Page 157 of Commander’s Mate

Again.

Only this time it had teeth.

The scarred warrior’s face had gone rigid.

“There is no return,” he said.

Ari flinched at his voice.

He immediately stepped back.

“I am sorry.”

Scarlet, beside me, folded her arms.

“What did they tell you?”

Ari looked down.

“Nothing.”

“That’s not what I asked.”

I touched Scarlet’s wrist.

She stopped.

Ari swallowed.

“On the transport, one woman said soldiers do not rescue females for nothing.”

Scarlet’s eyes went murderous.

“Who said that?”

“Another captive. She said soldiers take what traders would have taken.”

The Farseek warrior looked physically sick.

“I would never—”

“I know,” I said.

He stared at me.

“I know you wouldn’t. She doesn’t.”

That was the problem.

Good intentions lived inside the person who had them.

Fear lived inside the person who had to guess.

I turned back to Ari.

“You owe no one sex.”

Her eyes widened.