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“Thank you for coming, General Superior,” the warship’s captain replied. “Reports state that we have recovered the human bride lost to the Sivuul attack last solar orbit.”
“Yes.” Yas’kihn met the captain’s gaze without fear, his crest flattening against his scalp in annoyance. The massive male was nearly as large as he and older, a seasoned warrior who could give him a fair challenge should the two meet in battle.
The captain nodded. “Do you have instructions regarding it?”
“Her.”
The captain’s crest flattened and his eyes narrowed in distaste. “As you wish, General Superior.”
Yas’kihn nodded, nothing more than an acknowledgment of the captain’s concession. He held no official authority on the ship; that belonged to the captain. Although the spaceships operated under the aegis of the Ahn’hudin military which he commanded, Yas’kihn did not like to undermine the authority of the ship’s commanding officer unless necessary. To do so would foment resentment and mutiny among the troops.
However, Yas’kihn knew himself to be the strongest, most dominant male on the vessel. His prowess in battle, in strategy, in tactics, and in dominance was what made him the general superior and what had secured the loyal support of several vice generals. He never forgot the value of that support rested upon his ability and dedication to serve the best interests of Ahn’hudin and occasionally in his ability to pummel them into the ground.
“She’s mine,” Yas’kihn explained, again staking his claim to the once-lost bride.
The captain nodded and the tip of his tail twitched, indicating his disagreement, although he said nothing to express disapproval. Both officers understood the delicate balance they needed to maintain.
“We have received orders to detour to—”
“Orders from whom?” Yas’kihn interrupted, as he’d authorized no detour from their return to Ahn’hudin.
“The crown prince.”
“Open comms to the palace and hail the crown prince,” he ordered.
The officer sitting at the communication station glanced at his captain who nodded his approval.
The large front window shimmered then displayed the royal crest. After a moment, the image vanished to display a palace official who said, “Hail theStarsea.What is the purpose of your unplanned communication?”
“General Superior Yas’kihn requests an audience with Crown Prince Gudren,” the communications officer answered.
“I will be happy to schedule a meeting at his Highness’ convenience.”
Yas’kihn stepped into the prince’s secretary’s view. “Now.”
The secretary looked offended. “General, I—”
“Summon the prince now.”
“I could not—”
“I am the General Superior and this ship is undermycommand, as is every warrior, company, and vessel in the Ahn’hudin military. Crown Prince Gudren has no authority to countermand my order to return to Ahn’hudin.” Yas’kihn’s tail lashed out of sight of the view through the screen. His crest raised to its full height, and his body seemed to swell and enlarge as he asserted his dominance across a digital transmission tens of thousands of ells’ distance. “Get the crown prince on this call,now.”
Chapter3
Ingrained caution kept Louella from moving. She lay awake, eyes closed, using her other senses to explore the immediate surroundings. The air was cool, but not cold. She heard no echoes of chittering. Nor did she smell the musty stench of humongous, grasshopper-like, sentient bugs or the sweet reek of decaying flesh. She’d wept the first dozen times after witnessing what the Sivuul preyed upon, and how they ate it. What they didn’t eat, they enslaved and sometimes sold. The mind control chips that made their prey submit without protest to being slaughtered stoked a fury and disgust she doubted would ever dissipate.
She shuddered at the memory and realized her bladder was full. She heard the quiet hum of distant engines. They sounded massive. She felt the softness of a mattress beneath her, of a blanket touching her skin. Pressing her lips together to keep any sound from oozing from her mouth, she opened her eyes.
Where am I?
She sat up, blinking as memory returned.
Ah, I’m on the reptiles’ ship.
With that knowledge came the assurance that she was not in immediate danger of being enslaved or eaten—well, at least noteaten. She still wasn’t entirely sure about the enslavement part.
“I guess I’ll have to wait and see,” she murmured to herself as she eased from the bed.
