“Both?” She laughed, the sound slightly hysterical. “I’m sorry, it’s just—a week ago, I was grading spelling tests and planning my Christmas shopping. Now I’m on a stolen spaceship with an alien smuggler and a baby who might be the key to some ancient vault, and I just?—”
“Kissed said alien smuggler senseless?”
“I did not kiss you senseless.”
“My senses would disagree.” He shifted Ari to his other arm, completely at ease. “But if it helps, I’m equally confused by the situation.”
“That does help, actually.”
“I aim to please.”
A chime sounded from the cockpit, and he looked up.
“That’s our proximity alert. We’re about to come out of hyperspace. We’ll reach Bragar’s Rest within the hour.” He stood, carefully transferring Ari to her arms. “Come. You should see this.”
She followed him to the cockpit, settling into the co-pilot’s seat with Ari cradled against her chest. The viewport showed a swirling tunnel of color but as she watched, the colors began to slow and separate.
“Dropping out of hyperspace in three... two... one.”
The universe snapped back into focus, and a short time later Bragar’s Rest appeared in the view screen. It was nothing like she’d expected. She’d imagined something sleek and modern, all chrome and glass like the space stations in movies. Instead, the station looked like it had been assembled from a hundred different sources—mismatched modules bolted together at odd angles, ships of every size and shape docked along its sprawling arms, lights blinking in chaotic patterns across its surface.
It was ugly and beautiful and impossibly real.
“Welcome to the armpit of the sector,” he said dryly. “Home to smugglers, pirates, black market dealers, and anyone else who’d rather avoid official attention.”
“It’s amazing.”
“That’s one word for it.”
She couldn’t tear her eyes away. Ships moved around the station like fish around a reef—small shuttles, massive freighters, and sleek vessels she couldn’t identify. Through gaps in the modules, she could see the purple glow of a distant nebula, and beyond it, stars scattered like diamonds across black velvet.
“I’ve never seen anything so beautiful,” she whispered.
He glanced at her, something unreadable in his expression.
“Wait until you see the inside. It’s considerably less romantic.”
“I can’t wait.”
He went still.
“No.”
“But you said?—”
“Emma.” He turned to face her, his expression serious. “Do you know what they’d do if they saw you? An unregistered human female?”
She swallowed. “What?”
“They’d sell you. Within an hour of setting foot on that station, you’d be on your way to an auction house, and there would be nothing I could do to stop it.”
“But—”
“You’re worth a fortune,” he continued, his voice harsh. “Human females are incredibly rare and ever since the Emperor mated one, they’re even more valuable. Collectors, slavers, species with... particular tastes... they’d pay astronomical sums for someone like you.”
The blood drained from her face. “Someone like me?”
“Young. Healthy. Beautiful.” His jaw tightened. “I’m not saying this to frighten you. I’m saying it because you need to understand the reality of where we are. There are no laws in a place like this. The only thing standing between you and a very unpleasant fate is staying hidden.”
