotheri,” D’Var says, unexpectedly letting go of the vendor. He steps back while crossing his arms.

“What do you think, O’Rec? Is he telling the truth, or is he trying to save his plumage?”

I laugh, but my laugh has no humor. “I am in doubt. What do you think?”

He pretends to think about it, then shrugs.

“I say we need to set an example. Let everybody on this gods-forsaken station know what happens if you mess with an Arracate and his mate.”

Before I can blink, he pulls up the Fluxarion again, slamming him against the post of the booth. He slams his head against the post again and again. I jump in when I see multiple blood trails coming down from D’Var’s claws.

“Leave it, D’Var. He is not worth it.”

He growls. I realize he is further gone than he has led on. I stalk towards him, grab him by his harness, and pull him off the male.

“He is NOT WORTH IT,” I spit at him letting the Fluxarion sag to the ground, breathing heavily. D’Var pulls himself out of my grasp, anger shimmering off him, and he spits at the ground in front of the Fluxarion.

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