Chapter 10
“Personally, I hate balls.”
Raz took a hefty drink of his ghost-mead and sidelonged a glance at the captain next to him. “I had no idea pirates were obliged to attend many formal engagements. How disappointing.”
Nor tugged at the cravat around his neck. “This is my first one. But I decided I don’t like it.”
To his surprise, Raz couldn’t hold back a chuckle. The younger male lookedso disgruntled. Raz imagined maybe he would’ve looked that way. If he hadn’t been exiled up until now, of course.
He hefted his half-full tumbler of mead and waggled it gently. “I think you’ll find these occasions less onerous with a beverage in hand.”
Nor stopped fiddling with his neckcloth only to pull at the tails of his formal coat instead. “I didn’t want to drink anything,” he said in alow voice, as if it were a heinous confession. “I don’t want to do anything stupid.”
Considering the younger male had apparently been a pirate, Raz couldn’t imagine what worse stupid thing he was imagining.
Maybe…fingering an Earth girl until she orgasmed and then watching her fall asleep in his arms?
He took another drink of mead to hide his smirk. That didn’t feel stupid; he felt smug.
But his satisfaction paled as he glanced over the rim of his glass at the gathered throng. As he’d warned Rayna it would be, it was a crush, but even he hadn’t anticipated just how crushing it was.
The expecting dignitaries and nobles were all accounted for, but the presence of Octiron Corp had brought in a different kind of riffraff. He saw several winning contestants from their current fan favoriteshow, the Great Space Race. These winners had been gifted riches that rivaled his own.
The show’s losers often wound up dead.
He jerked his chin at one of the recording crews that was playing at unobtrusiveness, mostly so they could rifle the buffet. “I can’t believe my mother invited them,” he growled. “Azthronos doesn’t need that kind of coverage.”
Nor stopped fidgeting with his clothes.“It’s easy money,” he said. “Easier than pirating.”
Raz grunted. Now that the formal receiving line was over and the majority of the guests arrived, he knew Rayna would be making her appearance at any time. His nerves itched knowing it.
“Here.” Nor held out his hand. “Take this.”
Raz stared at him suspiciously. “What is it?”
The captain rattled his closed fist, and reluctantly Raz held outhis hand.
Nor dropped a small device, no bigger than the last joint of his thumb, into Raz’s open palm. “It’s a scrambler,” he said.
“Personal ones of this size are illegal,” Raz pointed out.
“Highly.” Nor reached out to scoop the scrambler back.
Raz closed his fist. “I won’t forget this.”
The younger male grinned roguishly. “You mean that you won’t forget it at my court martial, or you won’tforget it when I ask for a favor someday?”
“Whichever comes first.”
The captain laughed. “I guess it depends on how this night goes,” he drawled. “That one Earth girl intrigues me.”
Raz stiffened. “Not Rayna.” Not his ray of light.
Nor clamped a hand on his shoulder. “The dowager told me to advise you on your inconvenient engagement. You want my advice?”
“No,” Raz growled.
“Give her exactlythat look when you claim her. She’ll fall at your feet.”
