Page 61 of Krin

The shuttle had a single main corridor that ran from the front to the back. I followed the sounds of a multitude of voices, predominantly male, until I reached the cockpit.

Several women walked into the shuttle, joined by warriors carrying more women. They looked like they had been through a lot.

Grateful to be safe, I stepped aside to take in my handsome mate for a moment.

Krin and Captain Lex were speaking in hushed tones.

I noticed Lex looked a lot like Aza, so I assumed he was also part Alaran and part Tulian. Though he wore thicker chest straps and did not carry a sword like most of the other Protectorate warriors.

Thankfully he seemed friendly, and I appreciated him letting me rest on his shuttle.

Krin suddenly turned and looked in my direction before beaming at me.

I hurried to his side.

He put an arm around me. “How are you feeling?”

“Great. I feel great.”

I motioned with my head toward the stream of women still entering the shuttle.

“Is it over? Are all the women rescued?” I asked, hopeful.

“The Voletti on the planet are dead. It is over.” He frowned. “Some females did not make it. They were too badly injured or already deceased before we arrived.”

I winced. “That’s so sad.”

Lex cleared his throat, drawing our eyes to him. “We will be leaving as soon as the females are settled. All available shuttles will carry some of the rescued females. It will be a little crowded until we reach my ship, the Tempest.”

Hearing the women cry made me feel awful. I knew what it was like to be abducted. But I couldn't even picture what the Voletti put them through. I felt a rage burning inside me towards the vile creatures.

Krin must have sensed my dismay because he kissed the top of my head and gave my waist a squeeze.

I looked up at him. “I want to help.”

Lex spoke first. “I am sure the females would appreciate that. Many are so frightened that they have refused medical care.”

I smoothed down my hair and stood tall.

“Tell me where I am needed.” I side glanced Krin to see him grinning proudly.

I heard his voice in my head.‘I am glad you are here.’

Stepping to one side, I grinned at him. “Me too, big guy. Me too.”

IN THE REAR OF THEcompact shuttle, there was a small medical space with two beds suitable for Alaran sized people.

A medic was trying to bandage wounds and attend to the most severely injured women.

Some were holding each other, crying, while huddled in groups, while others stood staring into space, in shock.

A few were covered in blood, and I wondered what I could possibly do to make things better for them.

What could I say?

They’d been taken from their homes, used for experimentation and in some cases, as incubators for Voletti clones.

As some of them wailed in distress, I took a step forward. My eyes caught on a blond woman with dirty, straggly hair.

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