AllFreeNovel
Share Us
"We're going to need to move," he said in a low voice, loathe to bring them back to reality, but knowing he had to. "They've moved past us so we have a small window to get to the ship."
She nodded, her expression tight but determined. He ached to kiss her again, but they didn't have time. They had to move… now.
* * *
Sadie bit her lip as Vaarn hurried her through the winding corridors of the space station, a big hand wrapped around her upper arm. They ducked into side corridors whenever they heard the pirates up ahead.
The warm fuzzy feeling that had washed through her at his kiss faded fast and fear chilled her blood at the thought of what would happen if the pirates caught them… caught her.
She’d wanted to come on this trip so badly. At the time, it had seemed like an exciting adventure and a chance to spend time with Vaarn without him running away from her. Now she realized why he hadn’t wanted her to come along… why he was so furious when she’d been assigned as his ‘engineering consultant’ by the prince. It wasn't because he'd been planning a romantic tryst with Laythia, instead, he’d been worried for her safety.
She hadn’t listened and now pirates were chasing them through the corridors and Vaarn was the scariest she’d ever seen him. Her breath came in hard pants as they darted through corridor after corridor, the reality of the shit they were in hitting her like a ship at light speed. She’d been so amazed and filled with delight when she’d arrived here, but now it felt like a treacherous maze, ready to swallow her up whole, never to be seen again.
"Stay close," he warned, constantly scanning their surroundings as they moved. "We need to reach the docking arm before the pirates lock it down."
She nodded, her mind racing. What would happen to Ollie if she didn’t make it back? She knew Halle and Kaas would keep him safe, but he was her little boy. Surely he would miss her? Determination flooded her with new energy and she managed to keep up with Vaarn's long-legged pace, her legs feeling like lead as they rushed through the dimly lit corridors.
They turned a corner and almost walked into a pirate. She gasped, but before she could do anything else, Vaarn lunged forward, the huge dagger that was usually sheathed along his back in his hand. The clash was brutal and chaotic, a lethal storm of metal against metal. Vaarn was deadly and focused, more graceful than any man that big had a right to be. The knife was more like a short sword, an extension of his arm as he danced around his opponent. The pirate tried to fight back, but within seconds it was easy to see that he was no match for the big Latharian warrior.
Her breath caught in her throat. She had never seen Vaarn like this before. She’d seen him as the grumpy engineer, always irritated by the people around him that didn’t operate on the same wavelength, but she’d never seen him angry. It was terrifying, and awe-inspiring all at the same time.
She clung to the wall for support, her heart racing. She should be running, she knew that, but she was frozen in place, unable to move a muscle.
Vaarn moved with blinding speed, and within a few seconds, the pirate lay at his feet. The corridor fell silent, the only sound she could hear the rasping of her own breath in her ears.
Vaarn turned to her, his eyes so fierce it sent shivers down her spine.
"Are you alright?" he asked, silver brows drawn together.
She let out a shaky breath. "I'm okay. Just a bit shaken up." She frowned. "Why are they interested in me? I thought I was under the protection of the emperor?"
“It’s a case of out of sight, out of mind.” His jaw tightened, a muscle jumping in the corner. "Let's just say the Liis aren't known for their ethics when it comes to earning a profit."
She paled, feeling sick as understanding hit her. "They want to sell me, don’t they?"
"It won't happen," he snarled. "I won't allow it. You're under my protection now."
She shivered. "Thank you."
"You're safe with me. I'll always keep you safe." His gaze snapped up to study the corridor ahead. "We need to keep moving. The docking arm won't stay open for long."
She nodded, sliding her hand into his. Rather than pushing her away, he just looked down at her, silver braids sliding over his shoulders and squeezed her hand in reassurance. She kept herself tucked in behind him as they headed off down the corridor toward the docking arm.
Still shaking from the fight, she slid him a glance from under her lashes. She'd seen a side of him that both scared and fascinated her at the same time. She shouldn’t find it sexy, but somehow, she did. He was a fierce and deadly warrior, but he was so gentle with her. And my god, he could kiss…
It was an eternity before he paused again, but she knew it could only be a few minutes. That was what danger and adrenaline did for you. How did Vaarn and the other warriors cope with it? She was a wreck, jumping at every shadow they passed in case it was a pirate.
Her heart raced as she leaned against the cold metal wall. They were in a smaller side corridor and she looked around. Dimly lit, the floor was marred with grime in the corners where the automated sweepers didn't reach, and the air felt thick and heavy with tension. That last had to be her, she'd had no issues breathing earlier so unless the pirates had gotten to the environmental controls… no, she wouldn't think about that. Wrapping her arms around herself, she tried to quell the shivers. It was so cold in here…
"It's clear," he murmured. "But we need to make a run for it. The docking arm is just ahead."
She nodded, looking nervously toward the end of the corridor. "Why aren't the pirates just waiting for us at the ship?"
His lips quirked into a wicked little smile as he tapped commands into the wrist computer mounted in his bracer. Her gaze latched onto the fullness of his lips, the memory of their kiss still lingering in her mind. It was ridiculous to be thinking about that now, in the midst of everything they were going through, but she couldn’t help it.
"This isn't my first kranisvar," he said. "That's why I didn't bring a Latharian ship. This one has embedded B'Kaar technology that conceals its origins. If they don't know what they're looking for, we'll slip through their fingers like a ghost in the night."
As they ran from the hall, she held tight to his arm as they headed for the docking arm. Their ship’s airlock was just ahead, and she concentrated on it. Terror rolled through her veins, but at the same time she felt strangely calm… because she was with Vaarn. He wouldn't let anything happen to her.
