Page 21 of Becoming Brandy

“Where is Brandy?”

“Oh, her. She’s around here somewhere.”

“I’m here,” Brandy said, running forward. “Han, how is Charis? Is she okay?”

Wrek’s eyes went wide as he saw Brandy.

Tork shot him a dirty look before adopting his used-car salesman smile. “See? Here she is. Right as rain. She says she prefers it here. Now she knows what real Cartharians can do.”

Han ignored the jab as he scrutinized Brandy. “Are you all right? Charis was so worried. As was Rahan. He’s insisting we kill everyone on the ship as retribution.”

They cared. They really did miss her. “I’m okay. When are you going to come and get me?”

“Very soon,” he said, but his expression tightened. She’d seen enough men lie to know when she was being duped. His eyes darted to Tork. “Let her go. I don’t want there to be bloodshed.”

Tork smirked. “You’re willing to spill blood—lots of your own people’s blood—for a human female?”

“Thanks a lot,” Brandy mumbled.

Tork ignored her. “You know what dealing with Drake is like. He’ll want to kill all of you. Even if you do beat us, what is the cost to your ship? To your fragile and pregnant wife?”

Han’s eyes narrowed. “I won’t leave Brandy there to die.”

Wrek stepped up. “What if we can convince her to stay?”

Everyone turned to him.

“What?” Brandy asked.

“Hear me out. What if we woo Brandy, much like you do your human females? We show her how good it might be to belong to one of us and then when you check on her next, she tells you she wants to stay.”

Han shook his head angrily. “I could never believe what she said. You could be forcing her.”

“We’d allow her to transport back to your ship then. And only willingly would she return here.”

“Wrek,” Tork said, alarmed. “Drake will kill you.”

“He won’t if she agrees to stay.” Wrek flashed a smile at Brandy.

Han pointed a finger at Wrek. “That right there. You’re guilting her. You are making her feel like she has to stay, or Drake will do something bad to you.”

“We’ll get Drake to sign a writ saying he won’t harm anyone. He’ll sign in blood to make it binding and that will be that.” Wrek sounded pleased with himself, but Tork was glowering.

Han waved his hand at someone behind him, signaling. “Send me the writ with Drake’s blood on it. I’ll give you an hour.” The commlink clicked off. Han was gone.

Brandy felt uneasy. The men on this ship were going to woo her and try to convince her to stay? That sounded nice, but was it all a big trick? Something to keep Han quiet while they came up with a more devious plan?

Tork whirled and gave Wrek a smack on the arm. “What in the hell were you thinking?”

Instead of cowering, Wrek stood his ground. “It stopped the torpedoes, right?”

“For now!” Tork roared. “Wait until Drake is up and able. He’ll use you as a torpedo to start the fight back up. He’ll never go for this, and you know it.”

“Do I? What would be better than one of us finding a mate who is biologically compatible? Drake wants to repopulate with her. With offspring, he can take a higher place in the hierarchy.”

“But that means giving Brandy to Drake. Exactly what he’s already demanded.” Tork eyed her. She tried to read the expression on his face, but was unable to before he turned away.

“What if I don’t want to be owned by Drake?” she asked.

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