Page 35 of Jewel of the Alien Bandit
I finally saw the rigidness of Vareo’s spine, and the hard set of his dark eyes.
He was shol.
“You’re lying," Vareo’s voice was cold, and threatening.
Carmen sighed. She had every reason to lie to us, anything to have us release her from the restraints. To trust her.
And it was working.
On me at least.
Vareo was another story.
“Yes, we took advantage, and profited from what the trill did. King Sylve even took credit for your planet’s ruin as a means to gain respect and be feared by other outlaws.” Carmen was now watching me with frustrated watery eyes, pleading. “He’s an asshole, but he isn’t the horrible guy that his reputation demands of him. Have you never once asked why he didn’t kill you after your first attempt at leaving the organization?”
“No, he just hunted me down like a trophy, and found every credit I saved to make sure I’d never leave again. He’s a saint,” Vareo mocked with venom.
“For fuck’s sake, Vareo!” Carmen struggled and her muscles tensed, feeling the sting of the restraints shock through her. Luckily for her it seemed the shock didn’t affect her quite as badly as it did me. “He was protecting your life. Why would he spend so much credit on an insubordinate ass like you? He does give a shit about an entire species being eradicated. He’s even been searching the star system for a shol female for you.”
“And I’m supposed to give a shit that I’m some sort of science initiative?” He was obviously unmoved by her speech, but I was more riled up by thinking about him mating with another woman. Even if it was to continue the integrity of his species DNA, I didn’t like how it made me feel.
Jealous. Of a man I was still debating on whether I could trust him or not. It was ridiculous.
“He can keep his fucking protection to himself,” Vareo said and slammed his fist into the release mechanism for her bonds.
He was freeing her? Carmen rubbed at her bruised throat, and when their eyes met they stared at each other with an intensity that made me feel embarrassed to be watching them.
“Get in the pod,” he demanded.
Carmen stood with shaking legs, not from fear of Vareo, I could tell that much, but from her body still recovering from the shock of her restraints and whatever altercation led to her bruises. She was a strong woman, even when the credits were against her. Her hips swayed as she gained her bearings, and she teasingly taunted him with a glance over her shoulder.
“You know, if I didn’t believe in what King Sylve had planned for you and your species I would have given you a different kind of bruising all those times you eye fucked me.” She licked her lips and entered the pod, walking backwards so her eyes lingered on Vareo, who appeared more pissed than flattered.
Why did that relieve me?
“What exactly do you think you’re doing?” I folded my arms over my chest, expecting answers. Vareo lifted the latch for sealing off the pod, and then slammed the button underneath. The whizzing sound of the pod closing around Carmen, and pressurizing for preparing its departure made me wonder if this was our way to freedom and Carmen was the test subject, or if he really was letting her go?
“The only thing Carmen cares about is what’s best for Carmen,” he answered with his eyes closed, and his fist still clenched over the button.
“She’s going to the same place we are, the one exit out of Necias space that isn’t monitored by King Sylve himself or his army.” I continued to stare at him, scrutinizing.
“And where might that be?” What I didn’t ask was, what were we going to do with Carmen when we got there?
“To Genbi’s, the Solbin Traders.” The slave traders he meant to say. That was the one being I was most afraid of being caught by when coming to Necias to begin with. Being caught by Sylve was one thing, at least my mother would know where I was. Being caught by the Solbin Traders was another thing altogether. I could end up anywhere… and it wouldn’t matter that I was the future heir to Estreldez.
I’d be a slave.
Doubt crept in, and I found myself glancing back over my shoulder the way I came, contemplating going back into the med pod and awaiting my fate with King Sylve. The evil I knew was easier than the evil I didn’t. Then Vareo held out his hand to me.
“Trust me,” he pleaded, and before I knew it my hand was clasped within his, and he was leading me to the pod I’d used to come to this ship. I bit my lip. Was I really going to trust him?
“You have a plan?” I hoped to the goddess he had a plan to prevent a life of servitude, and then I closed my eyes realizingthat that’s all Vareo knew. He was King Sylve’s slave. He knew what was at stake and he was risking it for me.
“Lord Zorn doesn’t answer to King Sylve, they merely co-exist and deal with each other. That gives us leverage, that leverage being your planet’s wealth. And the fact that Lord Zorn has been denied access to your planet’s mating ceremony every season.”
My mouth fell open. Of course he wouldn’t be allowed to taint our ceremony with his foul genetics, he was a slave trader. No female would ever choose him. Was Vareo suggesting that I convince my Almder to allow him on our planet? I paled at the idea.
“You can’t be serious.” Pulling back on his grip, I stalled from entering the pod. His blue eyes turned away, ashamed, and did not reach for my hand again. The cold air on my skin frustrated me.
