Page 58 of Decadence

As the stone-faced warriors escorted her to her quarters, Sienna sensed that their attitude toward her had shifted somewhat.

They were no longer as brusque.

They were a little less cold.

One of them even almost cracked a smile.

“What are your names?” she asked as they reached yet another unravelling door.

“Why do you ask?” The taller of the two was white-haired with a hint of pepper in the mix. He was lean and sinewy and mean-looking, with purplish-red eyes that were almost constantly narrowed.

He also looked like he could beat an enemy a dozen different ways without breaking a sweat.

Sienna frowned. She’d been around these Kordolians long enough that she was tired of feeling intimidated by them. “Well, I have to call you something, don’t I? I mean, I could keep calling you Minion One and Minion Two in my head, but that’s a bit impersonal, don’t you think?”

The other warrior, who was slightly shorter and broader through the shoulders and chest, let out a cynical snort. His left eyebrow twitched as he gave her an unimpressed stare. “Minions, eh? If we are minions, then what would that make you humans?”

A sharp laugh escaped her. “Clearly, you’re a thinking man. Hey, we humans might be the lightweights of the Universe, but at least we know how to enjoy our illusion of freedom. That’s why I want to call you by your actual names, and I will be making a few requests for certain items. Ikriss said I could have anything I asked for.”

“Within reason,” the other warrior growled. He exchanged a surly glance with his shorter companion, who nodded.

“I am Jaxis. He is Vyron. We have been assigned to watch over you.”

“Watch over me?” Sienna’s lips curved into a tight smile. “I won’t do anything dangerous, I promise.”

“Go inside, human,” Vyron growled impatiently, pointing to the dark interior. “Just because you’re the Commander’s mate doesn’t mean you can do whatever you please.”

“Huh.” Sienna crossed her arms in annoyance as she studied the two warriors. Around her, they were gruff and bossy, but she’d seen the way they’d responded to orders from Ikriss and the General.

With absolute deference.

Clearly, Ikriss was a really fucking big deal around here. Part of her wished she’d found the time to look at his so-called CV before coming here.

She made a quick calculation and summoned her courage. It wasn’t like her to be demanding, but there was no way she could sit in a dark room on a dark alien ship and simply wait for Ikriss to be fixed.

They hadn’t told her how long it would take.

It could be days, weeks, months, for all she knew.

And she got the feeling these Kordolians wouldn’t be allowing her to set foot back on Earth for a while.

A bad feeling crept up on her.

There’s no way you could possibly understand.

She was scared of silence; of being alone.

That’s when the bad memories would invade her mind. The more she dwelled on them, the more powerful they would become.

That’s why she needed to keep busy; she needed something to do.

That’s why she’d been so desperate to go back to Earth in the first place, but now everything was a total mess.

And she didn’t know what was going on down there. A knot of worry tightened in her belly. What about Emmett and Cleo? I hope they’re okay. I really hope Eva’s gotten the message and doesn’t try and turn up for work tonight.

But knowing her stubborn, crazy friend, who had a rebellious streak a mile wide, she would turn up in the midst of an alien invasion if she had to.

Oh lord.

---