Serlotminden threw me over his shoulder and slapped my ass. “Come, Pookie. I caught my prize, and I’m taking him back to our quarters.” She followed along, happy as can be, and I blushed profusely.
Chapter 45
Rescue: Take Two.
I gripped Serlotminden’s hand and watched the monitor in front of me. It was Xome. I swallowed. I hadn’t expected this to suck as much as it did. Nightmares still plagued me about what had happened and going back… I shook my head. I never wanted to see this planet again, but I had to rescue Vince and the other humans.
It had taken more time than I’d liked, but we’d finally gotten permission to retrieve Vince and any other humans, which was good because I was losing my mind. What if something had happened to him while I was gone?
But we were here, orbiting Xome. We were going to buy the humans from the different people who owned them, but thatdidn’t help the ones who’d been sold off-world. Kalvoxrencol and the drakcol government, the Cohort, were organizing a reward for humans to be returned to them. It made Seth, Caleb, and me scoff. Humans had been reduced to lost animals, but at the same time, it would allow them to return to Earth if they wanted or stay on Tamkolvanloknol. It would save them, and in the end, that was what mattered.
“He’ll be alright, Bartholomew.”
I squeezed his hand tighter, digging the ring into my skin. Serlotminden had been able to wait all of one week before he synthesized a gold ring. He’d said he would buy me another, but I liked this one and the matching one he wore.
“I need him to be safe.”
“I know, Mate.” He kissed my neck.
Dontilvynsan was leading the mission to retrieve the humans, as he’d refused to allow Serlotminden or I on the surface, no matter how much we both had insisted on going. The sensors had identified ten. Out of everyone, ten humans were left, at least on this planet. So many had died, and xoi had to be stealing more humans from Earth—they had to be. There was too much profit in the sale of humans to stop.
Don’s voice came over the monitor. “I found Vince.”
I sagged into Serlotminden’s arms.
“I am bringing him and the others to the ship.”
“Where?” I needed to see him, explain that I didn’t abandon him.
“This way,” Serlotminden said.
I saw the worry in Mindy’s eyes, but I refused to talk about it. I loved Serlotminden. He understood that. I’d told him I was going to stay. He knew that. I was pretty sure me telling him over and over that he had nothing to worry about wouldn’t help. He had to believe it for himself.
We wound through the ship until we waited outside the shuttle bay. Kal and Seth had joined us. Caleb and Zoltilvoxfyn were resting, but Caleb promised to entertain everyone later.
I rocked on my toes, watching the bay doors. Vince. I hoped he was alright.
Serlotminden hugged me close. “He is here. It will be alright. Everything will be perfectly fine.”
I nodded, unable to speak.
Beside me, Seth looked green and was shaking as badly as I was, though for different reasons. People, as I’d come to understand, weren’t his thing. I almost wanted to laugh, because he was so uncomfortable with people but he was damn good at leading.
Team Human was getting bigger, if people decided to stay, and Seth was leading the charge.
A clank sounded moments before the bay doors closed, and the airlock opened. The shuttle door painstakingly fell open, and Vince walked out. He was skinnier than ever, and his expression was drawn. I had been gone a couple of months, and it looked like that time had been pure hell for Vince.
“Vince,” I called, but my voice was drowned out.
“Seth,” he screamed.
Seth stiffened. The next thing I knew, he was across the cargo bay, hauling Vince into his arms. “Vince.”
Vince gripped the back of Seth’s hoodie, curling in tight.
Pain prodded my heart. Vince and I had been close, but clearly he knew Seth from before. Serlotminden tugged me to his side. “It’s okay, Mate. He’s here. That is what matters.”
Kal growled, tail thrashing.
