Page 17 of Healing Creek
“It’s your choice, Creek. I lead my pack with their consent. Not by force.”
And he’d seen their love and loyalty for the Dog. Heard stories from Jupiter during their captivity.
Mercury kept his eyes on his mate as he spoke. “If you don’t feel comfortable with this plan, Lo will take your place. It might take longer to learn—”
“No. I’ll do it.” He kept his response insistent but respectful. He didn’t like that idea at all. He didn’t understand Diablo’s place with Mercury’s mate. If their bond was only a pack bond, he was free to take a mate of his own. And that troubled Creek more than it should. “I’ll find out what she’s hiding.” He grimaced again.
Mercury grunted and his lips tilted in the hint of a smile. “That’s good.” He clasped Creek’s shoulder. “Because the only way Lo would get her to talk would be to frighten the hell out of her.”
Creek huffed out his displeasure at the thought and for being maneuvered into agreeing.
“Thank you for doing this.” Mercury’s hand on his shoulder squeezed. “But first, assign two Dreat to aide Jupiter and his mates. They are sorting out the slaver’s guests and guards still being held in the auction hall. Feeona has released those who could pay what she is calling ataxand she’s ransoming the others to their families. To help fund our cause. A clever woman who will be a great asset in our fight.”
Creek nodded. And, though he’d not personally needed the death of those they’d captured, he felt some satisfaction that they were being parted from their precious credits.
“And then,” said Mercury, “find your new quarters and get some rest. I’m told you were injured worse than we thought yesterday.”
“I’m fine. I saw the medic last night.”
“Yes, I heard our mysterious guest helped the medic while you were there.”
Creek could only nod in agreement.
“Good. When we are done here, my Samantha will make sure your female is taken to a good accommodation and provided for. In the morning, you can escort her to the med-bay. She’s going to be working there for us.”
He would do as Mercury asked. So much for staying away from Grace.
Chapter Six
TheAbundance
EarthAllianceBetaSector
2210.191
Grace paced in her new quarters. The room was not unlike the one where she’d been held under guard when Morgan had been running the ship. She’d taken a ulight shower and put on one of the surplus uniforms she’d been given. It was far too big, but she rolled up the sleeves and tied the belt in a knot to cinch the waist. Clean and refreshed, she’d sat on the bed with nothing to do but think about the danger to her sister. Her situation was all too familiar. The powerlessness and worry ached like an ear infection she couldn’t stop pulling at. Now she also had Ghost to obsess about. With all the security measures the Arena Dogs were taking, she’d decided it was unlikely that he was still roaming around the ship. But was he killed in the takeover or was he being held in a cell somewhere? If she was going to leave the ship with him, she needed to know. And there was only one way to find out.
She tapped her fingers against her thigh, nervous at the thought of going to look for him herself. There were guards in the hall when she’d been escorted to her quarters. No one told her to stay in her room. The door wasn’t locked. It could all be a facade to make her feel like she was no longer a prisoner.
Grace lifted a hand and touched the door. She had to know. She gave the command for the door to open and it slid aside. Her own hesitation dragged against her like a tangible barrier when she took one step into the hall. The guards in the hall looked her way then sent glances flying to one another.
She nodded to no one in particular, put one foot in front of the other and began walking down the hall. There was a lift down the corridor, and she had learned that the prisoners were in cells on the lowest level. As she walked, the hair on her nape lifted, but she didn’t slow down. Not even when a woman a little shorter than her with shaggy dark hair stepped up beside her and matched her pace.
She didn’t command her to stop, so Grace kept walking.
“Hello,” the woman said in a friendly getting-to-know-you tone. “I’m Torres. Where are you going?”
Grace kept up her pace. “To the lift.”
Torres chuckled as they both came to a stop in front of it.
Grace couldn’t not look at the woman and when she did, she recognized her from the observation point the previous night.
Torres smiled. “Look, I just thought you might want company. The ship is secure.” She put the last word in air quotes. “But that doesn’t mean it’s one hundred percent safe to walk around alone.”
“No?” Was that true or was she just making an excuse to keep a watch on her?
“I won’t feel comfortable until St. Germain’s crew is off the ship. Every time I turn a corner, I expect one of his goons to appear. Or one of the crew that used to come down to the slave hold to gawk at us like tourists watching animals in the zoo.”
