Page 10 of Courting Mayhem

“Fuck, she’s not a kid.”

I tried to tell Derek to quit staring at my breasts, but all I could do was mumble incoherently. Shrek rolled me on my stomach and dealt with my wounds.

“Zarek wants blood and a tissue sample taken too,” Derek said.

“It will be done.”

The world floated away.

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Chapter Three

“Wake up!” A voice commanded in my head.

My eyes popped open. I was still in sick bay, and oh goodie, so was Zarek. I glanced down. Thankfully, Shrek had covered me with a sheet.

The Overlord watched me closely.

Grabbing the thin sheet, I sat up. “Where are my fathers?”

“In the brig until I decide what to do with them,” Zarek answered.

“What do you want?”

Zarek smiled. “The reports stated you are fearless.”

“I’ve been a warrior since I was eight. I’ve found being direct cuts down on any unnecessary violence.”

Amusement flashed in Zarek’s eyes. “They also say you think you can defeat me in hand-to-hand combat.”

With my fathers in his brig, I chose my words carefully, “You’ve had over six hundred years to hone your skills. I cannot compete with that.”

“Nicely put.”

I had to get his attention off me. “Did you capture Vrax?”

“We did not.” Something dark and terrifying flickered in Zarek’s eyes.

Horror knotted my stomach. “Did he take the Shebu?”

“He did.”

Fuck! This was bad on so many levels. Vrax would sell it to the highest bidder. Like the Rodan. “My fathers and I have dealt with him before. We know how he thinks, where he would go. We are familiar with the slums on his home world of Gliese. This is where his shady, back-alley deals are made. Free us and we’ll get the Shebu back.”

“Drop your shields,” Zarek ordered.

My chin came up and I met his predatory gaze with one of my own. “No.”

“Not even to free your fathers?”

“Once you’re inside my head, you own me. There is no guarantee you would keep your word,” I shot back.

“You think I am without honor?” Zarek’s voice was a low growl.

The bastard was trying to scare me into apologizing. “I think you will do whatever is necessary to win.”

A slight smile tugged at his mouth. “A valid point. Let me be equally blunt. A youngling with your power needs the proper supervision and training.”

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