“Where is Nenn?”
She bit her lip, tucked her chin against her chest, and said, “They knocked him out somehow.”
“Ah, the phasers are set to stun.This is good.He will awaken and beg the udaps for help.”Ulvus patted her hand.“Your salvation is near.Mine is not.”
Nenn would rescue her, that she knew.“What will they do with you?”
“Return me to Qaldreth in disgrace.”
She grabbed Ulvus’s hand.“Did you explain why you—”
“The udaps would not listen.I have proven my hatred for Drafe taints my actions.Anything else would be deception to them.”
“Farg,” she muttered.“We escape, steal a ship, and fly back to Earth.You can live free there.”
He laughed, but it was cold and mirthless.“There or on Qaldreth, an exile is still without honor.”
The ship touched down, jolting her out of her thoughts.Alien fingers wrapped around her upper arm and dragged her toward the opening door.Before her was a platform without a safety railing.The wind whipped her hair across her face, plastered the T-shirt to her body, and threatened to sweep her into the clouds below.A narrow bridge led to tall doors built into a pretty building with high arches carved into its sides.
She clung to the alien’s arm, praying she could hold on if she stumbled off the side.Only when they paused at the door did she release a pent-up breath.
“This is the human?”someone spat, drawing her gaze.“Bring her in, and the traitor, too.”
She allowed her shoulders to slump an inch in relief.At least with Ulvus along, she had some sort of company.A massive hall held gray-stoned statues and beams of lilac light shining on a gold-inlaid floor.Those milling about paused to stare at their passing.
“Her kind killed my Daiwan?”Despite her ability to see, dodging the slap was beyond her.
Fire blazed across the side of her head, making her cry out.She cupped her cheek while tears flowed.
“Your hospitality leaves much to be desired,” she gritted out then winced.Staying quiet would’ve been wiser.
The Ivoyan screamed and lunged at her.
I’m about to die.She stepped back from the swinging claws and hit her escort’s wiry frame.He did nothing to protect her, but instead, shoved her forward into her attacker’s range.She hissed when nails dragged across her forearms, summoning a scorching sting.
“Assaulting a prisoner says much about your culture,” she said, then pinched her lips shut.
“Give me a phaser.I will kill this…thing.”
She frowned.Why did Qaldreths serve a dishonorable race?She shook her head.These must be outliers.Nenn wouldn’t have stayed on Ivoy otherwise.
“She is to be examined and documented, Oban.You know the instructions as well as I do,” the leader said.“I am not pleased, but the good of Ivoy far outweighs our need for revenge.”
“Nothing was said about injuring her.”Oban stole the leader’s phaser and aimed it at her.
Ice coated her skin, rippling over her.
Ulvus gasped when Oban fired.
NennstormedintotheQ.C.C.chamber, uncaring whether he violated protocol.Sheer, blinding fear narrowed his focus on finding Tiny when nothing else mattered.Most of the warriors milled about while Drafe and Vic spoke with the udaps.
He barged across to Drafe.“They have taken my Tiny.”
“Do you know where?”Vic asked, gazing at Drafe.
“Your what?”Giniiri aac Marl Udap demanded.
All those near stilled.
