“It’s my belief.”
“And how are we getting the Ulep out of the galaxy?”
“Bait,” I growl. “The ship they took from me was to be the bait to get them far enough away I could initiate the starnet and they would not be able to return.”
Dalox rumbles a growl around his chest.
“You are an interesting warrior, Driok,” he says. “It would appear I may have underestimated you.”
“Whilst being underestimated isn’t my aim, not being predictable is.”
“I would agree.” He tips his head back, regarding me with the strangest of gazes. “And not a butcher either.”
“That depends on who you ask.” I give Dalox the benefit of all my fangs.
He might have been our fleet admiral once, but the secretive old nevver only remains in that position because he fights dirty.
I will not cross him, not while my mate is missing and my crew in the hands of the Ulep.
“I have located the human female, Lord Dalox,” one of his crew says from the other side of his bridge.
I am there before Dalox can say anything, shouldering the warrior to one side. “Why are there two signals?” I growl
“Perhaps there are two females,” Dalox says, sauntering over to me and staring down at the scanner. “I presume you only had one.”
“Maggie,” I say, under my breath. “I’m coming for you.”
I lift my head and glare at Dalox.
“I don’t know why you’re here, Dalox, or what you’re doing, but I’m going back to get my mate, my crew, and my ship, along with completing my mission to deal with the Ulep once and for all.”
“Without bloodshed?” Dalox cocks his head on one side.
“I have no desire to shed any more blood than necessary. And, in any event, the chances of eliminating the Ulep, given their physiology, is unlikely.”
“Shame. A battle is better when the enemy is dead.” Dalox growls darkly.
“Battle or no, I am going for my mate. You can do what you wish.” I send the co-ordinates to my comm and stride back towards the portal.
“I came because I was promised a battle,” Dalox replies. “And I will have one.”
I feel all of my body tense up. Once again, I want to shift, but I don’t want Dalox’s fangs in my throat, because it won’t do Maggie any good at all.
“Who promised you a battle?”
“The Paralnyi who contacted me on your behalf, Driok.”
I whirl around.
“What?”
“He said he had a message from you. He provided these co-ordinates and said to wait for your arrival.”
“And you came?”
Dalox inspects his claws, which have something covering them I’d rather not think too much about. He sticks one in between his teeth and gazes at me.
“Why not? My warriors haven’t had a good fight for a long time, and I guessed, correctly, it seems. You were in trouble which would require the best of the best.”
