Disgust rolled through Thyaar, and he couldn’t help the growl that escaped his throat.She trailed off as she registered Daaynal’s expression.
"Your daughter," he said, his voice low and dangerously even, "was just kidnapped by hostiles from a space station.And your first question is about yourstipend?”
"I...of course I'm concerned about Emily.That goes without saying.But the practical implications?—"
"The practical implications."Daaynal shook his head, looking at Thyaar, and for a moment, he realised he was witnessing the impossible.Daaynal was at a loss for words.
“Deal with this…draanthicfemale,” he growled to Thyaar, switching to an archaic version of Latharian that the translation matrices the humans were given wouldn’t recognise.“Before I do something I will later regret.”
Thyaar bowed.“Of course, your majesty.”
“Wait!Where is he going?”Miranda demanded as Daaynal swept past her, hisdrakeenfollowing.She made the mistake of trying to run after him, but one of the combat robots turned, focusing all of its red eyes on her, and she stumbled backward.
Thyaar took a step toward her, drawing her attention.
"Your child has been taken.Stolen.The bay still stinks of the shuttle that carried her out.And you want to talk about credits?Do you have nothing else to say?”
The human female drew herself up.The fear in her eyes hardened into defiance."Don't you dare judge me, Sub-Commander.I have been through hell.I've sacrificed everything for that girl?—"
"You've sacrificednothing,” he spat.
"You sold your daughter to the highest bidder.And when the Emperor told you there was no title in it for you, you were already hunting for a new mark before the draanthing dishes were cleared."
Her face drained white.
"That is?—"
"Thetruth.Every warrior in that hall saw it."
He closed the distance until he was looking down at her.Used every inch of his height and the width of his shoulders.Her chin came up, but her body leaned back, instinct overriding bravado.
He held her gaze."You want the practical implications?Here's one.Your meal ticket just vanished into open space.And the male who went after her would crack this station in half to get her back.So if you want to be useful for the first time in your parasitic existence, shut up and stay out of thedraanthingway."
She stared at him.Her lower lip trembled, but he didn’t mistake it for grief.No, he knew fury when he saw it.
"I will report your…attitudeto the Emperor himself," she snarled, lips curling back from her teeth.
He barked a laugh.
“Go ahead.He told me to deal with you."
That was the one that landed.Her expression fractured, mask cracking, and underneath was something small and afraid.Not afraid for Emily.
Afraid forherself.
Turning, she stalked back out through the blast doors, silk robe catching the air, leaving him with blessed silence.He had no doubt her next target would be the duke, or anyone else she could get to listen.He didn’t care, she wasn’t his problem anymore.
He turned back to the cargo bay and the unconscious warrior.Pulling restraints from his belt, he secured the male's wrists behind his back.
Then he sat on the crate opposite, leaned his head back against the beam behind him, and waited for the healer team or the interrogators, whichever arrived first.
The red ring around Raaevik’s pupils filled his mind.
His brother wasn't broken.
He was something far more dangerous.
